Christina B.

My dad mistakenly purchased these as gift cards. They want your SSN to activate the account (red flag much?) and send out your new cards. Upon activation you will immediately be charged with a maintenance fee that you are not warned about, and bothered with requests to direct deposit your paychecks into this new card. If you didn't know of the immediate fees, and, like me, emptied the card onto something like Amazon or Steam Games, congratulations, your card is now overdrawn! Customer service is hit and miss; they might pick up the phone, but you are often told the wait time is less than 1 minute, and no one picks up the phone. When you do get an answer you are likely to be confronted with someone with a very thick Indian accent that does not speak English well (red flag again?)... After arguing with them that it is ridiculous that you are charged a maintenance fee right after activating a card and trying to close the account soon after, your account is still not showing closed! Let's get back on the line with someone from overseas asking for our SSN again, because it totaly doesn't make anyone feel uncomfortable EVER!

Bottom line, not a gift card. Might be ok for a parent funding a student, or teaching responsibility to a teen, but that is if you trust it enough (I don't). There are many other options including actual bank accounts with trusted local banks, and phone apps that allow money transfers without charges. Weigh your options.

(Please don't ever give out your full SSN over the phone to anyone! If you don't feel comfortable hang up and call the company directly or use a different number!)