Figuring out one’s finances can be a treacherous endeavor, which is why prepaid credit cards are making our lives easier. Star Reviews wanted to see what the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card had to offer those of us needing a credit boost. We immediately liked what we saw and think this is a great choice for those not qualifying for a standard unsecured credit card. See what else we found below.About the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card:
Palm Desert National Bank brings those needing a hike in their credit score the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card, a prepaid credit card that doesn’t require you to previously hold a bank account before obtaining the card. You can, however, link the credit account to your paycheck, so automatic transfers are made. This is a great choice in prepaid credit cards, as you may use their free bill pay service and receive access to a credit building service, which is music to many of our ears. However, this card will inflict some fees on you, as building your credit is never cheap.
Navigating the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card website:
We liked how intuitive and simple-to-browse their website interface was. Not only were important links laid out in a succinct manner, we had no problem locating their customer support information, as well as terms and conditions. The site itself was visually appealing and had quick load times, which isn’t always the case with credit card sites. The credit application was straightforward and painless to complete.
Star Reviews Favorite Feature:
No credit checks or security deposits-When obtaining a prepaid credit card can sometimes prove to be a challenge; the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card eliminates many mandatory requirements simply to get your hands on the card.
Vantage Debit Visa® Features:
• Free credit builder program.
• Free Direct Deposit.
• Free bill pay service for the first seven transactions per month.
Introductory Offers:
• No introductory period
Standard Terms:
• No annual fee.
• 0% APR
• Additional cardholders: $0
• Minimum deposit/credit limit: n/a, maximum is $10,000.
• $2 for domestic ATM withdrawals; $4.95 international
• $29.95 application fee.
• $9.95 monthly participation fee.
Customer Support:
If you run into any questions about the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card, don’t fret. There are plenty of customer support options to choose from here, including a detailed FAQs section, telephone support, email support, live chat and even a postal address. They certainly have all of their bases covered when it comes to answering customer questions.
The FAQs section is extremely comprehensive, with useful tips and links to important resources. You should be able to find most of what you need right here. The live chat option will ask you to enter your name, email address, customer number and last four digits of your Social. If you just have a general question, leave the latter two fields blank. When we entered the chat, we waited about five minutes before we left without a response. Our team retried their live chat option, but never heard from a representative. This disappointed us, we have to say.
Customer support was good via telephone, as we received a prompt response without too much of a hassle navigating the menu options. If you enjoy writing, you could always send an email or letter in the mail.
Upside:
No annual fee or processing fees. Credit building service. No inactivity fees.
Downside:
Costly monthly maintenance fee. Inefficient live chat support.
Summary:
Overall, we liked the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card and feel it’s a good option if you are looking for a no-frills prepaid credit card. Although there aren’t any typical credit card features like travel or accident insurance, you do have access to a credit builder program and a free bill pay service, which are definite perks. There are no credit checks here, as you transfer what you actually spend. The application fee will cost you $29.95 which is fairly low for cards of their kind, but there is also a costly $9.95 per month participation fee, which we didn’t love. No annual fee or inactivity fees are big plusses, though. Customer support is good here, although the live chat did not impress us. This is a top prepaid credit card and we do recommend it.