using a reloadable card without SSN
Aug 17, 2014 | 9:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 68
using a reloadable card without SSN
Do I have to register my reloadable card using my SSN before I can use it? Can I reload it online?
this is the situation
My foreign friend's son is going to a boarding school near my home. I plan to give him a reloadable card as a gift. and load a few hundreds dollar on it every month for him to spend. what card should I buy? I won't have the physical card since his son will keep it, so I want to load it online only. I heard that they require my SSN to for the registration, but since his son doesn't have an SSN and I don't want to use my SSN for the gift. Is there any solution?
Could you give me some suggestions? school is starting soon I want to prepare the gift for him. thanks!!
this is the situation
My foreign friend's son is going to a boarding school near my home. I plan to give him a reloadable card as a gift. and load a few hundreds dollar on it every month for him to spend. what card should I buy? I won't have the physical card since his son will keep it, so I want to load it online only. I heard that they require my SSN to for the registration, but since his son doesn't have an SSN and I don't want to use my SSN for the gift. Is there any solution?
Could you give me some suggestions? school is starting soon I want to prepare the gift for him. thanks!!
Aug 17, 2014 | 9:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PHL suburbs
Posts: 216
AML/KYC regulations require identity verification on reloadable prepaid products. You will have to use an SSN or TIN along with a valid US address to register. for any prepaid card. The only exception I know of is a PayPower card, which allows you to load $200 before the KYC regs kick in.
Aug 18, 2014 | 10:41 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 41
A few cards, like Serve and Buxx and Paypal, allow for easy issuance of the equivalent of an 'authorized user' secondary card. I'm not personally familiar with Buxx and you should read the thread for more, but I believe those are *designed* for parent/minor splits. The card would still be under your SSN but you'd be fully in-charge of the account; the minor shouldn't be able to do anything malicious with your SSN since he'd just be a secondary user, and loading the card remotely should be very easy for you.
Dec 23, 2014 | 10:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG, MGM Rewards Gold, Hhonors ???, National Executive
Posts: 2,708
I have different reasons, but I'd also like to purchase a prepaid credit/gift card without having to provide any personal info. So I thought I'd just bump this thread instead of starting a new one to prove I did at least SOME searching 
In my case, the card doesn't need to be reloadable, as long as I can put $500 on it initially. It's really only for a one time online payment.
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
In my case, the card doesn't need to be reloadable, as long as I can put $500 on it initially. It's really only for a one time online payment.
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
Dec 23, 2014 | 10:49 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 253
I have different reasons, but I'd also like to purchase a prepaid credit/gift card without having to provide any personal info. So I thought I'd just bump this thread instead of starting a new one to prove I did at least SOME searching
In my case, the card doesn't need to be reloadable, as long as I can put $500 on it initially. It's really only for a one time online payment.
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
In my case, the card doesn't need to be reloadable, as long as I can put $500 on it initially. It's really only for a one time online payment.
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
Dec 23, 2014 | 10:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG, MGM Rewards Gold, Hhonors ???, National Executive
Posts: 2,708
Looking at the T&C's for NetSpend, they mention that "some features" might not work (like international payments) until you register. For PayPower, it looks like you have to register it to be able to use it at all, and registration requires SSN.
Edit: Maybe I'm being too paranoid. I'm fine with giving my SSN to a reputable company like Amex/Visa/MC, as long as they don't run my credit. But I don't want my name associated with the card, otherwise I won't be able to make the anonymous payment (since I assume online payment processing would look at the name associated with the account as well as the account #).
Dec 23, 2014 | 11:43 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: LAC
Programs: Regal Crown Club
Posts: 488
Buy a temp Redbird @ Target and load it up to $1500 or get on off eBay and take it to your nearest Target for the loading. I heard you can punch in any 9 digit SSN which is not being verified unless you register it online for the permanent card.
Dec 24, 2014 | 12:54 am
#9
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,708
In my case, the card doesn't need to be reloadable, as long as I can put $500 on it initially. It's really only for a one time online payment.
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
Dec 24, 2014 | 1:27 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 254
Problem with attaching your SSN and address to a card that will be used by someone else is that your putting your neck on the line. On the other hand, if card is not properly registered, it cannot be reloaded. Best bet is those Vanilla cards at CVS...register a zip and you can use them just about anywhere, online and in person...only draw is the fact they are at $500 max and cannot be reused once balance is depleted.
Dec 24, 2014 | 4:56 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
If it doesn't need to be reloadable, then all you need is a plain old Visa gift card. You can get them at CVS or most grocery stores, or online at Gift Card Mall. They usually need to be registered with an address (or at least a zip code) before they can be used for online payments.
Dec 24, 2014 | 8:38 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I plan to give him a reloadable card as a gift. and load a few hundreds dollar on it every month for him to spend. what card should I buy?
afaik, all reloadables now require them to be registered to be able to use all functionalities of the card.
Dec 24, 2014 | 10:56 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 253
Appreciate the pointer, but I really want to CONFIRM this is the case before making the purchase.
Looking at the T&C's for NetSpend, they mention that "some features" might not work (like international payments) until you register. For PayPower, it looks like you have to register it to be able to use it at all, and registration requires SSN.
Edit: Maybe I'm being too paranoid. I'm fine with giving my SSN to a reputable company like Amex/Visa/MC, as long as they don't run my credit. But I don't want my name associated with the card, otherwise I won't be able to make the anonymous payment (since I assume online payment processing would look at the name associated with the account as well as the account #).
Looking at the T&C's for NetSpend, they mention that "some features" might not work (like international payments) until you register. For PayPower, it looks like you have to register it to be able to use it at all, and registration requires SSN.
Edit: Maybe I'm being too paranoid. I'm fine with giving my SSN to a reputable company like Amex/Visa/MC, as long as they don't run my credit. But I don't want my name associated with the card, otherwise I won't be able to make the anonymous payment (since I assume online payment processing would look at the name associated with the account as well as the account #).
Dec 24, 2014 | 10:59 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 253
If it doesn't need to be reloadable, then all you need is a plain old Visa gift card. You can get them at CVS or most grocery stores, or online at Gift Card Mall. They usually need to be registered with an address (or at least a zip code) before they can be used for online payments.
Jul 26, 2018 | 8:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1
I have different reasons, but I'd also like to purchase a prepaid credit/gift card without having to provide any personal info. So I thought I'd just bump this thread instead of starting a new one to prove I did at least SOME searching
In my case, the card doesn't need to be reloadable, as long as I can put $500 on it initially. It's really only for a one time online payment.
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
In my case, the card doesn't need to be reloadable, as long as I can put $500 on it initially. It's really only for a one time online payment.
I've searched through a bunch of other threads, and the ones I've looked at (Serve, GreenDot, Redcard, Walmart and I'm sure a bunch of others) all appear to require this as part of the registration process.
Any suggestions?
you can buy it at Walmart or 711 or most other stores