Prepaid Credit cards are a fairly new concept to the UK market, though a quick Google search will show that there are now several providers offering these cards. I wanted a card for online shopping but didn't want a traditional card that would get me into all sorts of financial trouble.
The ... Read review
Advantages: Discounts on Virgin products, smart looking. Disadvantages: More suitable for now and again use than regular shopping sprees due to transaction fees.
Prepaid Credit cards are a fairly new concept to the UK market, though a quick Google search will show that there are now several providers offering these cards. I wanted a card for online shopping but didn't want a traditional card that would get me into all sorts of financial trouble.
The Virgin Money Prepaid Mastercard is provided by 360 Money - the same people behind Splash Plastic, I got mine online via the Virgin Money website. ... ...card.
I completed the simple registration online and paid with my regular debit card on October 1st and the £9.95 set-up fee was collected the same day, shortly afterwards I received an Email to let me know that my order had been processed and that they would send another when the card was on the way.
Those who do not have a debit card or do not wish to give their details online can print off a special barcode which ... more
Prepaid Credit cards are a fairly new concept to the UK market, though a quick Google search will show that there are now several providers offering these cards. I wanted a card for online shopping but didn't want a traditional card that would get me into all sorts of financial trouble.
The Virgin Money Prepaid Mastercard is provided by 360 Money - the same people behind Splash Plastic, I got mine online via the Virgin Money website. At present this is the only way to obtain a card.
I completed the simple registration online and paid with my regular debit card on October 1st and the £9.95 set-up fee was collected the same day, shortly afterwards I received an Email to let me know that my order had been processed and that they would send another when the card was on the way.
Those who do not have a debit card or do not wish to give their details online can print off a special barcode which can be taken into any store displaying a "paypoint" sign and pay over the counter. You will then be issued with a code to enter at registration instead of your debit card details.
I then received a second Email to let me know that I should allow 10 days for delivery which meant by 11th October my card should be with me.
On 11th October my card still hadn't arrived, so I contacted the Customer Services team who advised me to call back if my card wasn't with me by the 20th.
As if by magic on 20th October my card did arrive - the accompanying letter was dated 19th October which explains how the Customer Services team were able to give such a precise date. In total the card took 19 days to produce and send out - despite the 10 day promise in the very first email they sent me.
The card arrives by normal post and comes with a leaflet explaining membership benefits and the terms and conditions of card usage.
You also receive a special letter that welcomes you to Virgin Money and provides your activation code and a special 0845 number to call and get your pin numer.
The call lasts about three minutes, is all automated and can be called at anytime - when you call your card is made "live" and you will be given a PIN number which can be changed at any ATM.
The card itself looks like a normal Virgin Mastercard with the "red silk" pattern in the background, the card is chip and pin ready and bears the standard mastercard logo and hologram, in fact it looks like a normal credit card with one small exception. The card details such as name, expiry date and card number are printed on the card in white typeface rather than embossed.
There are two types of card "restricted" and "non-restricted" a restricted card can not be used for cashback or for withdrawing from ATM machines, you will be sent a "restricted" card if Virgin Money can not verify your identity straight away, however, if you send two forms of ID in they will lift the restriction.
Topping up the card is simple, here are the options, charges and how long it takes till you can spend your funds!
A top up at the Post Office is free and takes one working day to reach your account.
A top up at a "paypoint" merchant will cost you 2.75% of the amount being topped up and will be immediatley credited to your account.
With the above methods you simply hand your card and money to the cashier.
You can also top your card up using a debit card, this is free, but the funds take 4 days to reach your account, the same applies to credit cards except if you use a credit card you will be charged 2.5% of the amount you are topping up.
You can even set up a direct transfer from your bank account to your card, this takes 4 days and is free.
Everytime you use your card you will be charged a 2.95% transaction fee, the same applies to cash withdrawals from an ATM, if you use your card overseas you will be charged 3.5%
You can check your balance at anytime by logging into your account online.
Being a cardholder also has special benefits - 10% off at Virgin Megastores, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Wines and 75% off the joining fee at Virgin Active Gyms. - if used cleverly the card can save you money as well!
I am quite pleased to have this card in my wallet, it looks quite good and I can now shop online without worrying about my details being misused - you can not spend what you dont have so the card is ideal for those who like to hit the shop, its also a great safe way of taking your cash overseas.
Advantages: Cool looking, easy to use, useable in most places and debt free Disadvantages: Monthly/per use charges and no Chip&PIN
...it -- it's really called 360Money now.
This card is what you could call a "prepaid debit card" but there is NO bank account attached to the card. It's like a mobile/cell phone where-by you can only spend what you have topped up onto the card. For example, if I topped up £50 then I could only spend £50.
However there are charges involved. With the old Splash Plastic card, you only paid to apply for the card and then that was it but with this card ... ...need his parents consent and 360Money would contact the parent(s) first. This happens between the age of 10 and 14, therefore if a 15 year old girl wanted the card she could just get one.
Each of the three cards can be used anywhere displaying the Maestro or Solo sign. In terms of making a transaction, when in a shop you just sign for it (no Chip&PIN) and that's it. If online or via the telephone then you must enter your 18 digit card number along ...
T1mm3h 06.06.2006 (10.06.2006)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of 360Money
Advantages: Good way to carry cash Disadvantages: Can cost up to £8.50 for every £100.00 you top up and spend
I Got this card a few weeks back and have loaded Over £200.00 Over the past 3 weeks. The card it self has a nice design and can be used online and in store (Chip N Pin). The card company also do a cash back website where you can get cashback for using your card online or completing Free Offers. so far i have £1.36 Cash back.
The Problem with the card it that you have to pay £0.03P for every £1.00 you load. after loading £200.00 i only had £194.00 ... ...when you shop i Brought a Top up tv anytime DTR for £99.99 and by using my card i had to pay £102.50. You also can use this for ATM Cash and if you do you have to pay £1.50 for every £10.00 taken out! also some people can't use this in some stores so it can cause some problems while shopping.
Other than that it is a safe way to carry a lot of money but you have to pay a small amount for the privage. ...
k800ifan07 12.09.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of 360Money
Advantages: DEBT-FREE, CHARGE-FREE Disadvantages: IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S NOW 360MONEY!
OK I am still going to write this review but please be aware that Splash Plastic doesn't fully exist anymore - it's now 360Money!
~ About ~
Splash Plastic allows you to apply for a card, like a Debit Card (except without a bank account) and then you can take it to a top-up shop that deals with/allows either PayPoint or PayZone transactions. You hand the card over with a certain amount (minimum of £10) and then it's applied/topped up to the card almost instantly.
You can then spend the money on your card in certain online shops but ONLY if they accept this type of payment. Places like CD-WoW, Habbo Hotel, Attitude Clothing and various other places do accept the card but a lot of them, like Play or Amazon don't accept it.
~ Benefits ~
>Almost free to use, you have to pay a small fee to get a card.
>Totally debt-free -- you ...
T1mm3h 29.05.2006 (30.05.2006)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Splash Plastic
Advantages: No credit checks, can only use when you top the card up, accepted worldwide Disadvantages: You may get a restrcited card, charge fees (but thesearen't too high)
has a total spending limit of £1,600 a year, up to £600 of this can be withdrawn from a cash machine.
***APPLYING FOR THE CARD***
I applied online for a card at www.virginmoney.com, simply click on the prepaid card tab at the top of the webpage and it will talk you through the rest.
There are different ways to pay the card fee, you can do this by:
* Credit/Debit Card
* Swap cash for a 360money e-voucher which you can use online (you can get these from shops with a PayPoint.
* Pay by text message, and they will send you a unique code for you to use.
I paid for my card my text message and they charged my phone £5.00 and then take the other £4.95, from the next time I put funds onto my card.
Simply fill out your details such as Name, Address, etc. They won't ask for a passport number or anything like that!
You also get to ...
Advantages: Higher security Disadvantages: Still a small risk
)
7> Doe-brain enters his PIN and presses enter.
8> The card terminal processes the transaction, connects to a system via a telephone line and confirms the money is there then takes it away and sends it to Threads 'r' Us.
9> The sales assistant then asks J.D. to take the card out of the machine.
10> All done and Mr. J Doe has brought some nice new clothes.
This is meant to make it more secure but with the possibility of a signature being asked for, it's still a risk, although the whole asking for a signature should be rare.
Some card machines have 'shields' around the keypad whilst others don't. The ones that don't mean the customer has to either risk it or provide their own protection.
Funny thing is, I've got a prepaid card ('360Money') which doesn't even have a chip, it's just a signature!!
Apparently this whole ...
T1mm3h 29.05.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Chip and PIN
