Tuesday 10 January 2012

Walmart MoneyCardSM MasterCard® Prepaid Card


  • Card Type: Prepaid MasterCard
  • Issuing Bank: Walmart
  • Intro APR: N/A
  • This credit card is an excellent choice for people with bad credit. 
  • This credit card is an excellent choice for people with no credit. 
  • No issuance fee online
  • No credit check or bank account required
  • Use everywhere MasterCard® debit is accepted
  • $10 bonus with qualifying Direct Deposit (for a limited time only)

Green Dot® Gold Prepaid Visa Card


The Green Dot® Gold Prepaid Visa Card can give you all the benefits of credit card use, without the worry of a bill to pay.
Use it just like any other Visa card – for on-line purchases, on-line bill pay, self-serve gasoline, and even booking airline flights. Plus, the Green Dot® Gold Prepaid Visa Card comes without the hefty fees charged by many pre-paid credit card issuers.
When you purchase a Green Dot® Gold Prepaid Visa Card at a retailer, you’ll pay up to $4.95 – but when you activate your card online, the fee will be waived. Your card will arrive with a zero balance and can then be loaded at any of 50,000 participating retail stores.
Or… you can opt for direct deposit and receive a $10 credit the first time a deposit of $250 or more is sent from an employer or government agency. Direct deposit is a free service – and if you need cash out you can withdraw it at no charge at over 15,000 participating ATMs.
The monthly fee for this card is $5.95 – but that fee will be waived for any month during which you load at least $1,000 or make 30 purchases with your card.
The bottom line – if you choose direct deposit of $1,000 or more per month, and if you use only network ATMs for your cash advances, you can use the Green Dot® Gold Prepaid Visa Card for free.
To qualify for the card, you must be 18 years of age or older and must provide your name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number and other information. This is in keeping with Federal law that requires us to obtain, verify and record information that identifies customers before they register a new card.

Account Now Gold Visa® Prepaid Card

Prepaid cards are always best to put control over your money and spending. A prepaid card with less charges and best support would spice up things to a higher level. World face recession and unnecessary and thoughtless credit card spending put you in deep trouble of huge debt. It is of course the time to think about a best pre-paid card that help you to add necessary controls over your spending.

Here is the Account Now - Gold Visa Prepaid Card for you to take a look on the feature and apply for one if you feel it is good.

Advantages of the card includes:

- It would accept everywhere where the visa debit cards get accepted
- No credit check or cred bureau check required
- No late or overdraft fees
- No minimum balance fees
- No bounced checks 
- Pay your bills online free
- Direct deposit pay checks free
- 100% approval
- $25 bonus with free direct deposit
- Purchase rewards
- 0% Activation fee
- $10,000 balance limit

Power of Prepaid Visa Card, Prestige of Gold

It required to complete a short online form which took less than 60 seconds to complete and submit! AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. Your deposits are FDIC insured up to $250,000.

To qualify for the $25 direct deposit bonus, within 6 months after being approved to receive a card you must deposit at least $500 per month via recurring direct deposit in two or more consecutive months.

Best features of this card includes:

- Power of Prepaid Visa Card, Prestige of Gold - Use your AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card at millions of locations worldwide - to withdraw cash, make everyday purchase shop online, or pay bills. Flaunt the gold privilege you have earned.

- Exclusive VIP Customer Service - Get preferred customer service treatment when you sign up for Direct Deposit.

- Higher Limits - Money Load & Withdrawal - Experience the privilege of Gold with higher daily and monthly limits on all withdrawals and purchases on your prepaid card when you enroll in Direct Deposit.

- Pay No Monthly Fee - Deposit $2,500 or more in a month on your card and you pay absolutely no monthly service fee on your AccountNow Gold Card.

Faster and easier access to your money

How It Works ?

Deposit money to your card, use it wherever Visa Debit cards are accepted and stay in full control with online account access and free Mobile Text Alerts. Unlike a bank account or a credit card, you only spend the money you load onto your prepaid card. With no more costly overdraft or interest fees, you get the peace of mind you deserve.

- Deposit Money - Direct Deposit your paycheck or government benefits check to your AccountNow Gold Card and say goodbye to check cashing fees and waiting in lines. It’s fast, free and easy, plus you get a $25 bonus. You can also add cash at any of our retail partner locations. With over 135,000 locations nationwide, there is always a place near you.

- Shop Anywhere, Get Cash - With the power of a Visa in your wallet, you can use your AccountNow Gold Card to shop online, pay for gas, reserve rental cars, hotels, and airline tickets and shop everywhere Visa Debit cards are accepted. Plus, you’re covered by Visa's Zero Liability** coverage, protecting you from unauthorized purchases**.

- Withdraw cash at millions of locations - You’re only a minute away from your money because you can withdraw cash at more than one million ATMs worldwide. Even better, you can skip the ATM fees all together by using your AccountNow Gold Card to get cash back at your local grocery store.

- Pay Bills - With the FREE Online Bill Pay service it is easy to stay on top of all your monthly bills like rent, cell phone, cable and utility bills. Plan ahead and set up Bill Pay to have all your monthly bills automatically paid from your prepaid card account every month. No more running around town to pay a bill with expensive money orders or cash. Expedited (same day or next day) Bill Pay is also available for nominal fees.

Capital One® Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard®


For many people, carrying cash can be a hassle - especially if you are planning on making a large purchase. The Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard issued by Capital One eliminates this problem by providing the convenience of carrying plastic without the hassle of dealing with interest rates, over limit fees and and penalties.
Benefits
The Capital One card offers free direct deposit to cardholders. The card also reimburses its users if their card is lost or stolen. As an added security benefit, the product is FDIC insured.
Rewards
Rewards do not apply.
Balance Transfers
This service does not apply.
Rates
The card does not carry an annual percentage rate. There is no application fee or minimum amount required to secure the card. The issuer offers one free ATM withdrawl per Transaction Cycle and $1.95 ATM fee thereafter.
Who Should Apply
Individuals who want all the convenience of a debit card and the protections that accompany it may benefit from the Capital One Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard.
Credit Standing
No credit checks and no credit reporting apply to this product.

Walmart MoneyCardSM MasterCard® Prepaid Card



Walmart has entered the financial arena by offering its Walmart Moneycard MasterCard prepaid card. This is one of many available prepaid debit credit cards in the market today. This is just one of WalMart’s hundreds of products however. The company is adding more financial choices to its inventory all the time.
You do not have to own a checking account to obtain this card. Nor is there credit checks associated with this card. To set up your card you simply have to go to Walmart with a check or cash to apply. You can apply a portion or all of the funds to your Walmart MoneyCard MasterCard with a single swipe.
The Walmart MoneyCard MasterCard is available in Visa or MasterCard options. They can be used anywhere these cards are acceptable. There are fees associated with these cards of which you should be aware though.

Walmart MoneyCard MasterCard Prepaid Card Benefits

The benefits of traveling with prepaid debit credit cards include the safety of not carrying cash. You can also request an additional card for other members of the family at no charge. Set up direct deposit and you will be entitled to a $10 bonus if transferred funds exceed $250.
You do not have to worry about overdrafting this account unlike regular credit cards. You are not limited to certain stores like dining credit cards or store cards. A bonus is the 1% you receive for your gas purchases.

Walmart MoneyCard MasterCard Prepaid Card Limitations

There are some limitations to using your Walmart MoneyCard MasterCard prepaid card. It is not like a reward credit card that offers points towards your purchases. There is also a $3 check-cashing fee that is waived when you reload onto your card using an eligible check.
There is also a reload fee when you add money to your card. The only way to avoid this fee is if you opt for the recurring automatic direct deposit. This does not work like secured credit cards in helping you rebuild your credit.

Walmart MoneyCard MasterCard Prepaid Card Review

This card is convenient for those who do not have a checking account. Walmart Moneycard MasterCard is supported by GE Bank. Most people that use the card is said to spend between $8 and $9 per month.

Sunday 8 January 2012

All American Gold Card

The All American Gold Card is a card designed for those looking to establish or re-establish their credit. This card can only be used at usashoppingclub.com as it is a catalog store value credit card. Is this the right card for you if you want to build your credit? Read further to find out. 

Fees - There is a one-time application fee of $149.95. However, there is no annual fee or monthly processing fee which is common in credit cards in this category. Hence, your total first year fees will be $149.95. There is no interest charges, but you have to pay the greater of 15% of your balance or $25.00 monthly. Your credit payments is also reported to one major credit bureau (the terms and conditions, however, do not say which credit bureau they report to). 

Application Criteria - Though there are no credit or employment checks and you have to be discharged from bankruptcy to qualify for the card. 

usashoppingclub.com - This catalog card can only be used at usashoppingclub.com. The Shopping Club offers over 14,000 products. 



Unsecured Credit Line - You can get an unsecured credit line of up to $5,000. The amount will be lower initially and your credit limit will be increased periodically if you have made timely payments. Your monthly payments will also be reported to one major credit bureau. 

$300 Grocery Gift Card - The All American Gold offers a $300 grocery gift card consisting on 30 $10.00 coupon certificates. 

Fine Prints - There are a few fine prints that you have to be aware of before you apply for this card. 

When you are approved, All American Gold will give you a 30-day *free trial whereby you can access your credit report. (On their website, they are not specific as to which credit bureau you do you get your report from). However, after 30 days, they will start charging you $9.95 per month to access your credit report unless you inform them that you are canceling this service. This is rather annoying as many people will not even be aware that they have been signed up for this service. You can actually get a free report from the three major credit bureaus once a year. Even if you wanted to get instant access to your reports and credit scores, you will be better off buying this service from the credit bureaus themselves. 

Under the terms and conditions, you will be automatically given a 30 trial of All American Gold elite membership program (as a cardholder, you are a "member" of the usa shopping club. As an Elite Status Member, you will receive privileges in USA Credit Care, USA Prescription Discount Plan and USA Emergency Roadside Assistance Plan. If you choose to be an "elite member", you will be charged $19.95 monthly fee (more like your bank account will be debited with a monthly $19.95 monthly payment to USA Gold) until you call them up to cancel it. 

On the All American Gold Card website, there is a section that says that you stand a chance to win a free DVD. To get a chance to win that free dvd, you have to once again enroll in a membership of an external website call freecooloffers.com. Unlike the previous two cases, you are not "automatically enrolled or given a free trial". My take on this to forget about this offer as your one-time payment to get this card will probably get you a very good Sony DVD player! 

When you submit an application for the card, you would have authorized All American Gold Card to debit your bank account of $114.95 as an enrollment fee and $35.00 for the application fee. The $35.00 application fee is non-refundable (which means if you change your mind about getting this card, you will lose $35.00). Hence, you have to be sure this is the card you want before you apply. 

Conclusion - If you are looking to reestablish your credit, you should weigh the choices among unsecured, secured, prepaid or catalog cards. I still believe getting a secured credit card should be the first choice. The key advantage of the All American Gold Card is that aside from the one-time application fee, there are no other fees involved, like monthly processing fee, transaction fees that are so common in prepaid credit cards and unsecured credit cards. You are limited by where you can actually use your card. Hence, it will be your choice between cost and convenience. 

Positives
  • Reports to one credit bureau



  • Negatives

  • One-time processing fee

  • Can only use card at www.usashoppingclub


  • Platinum Plus Card


    The Platinum Plus Card is a catalog credit card that is designed for those who are looking to establish or reestablish their credit. However, there are limitations to using this card because you can only use it at usashoppingclub.com. Is this the right card for you? Read further to find out.


    Fees - There is a one-time application fee of $149.95. Otherwise, there is no annual fee, maintenance fee, interest charges or transaction charges. Hence, aside from the one-time application fee, the ongoing maintenance cost is lower than most credit cards in this category. If you carry a balance, you have to pay either the greater of 15% of the balance or $25.00 for your monthly payment.


    Catalog Credit Card, Not Regular Credit Card - Remember that this is not a visa or mastercard and that you can only use this credit card to purchase merchandise at usashoppingclub.com. You can get an unsecured credit line of up to $7,500. Your monthly payments will also be reported to one major credit bureau. (note that the terms and conditions does not specify which one).


    Application Criteria - Though there are no credit or employment checks, you need to be discharged from any bankruptcy to qualify


    Verdict - When you have bad credit, you will be surprised to find that you will still get credit card offers. But you have to be aware of what you are getting into because there are different types of "cards" available". And I think that before we can reach a conclusion about this card, we have to explore these other alternatives.


    The first alternative folks with bad credit have are unsecured credit cards. But getting one can be costly because these cards typically tag on fees like application fees and monthly maintenance fees. When you do the final calculations, the total annual fees for these types of unsecured credit card turns out to be over one hundred dollars! From a fee perspective, this card is better than many of these sub prime cards. But the downside is that you can only use the card at USA Shoppings' portal.


    Folks with damaged credit can also get prepaid credit cards. But unfortunately, while they prevent you from over spending, they do not help you to rebuild your credit because by definition, you are not extended credit.


    The next alternative that folks have is to get secured credit cards. The advantage these cards have over a catalog card (like Platinum Plus) is that the annual fee is very low and you can use it anywhere Visa or MasterCard is accepted.


    In light of these alternatives, here's our take on this card - If you have very bad credit, or just been discharged of a bankruptcy and want to rebuild your credit, I suggest getting a secured credit card instead that reports to the three credit bureaus, has low annual fee and most importantly allows you to use it anywhere like a regular credit card.


    If you need a larger unsecured line of credit and can live with the limitations of a catalog credit card, then perhaps the Platinum Plus Card is worth checking out.
        
        Positives
    • No annual fee and monthly processing fee
    • No transaction fee
      Negatives
    • Can only use card at usashoppingclub.com

    USA Gold Card


    The USA Gold Card is a catalog credit card that is specifically designed for those who are looking to establish or re-establish their credit. We always recommend those with bad credit to get a secured credit card as it is probably the most cost effective among the alternative sub-prime credit cards. However, those who have been consistently turned down for any credit card application may want to consider the USA Gold Card. However, you have to be aware of what this card will and will not do for you. Read on...


    Fees - There is a one-time application fee of $149.95, consisting of an enrollment fee of $114.95 and an application fee of $35.00. The application fee of $35.00 is non-refundable once you apply for the card. Otherwise, there is no annual fee, maintenance fee, interest charges or transaction charges. Hence, aside from the one-time application fee, the ongoing maintenance cost is lower than most credit cards in this category. If you carry a balance, you have to pay either 15% of your balance or $25.00.


    usashoppingclub.com - This catalog card can only be used at usashoppingclub.com. The Shopping Club offers over 14,000 products. You can get an unsecured credit line of up to $5,000. The amount will be lower initially and your credit limit will be increased periodically if you have made timely payments. Your monthly payments will also be reported to one major credit bureau.


    $300 Grocery Gift Card - USA Gold offers a $300 grocery gift card consisting on 30 $10.00 coupon certificates.


    Fine Prints - There are a few fine prints that you have to be aware of before you apply for this card.


    Firstly, when you are approved, USA Gold will give you a 30-day *free trial whereby you can access your credit report. (On their website, they are not specific as to which credit bureau you do you get your report from). However, after 30 days, they will start charging you $9.95 per month to access your credit report unless you inform them that you are canceling this service. This is rather annoying as many people will not even be aware that they have been signed up for this service. You can actually get a free report from the three major credit bureaus once a year. Even if you wanted to get instant access to your reports and credit scores, you will be better off buying this service from the credit bureaus themselves.


    Secondly, under the terms and conditions, you will be automatically given a 30 day free trial of USA Gold elite membership program (as a cardholder, you are a "member" of the usa shopping club. As an Elite Status Member, you will receive privileges in USA Credit Care, USA Prescription Discount Plan and USA Emergency Roadside Assistance Plan. If you choose to be an "elite member", you will be charged $19.95 monthly fee (more like your bank account will be debited with a monthly $19.95 monthly payment to USA Gold) until you call them up to cancel it.


    Thirdly, on the USA Gold Card website, there is a section that says that you stand a chance to win a free DVD. To get a chance to win that free dvd, you have to once again enroll in a membership of an external website call freecooloffers.com. Unlike the previous two cases, you are not "automatically enrolled or given a free trial". My take on this to forget about this offer as your one-time payment to get this card will probably get you a very good Sony DVD palyer!


    Lastly, when you submit an application for the card, you would have authorized USA Gold Card to debit your bank account of $114.95 as an enrollment fee and $35.00 for the application fee. The $35.00 application fee is non-refundable (which means if you change your mind about getting this card, you will lose $35.00). Hence, you have to be sure this is the card you want before you apply.


    Verdict - For those with bad credit, the most cost effective card to get (in our opinion) is a secured credit card or even a prepaid credit card. The main disadvantages of a catalog credit card is that it can only be used in an issuers catalog store. However, if you have been constantly denied a credit card because of your credit history, then you might want to consider a catalog credit card like the USA Gold Card. Just be aware of the fine prints, do not over-extend your credit, pay your bills fully on time. Despite its limitations of where you can use them, your monthly payments are reported to one credit bureau and you can use it to rebuild your credit .






        Positives
    • Reports to one credit bureau
    • No transaction fee
    • Negatives
    • One-time processing fee
    • Can only use card at usashoppingclub.com

    USA Platinum Card


    The USA Platinum card is a catalog card that is catered to those looking to re-establish their credit. It is not a regular credit card in that it can only be used at usashoppingclub.com. Is this the right to establish your credit? Find out more about this card.

    Fees - There is a one-time application fee of $149.95. There is also no apr and hence no interest charges. If you carry a balance, you have to pay a minimum of the greater of either 15% of your balance or $25.00. Though there is a one-time application fee, the absence of any monthly maintenance fee or transaction fee make this card cheaper to maintain than other high cost unsecured, secured or prepaid credit cards. You have to bear in mind that being a catalog card, you can only use for card for purchases from USA Platinum shops (specifically usashoppingclub.com). This is not a visa or a mastercard. You can be given up tp $7,500 in unsecured credit line for purchases from their catalog.

    Application Criteria - There are no credit or employment checks. The credit line is reported to a major credit bureau..

    Verdict - If you have very poor credit, have just been discharged from bankruptcy, I would advice getting a good secured credit card with a low annual fee, which reports to the three credit bureaus and gives you a credit limit equivalent to your deposit. I would recommend the Orchard Bank Secured Mastercard®, which has a $35.00 annual fee, put down a deposit, use the card and pay your bills fully to build your credit over time.

    However, if the idea of potentially having a $7,500 credit line appeals to you, then perhaps the USA Platinum may be a card you want to check. Just be aware of its limitations, which is that you can only use them at usashoppingclub.com and your payments are only reported to one major credit bureau which USA Platinum does not specify.

    Positives

    • Get an unsecured credit line
    • No transaction fee
    • The credit line is reported to a major credit bureau
    • Negatives
    • Can only use card at usashoppingclub.com

    Thursday 5 January 2012

    Capital One® Secured MasterCard®



    Do you have a bad credit score or don’t have much of a credit history? If so, don’t damage your credit further by applying for regular credit cards as you will most likely be turned down.The Capital One Secured Credit Card gives an opportunity for people with bad or limited credit to improve their credit score while having access to a credit card. This card is issued by Capital One Financial, one of the largest card issuers in the U.S. A secured credit card is a credit card that reports to the 3 major credit bureaus; it is not a debit card which doesn't help build credit.

    Things We Like About This Card


    No application fees. You can apply for this card without having to first pay a fee which would go to waste if you are not accepted. Some other secured cards actually charge you an application fee, but not this card.
    Automatic reporting to the 3 main credit bureaus. As an actual credit card, your payment information will be reported to all 3 credit bureaus in the U.S. (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). So as long as you make timely payments on your card and not exceed your credit limit, your credit score will improve gradually, which will then enable you to apply for regular unsecured cards that usually comes with a higher credit line and rewards program.


    Get up to $3,000 of credit. The amount of credit you can have is based on the security deposit you make, and credit limits from $200 up to $3,000 are available. The minimum refundable security deposit is $49, $99 or $200 depending on your credit score and other application information sent to the card issuer.


    You can make your security deposit all at once or over time. Make sure to make your full minimum deposit within 80 days of being approved. You can make your security deposit online or over the phone. Once your full deposit has been received, you will get your card shortly.


    Get a future credit line increase without adding more security deposit.If your payment and credit history improve in the future, you may qualify for this.


    Capital One is FDIC insured, which means that if the bank declares bankruptcy, you can still get back the money that you put as a deposit as that is insured by the US government.


    Accepted everywhere MasterCard is accepted, which means that you can use your card to pay for things at practically all stores, since almost all merchants and retailers accept MasterCard.


    Enroll in CreditInform for free. CreditInform, a service by Capital One, is provided to help you monitor and understand your credit, and benefit from other tools which will help you become more creditworthy.


    No balance transfer fee, which allows you to transfer your existing card balances to this card without paying any fee to do so. Remember that if you do transfer balances from another account to this card, you must still pay the balance transfer APR, which is a high 22.9% APR.



    What you may not like:


    $29 annual fee which must be paid timely every year in order for your account to be considered active. Almost all secured cards charge an annual fee. This $29 annual fee is very low compared to other secured cards which may charge more than $100.


    Security deposit does not earn interest. Like many other secured cards, your deposit doesn’t earn any interest.


    Capital One Secured MasterCard is the one of the best secured credit cards in the U.S., and is an excellent choice of card to get for people who would like to improve their credit score or to build a credit history, and also to have access to a certain credit limit which will useful in many situations. To be approved for this card offer, your annual income must be more than your annual rent/mortgage payments.
    Credit limits from $200 to $3,000 are available, and if your credit improves in the future, you may be granted a credit increase without having to increase your security deposit. With a low annual fee of $29 and no application or monthly maintenance fees, this card is a low-cost way of building credit. As an actual credit card and not a debit card, it reports to the 3 credit bureaus in the U.S., so if you pay on time every month, your credit score will go up over time.
    Remember that this card is mainly to help you improve your credit score, so use it responsibly so that you don’t create a balance which you won’t be able to pay off in full by the due date each month.






    Wednesday 4 January 2012

    Discover® Student Card



    Securing a line of credit as a college student can be difficult, but the Discover Student Card is designed specifically for students attending colleges and universities. The Discover card can help young adults build their credit score and enjoy the convenience of paying with plastic.
    Benefits
    The Discover Student Card reports payment history to the three credit bureaus - Experian, TransUnion and Equifax - allowing students who pay their bills on time to develop a strong credit rating. In addition, the credit card offers low rates, minimal fees and a generous rewards package.
    Rewards
    Students who shop with their Discover card will earn up to 5 percent cash back on purchases for gas, travel, restaurants, pet stores, home improvement retailers and more! Cardholders will also earn up to 1 percent unlimited cash back rewards on all other purchases made with the Discover card. As an added bonus, students who shop with their Discover card on the lender's exclusive online shopping website can earn a 5 to 20 percent cash back bonus.
    Balance Transfers
    Balance transfers do not apply.
    Rates
    Cardholders will enjoy a nine-month zero percent introductory rate for all purchases made with their Discover card. After this period expires, a variable rate as low as 13.99 to 20.99 percent will apply. No sign-up or annual fee applies.
    Who Should Apply
    The credit card is designed for students enrolled at four-year universities and colleges, however, individuals attending trade schools and community college are encouraged to apply.
    Credit Rating
    The lender requires a good to excellent credit rating - a score of 700 or above - to secure this card.