3v allternative

M cebee

is there a better alternative to 3v vouchers

for occasional online purchases

i see the 02 money card costs a fiver?

**Timbuk2**

You could start a free current account with Ulster Bank or Permanent TSB and get a Visa Debit card - it's roughly equivalent to Laser as the money is debited instantly from your account, and you can't make a transaction for more than the amount that's in your account, but it is accepted everywhere that Visa is accepted, which means almost any website, or you can use it to buy things in shops, restaurants, or withdraw money from ATMs.

And as far as I know, EBS accounts now have Mastercard debits, which are the same as above but Mastercard instead of Visa.

A debit card is subject to an annual stamp duty of €5 for ATM + Point of Sale usage.

BengaLover

02, mastercard,swirl, moneybookers, ruby, there are a good few now, but it will pay to do your research some of them are charging extotionate amounts to top them up.

MapForJ

I think 3v is the best of a bad lot

jor el

MapForJ wrote: »

I think 3v is the best of a bad lot

Definitely not. It is the worst pre-pay card available. Short expiration, the number keeps changing, practically no where sells the vouchers any more. Costs in transferring unused balance are extremely high, as are costs of recovering unused balance.

Other pre-pay cards don't expire, and are easier to top up. Having a physical plastic card also makes them much more useful (hotel/car rental bookings for example).

M cebee

is there any consensus on this

i want something i can top -up occasionally

the 3v is a pain

jor el

I don't think you'll get any consensus, apart from 3V being the one to avoid, unless it's very occasional use you're looking at. Each card has it's own associated charges, but each being different.

You don't need to spend that much time thinking about it anyway. Just pick one.

booboo88

jor el wrote: »

Definitely not. It is the worst pre-pay card available. Short expiration, the number keeps changing, practically no where sells the vouchers any more. Costs in transferring unused balance are extremely high, as are costs of recovering unused balance.

Other pre-pay cards don't expire, and are easier to top up. Having a physical plastic card also makes them much more useful (hotel/car rental bookings for example).

This is exactly why I dont really like these type of cards, but have only used it once because very few places sell the vouchers

MapForJ

jor el wrote: »

Definitely not. It is the worst pre-pay card available. Short expiration, the number keeps changing, practically no where sells the vouchers any more. Costs in transferring unused balance are extremely high, as are costs of recovering unused balance.

Other pre-pay cards don't expire, and are easier to top up. Having a physical plastic card also makes them much more useful (hotel/car rental bookings for example).

what do you think is best

jor el

Read what I said above, there is no best, just whatever works best for you.

MapForJ

jor el wrote: »

Read what I said above, there is no best, just whatever works best for you.

read what i said. i said

I think 3v is the best of a bad lot

which one would you say works best for me?

MapForJ

Sitec wrote: »

O2 Money Card is good, don't need to top it up in town. Can do it through online banking.

Its not bad. If you buy online from UK it is 2.75% of the purchase price is it?
You may have to wait up to 5 days for a top up from a bank. Top up charge is good. Is there stamp duty for online only purchases

jor el

MapForJ wrote: »

read what i said. i said which one would you say works best for me?

No one can tell you that.

MapForJ wrote: »

Is there stamp duty for online only purchases

Doesn't matter what you use it for. Stamp duty applies to all debit cards, which this is.