About Virgin prepaid card...
- An alternative to carrying cash
- No bank account needed
- Discounts and rewards with Virgin, such as 1st month free with Virgin Media, 10% off at Zavvi
- No monthly fee
This is quite a new concept in the way we use money: it's not a credit card or a debit card - but you can use it in exactly the same way. You simply load it up with money before you hit the shops so you can only spend what funds you have available... that's quite a relief seeing as your 13-year-old daughter could have one.
Funds can be added to the card online (through your bank) or at 34,000 locations (Post Offices, shops and garages) across the UK. So even if you don't have a bank account it could be the ideal alternative to carrying a wad of cash around in your back pocket.
Your transactions are easily managed too - with an online account where you can view your balance, all in-coming and, sadly, all out-going monies.
And what's more the Virgin prepaid card comes with added safety if you lose it. If your card is lost or stolen your funds will be protected by your pin and is only ever the cost of a replacement card away (£4.95). If you lose the wad of cash in your back pocket, however, you can say 'sayonara' to a good time this Friday night. And with a Virgin prepaid card you'll also be protected if your card is used fraudulently.
Buy Virgin prepaid card 
| Usage Fees |
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Notes.. |
| Monthly Maintenance Fee |
Free |
The monthly fee charged for holding the card. |
| Purchase Transaction Fee |
2.95% |
The fee charged for purchase transactions. |
| ATM Cash Withdrawal Fee |
2.95% |
The fee charged for withdrawing cash at an ATM machine. |
| Foreign Transaction Fee |
3.5% |
The fee charged for using this card abroad or for purchases made in a foreign currency.
This may be in additional to any purchase transaction or cash withdrawal charges. |
| Load Locations & Fees |
| |
|
Notes.. |
| Max Credit Amount |
£3,500.00 |
The total amount you can have loaded on this card at any one time. |
| Max Daily Load |
£500.00 |
The maximum amount you can load onto this card at a time. |
| Online |
Yes |
- From debit card: Free
- From credit card: 2.5%, £2 minimum |
| BACS Transfer |
Free |
- |
| Post Office |
Free |
- |
| PayPoint |
2.75% |
- |
| Cardholder Services, Extras & Rewards |
| |
|
Notes.. |
| Online Account Management |
Yes |
You can view transactions and the card balance online. |
| Rewards |
Virgin Discounts |
- 1st Month Free with Virgin Media
- 10% off at Virgin Wines
- 10% off at Zavvi
- 1 Month Free at Virgin Active
- 10% off Virgin Holidays
- 20% off Virgin Experiences
- 10% off Car, Home, Pet and Annual Travel Insurance |
| Customer Services & Other Costs |
| |
|
Notes.. |
| Card Purchase / Issue Fee |
£9.95 |
The cost of buying / taking out this card. |
| Lost/Stolen Replacement or Additional Card Fee |
£4.95 |
The fee charged if you need a replacement card due to loss or theft. |
| Customer Services email enquires |
Free |
payasyougo@virginmoney.com |
| Customer Service telephone enquires |
Local rate |
08454 601 606
Monday - Friday 8am - 7pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm |
| Lost & Stolen Helpline |
Local rate |
08456 601 606
24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Card Details |
| |
|
Notes.. |
| Online Application |
Yes |
You can register or buy the Virgin Prepaid MasterCard prepaid card online. |
| Card Type |
Prepaid |
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|
| Payment Company |
MasterCard |
This is the company who provides the payment technology and infrastructure to allow you to use this prepaid card. Retailers and ATM machines displaying the 'MasterCard' logo will accept this card. |
| Card Issuer |
Clydesdale Bank |
This is the bank behind your prepaid card. |
| Card Advertiser |
Virgin Prepaid MasterCard |
This is the company who advertises and promotes this prepaid card. |
|
Virgin Prepaid Card
Card Cost  |
£9.95 |
|
 |
| Monthly Fee |
Free |
|
|
| Purchase Fee |
2.95% |
|
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 |
| You should only apply if you are: |
| • Aged 13 or over |
| • UK resident |
More about Virgin Prepaid card...
Whilst it is Virgin who promotes this card, the actual card issuer is Clydesdale Bank and the card payment company, MasterCard. It is therefore accepted anywhere the MasterCard symbol is displayed - that's basically, (with a few exceptions, like perhaps, at the top of Mount Everest) all over the world.
The Virgin prepaid credit card allows the user to credit a maximum of £3500 in funds to the card, with a maximum daily load of £500.
Topping up the card is easy - and free to do so online through your bank account via BACS transfer, debit card or in any Post Office across the UK. If you want to add funds to the card using a credit card or at a PayPoint, a fee, 2.5% and 2.75% respectively, will be charged.
At what cost does this handy piece of plastic come?
The Virgin prepaid card costs £9.95 to take out and there are no monthly fees. Transaction fees however will be charged when you use your card - 2.95% a time. But with other prepaid cards commanding up to £5.95 in monthly fees, depending on your usage, if it's less than £250 a month, a 2.95% transaction fee could leave you considerably better off.
What's more, with a Virgin prepaid card it’s free to top up at any UK Post Office - a promise which not all other cards can offer.
As with all cards there are certain other fees associated with it. For example, foreign transactions are subject to a 3.5% fee (the 2.95% standard transaction fee plus 0.55% as a foreign levy) - but that's pretty standard fare across the board when using credit/debit cards abroad (which usually charge about 2.75%).
Make sure you have some extra cash with you too because if you want to withdraw cash from the card at an ATM you'll be charged 2.95%.
Better than traveller's cheques?
Probably one of the best reasons for getting a Virgin prepaid card is if one of your offspring is planning on taking a gap year travelling abroad. Should the unthinkable happen and they blow all their cash on toe rings, tattoos and piercings at least you can top up the card via the internet and make sure they'll have enough funds to carry on with their pursuits (or get a plane home should they be tired of 'finding themselves').
A person carrying a single card opposed to a stash of cash in foreign currency they don't fully understand the value of will also be much less of a target for thieves and scammers. Plus, carrying the weight of a small animal in cash around with you is not exactly going to free your mind or body when it comes to new experiences. Bungee jump anyone?
Final Word
The Virgin prepaid card offers security, discounts with Virgin (10% at Zavvi, 10% off at Virgin Holidays for example) and no monthly fees.
Whilst the transaction fees will creep up if you use it all the time, if you're looking for a prepaid card as a back-up in case of emergencies, then the Virgin card could be just the one to plump for.
Buy Virgin prepaid card
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