Complaint Review: Green Dot Prepaid

Anyone can buy a Green Dot card at a retailer (without any ID) but to use it they make you jump through hoop after hoop with disclosing sensitive and confidential information. BEWARE because minors fall prey to this- After being led to believe you have to "register" to use the card, they immediately take $7.95 out of your pre-paid balance for their "monthly" fee (this is on top of the fee you paid to buy the card). It is also unclear to purchasers that the "Debit" card can't be used to make an online purchase- SURPRISE. Customer "service" is a total fraudulent JOKE: They insist on talking to the child who buys it and refuse to let the parents resolve -and a minor cannot enter into a contract-- but they won't rescind the "contract" and return the $7.95 they basically stole from my child.   I demanded they return my son's $7.95 that "took" out of his $25.00 pre-paid balance and they refused- I contacted them several times, including by letter.   They made the whole process onerous, wouldn't leave a good call back number, refused to transfer me to Supervisors, said they could only speak to my son citing privacy issues, even though it was clear in the letter and by phone he was a child with some special needs-- I said all they need to do is waive the monthly fee they immediately took out of his pre-paid card, and that request was refused.  

A pre-paid Debit card should not have an immediate "monthly fee" taken out of the pre-paid balance- the "pre paid" card was purchased at a pharmacy retailer and there was a fee charged on top of the "pre paid" amount loaded onto the card, $4.95. 

If they are going to make their system have the illusion of being like Fort Knox, then their terms should be clearly disclosed from the beginning and a valid state-issued ID required to ensure those purchasing are over 18 years of age and able to enter into a legally binding and confusing agreement before any purchase is made.  Furthermore, their "management" refuses to resolve, even when contacted and specifically asked for a resolution- they have a confusing system- their phone will not allow you to access a representative and "Supervisors" won't talk to people.  They have all these catch phrases too and their call center sounds like it's in a foreign country- it screams "scam" and preying upon and taking money from unsuspecting people-- It's really shameful such entities exist and are allowed to conduct "business" in the US.

This is clearly usurious and preys on the vulnerable and anyone who might buy a pre-paid card thinking their funds are secure on the card.  The way the manner was mishandled shows me that this is the racket they are running- their phone center sounds like it's in a foreign country also- and their contact address is a PO Box in Pasadena, CA-- it is all so very shady and deceptive.  

It seems this questionable outfit and scheme is somehow skirting CA consumer protection laws as well.