Anyone used getbarter app (vcc provider) yet?

[enerdude]

I've been looking for a provider of virtual credit cards for a while now. So far could only find standard bank and net1's vcpay. Unfortunately both company's products operate only within the borders of SA. The interesting thing about getbarter is that they seem to have launched in SA around mid January according to press releases I found on the net but seems they haven't marketed it much.

The rest of the functionality on the getbarter app is similar to virgin money's spot app - you can pay buddies / friends etc although virgin seems to have many more partners onboard but does not have the vcc functionality.

The real nice thing about vccs is that its like a throwaway credit card. You only put enough money on it to do a specific transaction - in this way if your card is hacked / leaked there is minimal damage. Getbarter even allows you to freeze a vcc in the app, making it useless shoold it be leaked.
I also come across sites on the net where I would like to sign up for a trial but don't like the fact that I have to provide card details - except for that one can forget to cancel on time and then get billed for something you might not want. This problem could also be avoided by using a vcc.

If you guys want to try it out and maybe give feedback about your experiences here, install the app.
After installation before you can create a vcc you have to submit proof of identity. This is quick and easy- just take e.g. picture of your id card's front and back and the app will also require you to take a selfie. Both would be uploaded to them and usually within a few hours you would be verified.

android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flutterwave.flybarter
IOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/getbarter/id1378344716

 

[enerdude]

Something I did not mention in my OP is that the card's currency is in USD. As a test I put R20 in from my debit card. They have a fee of 1% which means my card was charged for R20.20 and it gave me about $1.30 in my card which I could now use for trials on websites for instance.

You can also fund your vcc card from your bank account.

I would recommend not putting in more than you need as the withdrawal from the USD vcc to a bank account costs about R60 it seems, one of the reasons being they obviously want you to use the money on their platform once you have deposited it.

I did not find much info in the FAQs on their site and seems they have little info as the product is still new. For any questions you may have, I found they have a live chat button bottom right on their page

 

[airborne]

Interesting, always handy to have a service like this.

 

[Thor]

Interesting, always handy to have a service like this.

Why, what possible purpose do these services provide today that my bank can't?

 

[enerdude]

Why, what possible purpose do these services provide today that my bank can't?

Can your bank provide vcc cards that can be used internationally? Can they give you 2 virtual cards for free and unlimited cards for R20 p/m?

 

[Thor]

Can your bank provide vcc cards that can be used internationally? Can they give you 2 virtual cards for free and unlimited cards for R20 p/m?

My bank gives me the ability to transact internationally my bank offers additional cards not that I would ever need it.

 

[enerdude]

My bank gives me the ability to transact internationally my bank offers additional cards not that I would ever need it.

You are very brave to expose all your private info on the net with all the leaks happening these days. Also try signing up with one of your bank's cards for a trial on an overseas site and then forget about cancelling your trial - you will then be billed for something you did not want.

Face it virtual cards have many advantages over normal cards.

 

[Thor]

Also try signing up with one of your bank's cards for a trial on an overseas site and then forget about cancelling your trial

That sounds like reckless money management to me ergo not a bank issue.

 

[enerdude]

That sounds like reckless money management to me ergo not a bank issue.

Im saying IN CASE you would forget cancelling AND / OR the site might charge you without your consent / knowledge then you would be safe with a virtual card - the idea is to just put enough funds for the once off purchase.
Then there are the security issues with normal credit / debit cards on the net etc etc

Don't you see the benefit of a virtual card?

 

[Snyper564]

Im saying IN CASE you would forget cancelling AND / OR the site might charge you without your consent / knowledge then you would be safe with a virtual card - the idea is to just put enough funds for the once off purchase.
Then there are the security issues with normal credit / debit cards on the net etc etc

Don't you see the benefit of a virtual card?

Dont worry everyone that understand its many uses get it. I used to use VCPay so its a nice alternative.

 

[enerdude]

Dont worry everyone that understand its many uses get it. I used to use VCPay so its a nice alternative.

Yeah also used vcpay for a while but the problem being it was not accepted outside SA

 

[enerdude]

See they have now made some changes to costs. One good change is that it costs nothing to fund your account

 

[Willie Trombone]

Once upon a time I used a VC to pay for Netflix and Hulu when Netflix wasn't a thing locally. I used EntroPay.

 

[enerdude]

Once upon a time I used a VC to pay for Netflix and Hulu when Netflix wasn't a thing locally. I used EntroPay.

Yeah I had neteller and payoneer cards as well. But they stopped offering it to SA. Vcpay offers a local virtual card option but it won't work on international sites like getbarter does.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Yeah I had neteller and payoneer cards as well. But they stopped offering it to SA. Vcpay offers a local virtual card option but it won't work on international sites like getbarter does.

I just registered my EntroPay card with a fictional US address and Tel no. (My DC office address and phone no). Worked fine back then.

 

[enerdude]

I just registered my EntroPay card with a fictional US address and Tel no. (My DC office address and phone no). Worked fine back then.

Yeah believe they were shut down April last year.