FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Benefits of "non personalized" or "no name" prepaid cards?
Old Jan 28, 2009 | 12:41 pm
  #1  
trev
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 64
Benefits of "non personalized" or "no name" prepaid cards?

Please help me understand the benefits of so called "non personalized" or "no name" cards. As far as I know, there are 3 types of which one I understand it's benefits. These cards are usually prepaid and I am familiar with that concept. Their feature I want to find out if it may be beneficial is their "no name" status.

Type #1
The Gift Card
Which require no ID to buy and can be used on the internet for anonymous purchases, if you for some reason want to buy something on the Internet from a site you want to maintain your privacy towards the site.

This type of card usually can be bought over the counter for cash, and requires no ID to buy. So far so good.

Type #2
Reloadable prepaid card with absolutely no name printed on it

Type #3
Reloadable prepaid card with company name printed on it
Like in this example "Travel Card" is printed on the card.

Type #2 and #3 may be very similar, and it may be just marketing or production differences that one card show a neutral company name but the other does not show any name at all. Or maybe these are structural differences?

Reps told me for this cards I have to used my name for billing name, so can't be used "anonymously", like gift cards.

All Type #1-#3 cards are "higher" brand cards, like Visa or MasterCard, can be used for shopping on the Internet.

Type #4
Cash card
This one is a "lower" brand card, like in this case, a Maestro. Now this may be anonymous for cashing out ATMs and offline shopping?

So, anyone with knowledge please help me to make the distinction for the categories #1 to #4 I set up and help me understand the benefits of each, especially #2 to #4.

Many thanks!
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