Dicey debit cards

CONSUMER REPORTS:

April 13, 2012

In this era of rising bank fees, a new type of plastic is gaining ground! It’s prepaid debit cards and they do not require a bank account. You can buy them in stores and online. They bear familiar logos like MasterCard and Visa. And like a regular debit card, you can use them to make purchases and to get cash at ATMs.

But after examining the extensive terms and conditions of 16 prepaid debit cards, Consumer Reports says that’s where the similarity ends.

If your prepaid card is lost or stolen or there are errors on your account, you don’t have the same legal protections that you do with a traditional debit or credit card. And there can be lots of fees.

Take the AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid card. Its fees include a monthly charge of $9.95 unless you’ve loaded $2,500 on the card that month. Using an ATM to withdraw cash costs $2.50. And if you want to close your account and get a check for the remaining balance that costs $15.95.

Although some cards imply they can help improve your credit history, Consumer Reports says they can’t. They are a type of debit card. So the big three credit agencies don’t use any of the activity on them to determine your credit score.

TV-personality, Suze Orman’s, new prepaid debit card, is trying to change that in a pilot program with Trans Union one of the big three credit agencies. But Consumer Reports says it’s uncertain how effective that will be.

Companies that sell prepaid debit cards say they are a good alternative for people who don’t have a bank account or don’t qualify for a credit card. But Consumer Reports says prepaid debit cards should have the same legal protections as traditional debit cards and credit cards and the fees should be clearly disclosed so people can compare the cards.

Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports’ website. Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.

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