If you want to apply for a prepaid credit card but have no credit history, you should know that your chances of being approved for one are higher than if applying for an unsecured credit card. With no credit history, the issuing company will have a hard time assessing your reliability and creditworthiness. With unsecured credit cards, persons with no credit history are regarded risky borrowers. Issuers of prepaid credit cards require that cardholders deposit certain amount of money in the account, which becomes the credit card's line of credit. Obviously, this does not involve the same risk credit card companies take with unsecured credit cards.
If you want to apply for a prepaid card, you should first look at the fees credit card companies charge for offering this type of cards. While you will not be charged late payment fees or interest when using the card, some companies require an initial set up fee. You may also be charged a fee every time you want to deposit funds. Make sure you ask your bank or credit card company if you can use the card to make hotel and airline reservations, purchase items online, etc. Some companies do not support these types of transactions.
You may want to get a credit card that you can load from one location, then using it in others. 'Home and away cards' are offered by some credit card companies. Keep in mind that these cards are intended for parents of college students. Do not apply for this credit card if your child is aged 13.
If you get approved for a Canadian prepaid credit card (prepaid Visa or prepaid MasterCard), you should know that the card is used much like the unsecured varieties. The main difference is that these cards are offered with a lower credit limit which will be based on your security deposit. There is a difference between a prepaid debit card and a prepaid credit card. You shop on credit with a prepaid credit card.
The good news is that you cannot accumulate excessive debt by using a secured credit card. You pay money upfront, and your purchasing power will be limited to the amount of money deposited. Applying for a prepaid credit card is also a good idea if you are a parent and want to give your child a card while limiting his/ her purchasing power. However, if you want to pay for an item, for which recurring payments are made, you will find out that you cannot do this. The same is true for monthly internet subscriptions. Prepaid credit cards are not accepted by most businesses, and there is a good reason. Companies have no guarantees that money will be available in the account each month. This means that money may not be available to pay for the subscription or bill. Learn more about credit cards at RBC credit cards.
