Best online payment cards?

I have a few questions regarding cards... specifically, what the requirements are to get one. I'm looking for something primarily for online shopping. I understand that cards allow you to defer payments, but my goal is actually the opposite—I'd prefer to load a specific amount of cash onto the card first and then just shop using that balance. Which types of cards make this possible? Essentially, I want to spend only what I've already put in, so there's no need for credit checks or proof of income to guarantee repayment.

It might sound illogical, but using a card makes online transactions so much smoother. If anyone knows which options fit this description, thanks in advance. 👋

I don't believe we even have those types of CREDIT cards here in the States. I think there’s just something similar to a prepaid debit card where you load up whatever cash you want and spend accordingly, much like a standard checking account...

Since competition has forced banks to work wonders lately, I'm fairly certain you can open a checking account regardless of your employment status just by depositing some funds. Whether or not you actually have a job usually only dictates specific perks that depend on your income level—things like overdraft protection or being able to write checks...

In essence, I ended up writing the exact same thing in both scenarios, so I'd suggest just emailing a few different banks with your question; maybe there's a specific VISA or something out there that fits...

They really do exist, they truly do...

I know for a fact that companies like Visa or Amex have rolled out cards specifically designed for online shopping
just go check it online

Scott Johnson45 said:They definitely exist,

Visa or Amex have released cards specifically tailored for online shopping.
Just search for them online.

Thanks. 🙏

Scott Johnson45 said:They exist, they totally exist.

Diners or Amex have released ones just like that, specifically for online shopping.
Just look it up online.

I’m guessing you're aiming for the Blue card or that Diners e-card... honestly, unless you work there, you probably aren't getting either of those.🙄

neonorca11, if you're still a student, just grab a Diners student card or have your parents set you up with an authorized user or a junior card... seriously, surf through the Diners and Amex websites and see which one actually fits what you need.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but getting a VISA or a Mastercard is basically impossible if you don't have steady employment.

Oh, and forget about pre-paying and then spending the money—those are just debit cards, and you'll find they rarely work for online shopping (trust me, I tried it with a VISA Electron once)... with credit cards, you only deal with the billing cycle once a month.
ciao

slyhound5 said:...

well, I suppose that was my general assumption anyway...🙂

Since we're on the subject of credit cards:

I have a question for those of you who shop online frequently;

have you ever had any unpleasant experiences?

My computer setup is pretty solid and I even picked up a smart card reader for Bluetooth security, but I’m still having a hard time working up the nerve to actually type my card number into a website.

I would love to hear about your experiences.

p.s. I generally stick to reputable, well-known sites—I have zero intention of wandering onto shady corners of the web—so basically, I'm wondering how safe it really is to buy from major retailers, what specific red flags I should look out for, and things like that.

I’ve bought software online more times than I can count, always paying with either American Express or Mastercard, and honestly, I’ve never run into a single issue.
As for that Amex Blue reader thing, it was nothing but a massive headache for zero payoff; at the end of the day, those readers just pull the data straight from the chip anyway, so it’s not like they’re adding some magical layer of security that wasn't already there.

Besides, if you want things to actually work, Mastercard and Visa are everywhere online, whereas Amex is okay but still a bit hit-or-miss, and as for Diners Club, nobody seems to take it—at least not in my experience, unless you're dealing with some small local business.

I’ve got a Visa Classic through JP Morgan Chase. Their online security setup is pretty unique—you actually have to call their Visa service center to authorize things. Up until now, they've been available to take calls at basically any hour of the day or night. You just chat with an operator to confirm the amount, and within about ten minutes, the transaction goes through.

Personally, I think it's a super secure way to handle things. Over the last few years, I've used this method at least once a month—mostly for picking up books, registering domains, paying for web hosting, and various other stuff—and I haven't run into a single issue so far.

When it comes to security, there really isn't anything to worry about here. Honestly, you’re much more at risk handing your card over to some lady at a local diner or grocery store who keeps your receipt and can basically do whatever she wants with it.

neonorca11, just so you know, with our debit cards, you won't be able to make any online purchases; you'll need to have a credit card for that.

I don't see what they're losing here... if anything, it benefits them when I load cash onto my card, yet they still have the nerve to tack on commission fees and monthly membership costs. It’s just plain nonsensical.
Has anyone actually used PayPal... and how does the process work?

neonorca11 said:I don't see what they have to lose here... if anything, this should be working in their favor. I'm putting my own money onto a card, and they basically get to take a commission on top of that... plus a membership fee........... it’s just plain stupid!
Has anyone actually used PayPal... and how does that process even work?

PayPal doesn't operate in America!
And honestly, you're probably better off not taking payments online at all; it's safer to just have them pay you directly. 😉
There are sites out there where someone can send you funds, and then they issue you a Visa debit card that you can use for online shopping—you just lose a little bit in fees along the way...

You know, there are those prepaid gift cards out there.

Like, you could just walk into a place like JP Morgan Chase and pay $140 and they'll hand you a Maestro card with $133 loaded on it. You get a PIN and everything—it’s all legit. You don't even have to be an employee there or go through the whole hassle of opening a checking account or anything like that...

The only thing I'm not totally sure about is whether you can actually use it for online shopping. Most likely, you won't be able to.

neonorca11 said:Has anyone actually used PayPal for this... how does the whole process work?

Yeah, I did it about a month ago. You just set up an account, punch in your card details and the amount, then you just settle it when the next credit card statement hits.

So, it’s the same old nonsense again... apparently, you need a credit card just to be able to use PayPal.😢

You might want to check with Bank of America; they offer Mastercard options if you provide a security deposit. For instance, if you put down $1,500 as collateral, you could get a card with a $1,500 limit. That deposit stays in your account permanently while you just use the card to pay your bills as they come in. Basically, you aren't actually spending your own deposit; you’re paying your expenses like any other customer, and the deposit just acts as a safety net. It's essentially like giving yourself a line of credit, though you'll still be on the hook for interest and monthly fees 😁 Wells Fargo has something similar, but their ratio of deposit to credit limit isn't nearly as favorable. Of course, there’s no guarantee they’ll approve your application just because you offered a deposit. It might be worth a shot, though.

Joshua Chavez said:Give Bank of America a shot because they offer Mastercard options if you provide a security deposit; for instance, you put down $1,000 as collateral and walk away with a card that has a $1,000 limit. That deposit stays sitting there permanently while you just pay off your bills as they come due, meaning they don't actually touch your deposit to cover expenses—you're basically acting as your own lender, except you're still handing the bank interest and monthly fees for the privilege. 😁 You’ll find something similar at Wells Fargo, though their ratio of deposit to credit limit is usually much worse. Of course, there’s absolutely no guarantee they’ll approve you regardless of how much cash you're willing to lock up, so just go try.

It's fundamentally the same logic as those secured loans where you park a $10,000 deposit just to borrow $9,000 and then hand over interest payments on top of everything else.
😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵

Greetings everyone!

So, I finally landed a job, which means I can actually start diving into the world of credit cards.

In your honest opinion, which one of these four would be the best choice?
I’m looking at everything—the perks, how widely accepted they are, and the annual fees.

My main goal is having something reliable for online shopping, Amazon, streaming services, and making installment purchases at our big local shopping malls.
International travel isn't really on my radar since I won't be heading abroad anytime soon in the next few years.

Thanks in advance for the help.

1. Mastercard
2. Visa
3. American Express
4. Diners Club

Same old story, I guess.

Amazon has some of the most intense authorization checks out there—seriously, they’re strict. I actually had a purchase declined just because I messed up my zip code, which caught me totally off guard... It's also kind of a bummer that a lot of smaller online shops won't even touch an American Express card, sticking strictly to Mastercard.

Anyway, when it comes to how widely used they are here in the States, they're all pretty much on the same level. Visa lags behind just a tiny bit. But honestly? The real differentiator is their policy regarding lost cards. That's what actually matters.

With Amex—from the second you claim you last used it until the moment you report it missing, you're on the hook for up to $100, but then they get you a new one within 24 hours. I've actually tested this; they'll even get it to you at an office halfway across the world if you need it.

Diners Club—you're liable for every single cent spent until you report it.

Mastercard (Goldman Sachs)—you're responsible for everything up until midnight on the day you report the loss, and as for getting a replacement, you'll get it whenever they feel like being nice enough to send you a notice telling you to show up at a local branch.

So, once you look at it that way, the choice seems pretty obvious to me...