I've got a pre-paid Visa gift card that I won in this contest from Wachovia.

Because my name is not on it I think that I will have some trouble making purchases online with it. Is there anyway that I can transfer the balance into my bank account or maybe my Paypal account?

6/11/2008 10:39:09 PM

ask your bank about attempting a cash advance with the card.

I used to 'fake-buy' stuff from a paypal account all the time with credit cards for instant funding back in the day. but you take a hit on that 2.9% fee.

6/11/2008 10:44:49 PM

buy something at target using the whole thing, and then return it. They'll give you cash back.

apparently they started doing this to avoid visa/mastercard fees for returns.

6/11/2008 10:45:42 PM

I've never been able to get cash back from a returned credit purchase.

6/11/2008 10:47:39 PM

I really want to be able to do this AT MY BANK or online

I can't just drive on over to a Target easily, I live in Manhattan

6/11/2008 10:53:42 PM

Send it Quasi Cash to me via Pay-Pal I promise I will send it all back.

Seriously though most of those prepaid cards allow you to register them online with the issuer so that you can make purchases online.

6/11/2008 11:05:35 PM

hmmm okay that would be good

maybe I should read all of the paperwork that came with this thing

I almost prefer the idea of a pre-paid card for some of the sketchier transactions I make online

no hidden recurring fees can get me when that sucker is tapped out!

6/11/2008 11:09:01 PM

So, just use it to pay for basic expenses until it runs out.

6/11/2008 11:10:38 PM

well for my small day to day purchases I like to use my debit card because I'm enrolled in the Way2Save program with Wachovia

I like putting a dollar aside every time I buy something dumb

6/11/2008 11:13:21 PM

But, it's your own dollar, right?

6/12/2008 10:02:47 AM

i got a $25 one of these for work

but it wouldnt let me buy gas with it, due the card having less than the required $50 for the hold

which was what i was going to use it for

irritating

6/12/2008 10:05:19 AM

I had a $25 one as well. It let me pump right up to $25 when I used it at a gas station.

6/12/2008 10:08:02 AM

weird.

maybe it was the particular station.

6/12/2008 10:08:31 AM

Yeah, I was surprised it worked.

6/12/2008 10:12:06 AM