Complaint Review: Netspend Prepaid Debit Cards - The Check Cashing Store - Internet

By submitting this RipOff Report, I hereby solicit the participation and testimonials of other Netspend victims, and also solicit for the services of any qualified attorney who may be interested in persuing a cause of action. Please contact RipoffReport.com for my contact information.

I grew up in a third world latin american country, and for most of my life there my family employed a lady (now in her eighties) as a housekeeper/nanny.

I have done my best over the last several years, usually at christmastime, to send her a little bit of money to help her out in a small way, but it's always a problem getting it to her, as she lives in an outlying rural area, has no telephone, etc...

Last April, I purchased a prepaid debit card through Netspend's agent, The Check Cashing Store, on State Road 441 in Boca Raton. I explained my reason for purhasing the card, for an initial fee of $19.95, to the agent at the time of purchase. I asked specific questions as to the terms of the cards use, and relied upon the representations of the agent in making my decision to purchase the card.

I specifically asked the following questions, and received the answers listed below each one:

Question: How much does the card cost?

Answer: $19.95

Question: Are there any other Charges associated with the use of the card?

Answer: There are various small charges associated with EACH USE of the card, depending on whether used for a credit, debit, or atm transaction, none over $3 more than the fees charged by the point of sale merchant.

Because my cousin was visiting here in the country, and was soon traveling back to Panama, where she could get the card into Mercedes hands, I decided to purchase it, and I put an additional $50 into the netspend account, to save there until christmas when I could then add some and give Mercedes the pin codes she would need to access an atm in her area.

Now it's nearing on christmas, and so yesterday I called netspend to get an accurate reading on my account, and to make certain that I had the right pin number, and an agent there tells me that my balance is $14 and change, and that my account has been charged a fee of $5.95 a month for all these last several months, as a maintenance fee, for NOT using the card in a transaction at least once every 90 days, a transaction that might have cost as little as $1.

It's obvious that anyone using this card, and aware of these terms, would have complied with these conditions, as to do otherwise would be harmful to the user.

It's also obvious, that Netspend must make millions off this scheme as I cannot be the only victim of their deceptive practices, and they got me for nearly all of my original $70 deposit.

I admit and understand that on a telephone confirmation/activation call for the card, that I agreed to the terms and conditions of the card provider, but I did so IN GOOD FAITH, relying on the expected GOOD FAITH of Netspend, which I now know was MISPLACED FAITH, because it is obvious that the ONLY FAITH owned by Netspend is BAD FAITH.

I am 47. On my 40th birthday, like clockwork, I woke up and could not read the newspaper in front of me. It is a condition of aging that is so common that noone can say they are unaware of it.

So, then. Why does Netspend print it's terms and conditions in a little 3' x 3' book, printed in nanotype, so small that you would need an electron microscope to read it? Because they don't want to be straightforward and up front with their customer/victims. How many of Netspends' customers may have difficulty reading those terms and conditions? Probably most.

I am not interested in hearing from the Netspend agent, that she is sorry, but I agreed to their terms and conditions. How much would it cost Netspend to print those terms and conditions in 10 or 12 point size type,that most people could read, with an option to request a large print size for anyone with particular visual needs. I submit to you, that having had to wear glasses all my life, they are taking advantage of my physical disability, and many others.

How much would it cost Netspend to make that good faith effort to be upfront with it's customer/victims? That little 3' x 3' nanotype book has cost me nearly $70, and I still haven't gotten a penny to that poor old woman in Panama.

Mike

boca raton, Florida
U.S.A.