any experiences with prepaid mastercards?

[Crazy4mandms]

My 15 yr old neice is coming to WDW with us in a few weeks...her mom wants to put her spending money on one of those prepaid mastercards (not an atm or bankcard). Just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with them. I'm sort of leary...wondering if they charge a fee to get money, check balances or use it in any way. I'm trying to explain to her that she should carry some cash and then she can use her room key to 'charge' but her mother is being insistent for some reason..I'm still cautious about exactly how these cards work. Thanks!

[snugglepeas]

I work in a department store and have had people use these cards before, and have had a chance to talk to those using them and it's really a mixed bag, some like them and some HATE them, saying that some stores dont take them, I think it would be easier if an adult kept track of the money giving a resonable amout to her every morning, it's safer that way, as she doesnt have a licence(picture ID) so she cant get travelers checks.

[Crazy4mandms]

that brings me to ask a good point...does WDW accept these cards?

[safetymom]

As long as there is a Visa or Mastercard logo on the card she shouldn't have any problems.

[Nala217]

OK. I am a customer service rep for the Visa and MC gift cards.

Fees- It will depend on the bank that issues the gift card. If you go to either mastercard.com or visa.com and they list all the the banks that offer these cards. Many can be purchased over the internet. Then look at the terms and conditions for the card. It should list any fees or limitations for the card.

Usage- As long as the merchant accepts MC and Visa they accepts these cards. The only exceptions are pay at the pump at the gas station and Wal-Mart doesn't accept MC gift cards without a pin. Every other merchant accepts these cards if they accept Visa or MC. Most of the problems with the cards not working is due to merchant error.

Let me know if you have any more ????

[Crazy4mandms]

Wow! Thank you that was great!! Heading over to visa.com right now!

[seashoreCM]

Prepaid credit card
(tarjeta prepagado)

Big ripoff.

You pay a fee ($10. for Mastercard last time I checked) to buy and activate it, and then you pay another fee ($5.00) every time you want to add more money to it.

If you lose it, it's lost for good.

If you don't want a real credit card or can't get a real credit card, pay cash.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

[Crazy4mandms]

That's what I've been thinking after reading up on them. I think I finally have my sister in law convinced that my neice doesn't need one of these. She really isn't going to have alot of money in the first place and I will hold it until she needs it. I think my neice just wanted to feel "like a grownup" with her own credit card. We are doing one week in Sarasota FL before heading to disney but I did convince her that she will have a 'charge card' while at disney as I will give her charging privileges on her room key (with limits!!!). Thanks for the advice..I'm going to forward it on to them and hopefully there will be no more need to convince them not to waste their money.