Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
May 11th 2018, 3:12 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 244
Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
I’m really banging my head against the wall on this one.
All I am looking for is a reloadable credit card with a half decent limit. We have cards from our bank, but would like some for those ‘ah shhh***’ moments.
In the UK, I can walk into the post office (if I can find one) or local supermarket and walk out 30 seconds later with a Card.
So far I’ve been told that I need an account with bank x
Try Canada Post... yeah, right
Yiu need to spend 30mins filling out forms before we can approve you...
Am I missing a really simple walking and walk out option?
All I am looking for is a reloadable credit card with a half decent limit. We have cards from our bank, but would like some for those ‘ah shhh***’ moments.
In the UK, I can walk into the post office (if I can find one) or local supermarket and walk out 30 seconds later with a Card.
So far I’ve been told that I need an account with bank x
Try Canada Post... yeah, right
Yiu need to spend 30mins filling out forms before we can approve you...
Am I missing a really simple walking and walk out option?
May 11th 2018, 4:18 pm
#2
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
I’m really banging my head against the wall on this one.
All I am looking for is a reloadable credit card with a half decent limit. We have cards from our bank, but would like some for those ‘ah shhh***’ moments.
In the UK, I can walk into the post office (if I can find one) or local supermarket and walk out 30 seconds later with a Card.
So far I’ve been told that I need an account with bank x
Try Canada Post... yeah, right
Yiu need to spend 30mins filling out forms before we can approve you...
Am I missing a really simple walking and walk out option?
All I am looking for is a reloadable credit card with a half decent limit. We have cards from our bank, but would like some for those ‘ah shhh***’ moments.
In the UK, I can walk into the post office (if I can find one) or local supermarket and walk out 30 seconds later with a Card.
So far I’ve been told that I need an account with bank x
Try Canada Post... yeah, right
Yiu need to spend 30mins filling out forms before we can approve you...
Am I missing a really simple walking and walk out option?
May 11th 2018, 4:35 pm
#3
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 244
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Debit cards in Canada are not backed, so they have no CVV numbers and can’t be used on Amazon for example.
A normal credit card is linked to your (or a) bank account. You get a monthly limit and have to settle an amount each month.
With a pre-pay, you can add $20 and only spend up to that amount, when You run out you add another $20 and so on.
May 11th 2018, 5:02 pm
#4
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Debit cards in the UK are backed by Visa or MasterCard so you can buy stuff online.They have the magic Cvv Number (those 3 digits your always asked for)
Debit cards in Canada are not backed, so they have no CVV numbers and can’t be used on Amazon for example.
A normal credit card is linked to your (or a) bank account. You get a monthly limit and have to settle an amount each month.
With a pre-pay, you can add $20 and only spend up to that amount, when You run out you add another $20 and so on.
The card was issued by TDCanadatrust.
I also have another one issued by HSBC in Canada which has a CVV too.
Unsurprisingly I have accounts at both those banks.
May 11th 2018, 5:04 pm
#5
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Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Debit cards in the UK are backed by Visa or MasterCard so you can buy stuff online.They have the magic Cvv Number (those 3 digits your always asked for)
Debit cards in Canada are not backed, so they have no CVV numbers and can’t be used on Amazon for example.
A normal credit card is linked to your (or a) bank account. You get a monthly limit and have to settle an amount each month.
With a pre-pay, you can add $20 and only spend up to that amount, when You run out you add another $20 and so on.
I don't know if refillable cards are available as I have never had the need for one, but prepaid cards are available all over the place. Are they not sufficient?
Edit: A quick google search has informed me that reloadable cards are available in lots of places.
May 11th 2018, 5:53 pm
#6
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
https://www.canadaprepaidcard.ca/ available at the post office.
https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/cons...aid-cards.html
https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/cons...ards/card.html
A quick google search for prepay master / visa card will bring up lots of options.
https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/cons...aid-cards.html
https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/cons...ards/card.html
A quick google search for prepay master / visa card will bring up lots of options.
Last edited by Siouxie; May 11th 2018 at 5:58 pm.
May 11th 2018, 5:56 pm
#7
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
What are these re-loadable cards in the UK? Are they the gift cards (Amazon, Google, Argos) that you see in the supermarkets?
May 11th 2018, 7:34 pm
#8
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Not sure where you've been looking
Prepaid credit cards (Visa, M/c +?) are available at checkouts in many grocery stores and similar places! Some are re-loadable, some are only for a set amount.
Look at the section right where you load the conveyor belt or close-by, usually called Gift Cards or something like that.
HOWEVER .................... as we discovered when using a VISA prepaid card given to us as a gift, the amount on the card can decrease every month as the card company takes a certain %age back. Plus I understand that there might now also be an activation fee added to the cost that has to be paid or else the card cannot be used. I think my informant added $5 to the $50 card they were about to buy.
Prepaid credit cards (Visa, M/c +?) are available at checkouts in many grocery stores and similar places! Some are re-loadable, some are only for a set amount.
Look at the section right where you load the conveyor belt or close-by, usually called Gift Cards or something like that.
HOWEVER .................... as we discovered when using a VISA prepaid card given to us as a gift, the amount on the card can decrease every month as the card company takes a certain %age back. Plus I understand that there might now also be an activation fee added to the cost that has to be paid or else the card cannot be used. I think my informant added $5 to the $50 card they were about to buy.
May 11th 2018, 8:37 pm
#9
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Canadian Visa/MC debit cards are different then most of the world when issued by a bank, a lot of websites don't accept them still, they are not processed the same, so a website that accepts Visa may not accept Visa debit for example, and not all financial institutions in Canada even issue them yet.
I've just checked my Canadian debit card which is called a Visa Debit Card / Interac and has a CVV number which I'll probably not specify.
The card was issued by TDCanadatrust.
I also have another one issued by HSBC in Canada which has a CVV too.
Unsurprisingly I have accounts at both those banks.
The card was issued by TDCanadatrust.
I also have another one issued by HSBC in Canada which has a CVV too.
Unsurprisingly I have accounts at both those banks.
May 11th 2018, 8:50 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 244
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Scilly - Yep, These are all pre-paid. I did hope to find a Vanilla one here, but nope. As you have mentioned, these are for set amounts and decrease over time.
Siouxie - Canada Post was the first place I went, unfortunately for me, all the CP's in my area are kiosks in supermarkets. I've asked, but I get some very blank looks back (I think it's my accent) and we've pretty much eliminated the others on the Visa/MasterCard lists as they require an account, which kind of defeats the purpose.
Ironically, we just recently opened a second account with a Bank and had we waited a day, we could have opened it with a bank that required an account for a reloadable card...
If I upgrade my accounts with our banks, ie pay more money to them, then I can get Debit cards with Visa, but it's not worth $30-40 a month
I'm sure we will find one, just need to be patient (not my strong point)
Siouxie - Canada Post was the first place I went, unfortunately for me, all the CP's in my area are kiosks in supermarkets. I've asked, but I get some very blank looks back (I think it's my accent) and we've pretty much eliminated the others on the Visa/MasterCard lists as they require an account, which kind of defeats the purpose.
Ironically, we just recently opened a second account with a Bank and had we waited a day, we could have opened it with a bank that required an account for a reloadable card...
If I upgrade my accounts with our banks, ie pay more money to them, then I can get Debit cards with Visa, but it's not worth $30-40 a month
I'm sure we will find one, just need to be patient (not my strong point)
May 11th 2018, 9:21 pm
#11
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Canada Post has a 'find a post office that may be of use https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/per...aid-cards.page - look for one at a Shoppers Drugmart if you can't find an individual branch.
May 11th 2018, 9:54 pm
#12
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
Cash Money, Money Mart usually have pre-paid card options. Cash Money I think does charge $7/month for theirs however.
There is also a card called titanium, if there is a safeway grocery near you, they do have some cards that are relodable mixed in with the one time use set amount ones, don't know what the fees are however.
There is also a card called titanium, if there is a safeway grocery near you, they do have some cards that are relodable mixed in with the one time use set amount ones, don't know what the fees are however.
May 11th 2018, 10:19 pm
#13
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,835
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
@Jsmth321...
A new career in Finance beckons?
A new career in Finance beckons?
May 12th 2018, 1:05 am
#15
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 129
Re: Reloadable Credit Cards - Why is this so difficult
There are some places online where I am reluctant to just hand over my Visa card information.
Ditto with my debit card, so I went into my (CIBC) bank and in only a few minutes i got a prepaid Visa card.
It cost me $5.95 initially, but is reloadable whenever you want without any additional charges and there is no expiry date.
I tried it out at the local store which has one of those tap and go machines and it worked like a charm.
Surely all the other big banks have the same item on offer
Ditto with my debit card, so I went into my (CIBC) bank and in only a few minutes i got a prepaid Visa card.
It cost me $5.95 initially, but is reloadable whenever you want without any additional charges and there is no expiry date.
I tried it out at the local store which has one of those tap and go machines and it worked like a charm.
Surely all the other big banks have the same item on offer