Temporary Credit Card

[Juggy]

Maybe someone here can help me. By my own law I don't have a CC but I need to purchase something online from the US that I need a CC for. It's a recurring payment (no it's not porn subs) so I was wondering if one can get a debit card type CC that you can load with cash as you need it?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

A cheque card?

 

[Juggy]

No, that also come with an overdraft normally and takes ages to aquire. I need it tomorrow

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Dunno hey, I have to activate the overdraft facility on my account - it doesn't come with one automatically. But yeah it does take a few days to get the card.

Actually I'm not sure if you'll be able to get any type of card by tomorrow.

 

[Juggy]

Damn, maybe I can open a Paypal account and transfer cash into it via FNB?

 

[HavocXphere]

No, that also come with an overdraft normally and takes ages to aquire. I need it tomorrow

No overdraft/debt involved. I asked Standard Bank about this specifically. They used to just push your normal bank a/c into overdraft but not anymore. They do a cred check though...no idea why. Your bank account probably has an O/D facility built in but a cheque card doesn't.

The tomorrow business is a problem though. You'll have to get an electronic one then...for which you'll need to pay which takes time unless you've got a CC. Your pretty much SOL. Sorry.

 

[RSkeens]

You can get prepaid "credit cards" or virtual credit cards, but then of course you still need to load money to it - which may or may not involve an international bank transfer ($$$).

One provider comes to mind, www.neteller.com I haven't used them though.

Personally I would go the cheque account route.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Yeah if you have an FNB account then Paypal is a good (and safe) option.

The problem with using cards online is that it typically needs to be either Visa or Mastercard. The credit check and supporting docs is trivial as the consultant will do that immediately. The local banks will only issue you the card (even a cheque card) after it's been registered with Visa or Mastercard. That's where the delay comes in. I got mine after 3 working days with FNB - not sure that you'll be able to get one any sooner.

 

[iDOL]

Hey Juggy, if you have FNB account cheque is easy peasy - just walk in to customer service, request them issue you one, in a few minutes oyu done, a for away you can have your cheque card, and works exactly as any good ol CC.

 

[bwana]

Seconded (or thirded) on the cheque card. There will be brief delay as, unlike a debit card, the cheque cards needs to be physically embossed with all the details.

 

[emanoek]

I have heard somewhere that you can get a virtual card at Shoprite or Checkers. This is used for online shopping where you don't want to use your own card for fear of fraud. You put money onto the 'card' and you can buy online to that value. They also issue a pin number for security. This may not solve the monthly subscription issue, but may be worth the investigation.

 

[Wut]

I think the shoprite/checkers thing is a UKash voucher, it isn't the same as a credit card. I got a virtual credit card through Entropay, google it, which I used to verify my PayPal account. You are still going to have to load money into it, an FNB Cheque card works great for that. Also another option is to get a foreign cash card from Rennies Foreign Exchange and load it with some cash, that worked for me when I needed a credit card quickly.