Pre Paid Credit Cards

[Save Us Sutter]

Anyone know where I can get one of these in Calgary that is NOT a cheque cashing/payday loan place (Money Mart, The Cash Store, etc)?

Got to book a flight on Monday and don't want any of my service charges going to those bums.

[MattyC]

you can just get one through your bank i beleive

[evilcougar]

Pretty sure Capital One offers it as well.

[Byrns]

BMO offers one, but you need to apply in advance before they mail it to you.

[ken0042]

Safeway and 7-11 both sell them. But the service fees are around 10% IIRC.

[Deegee]

Credit Unions offer Global Payment MasterCards that work with your chequing account.

Those are no fees.

[North East Goon]

Just post your current credit card number here along with the expiry date and three digit security code and I am positive one of the nice folk here at CP will load your card up with cash. :)

[Berger_4_]

AMA does them as well...you walk in, give them whatever amount of money you want on the card and then take the card with you. Quick and easy, just how I like it haha.

[Save Us Sutter]

Do I need to be a member of a Credit Union or AMA to use their services?

10% from 7/11? Yikes. That's 60 bucks on top of the flight I'm booking!

[jydk]

Yes, at AMA you have to be a member to take advantage of their wonderful services.

[Save Us Sutter]

^^ Lame

[macker]

Can't you just pre-pay your current credit card without picking up a seperate card? I have done this in the past without any problems and do it before trips etc. As long as you call the credit card carrier and let them know what you are up to you can get around the money laundering issues...

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Can't you just pre-pay your current credit card without picking up a seperate card? I have done this in the past without any problems and do it before trips etc. As long as you call the credit card carrier and let them know what you are up to you can get around the money laundering issues...

I'd be willing to bet he is doing this because he doesn't currently have a credit card, or doesn't have the type needed. So that's probably not going to help him.

[Save Us Sutter]

Yup, no credit cards for me. I got in over my head when I was 18 and after finally paying it all off swore them off forever.

Looks like I'm stuck with money mart?

[ken0042]

How much will Money Mart charge you? Because it may be cheaper to get an AMA account; plus then you can get free maps and stuff too.

[Save Us Sutter]

Moneymart is like 15 bucks for the card, 8 bucks a month, plus something like 2.50 every time you use it. I'm sure there are more fees I am unaware of. It's Money Mart. It probably costs me a dollar every time I remove it from my wallet, whether I use it or not.

[Deegee]

You do need to be a Credit Union member to use that service and a lending officer does need to approve you to get a Global Payment card, but even people with bad credit can obtain them.

Several Credit Unions do offer accounts that do not have monthly fees that are pay as you debit (I know ours does) which would be your best bet in this situation I think, however you may not want to go through that hassle to become a member.

Why don't you have a friend book it for you after paying him?

[Dion]

Yup, no credit cards for me. I got in over my head when I was 18 and after finally paying it all off swore them off forever.

Looks like I'm stuck with money mart?

Get another credit card and stick in a safety deposit box when you're not using it as opposed to being in your wallet. Having it there will remove some of the temptation to charge everything. My 2 cents of course ;)

[Save Us Sutter]

You do need to be a Credit Union member to use that service and a lending officer does need to approve you to get a Global Payment card, but even people with bad credit can obtain them.

Several Credit Unions do offer accounts that do not have monthly fees that are pay as you debit (I know ours does) which would be your best bet in this situation I think, however you may not want to go through that hassle to become a member.

Why don't you have a friend book it for you after paying him?

Thanks for this info. I don't really want to open a new bank account as I have my three accounts with one bank and don't want/need to change that. It might be my best option though.

To be honest, I only have a few friends in Calgary and don't see them all that often. I work 24 hours a day with two disabled people so that's pretty much my life right now!

Get another credit card and stick in a safety deposit box when you're not using it as opposed to being in your wallet. Having it there will remove some of the temptation to charge everything. My 2 cents of course ;)

I don't trust myself enough for this yet. Maybe in a few years. I'm honestly just getting back on my feet financially and have to be very careful with my spending habits. Years of not really caring about creditors and not making a lot of money caught up to me finally. Now that I'm making good money and paying things off, it feels good, but I still feel like I'm close to the edge. One missed payment and I'm back where I started. I just allowed myself to get a paypal account again!

I was apporved for a card about two months ago and as soon as I got it I started spending the money in my head. I cut it up.

[albertGQ]

SUS, I applaud you for living without a CC and getting your finances in order. But IMO, everyone needs at least one CC. You need to book hotels, car rentals, flights, concert/sporting event tickets, etc. Its endless

Get a CC with a low $500 limit. Heck, I'm sure there are some banks that hand out CC with $100 limits

[Akai-Sesui]

Good for you SUS, it takes a lot of courage to rebuild.
I don't know if this helps you in any way...but a couple months back, I bought a couple of West Edmonton Mall gift cards, and they're actually just prepaid Mastercards. I'm not sure if they have a max limit of any kind.

A prepaid card is a good 'patch' to prep you up for a credit card. If all goes well then getting a credit card shouldn't be too far away.

Keep it up man, the community supports you!

[Save Us Sutter]

SUS, I applaud you for living without a CC and getting your finances in order. But IMO, everyone needs at least one CC. You need to book hotels, car rentals, flights, concert/sporting event tickets, etc. Its endless

Get a CC with a low $500 limit. Heck, I'm sure there are some banks that hand out CC with $100 limits

Agreed, but I was thinking a pre paid card would do all those things for me? I guess with the fees it sort of seems not worth it now. A $500 limit wouldn't be enough to get me to Halifax though. Or rent a car for more than a weekend. $1000 would be practical but I know how fast I can go through a grand... just makes me uneasy.

Plus, I'm not going to have a credit card by Monday and that's when I need to book my flight. So still going to give Credit Union a shot. At least the fees won't be going to crooks.

Akai: That would mean going to Edmonton!

[4X4]

Agreed, but I was thinking a pre paid card would do all those things for me? I guess with the fees it sort of seems not worth it now. A $500 limit wouldn't be enough to get me to Halifax though. Or rent a car for more than a weekend. $1000 would be practical but I know how fast I can go through a grand... just makes me uneasy.

Plus, I'm not going to have a credit card by Monday and that's when I need to book my flight. So still going to give Credit Union a shot.

I just flew round trip to Halifax last month for $464 (inc. taxes) on Westjet.

[Save Us Sutter]

I just flew round trip to Halifax last month for $464 (inc. taxes) on Westjet.

I flew my Mom up here for mother's day and it was ~477. Paid cash at a travel agent who charged me 25 bucks so I could watch her go on westjet.ca. That was when I decided to get some kind of credit card.

It's going to be between 550-700 to fly there and back in July though. Then I have to get my brother out here for Kings of Leon in August. Damn summer.

[4X4]

I flew my Mom up here for mother's day and it was ~477. Paid cash at a travel agent who charged me 25 bucks so I could watch her go on westjet.ca. That was when I decided to get some kind of credit card.

It's going to be between 550-700 to fly there and back in July though. Then I have to get my brother out here for Kings of Leon in August. Damn summer.

I was actually kinda pissed that shortly after I booked my flights I found them (the exact same planes) for $30 cheaper on some travel website. That's a case of beer, dammit.