Complain about a product or service

Netspend

Christal of Casa Grande, AZ March 31, 2009

Christal of Casa Grande AZ (03/31/09)
Bought a netspend card that expired two years later. Had to buy another card to replace the expired card, and was continuously told that they would fed-ex, mail to our home, mail to our P.O. Box with no results. This in turn forced us to buy new cards on a regular bases that expired every 90 days. This also forced us to spend many hours on the phone transfering money from the expired card to the many temperary cards we were forced to purchase, as well as the hours of promises made to me about the status of the new cards on their way. Because we have bills to pay, and have direct deposit onto the expired card, we were told after transfer of 5000.00 we could no longer have access to our money.

However, again after speaking with someone at Netspend while at Ace's check cashing, we were told to purchase yet another card, and at that point we would be able to tranfer money on the newly purchased card. With full intention of closing our account with Netspend as soon as our money was returned to us, we purchased another card. When attempting to transfer our monies onto the new card they told us to purchase for this transfer, we were told because we had transfered 5000.00 from the original card we had reached the monthly transfer allowance and we could not do this transfer; despite the fact that we asked them to explain how purchasing a new card would work given the money being transfered from the card that was supposedly frozen.

We were late in paying bills for the month of March. We purchased at least 6 cards within the two years of using the Netspend service. Only because the netspend representative told us buying a new card would allow them to transfer my money from the expired card to a new card. This happened at least three times.

Petra of San Jose, CA February 9, 2009

Petra of San Jose CA (02/09/09)
They advertise>>> No credit check. No overdraft fees. No interest charges. No surprises.

They issue a prepaid card with an expiration date which is 3 years away, yet they won't tell you to check your balance online so you know how much and when your inactivity will begin.

I paid 9.95 to get the card to begin with, they charge a fee everytime you use the card, they charge for a paper statement, and don't tell you that there will be a fee for inactivity. So the fees will eat up any balance and close the account without telling you.

I was never told how to avoid inactivity since there would be a fee if am inactive. I paid initially 9.95 which in itself is a rip off, I was never notified by email or mail that my card is about to be inactive. I was encouraged to log online to check status of card later. My balance was only a little over 6.00, but it is the principle, then when I called they said the remaining .44 was closed, so I didn't get that sent to me either.

Dale of Sanford, NC January 22, 2009

Dale of Sanford NC (01/22/09)
This firm is a rip-off. First warning should be the Blackwater name associated with this company. That alone should be a huge RED FLAG! It means corruption. Second, who is so pathetic and lame, that you pay someone to hold your money? Get in touch with reality people. There's a reason why you cannot get results with your complaints. Dishonest people don't care, and Netspend is as corupt as they come. BLACKWATER! Remember the name. Keep away from Netspend.

Mike of Naugatuck, CT January 3, 2009

Mike of Naugatuck CT (01/03/09)
GIVER BEWARE!!!!! This company distributes all access Gift Cards with the Visa and Master Card logos on them.

I recieved (2) 50 face value gift cards for Xmas 2007. I was saving them towards a recliner for myself. Recently I purchased a chair and found that, while the cards were not expired, the company had been charging the card 3.00/month maintenance fee, plus charging 50 cents per balance enquiry. So, by the time I used the cards for my purchase, the sum total value of the (2) cards was 49, not the 100 face value.

What an incredible rip-off! You are better off giving cash, check or an American Express Gift Cheque (I also had one of these and it was still worth it's face value of 50). Since I got it as a gift, I admit I should have checked out the terms; but I never imagined that anyone would sell such a product with a straight face given these terms.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.