Are there any credit cards offered by the big bank giants that would be accepted and suitable globally for use with online purchases?

[Wrongn3mber]

I'm talking about the ones that you can load up with cash which seem to be more safer than using your bank card.

[bednobs]

you are not talking about credit cards

[Wrongn3mber]

Do you know what I'm talking about? What's the correct name, prepaid card?

[bednobs]

yes i know what you mean. I don't think ANY of the banks do them, sorry

[bednobs]

but don't listen to me, what do i know?

[Wrongn3mber]

I'm not sure what you know bednobs but my quest will go on as surely in these times of internet fraud there must be a safe way of shopping online without having to risk what little pennies you've managed to save being cleared out?

[237SJ]

As long as you stick to safe, reputable websites you won`t have a problem with security. It doesn`t matter what card you use.

[hc4361]

All of these prepaid cards are Mastercard and will be accepted anywhere in the world that accepts Mastercard, no different to credit card Mastercard.
http://www.comparepre...co.uk/compare-uk.html

[Buenchico]

The main High Street banks have either never bothered with such cards, or have stopped issuing them. (For example, Barclays withdrew their Travel Money Card in May of this year).

However many of the cards currently available have big name financial institutions behind them. For example 'Optimum' is simply a trading name of Clydesdale Bank.

See here for a list of pre-paid cards which can be used for online purchases:
http://www.money.co.u...ase-prepaid-cards.htm
(Change the 'radio button' filter, at the top of the list to 'Use Abroad' to check that a card you're interested in also meets that criterion).

Chris

[bednobs]

none of them are from a big bank though

[Wrongn3mber]

Hc431, what are application fees? And by the looks of things there are also transfer fees and monthly fees?
Baret these look interesting but what happens when you have to enter you card,expiry,valid from date on the site in question?

[hc4361]

You are not going to get a pre-paid card that does not have charges and/or fees.
See if your bank is willing to issue you with an another, seperate credit card with a low credit limit if you are worried.

[Buenchico]

The card issuers aren't going to give you a facility for free, Wrongn3mber. They'll make money out of you in at least one way or another!

As my link shows, you usually have to pay an initial fee to get hold of a card. That fee can anything from £4.95 to £29.99. (There are a few 'free' cards but you simply end up paying more elsewhere).

Then some cards charge a monthly fee (even if you don't use them). That can be as high as £12.50. (i.e. you'll pay £150 per year simply for the 'privilege' of holding the card).

Most cards allow you to 'charge' them from your debit card without a fee but other charging methods (e.g. by paying cash at a post office) will incur fees.

Then you pay a fee to get money from a cash machine. Some cards also charge fee when you make a purchase from a UK store. Overseas purchases will incur additional fees.

You need to be VERY careful when choosing such a card!

[Wrongn3mber]

Thank you all for your answers. Buenchico it seems that this is literally a potholed minefield full of small print and excessive charges so will probably steer clear for the moment.

[tomlins]

Yes, there are many prepaid credit cards, and some even made specifically for travelling, you can find those in the Post Office if you're in the UK, if you do need a credit card that will help you grow your credit score i'd suggest <a target='_blank' href="http://www.breadmarket.co.uk/credit/cre
ditcards-with-bad-credit.php">credit
cards for bad credit</a>, you get the same protection as big bank credit cards and acceptence in highly likely.

[boxtops]

wrong, there are many prepayment cards which you just load up with as much money as you need. You need to do some research, we looked at them for a specific person a while back but didn't go ahead, as it was too costly - they charge you for putting money on the card, then charge you again when you use it. We just keep one particular credit card now for on-line purchases - that way we can see if there should be any irregular activity on it. Use reputable websites, not odd ones with no contact details, if you use established well-known sites you should have no problem. We've been shopping on-line for years - I'm not going to tempt providence by saying we've never had a problem.... make sure the site has a little padlock or is secure because the address starts https://