Where can I get an anonymous pre-paid Credit Card in the UK?
July 3, 2008 7:43 AM   Subscribe

Where in the UK can I get a pre-paid Credit Card or Mastercard/Visa-based Gift Card? I need to be able to use it online and I'd like to purchase it anonymously.
posted by anonymous to Work & Money (8 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
At least in the US, activation requires SSN and name/address. While you may be able to *purchase* it with cash, you will probably not be able to 'use' it completely anonymously.
posted by unixrat at 7:55 AM on July 3, 2008




You can get some from corner shops that allow cash payment but you can only charge upto around £250 - then you have to verify.
posted by laukf at 8:12 AM on July 3, 2008


At least in the US, activation requires SSN and name/address. While you may be able to *purchase* it with cash, you will probably not be able to 'use' it completely anonymously.
This has not been true with Visa brand gift cards in my experience.
posted by Floydd at 9:52 AM on July 3, 2008


IDT Prime. Available over the counter in shops with no form, ID, home address or passport required - just cash. Available from a bunch of petrol stations and small stores, as well as most PayPoint places.

Can be used online, it's a mastercard. If the retailer does cardholder not present checks requiring name and address, you can register the Prime card online with any name and address you like. As long as they match what you present when you pay online at the retailer, you should be OK.

It's a pre-paid card for a fixed amount. You activate it for use by calling an automated freefone number with the account code and card number. You can upgrade it to a top-uppable card for a fee, but I think you need to provide bank details and a real address for that.
posted by ArkhanJG at 10:58 AM on July 3, 2008


Be warned though, there are a LOT of fees that go with the card, including £3 to purchase and a £2 per month maintenance fee after the first 3 months, along with domancy fees, reloading fees, upgrade fees etc etc. Anonymity is expensive.
posted by ArkhanJG at 11:02 AM on July 3, 2008


WHSSmith sell something like this. It's a card you buy for (I think £9.95), that you then add cash to.

I've never used one, I've only seen them in the store, so this isn't a recommendation.
posted by Solomon at 12:42 PM on July 3, 2008


3V does this.
posted by genghis at 7:58 AM on July 4, 2008


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