How does one use those prepaid debit cards that companies send as your mail in rebate..

[The Stigenator]

It sure has a VISA logo, but i cant get the damn thing to be used in a retail store

I got 2 cards with 40 each in it. I would like to use it. How the fsck does one use them. I tried them the other day at CVS, it was a No-Go..

These two cards are from AT & T.. with a Visa logo on them.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

The 2 pre-paid cards I've had worked just like using a debit card...and they get declined if you go one cent over their value.

 

[fatkorean]

Eventhough they say debit, you can't use it with pin access. It has to be processed as credit card. Also some prepaid cards wont allow you to use the whole amount. Like if you have $35.49 left, you can only really use $34.95.

-fk

 

[seanc85]

Originally posted by: fatkorean
Also some prepaid cards wont allow you to use the whole amount. Like if you have $35.49 left, you can only really use $34.95.
-fk

this is actually a result of the way the payments are processed, not the card itself
some places (mostly those that run your card before they know the exact total) will authorize $1 to verify the card. That $1 is then reserved, generally for 24h at most but sometimes longer

 

[The Stigenator]

oh ok.. so i got to buy something under 40 bucks.. to use it.. ugh!

alright i cant use it like put 40 on this card and 40 on another.

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
oh ok.. so i got to buy something under 40 bucks.. to use it.. ugh!

alright i cant use it like put 40 on this card and 40 on another.

You can if the cashier manually types in the amount to be charged to the card.

 

[Minjin]

The easiest way I've found to use these cards is to partially pay a bill online with it. I had a 20 dollar one recently that I used to make a payment to my Comcast or Cingular bill. Easy as pie and you don't have to worry about keeping track of how much is on it and where you can use it.