Complaint Review: GREENDOT PREPAID VISA/MC

Greendot offers cash prepaid "credit cards" sold at various retailers. I went to a CVS pharmacy to purchase one two weeks ago. When I inquired the clerk said, "Oh yeah we have so many problems with that company its a nightmare, I'm going to have to get a manager to help you." The manager explained everything but had a look of concern the whole time like I was making a huge mistake by purchasing this.

So he reluctantly took my 9.95 plus fifty in cash for a card that I was to use to fill out info online to recieve a real Visa card that I could use like a credit card...simple enough right WRONG. So I got the card with a fifty dollar balance a week later.

The first charge was my monthly fee of 4.95. so now they got me for 15 dollars, but no big deal. Firstly I used the card at a Krogers for 8 dollars and had no problems and then got gas a shell station for 20. So I should have had 50 minus 4.95, minus 8, minus 20. RIGHT. NO.

Now I have a .50 cent balance with no explanation online and no one to talk to over the phone (just an automated system that charged me .75 cents for nothing). From what I gather when you use the card as a credit card which it is supposed to be) they put a large hold on your available funds.

So imagine you recieved and activated a regular credit card you had signed up for. Imagine if they said. you have a $500 limit but anytime you use it for more than 10 dollars we are putting a $500 dollar hold on the card for up to two weeks.

So how the hell is that supposed to be more convient than me using cash. Plus anytime you want to add money you have to pay another 9.95 plus the cash. The impression I get is that they want to make there 20 bucks or so before you cancel as their business plan. well I hope they get a class-action on their a*s for preying on innocent people who can't or won't get regular credit cards.

Andrew
Springboro, Ohio
U.S.A.