When I was arrested I had $113 in my pocket.
When I was released, I was given a prepaid debit card with $98 on it.
$15 just disappeared!
If you used that card as a card, there was a $2.95 a transaction charge.
The salvation was that if you did an "over the counter" transfer at a bank for the full amount on the card, it was not charged a fee (unless you bank charged one). This is a first-time, one-time transaction. If you use it at all, you're no longer eligible for the full transfer.
Because ATM machines don't dispense anything but $20 bills around here, if I didn't have a bank to go over the counter with, then I'd have lost $18 in addition to my missing $15 because I could only withdraw $80.
The real trap of this card is if you don't have anyone to pick you up from jail. There's an ATM in the lobby so you can pay a cab...
When I was released, I was given a prepaid debit card with $98 on it.
$15 just disappeared!
If you used that card as a card, there was a $2.95 a transaction charge.
The salvation was that if you did an "over the counter" transfer at a bank for the full amount on the card, it was not charged a fee (unless you bank charged one). This is a first-time, one-time transaction. If you use it at all, you're no longer eligible for the full transfer.
Because ATM machines don't dispense anything but $20 bills around here, if I didn't have a bank to go over the counter with, then I'd have lost $18 in addition to my missing $15 because I could only withdraw $80.
The real trap of this card is if you don't have anyone to pick you up from jail. There's an ATM in the lobby so you can pay a cab...