Have you ever had the dilemma of thinking of what to give someone who seemed to have everything? Or have you panicked and rushed to the mall on a holiday, only to have to contend with other last-minute shoppers?
Or perhaps a co-worker’s birthday slipped your mind and you’re left stumped and have no idea what to give her?
Prepaid gift cards have long replaced store gift certificates, which used to give an impersonal feel. Nowadays, Visa and MasterCard prepaid cards are very much acceptable. They’re perceived as a more
thoughtful gesture now, because the recipient is given the freedom to
choose what to purchase, so you’re sure that the card holder is getting what he or she wants or needs. It’s convenient because it works just like a debit card and is widely accepted at millions of establishments where Visa and MasterCard debit cards are accepted.
It’s just a secure as a credit card and safer than bringing cash on hand, because the card can be replaced if it gets lost or stolen.
You can get a Visa Prepaid Gift Cards by visiting one of their card providers all over the country. You can also apply online through secure online vendors, such as BCU, Chase, Comerica, Commerce Bank, DeluxeCard, Desert Schools FCU, First National Bank of Omaha, Gift Card Lab, GiftCards.com, iCARD Gift Card, IDT Gift2go, National City, Navy Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, SunTrust, U.S. Bank, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, West Suburban Bank and Wish Card Collection by Hallmark.
MasterCard Prepaid Gift Cards are available online via the MasterCard website, with five choices, each with its own card limit–Bank Freedom
Prepaid MasterCard from Bank Freedom, Key Possibilities Prepaid Gift Card from Keybank, Natalie Gulbis Gift MasterCard from MetaBank, Choose Your Own Gift MasterCard from RBS Citizens, N.A., and the Washington Mutual Prepaid MasterCard Gift Card from Washington Mutual.
Though the Visa and MasterCard Prepaid Gift Cards work like a debit card, it is not reloadable, so the initial value set by the card purchaser is the only amount that can be spent. Each time a purchase is made, the amount is automatically deducted from the card. Some cards are only for domestic use, which is apparent from the Valid only in the United States statement on the face of the card. Some prepaid gift cards are automatically activated, while some require activation prior to use. To make sure, you just have to check the information packets that came with the card.
If you find out that the remaining balance on your card would not be
enough to cover your last transaction, find out from the partner merchant if they allow split transactions, wherein you’ll pay for part of it in cash or through other methods. That way, you’ll be able to maximize the use of your prepaid gift card.
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