WARNING! Do Not Use WALMART MONEY CARD or any PREPAID CARDS ISSUED BY GREENDOT CORP!
Do not take the chance of losing your money. Think it can't happen to you? Think again!
Your money is safer in cash or at your local bank where you can actually visit the branch to resolves issues instantly. If you can't open a real checking account then go to a local credit union and open a savings account. DO NOT USE PREPAID CARDS.
Prepaid Cards are no good no matter who the issuer is! Sure they promise you will get your direct deposits faster, but don’t believe the hype. Once your money is funded to the prepaid card, you are no longer in control of the money and risk having your funds withheld due to unreasonable security blocks and holds on the account that could take weeks, even months, or maybe never removed. If you ever have an issue with your prepaid account you will find that there is minimum support and poor customer service. If you do choose to use a prepaid card DO NOT load more than $100 and only keep $100 or less on the card. This way if an issue arises with the account, you will never be out of more than $100. DO NOT, I repeat do not load your IRS Tax refund, payroll, or government benefits onto ANY prepaid card. PREPAID CARDS ARE UNREALIABLE! If your card is blocked you will have NO ACCESS to your funds. The department which places the block is unreachable. It doesn't matter what the card's load limit is. This means you could be late on rent, mortgage, car payments, and other bills.
If you are serious about your money, DO NOT load your money onto prepaid cards. The prepaid card issuers are now treating your money as if it’s a loan. Once you put your money on the card, you may have to fight them to gain access to use it. Your money becomes their money! They will request ID verification from you and still deny you access to your money. Requesting to verify the same information which they’ve already verified to approve the account in first place. If you can't get a real bank account, just get your payments by check. At least you're guaranteed to have your money. If you need a credit card to make purchases, get a secured credit card. Your purchases will be protected and you won’t be held liable for fraudulent purchases. Another option is a Visa Gift Card or an American Express Gift Card. Those are not reloadable but at least they won’t get blocked and can be used without giving up your personal info.
We are the ones keeping them in business. The prepaid card companies need us more than we need them. They are enriching themselves from interest and fees from our funds. Let’s turn the tables on them by avoiding the use of prepaid cards. They don’t care about you or your bills. All that matters to them is your money. Show them that we all could do without the hassle of prepaid cards! Spread the word!
Here’s My Story:
I applied for a Walmart Money card online. Walmart Money Cards are now issued by Green Dot Corp, which has tons of bad reviews and poor service. Upon applying, I had to answer security questions to prove my identity which I completed successfully and then my account was opened and approved. Everything seemed fine until I had my tax return deposited into my Walmart Money Card account. I made few purchases and paid and few bills. However, my transaction was declined when I tried to pay for a food order.
I called Walmart Money Card customer service. Walmart Money Card’s customer service calls are cheaply routed to the Philippines. I was told there was a block on my card due to unusual spending activity. Which I couldn’t understand because it’s my money and that’s what the card is for, “spending”. Anyway, the representative said to get the block removed I needed to verify my identity by successfully answering security questions. Something I already did when I opened the account. The problem is, the call reception was bad and I could only hear every other word. I requested to call back from my landline, but he stated that if I called back I would be required to fax in documents instead and it would take 10 business days to have the fax reviewed. So I took the chance of trying to answer the questions over the phone though I could barely make out what he was saying. The result… The system said I had failed and I was told that now I’d have to send a fax. I was devastated! I’m recovering from surgery and I needed access to my money urgently for my medical and personal needs. This means I won’t even be able to purchase my heart medication. I had no choice but to send the fax. I sent my fax to 866-963-6231. I sent the fax about 7 times and was repeatedly told that it wasn’t received. I gave up on faxing and sent it by email. Finally they’d received it. I was told it would be attached to my account and sent to their Verifications Department and I would hear something back after it has been reviewed. I was also told it would be expedited and it would be reviewed in 2 days.
I called daily to check the status of the review but was told there was no status. No one ever called me and the block still remained. I had no access to my money. I continued calling them until one day I was told that they had reviewed it but couldn’t verify my ID because the State of the ID is not the state where I’m currently living in. So my card remained blocked. Okay so they don’t like my ID, well what the hell am I supposed to do to get this block off? You can’t just keep my money!
They told me that when we activate this card we are agreeing that they can suspend the card for any reason and hold our funds. THAT’S BS! You CAN suspend the card if you want. You CAN burn the card up in hell, but my money is mine! Long story short, I was told that they were resending the request to have my info reviewed and it could take another 10 business days. I can log in, but I can’t use my money. I’m beyond angry. I can’t even put it in words. Well, I got tired of playing the waiting game. I have submitted a complaint online to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If you are experiencing similar issues first share it on RipOffReport.com. Then submit your complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Here’s the link consumerfinance.gov
I was depending on this money. Now I have no money for anything. I'm even taking less of my medication than directed in order to make it last until I have a resolution. Hopefully I'll live to see it.
I’ll keep everyone updated on the resolution.
Cashall
atchison,#2REBUTTAL Individual responds
Sun, March 12, 2017
What number did u call to talk to anyone? Everytime ive called it habgs up on me and never lets me talk to anyone.
IamGood
Fort Worth,#3General Comment
Tue, March 04, 2014
Tax Payer, I was not going to waste my time with someone as stupid as you, until I read your response to yourself, after you rebutted back to me.
These are the facts in the case.
#1. I do not work for Green Dot. I responded, and Rebutted to this case because you decided to hang your dirty brown stained laundry out for all to view, so that GIVES me the right to respond.
#2. You did not receive your money, because GreenDot wanted proof they were talking to you, and not someone else. After all this was a NEW ACCOUNT. This is your quote
"Generally the questions will pertain to you, but sometimes they may not. If you can't answer the questions, the account can't be approved nor activated. I have already successfully completed the ID verification. Otherwise my account would not have been opened. If you read my complaint carefully you'll understand why I was unable to answer a second time. This could have happened to anyone. I should not have to repeat this process over and over again since I've already done so upon signing up. That's ridiculous!"
Lets take this apart shall we? #1, they make you answer these security questions when you attempt to open your account to prevent fraud. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with identifying yourself at a later date. Just because you successfully answer these questions, doesnt guarentee to GreenDot that you are the person who filled out the application.
You said that the reason you could not answer the questions the day they spoke to you was "you had a bad connection?" But you were able to hear everything else? Was the reason you got everything right the first time you answered the security questions was that the answers were multiple choice?
#3. Lets talk about your ID for a second shall we? This is your quote.
"The address on my ID has nothing to do with where I made my purchases. I've had the same ID for years and have moved since. Many people do it. I made my purchases not far from my billing address. My account is new."
Lets take this apart shall we? #1 your Id is several years old, with the same address on it, but you have moved several times. If this ID is your drivers licence did you know you are in violation of state law? State Law requires that you change your address on your ID each time you move.
#2. Since you could not successfully answer the security questions over the phone, they required Identification via an Official State Id. Well mr Smart a*s, your ID had an address that was several years old, and did not match your address given on your application, so as far as Green Dot was concerned you had not approved your identity.
Perhaps I should have my 6 year old granddaughter write this at the 1st grade reading level, so that your tiny little brain might be able to comprehend what I wrote here.
Just out of curiosity, if you ever got into a wreck, and your ID had an address that was several years olde,how would the person who's car you damaged ever get in touch with you? Was this ID descrepancy by design? I wonder!!!!!
AGAIN I SAY , IF YOU DONT WANT TOTAL STRANGERS POINTING OUT WHAT A DUMB a*s YOU ARE, STAY AWAY FROM SITES LIKE THIS, AND STOP PUTTING YOUR DIRTY s**t STAINED LAUNDRY OUT FOR ALL TO SEE!!!! FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS A TWO WAY STREET YOU KNOW!!!!
Tax Payer
Berks County,#4Author of original report
Thu, February 27, 2014
I sympathize with you. Sorry you and your family are having this issue. I totally agree with your views. I've also posted a report regarding this product and service http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Green-Dot-Walmart-Money-Card/Pasadena-California-91107/Green-Dot-Walmart-Money-Card-Blocked-Card-Highjacked-Account-Wont-Release-My-Money-Monro-1126305
I also notice someone has posted a negative rebuttal to your report below. Same thing happened when I posted my report. I believe this weirdo is an employee of Green Dot or associated with Green Dot. Green Dot is a corrupt corporation of crooks. They steal and get mad when we tell. Lol! He should be ashamed of himself posting such a nasty rude comment. Yes I believe its the same person just using different names. He shouldn't be allowed to come on here and harass people like that.
I wish your family the best.
Tax Payer
Reading,#5Author of original report
Wed, February 26, 2014
Wow I just love your response. You're so nice and well mannered! Thanks for being sensitive to my issue. I'll even take a few moments of my presious time to answer some of your pointless questions.
You claim that you don't work for them but for some reason I find that hard to believe. Unless you have plenty of time on your hands, why else would you be so interested in writing a lengthy rebuttal? You're not asking questions to get info to assist in your own similar issue, so what's your point? It appears that you are posting comments in defense of Green Dot Corp. I would expect an employee to be defensive because I'm exposing things that they don't want people to know.
You're conclusion is vague. I've taken my time to post my report here and share my experience with others so no one has to go through what I've went through. You can say Green Dot was doing their job if you want to. That's your opinion, but this is not an isolated incident. The proof is in all the reviews online. Anyone can find these negative reviews on Google, Yelp, other complaint sites, and etc. I'm not the only one complaining. There is obviously a problem.
Anyways, as far as my transactions go no they were not major purchases. They were regular purchases and I only made a few. The address on my ID has nothing to do with where I made my purchases. I've had the same ID for years and have moved since. Many people do it. I made my purchases not far from my billing address. My account is new.
However, you are missing the big picture here. The issue is not about the block being placed on the account or if Green Dot was justified in placing the block. It’s about me complying with a request to fax in verification and the block NOT BEING REMOVED! The same issue others are having. Most people would understand that when reading my report! Moreover, I didn't post my complaint here to receive your conclusion. Who's paying you to guess why it was close? I posted it to share information and for a resolution.
I've had blocks placed on my American Express due to online purchases. That's not a problem. They asked me if I made the purchases, I confirmed that I did and the block was removed. Simple! I love them.
Oh and you wanted to know why I chose to open a Walmart Money Card account? Because its my choice and I can if I want to. It doesn't mean that I don't have a checking account. And for your info its in good standing, thank you.
YOU STATED:
"#1 The security questions you answered when you applied for the card were answers to questions that only you would know, and they recorded the responses in their database. Green Dot did not verify your security answers, I mean really, did you really expect that they would take the time to verify your security answers?
#2. When they asked you for the answers to your security questions, and you could not answer, then you could not verify your identify to them over the phone. Because you did not verify your identify they required you to do so in writing."
Your questions don't make sense. Or maybe I guess you don't understand what security questions I'm referring to. These are questions generated by a database of information collected from my personal credit profile and public records. I guess you're assuming I meant questions on the application. Anyway when you apply online or activate a reloadable prepaid card issued by Green Dot, you are required to answer these questions successfully to prove your identity.
Generally the questions will pertain to you, but sometimes they may not. If you can't answer the questions, the account can't be approved nor activated. I have already successfully completed the ID verification. Otherwise my account would not have been opened. If you read my complaint carefully you'll understand why I was unable to answer a second time. This could have happened to anyone. I should not have to repeat this process over and over again since I've already done so upon signing up. That's ridiculous!
I will not waste my time answering anymore questions posted from you. I'm here to help not bicker. Obviously you're just bored... Or you're an employee of Green Dot. Or maybe you work for Brand.com.
IamGood
Fort Worth,#6General Comment
Tue, February 25, 2014
Tax Payer:
I have a series of questions for you, and some observations.
Question #1,. How long did you have your green dot card for , prior to it being suspended?
Question #2.. When you had your card suspended were you out of town? (I ask this because your ID was from another State, than what you put on your green dot application).
Question #3.. Did you make a number of transactions in one day, that may have been out of the ordinary? An example you normally make 1-2 transactions in 1 day, but you made 10-20 in one day?
Question #4. Did you make any excessively large transactions, that you dont typically make? I other words if most of your transactions were anywhere between 10.00 - 20.00 each, and all of a sudden you made a 100-200 transaction?
Question #5 Did you make any transactions at a place where you had never shopped before?
All these could be signs that your card was being used by someone else. Considering that Green Dot would be responsible for returning your money to you if there was fradulent activity on your card, they did the right thing to suspend your card until you verified the transactions tha
Observations:
#1 The security questions you answered when you applied for the card were answers to questions that only you would know, and they recorded the responses in their database. Green Dot did not verify your security answers, I mean really, did you really expect that they would take the time to verify your security answers?
#2. When they asked you for the answers to your security questions, and you could not answer, then you could not verify your identify to them over the phone. Because you did not verify your identify they required you to do so in writing.
#3. When your state on your ID was different from the state indicated on your green dot application, this raised red flags as well. I have another observation. When you applied for this green dot card, did you still live in the state where you indicated on your app that you were from (as part of your address)?
#4 Did you move to another state after you applied for the card, but never changed your ID. If this is case, the Green Dot Web Site has a place to change the address , but you have to verify your identity by answering security questions.
In Conclusion, Green Dot was doing their job. If you read about Green Dot on rip off report, you will see that several instances where people will be instructed to send money via a green dot, pre loaded card, only to find out from the card holder that the transaction was bogus. They are trying to protect themselves, and the card holder.
Now, do not be a simple minded feeble idiot, and assume I work for Green Dot, because I dont.
The reason I am responding on this story is that you put your business all over the internet for all to see, so you should not be surprised if someone responds.
Next time , open up a checking account, and you wont have any issues. I dont know why you went to green dot, UNLESS you had a checking account in the past , and it was closed with you owing overdraft fees, and you did not pay them.
So I will await your answers, and responses, so this way we can try to make an educated guess why Green Dot suspended your account.