Best Prepaid Debit Cards
Spriggy
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Spriggy Mobile is ok, but the main issue is when you get charged the monthly fee, and if the money is not there, they disconnect your service that… Read more
day. These are for children. When you want to contact your child and can't make the payment on time, you have no hope. I won't be using Spriggy Mobile anymore. At least with every other phone company, you don't get disconnected within 24 hours and can still receive calls. Not phased that my child can not ring out, but at least I can still contact them, not with Spriggy. You have a couple of hours to make a payment, but there is no way to make a payment without contacting customer service every time; it is such a nuisance. No ease of access to do things at all
FleetCard
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NO Velocity sign-up 10000 points. They are liar. Do not sign up this company to get Velocity points. They advertise velocity promotion that 10000… Read more
sign-up points. But, they never provided 10000 points. According to their T&C, the points is credited in third month. But, we still don't get it in fourth month. We got only 28 points in first month and 28 points in second month. When we contacted them, there was no resolution. They keep lying. We think they just deceived us using fake offer. If you need fuel card, there are many other fuel card. AVOID THIS COMPANY.
Kit
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I'm a 12-year-old boy and I started using this around 18 months ago and it has been great. the responsibility you earn along with the newfound… Read more
independence was so good! the debit was great and can be used pretty much everywhere the app is clean and easy to use with lots of learning tools to get you to learn about stuff like interest or savings. it encourages you to save your money with videos and animations. there is also an area where you can create your character and progress through fun activities teaching you about all the aspects of business, money, savings and more.
Commonwealth Bank Debit MasterCard
The Awful new Debit Commonwealth Card – I just received my Debit Commonwealth Card and I find it's looks ugly the name was not even embossed on the card it's awful I prefer the old looks… Read more
it's stated Bug sign of Debit card outside it. I suggest that Commonwealth Bank to Retain the old card instead of the nrw Commonwealth Card.
Australia Post Everyday Mastercard
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The bulk of these reviews capture the problems with it quite well. Among other things, the app is clunky and limited. Website functionality is… Read more
better but not ideal on mobile and also misleading around the costs of loading funds.
Changes communicated by email today only make the value proposition worse - adding a monthly fee and removing BPay as a funding option.
Whenever I’ve had an issue with the card (eg. mystery fees showing up, etc), Australia Post has shrugged its shoulders and claimed it has nothing to do with it, which is pretty appalling since its name/logo is prominently displayed on it. Evidently, they just see it as a revenue source, not a product for which they have any responsibility.
I’m not sure if there are better options in the market for this niche product - a reloadable debit card unconnected to a bank account - but there almost certainly aren’t worse ones.
Ultimately, it serves the purpose I need it for but it’s awkward to use and slightly painful to maintain.
Westpac Debit Mastercard
1 year on and Westpac still giving me hell. I go to buy something from Coles online and I get this message saying I need a code but then when I press… Read more
continue to I get sent a code no the transaction is cancelled.
I gave up 18 month sago and recently tried it again and it worked for the past 8 weeks and now I get this error message fro Westpac on the screen.
Westpac don't use humans any more on phone help lines its all AI cr#p where it can never ever understand what you are saying. AI a disaster story looming and will turn customers away to people that manage banks over machines.
I am going to the news papers this time.
I don't have this problem with Woolies or any other company on line its just with Coles. Coles say it Westpac fault and Westpac says well they say nothing as the AI gets you no where.
I’m extremely disappointed with the service I received from WEX Motorpass. I was recently charged $61 without any clear explanation or valid reason.… Read more
When I contacted customer service to resolve the issue, I was met with unprofessional behaviour. The representative I spoke with today was not only dismissive and rude, but also provided inaccurate information about what had occurred.
This level of customer service is unacceptable, and the lack of transparency around charges is deeply concerning. I urge all WEX customers to check their accounts carefully—based on my experience, there may be unexplained fees or incorrect charges you’re not aware of.
I expected better from a company managing financial services. This experience has seriously damaged my trust in WEX Motorpass.
NAB Platinum Visa Debit Card
Worst-kept secret to saving loads on travel – Travel insurance and more for $120 per year, before cashback? Yes please. This card has been saving me hundreds on insurance and excess reduction… Read more
fees, and while the transaction account it's linked to is nothing to write home about, that alone makes this card worth having. It's the only debit card left in Australia with these features.
Citro
Fraud / Scam Never received my cashback! If i can rate zero star i would
ZAAP
STAY AWAY! – Stay away from ZAAP. Worst service ever. I ordered 2 cards for my kids 13 Sept 2022. They said it would take 8-10 business days to get to me... well… Read more
its now 1 Nov 2022 and guess what... NO CARDS. I already transferred money into those cards.... I pray that I get it back. "Customer Service" or rather lack of customer service said I would get the money back in my card in 3-5 business days so fingers crossed that will actually happen.... Please anyone reading this, dont do it. You will only struggle and never get any cards
YouTrip
Unable to sign up as app has issues with quality of my ID. Customer service team keep giving basic non helpful AI style responses and just keep… Read more
referring me back to the app, resubmitted pics and made sure they were NOT blurry but app seems over sensitive. I even manually emailed the ID pics to them but they refuse to process. Seriously if you want customers you may want to make it easier to sign up and actually try to help when we have an issue!
Visa
Their AUSTRALIAN customer service is non existent – NO WHERE do they list their: Registered Business Address in Australia. Australian LEGAL dept contact details. Australian Head Office phone numbers.… Read more
Australian Email address. Australian Business Number. Australian Company Number.
Everything for the Australians, goes through the global phone / chat / one way no response webforms, that they never reply too.
Although they operate within Australia as a financial service, which requires them to have and to supply all of the requested information, they do everything to NEVER provide any of it to anyone.
It's illegal to do this.
And the Filipino "global contact centre" will constantly try to pry into professionally protected information, and they "can't find the information" on the Australian head office, and despite many promises to put me through to a supervisor, they just bounce me back with "No supervisors are available to take your call" - multiple times.
And the resumption of "Exactly what is it you were wanting to know sir?" routine.
I tell them that I have asked for this information 6 times so far, in the last 3/4 of an hour during the phone call, and that they are legally required to provide it.....
Registered Business Address in Australia. Australian LEGAL dept contact details. Australian Head Office phone numbers. Australian Email address. Australian Business Number. Australian Company Number.
And they just go around and around and around in circles, each and every time.
All calls take around 3/4 of an hour and do nothing but go around in circles, each and every time....
They don't reply to webform inquiries, they just give you the run around in phone calls and like wise on their website chat.
What is a prepaid debit card?
A prepaid debit card lets you put cash onto the card and then use it to make purchases in-store or online. You load money onto a prepaid card, usually via bank transfer, BPAY, or in person with the card issuer.
Prepaid debit cards are often referred to as prepaid credit cards, but they don’t offer any credit, charge interest, or affect your credit history. They work similarly to debit cards as you can only spend what you’ve loaded onto the card. However, these cards are not linked to a bank account.
Types of prepaid debit cards
- Everyday prepaid cards are designed for day-to-day spending, with many allowing for tap payments. These cards are usually reloadable.
- Travel prepaid cards or multi-currency cards are designed for overseas use. You can load foreign currencies into them and use them like a debit card to make purchases or withdraw money.
- Prepaid gift cards are designed for use in Australia. You can pre-load funds onto the prepaid gift card, which can be used anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, either in-store or online.
- Kids prepaid debit cards, such as those offered by Spriggy, are designed for parents to manage their children’s pocket money or savings. These cards usually have lower maximum load limits and don’t allow for cash withdrawals.
Should I get a prepaid debit card?
Prepaid debit cards can help you manage your everyday expenses and make it easier to pay for things overseas. Here are some pros and cons of getting a prepaid debit card for you to consider before deciding whether or not to get one.
How to choose a prepaid debit card
Preloaded vs. reloadable prepaid debit cards
Some prepaid cards (like gift cards) have a fixed amount of money for the card owner to use. Otherwise, you can get reloadable prepaid cards (or ‘load and go cards’) that let you top up your balance if you’re running low.
Card acceptance
It’s important to see where your card can be used. Most prepaid debit cards are issued by Visa and Mastercard, so can be used in-store or online wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted.
Load limit
Prepaid cards generally have a maximum amount of money you can have on the card at a time. Make sure the card you’re considering has a sufficient load limit for your needs.
Some cards also have a minimum load amount, which is the smallest amount of cash you can put onto your card. This is usually a relatively small amount - we’ve seen cards with a minimum load amount of $20.
Fees and charges
Different cards have different types of fees, so check the fine print to know what you’re getting into.
Some possible fees that you could have to pay include:
- Set-up fee: A one-time fee that’s charged when you first get or activate the card.
- Loading fee: This fee is charged when you load cash into the card - some prepaid cards will only charge a fee for this for certain transfer types, such as charging a fee for a BPAY transfer but no fee if you do a regular bank transfer.
- Cross-currency fee: This is charged when you use the card in a currency you haven’t loaded into the card.
- Card replacement fee: If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, this is a fee to replace your card - however, plenty of cards offer free replacement. Some cards do however charge a replacement fee if your card has expired and you need a new one.
- Cancellation fee: A fee for cancelling your card and getting the remainder of your cash out.
- Inactivity fee: Some cards charge this if you haven’t used your card in a set period of time.
- Card management fee: Some card issuers charge a small admin fee per year.
- ATM withdrawal fee: This is charged when you withdraw cash with your card from an ATM.
Keep in mind that some cards also cost money to buy. Prepaid debit gift cards, for example, can cost up to $10 to buy (on top of the card’s balance).
Supported currencies
If you want to use a travel prepaid card, check the currencies you need can be loaded onto the card. You should also check the exchange rate to see whether you’re getting a good deal. One benefit of prepaid cards is that you can lock in the exchange rate you use when you load cash onto the card before you travel.
Rewards
Some cards have rewards associated with using them. The Qantas Travel Money card, for example, lets you earn Qantas Points for every dollar you spend with the card, and also offers more promotions from time to time. Some cards also let you get free Wi-Fi.
Features
Look out for handy features that can make your card easier to use.
- Card-to-card transfer: Some cards, like the Australia Post Everyday Mastercard, let you transfer funds from one card to another.
- Tap and go: Many prepaid debit cards offer contactless payments.
- Smart device compatibility: If your card lets you pay using your smart device, you can leave your wallet at home.
- Two physical cards: Some cards let you have two of the same card, so that if you lose or damage one, you can still use the other one you’ve got stored safely at home or the hotel.
Support
If something goes wrong with your card, having support available can be the difference between being stuck without funds and having cash available to you.
Make sure that the support offered is suitable for your purposes. For example, the ability to call a number and talk to a customer support representative is usually preferred by most. Those overseas and using a travel card may prefer live chat or online assistance if they cannot make international calls.
Some card issuers also offer emergency funds assistance to eligible customers.
How do I get a prepaid debit card?
You can buy most prepaid debit cards online or at certain retailers and banks. Once you’ve decided on a card, you can check online where it is available to buy.
There are somtimes certain requirements to get a prepaid debit card, including:
- Age. Some prepaid cards have a minimum age requirement, which in many cases is 16 years old.
- Personal details. Details such as your full name, address, date of birth, and phone number may be required.
- Signature. You may need to sign your prepaid card.
Before using your card, you may need to activate it, set a PIN, and set an initial load amount.
If you buy your card in person, you should be able to activate it and use it straight away. If you’ve ordered it online, it should take 5 to 10 business days to arrive in the post.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the website owner - ProductReview.com.au. ProductReview.com.au is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the website information relates to your unique circumstances. ProductReview.com.au is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website.