Helping a friend in need - Priceless

May 3, 2006 4:28 AM

Is there such a think as a temporary credit card that works like a visa, but only has a certain value to it? Like a gift card, but works wherever a Visa or mastercard is accepted?

A friend fell off a ladder, and we're trying to provide some financial support to the family in a way that they are less likely to reject (the spouse would reject cash donations).

The idea is that we'd raise money for the family, then load the vaule we raise onto the card, and the family can use it for gas, parking at the hospital, groceries, etc.

posted by GernBlandston to Work & Money (12 answers total)

Yeah, Visa and MasterCard both offer gift-cards, usually through participating banks. They act exactly like a check or credit card, with a certain monetary value loaded onto it. So, check around with area banks.
posted by Loto at 4:32 AM on May 3, 2006

Best answer: yes
posted by caddis at 4:32 AM on May 3, 2006

Response by poster: Well that was fast.

Thank you very much!
posted by GernBlandston at 4:35 AM on May 3, 2006

I've used The Simon Gift Card for just such things in the past. You can pick them up at Simon Malls or you can order them online.
posted by pierow at 5:28 AM on May 3, 2006

What a brilliant idea - I never even considered that something like this would even be possible!
posted by Chunder at 6:03 AM on May 3, 2006

My father-in-law gave us one of these for Christmas last year.

You have to be aware of how much is left on the card when you use it - if what you charge is more than what's on the card, the card will be rejected entirely. (I was told this by the stores where I used the card, and it was a big pain in the neck to the cashiers.)

I'm not sure if, say, you can by $15.00 worth of stuff and say "here's this card, it has $7.00 left on it, charge the $7.00 to it and I'll pay the remaining $8.00 with cash/another card." (I have about $3 left on said card and it's still sitting in my wallet.)
posted by Lucinda at 6:11 AM on May 3, 2006

Check the small print for expiry dates associated with these things, as you'll lose the balance afterwards. The expiry dates can be quite long (e.g. 24 months) but if there's a lot of money on the card make sure your friend knows that they shouldn't forget about spending it all.
posted by carter at 6:50 AM on May 3, 2006

https://www.deluxe-card.com/
posted by saffron at 7:24 AM on May 3, 2006

I've seen Visa cards that you can load with whatever dollar amount at Walgreens, of all places. Try looking there.
posted by jerryg99 at 7:24 AM on May 3, 2006

I think AMEX has this as well.
posted by tadellin at 9:03 AM on May 3, 2006

Also a lot of these cards often don't have the usual Visa/MC purchase guarantees including getting the money back if the card or number is stolen.

That wouldn't stop me from getting one or giving one as a gift, but just something to keep in mind.
posted by sevenless at 11:43 AM on May 3, 2006

WRT using up the last little bit of cash on the card you can do exactly what was described. Pay for part of the purchase with the card and the rest with another card or cash. The Prepaid Visa website has a blurb about this.
posted by pierow at 3:13 PM on May 3, 2006