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prepaid cards

Prepaid cards

Alternatives to credit or debit cards

Steve Brigden
Steve Brigden | Edited by Helen Saxon
Updated 25 June 2021

If you're unable to get a bank account, or want a simple way to limit your spending, then a prepaid card is worth considering. There's no credit check to pass and you can only spend or withdraw the amount you add to it. This guide has full information, alternatives and our top-pick cards.

Top-pick prepaid cards

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What is a prepaid card?

A prepaid card is essentially a pay-as-you-go debit card. You add money to the card, which can then be used in most places where card is accepted, including online and cash withdrawals. You can only spend the money you've loaded to it, so there's no risk of getting into debt or pricey overdraft charges.

There's also no hard credit check involved, so could be a lifeline if you're unable to get a bank account due to a poor credit history or if you're lacking proof of address – though see our Basic Bank Account guide first for the top easiest-to-get accounts.

There are three main types, suiting different purposes:

  • Everyday spending. Best used as a substitute to debit or credit cards as a simple way to stick to a budget – the focus of this guide.
  • Travel and overseas use. Offers near-perfect exchange rates with no or low fees to spend or withdraw cash abroad. See Prepaid Travel Cards for full information and our top picks.
  • Under-18s. Cards that allow teenagers to spend in stores and online, while still giving parents a certain level of control. Our Top Cards For Under-18s compares the best cards and children's bank accounts.

A well-managed credit card is often a better option

Prepaid cards protect you from hard credit checks or running up debt, which is a bonus if you tend to overspend. However these cards don't show on your credit report, so even a perfectly-managed prepaid card won't make any difference to your creditworthiness.

Provided you're disciplined enough to repay on time each and every month (ideally IN FULL) and are not tempted to spend more than you can afford, a credit card is likely to boost your credit history, which can make getting credit in the future cheaper. Plus you get greater consumer protection and avoid the faff of having to top up the card.

See How do credit cards work? for the full lowdown or our Credit Card Eligibility Calculator to see which cards you've the best chance of getting.

Prepaid card need-to-knows

If you think a prepaid travel card is right for you, here are our key need-to-knows to consider before getting one.

  • 1. Your money should be safe if the card issuer goes bust

    Money on prepaid cards is classed as 'electronic money', and all prepaid card providers are required to hold your cash in a bank account ringfenced from their own operating cash.

    So, provided the prepaid card company has followed the rules, if it were to go bust, the bank or building society where your money's held will still retain your cash and you'll be able to get it back.

    The slight risk comes if the bank or building society goes bust, because your cash is NOT protected in this case. Always try and find out which bank the provider uses for its ringfenced accounts, so you can then understand the risk. For example, you may think your cash would be safer at a big bank like Barclays or NatWest than at a bank you've never heard of.

    Either way, it's best to think of your prepaid card as one that you'll keep cash on for immediate or short-term spending requirements, rather than as a place to store heaps of it for long periods of time.

  • 2. If you lose the card or it's stolen, call the provider ASAP to protect your cash

    As long as you contact the provider of your prepaid card and get it blocked, you shouldn't lose out on any money, though you may have to pay up to £10 for a replacement card.

    Pay special attention if your prepaid card is contactless, as it could be used for a series of small, fraudulent transactions, so always alert your card provider as soon as possible. It's also worth alerting local police or security services if there's been a theft – you may need an incident number to claim losses back if you have cover on your home insurance.

  • 3. You'll have access to chargeback protection, but not the powerful Section 75 offered by credit cards

    Prepaid cards aren't like credit cards, which offer Section 75 protection as part of the Consumer Credit Act. However, you'll have access to Visa and Mastercard's chargeback schemes instead.

    Chargeback schemes give you a chance to get your money back if you buy faulty goods, a service isn't provided, or a company goes bust and goods aren't delivered – you'll get your money back straightaway. Our Chargeback guide explains how it works.

  • 4. Take note of fees – some cards charge for not using them

    There are a number of fees associated with prepaid cards that you need to keep an eye out for. These can include:

    • Application fees. A one-off charge to open the account, usually up to £10 if applicable.

    • Monthly fees. Not all do, though £2-£5/mth is typical.

    • Renewal fees every three years. Some may charge to issue a replacement card when it hits the expiry date.

    • Transaction fees. Some cards charge you for retail purchases (just buying something in a shop), or withdrawing money from an ATM.

      Spending. Charged as either a percentage of the amount or a flat fee per transaction. If you make a high number of small purchases, go for a percentage fee. If you make fewer and higher-value purchases, go for a set fee.

      Withdrawing cash. Usually £1.50 to £2.50 per withdrawal. It's also worth checking the cards for loading and transaction limits. If you're likely to want to withdraw lots of cash, it's no good picking a card with a £50 or £100 per day limit for cash withdrawals.

    • Inactivity fees. Some may charge you a small monthly fee if you don't make any transactions for a certain period, eg, 12 months. So just make sure you keep the account running – add a few quid and buy a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar if push comes to shove.

      Although, if you've not used the card in so long, it might be that you don't need it any more and you're better to shut the account down.

    • Fees to move unspent money back from the card. Often up to £10, so how much you have left will determine if it's worth taking the hit.

  • 5. Most places accept them, but not everywhere – always have a backup way to pay

    While these cards say they're accepted anywhere you see the Mastercard or Visa symbol, there are some notable exceptions. You may have difficulty using prepaid cards for transactions that require a security deposit or preauthorisation, such as car hire firms, hotel bookings and at some petrol stations.

    And even if you are able to, you may not want to. When you offer a card for a deposit, the company will 'lock' funds on the card for the duration of the hire and you won't be able to use it until the final bill has been settled and cleared.

    So, if you can, use another card as a security deposit, preferably a credit card.

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Top-pick prepaid cards

Here are our top prepaid cards suitable for everyday spending in the UK, based on the lowest fees and/or perks. For other uses, see our guides on Prepaid Travel Cards and Cards For Under-18s.

Prepaid cards for everyday UK spending – our review

The Clubcard Pay card from Tesco Bank is our top-pick as it has no charges and has greater protection than the other cards here – your money gets the usual Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection most bank and savings accounts offer (so up to £85,000 per person, per financial institution is guaranteed).

You'll need to have a Clubcard to get it, but you can sign up for one for free to instantly  qualify. It then pays one point for every £8 spent outside Tesco, in addition to the usual one point per £1 at Tesco you'd get with a standard Clubcard (though this is doubled for the first 100 days).

Alternatively, if you're a carer, charity worker, work in education or healthcare, the Ode prepaid card gets you cashback at over 30 retailers, including Asda, Boots, M&S, Sainsbury's and Waitrose, though not at petrol stations. This works in addition to any discount code or loyalty points you may already get, so you can max savings.

You can top up from £10 online or via its app with the funds available instantly. After the first year, a £2.99 annual fee kicks in, so diarise to cancel if you find you're not earning much cashback from it.

For a card that's open-to-all, Wise doesn't charge an annual fee, though there is an initial charge to get the card. And while you won't pay a fee when you spend on the card in the UK, you need to be wary when withdrawing cash as you only get two free ATM withdrawals each month (max £200). 

Top pick prepaid cards for everyday UK spending

TABLE_CELL_STYLE

Clubcard Pay

 Ode Card Wise*
Who can get it? Clubcard holders aged 18+, though you can sign up for free* to qualify Carers, charity workers and those working in education or healthcare – aged 18+ with a work email Anyone aged 18+
Perks Clubcard points (i) Cashback at 30+ retailers (ii) None
Card delivery fee No fee No fee £5
Annual fee No fee Free in first year, then £2.99/yr No fee
ATM fee No fee It doesn't allow cash withdrawals
 Two cash withdrawals per month free up to £200/mth, 1.75% + 50p after
Fee to get your cash back No fee £5 No fee
Inactivity fee No fee £5/mth after 12mths of non-use (cards 2yrs+ old) No fee
TABLE_CELL_STYLE Apply Apply Apply*

Important. The providers above are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Any money you deposit in Clubcard Pay is covered by Tesco Bank's FSCS protection. For Ode and Wise, it's ring-fenced in a separate bank account, so if there are problems with the provider, the money's safe (as long as the bank still exists). (i) 2 points per £1 spent at Tesco for the first 100 days, then 1 point per £1. It pays 1 point per £8 spent elsewhere. (ii) For example, 5% at Argos, Boots, John Lewis and Wilko, 4.5% at Primark and 3.5% at Sainsbury's – see the full list of retailers. The cashback amount is then automatically added to your balance within seven days (five weeks for Sainsbury's) and is available to spend when you next top up (min £10).

Cashback sites may pay you for signing up

As an extra boon, members of specialist cashback websites can be paid when they sign up to some financial products. Do check that it's exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. Remember, cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it's in your account.

Full help to take advantage of this and pros & cons are in our Top cashback sites guide.

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