What happens if you Overdraft a Prepaid Card?
It is a common misconception that prepaid cards are the same as debit cards. However, there is one big difference – when you overdraft a debit card, you may face fees and other fees. But when you overdraft a prepaid card, no such thing happens because there is no overdraft feature with it.
Here’s What Happens if You Overdraft a Prepaid Card:
- The Transaction Will be Declined: When you try to make a purchase with a prepaid card and it does not have enough funds to cover the purchase, it will simply be declined.
- Additional Fees: Most prepaid cards will charge fees for declined transactions. For example, if a merchant charged a fee for the declined transaction.
- Permanent Deactivation: If you overdraft a prepaid card too many times, some providers may deactivate the card permanently.
What to do if You Overdraft a Prepaid Card
- Add More Funds: The simplest solution will be to add more funds to the prepaid card so that additional purchases you make will go through.
- Try a Different Payment Method: If adding funds is not an option, try using a different payment method to make the purchase.
- Close the Prepaid Card and Open a New One: If the prepaid card provider has deactivated the card, contact them to close the card and open a new one.
It is important to be aware of the risks of using a prepaid card, particularly when it comes to overdrafting. Make sure you are aware of the fees and potential permanent deactivation of the prepaid card if you overdraft, and consider adding extra funds to cover any potential future purchases.