I am very DISSATISFIED with the American Express Prepaid Card! I just started using this card a few weeks ago and I have had a problem with it EVERY SINGLE week since. I initially ordered it to take care of small purchases and to pay my gym membership dues online. I've had a horrible experience with the Greendot prepaid card in the past and although the Walmart Money Card was okay, it charges a $3 monthly fee. I liked the notion of using the card with the AMEX logo, as I "thought" it would be more reliable and there was no monthly fee.
I first tried to load my card using the "Vanilla" reload card and spent about 45 minutes in the retailer trying to get the money to load. The store clerk and I had to get on the phone with the "Vanilla" customer service, as well as AMEX and after almost an hour, I still didn't get the money loaded. They recommended that I try using the "MoneyPak" reload card instead. After finding another retailer that sold "MoneyPak", I was finally able to get the money on my card. However I was less than thrilled about spending $4.95 on the "MoneyPak" each time I needed to reload, so I decided to link my AMEX to my bank account, so that I could transfer the money directly from my account. There is no fee to reload that way however, it does take 5 business days.
Last week I initiated a reload from my bank account to my AMEX Prepaid Card to pay for my monthly gym dues, which I have set up to charge my AMEX card automatically. AMEX took the money from my bank account 2 days later and I waited the 5 business days for the money to show up. On the 6th day (today) the money is still NOT in my account! I called customer service and basically they told me that there is a a technical issue and I just have to wait it out. He estimated another 3-5 business but according to him, he could not give me an exact date.
Excuse my French but... WTF? Wait it out??? I have to wait to have my money loaded on the card while they fix some technical glitch?! That's like an employer saying they can't give you your paycheck for the week. Sorry, but that's not cool! And in the meantime, I am being charged declined card fees EACH TIME my gym tries to take out my dues and the card declines. This is absolutely ridiculous! This brings back memories of my horrible experience with Greendot. I could have just left my money in my bank account if I would have known this was going to happen.
Also, the customer service here is a JOKE! The one number designated for this card is to a call center in overseas and let's just say the representatives are less than competent. They read of this script and provide no REAL support at all. This 1-866 number is the only way to contact customer service and AMEX doesn't even have an email support form or address for this card, which shows how much they could care less about the service they provide for this card. I tell you what, when my money finally does hit... I'm pulling it off and that will be the last time I use this card!
Bottom line, this card is just like all the others prepaid cards... COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE! American Express wants you to believe that this card is better because it's from "American Express" and that they are revolutionizing the prepaid card industry, but it's NOT! They have put no real effort put into making this card effecient, they put no real effort into offering solid customer support and they didn't even put much effort in to the online website designated for this card (i.E. It's not easily navigated, you can't download or print transaction history, etc.). This little "technical glitch" is the ABSOLUTE WORST thing that can happen because your money is just "out there" in cyberspace and you can't access it until they get their sh-t together. That should not be happening when it comes to people's money.
AMEX threw this prepaid card together like a bologna sandwich and slapped their logo on it! Stay away from this card... And all prepaid cards for that matter. Again, incidents like this could really put you in a bad way if you've loaded money that you really need access to. You never know one minute to the next if something will happen with your funds and personally, I can't operate like that. From now on, I'll just stick with my debit card from my bank!
P.S. And as for you AMEX, my money better be on my card within the next 5 days... Or there is going to be a serious problem! I am NOT the type of consumer you want to mess with.
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