I Tried The Joker Prepaid Card: Here’s My Review

Prepaid cards have a long history and are now well known. The Joker Card can be used like a gift card and can be prepaid at the store. To find out whether the Joker Card can be considered a profitable purchase, I bought one at the store and valued it at $25. In this comment, I will talk about its advantages, disadvantages, fees and limits.

Hardbacon Review

Fees

Security

Versatility of use

Cashback

At a glance

The prepaid Joker Card is convenient for presentation, but it is not easy to go around the rivals because of the large fees. However, some stores offer cashback.

My Joker Prepaid Card

At the store, I was able to choose from various types of cards: Joker MasterCard, VISA, physical card, virtual card. I chose the Joker Visa, which is valid until 2026. I had plenty of time to buy!

When it came time to pay, I chose a card with a face value of $25. This is the card's defensive power and the amount I can use at the store. My card looks like a normal credit card, with the original 16-digit card number, exposure, and a 3-digit authentication code.

However, in exchange for my name, the bottom of the card says "For whom". The package still speaks of the image of a gift card for this is suitable for giving to someone on a special occasion.

Why I Registered My Card Online

I thought about what business I would fulfill with the support of this card and decided to register on the website of JokerCard. ca, which is necessary for this. At that time, I registered my email address, name, address, and phone number. The format of the address is somewhat sensitive, and as a result, if it does not come out immediately, remember it again.

The physiological card package warned me that the test would be charged for the sum of $2. 50, but it was not deducted from my balance as well. Hooray!

If you plan to only purchase online, you can get a virtual map on the Joker website without going to the store. Just like the physical card, it has a 16-digit number, exposure, and security code. These details will only be written on your account when you get and activate the card. For example, this information is considered confidential, so you must be very careful.

Joker Prepaid Card Fees

MasterCard and Visa Joker prepaid cards are not free. In fact, I noticed that the specified fees are sometimes far from reality, for example, at best in non-commuting directions! For example, I believe he actually saved $ 2, 50 to register the card, but paid $ 7, 95 for activation.

The package states that the activation fee is $ 7 and 95, but the card membership agreement found at the time of opening stated that this fee was $ 4 and 95 for a $ 25 card. Apparently I accidentally bought a $ 25 to $ 200 joker card. Unfortunately, there was no benefit and I just paid a wasteful expensive money. In general, the explanation of the joker rate is not clear.

The following is a list of fees:

Foreign exchange fee: 2 or 5 %.

Confirmation fee: $ 2, 50. Certification fees are enabled online shopping and are protected by zero liability in unauthorized transactions.

Activation/ purchase commission (according to card membership rules):

• $ 25: $ 4, 95
• $ 50: $ 5 95 cents
• $ 75: $ 5 95 cents
• $ 100: $ 5, 95
• $ 150: $ 6, 50
• Card from $ 200: $ 6, 95
• $ 250 or more: $ 7, 50
• $ 25 to 200 cards: $ 7, 95
• $ 200 to $ 500 cards: $ 95 95 cents
• $ 500 or more cards: $ 9, 95

This card cannot be reloaded, so there is no reload fee. The same applies to the ATM drawer fee, and you cannot withdraw money with a joker card.

Advice: Because the activation fee is high, it is best to buy a more valuable card if possible. There is no expiration date. For example, my activation fee $ 7, 95 was 32%of the card value. This is strange! If I chose a $ 200 card, the cost would have been less than 4 %.

How Did I Use My Joker Prepaid Card?

Using this card is very easy, both online and offline. It can be used in the same way as other cards. However, if the balance reaches $ 0, you have to buy a new card. Like other cards, if the balance of the prepaid card is not enough, you can pay the remaining amount in cash, or if the merchant is not allowed, you can pay in another way.

5% cash back

Like conventional debit cards and credit cards, joker cards can be used in any store. However, Joker Card offers up to 5 % cashback to shopping at the participating shop. This includes Aerie, Banana Republic, The Children's Place, GAP, Red Robbin, ROOSE MOOSE, Pottery Barn, Sephora, Red Lobster. 。 This function helps the joker to compete with a similar prepaid card like vanilla.

I was particularly interested in 5 % cashback, so I went shopping at GAP. The purchase price was immediately charged, but I don't know how long I need to wait for a cashback of $ 0 69. According to the Card Membership Terms, it should be accepted within up to 10 days.

I calculated how much Kashback compensates for the activation fee. From $150, $7, 50 against $6, 50 in fees.

No expiration of funds

The card has an expiration date, but the money on my card never ends. When the card expires, I have to issue a new one. It's enough to call 1-855-288-0926 and apply for a new card with the balance transferred.

Availability

Physical cards can be purchased at more than 11. 000 supermarkets and shops, including Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, Staples and Home Depot.

Getting a Joker MasterCard or Visa prepaid card is very easy, whether you choose a virtual or physical card. When issuing a prepaid card, the company does not check your credit history or age. Anyone can purchase it, even if you do not have permanent residency in Canada, including tourists, teenagers and travelers.

"Scan-IT" is a function that allows you to purchase a virtual prepaid card by simply scanning a QR card at the store. Currently, it is available at a limited number of stores, but in the future, it will be introduced at more stores.

Limitations of the Joker Card

Prepaid cards are not refilled, so you cannot add more money. You cannot withdraw cash, so you have to use the remaining balance on the card.

In addition, the Joker Card cannot be used for purchases that require a certain amount of pre-authorization, such as gasoline for your car or monthly direct debit. Those who need a rebooted prepaid card can consider other options, such as the Koho MasterCard prepaid card.

Joker Prepaid Card: Pros and Cons

Like any card, the prepaid Joker MasterCard has its pros and cons. However, compared to other prepaid cards such as Koho, Neo, and EQ Bank, the pros are few.

Pros

• Available at many stores.
• 5% discount at participating stores.
• No registration required, so you can purchase anonymously.
• Great for gifts.
• Can be used by people under 18.

Cons

• High fees.
• You cannot withdraw cash from ATMs.
• You cannot reissue the card - you have to buy a new card and pay the activation fee.
• The funds are not always protected by a zero liability system and are not protected by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Alternatives to the Joker prepaid cards

If you don't think the Joker prepaid card is right for you, here are some other options. These are fee-free prepaid cards that don't require a minimum income, but you must be a resident of Canada and be of legal age.

KOHO Mastercard Prepaid Card

[Offer ProductType = "CreditCard" API_ID = "637CF82062C196225 ″ & amp; amp; gt; This rechargeable card has many of the same benefits as a traditional credit card. Shop

EQ Bank card

[Offer productType = "CreditCard" api_id = "63d2cb6a18196b6d2e1928c2 ″ & amp; amp; gt; eq Bank cards are also accepted if you have a MasterCard. Activation of this reinvented card is free and no service fees are charged. And there's no funding for overseas activities!

Neo Secured Card

[Offer ProductType = "CreditCard" API_ID = "6209E06D9C5F4C05C0DE0111 ″ & amp; amp; GT; Neo Financial offers a secure credit card that is different from prepaid cards. You will need to make a down payment.

Still undecided? Compare prepaid credit cards to choose the one that suits your needs!

Maude Gauthier

Mod Gautier is a journalist and hard bacon. After earning a PhD in Communication from the University of Montreal, she writes about finance, insurance and credit cards for companies such as Fund FMOQ and Code F. She prefers cash refunds because of their simplicity. After her previous insurance company significantly increased her premiums, she bought insurance for her car and home and can proudly say that she saved hundreds of dollars. In her spare time, she likes to read novels and watch popular shows (and not so popular ones, like animal documentaries).