I purchased for $9.95 a prepaid ATM/VISA card at my local grocery store. I should have heeded the red flag that went up when only cash was acceptable as a purchase option. The reason I bought it was to allow my son who was going the next day on a senior trip to Florida, easy and safe access to money. I thought that if he lost it, we could recover the money and it would be less likely to be stolen.
Well! I activated it in my son's name via the web page. To be sure that money was there, I called the toll-free (HA!) number to verify the balance. I had put $60 on the card and after being charged 50 cents for the toll-free inquiry, found the card was indeed loaded with $59.50. So far I'm out $10.45, but I don't mind because it will be safer and more secure for my son.
He called me from Universal Studios saying he couldn't get money out of the ATM. After calling customer service, I found on their very user UNfriendly menu, that the ATM card had to be used where CIRRUS or PLUS was available. My son called back and I told him to make sure he was at the right kind of ATM. He called back and said he got a message at the ATM that the card had been de-activated. Another call to Netspend, another 20 minutes of "your call is very important to us, thank you for your patience, yada, yada" and I'm told that I am not authorized to discuss my son's "ACCOUNT" as he is legally an adult - just turned 18. My son would need to call - from Disneyworld - and verify his identity by providing the appropriate documentation. I reminded them that he was in DISNEYWORLD and didn't have a lot of documentation on him, nor did he have access to a fax machine in DISNEYWORLD. They refused to talk further with me and actually referenced the federal regulations put in place with the PATRIOT ACT!!! Finally, 5 calls, 4 hours and lots of frustration later, the CSR at Netspend begrudgingly said they could reinstate the card (prepaid card) for 24 hours afterwhich it would be cancelled!
With 59.50 in the account, my son, after additional ATM charges will probably only be able to take out $40. So far, I'm out $30.45!
H-e-l-p!!!
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