Most financial institutions have already embraced prepaid cards in one form or another. Indeed, fully 84% of the study’s
participants – which collectively represent almost half of all debit transactions in the U.S.– offer a prepaid card.
Tag: debit card prepaid
Separate and Unequal – Varying Consumer Protections
“There’s no federal law that covers prepaid debit cards. It’s really up to the program manager.” Which is another way of saying that it’s up to the company issuing the card what, if any, protections to provide its customers. Indeed, with prepaid debit cards, consumer protections for unauthorized use are voluntary and can be changed or rescinded by the issuer at any time, according to a Consumers Union report.
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Card Purchase Disputes
Credit cards offer a lot of protection, debit cards a little and prepaid cards none at all. Indeed, with credit card purchases, you have the full force of the Fair Credit Billing Act on your side. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which covers debit card transactions, you have limited merchant dispute rights, except for unauthorized transactions. And there are no federal consumer protections for purchases made with prepaid debit cards.