Prepaid & Travel Money Card Comparison - UK

Last updated: Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Find Mastercard and Visa prepaid & travel money cards in UK that come with the best features and lower charges. This report provides a detailed list of card providers. Each card is unique for its features and charges. Please make sure you research well before choosing a card provider.

Prepaid cards can be used to receive wages. Most cards do not charge direct top ups from salary.

note If you are considering getting one, it helps to understand prepaid cards, as they come with specific features and shortcomings.

Bread

Your view:

Bread Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	£7.50 (additional card £7.50)
Maintenance fee
Transaction fee	Overseas: 2.75%, UK: 2.00%
Top up fee	PostOffice® & Bank transfer: No charge
Top up - PayPoint	3%
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: £1.50 + 2.75%, UK: £1.50 (max £250/day)
Maximum card balance	£3,500.00
Card replacement fee	£10.00
Balance enquiries	Online & SMS: No charge, Phone: 80p
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Free top ups (PostOffice® & bank transfer) 2. Maximum card balance £3,500.00

CrewCard

Your view:

CrewCard Prepaid MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£10.00
Maintenance fee	50p per month
Transaction fee	Overseas & UK: 3%
Top up fee	Payzone: 3%, Bank branch: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas & UK: 1.25
Maximum card balance	£3,000.00
Card replacement fee	£5.00
Balance enquiries	Online: Free, SMS: 10p
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Maximum card balance £3,000.00

Crystal

Your view:

Crystal Prepaid MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£9.99
Maintenance fee	£2.99
Transaction fee	Overseas: £1.00, UK: 10p
Top up fee	Debit card: £1.00, Bank transfer: 2% Credit card: 2.7%, Cash: 3.5%
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: £2.00, UK: £1.25
Maximum card balance	£3,000.00
Card replacement fee
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Maximum card balance £3,000.00

CaxtonFx

Your view:

CaxtonFx Global Traveller Card:

Card issue fee	No charge (additional card: £5.00)
Maintenance fee	No charge
Transaction fee	Overseas: No charge, UK: £1.50
Top up fee	Online, phone & SMS: No charge
Maximum card balance	£5,000.00
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: No charge, UK: £1.50
Balance enquiries	No charge (online, telephone, sms)
Foreign exchange fee	2.5% of transaction amount
Card replacement fee	£5.00
Card closure fee	£1.50 (minimum card balance £10.00)
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. No card issue fee 2. No maintenance fee 3. No overseas transaction fee 4. No overseas ATM withdrawal fee 5. Maximum card balance £5,000.00

CaxtonFx

Your view:

CaxtonFx Euro Card & Dollar Card:

Card issue fee	No charge (additional card: €7.50/$10.00)
Maintenance fee	No charge
Transaction fee	Overseas: No charge, UK: £1.50
Top up fee	Online, phone & SMS: No charge
Maximum card balance	€7,500.00/$10,000.00
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: No charge, UK: €2.00/$3.00
Balance enquiries	Online, phone, SMS: No charge
Foreign exchange fee	2.5% of transaction amount
Card replacement fee	£5.00
Card closure fee	€2.00/$3.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. No card issue fee 2. No maintenance fee 3. No overseas transaction fee 4. No overseas ATM withdrawal fee 5. Maximum card balance £7,500.00

Eclipse

Your view:

Eclipse Prepaid MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£8.95 (additional card: £4.95)
Maintenance fee	Pay monthly: £4.45, Pay as you go: No charge
Transaction fee	Overseas: 1.5%, UK: Pay as you go: £0.75 Pay monthly: No charge
Top up fee	Online, Post Office: No charge, PayPoint: 2.95%, Debit card: £0.75, Credit Card: £0.49 + 2.5%
Maximum card balance	£3,500.00
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: , UK:£1.50
Balance enquiries	Online, phone: No charge, SMS: £0.10
Foreign exchange fee	2.5% of transaction amount
Card replacement fee	£4.95
Card closure fee	£5.00 + 2.5%
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Maximum card balance £3,500.00 2. Credit score repair

FairFX

Your view:

FairFX MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£9.95†
Maintenance fee	No charge
Transaction fee	Overseas & UK: No charge
Top up fee	Debit card or bank transfer: Free Credit card: 1.5%
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: €1.50/$2.00, UK: £1.50
Maximum card balance	£7,500.00
Card replacement fee	€9.00/$12.00
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	3 years
Features	1. No maintenance fee 2. No transaction fee 3. Free top ups (debit card & bank transfer) 4. Maximum card balance: £7,500.00 5. Card validity: 3 years † Waived when applied through Tracenotes.com

Gap Year

Your view:

Gap Year MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£9.95
Maintenance fee	£4.95 per month + £4.95 per month (after 120 days of inactivity)
Transaction fee	Overseas: 2.99%, UK: No charge
Top up fee	Cash: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: £1.50, UK: £1.50
Maximum card balance	£1,500.00
Card replacement fee	£9.95
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Free cash top ups.

JustCash

Your view:

JustCash Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	£4.95 (additional card £4.99)
Maintenance fee	£2.95 per month
Transaction fee	Overseas: 3%, UK: No charge
Top up fee	PostOffice®: 85p, PayPoint: 3%, Bank transfer: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: £2.00, UK: £1.50
Maximum card balance	£1,500.00
Card replacement fee	£4.99
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	1 year
Features	1. Free bank/wage transfers

Lloyds TSB

Your view:

Lloyds TSB Visa Travel Money Card:

Card issue fee	£7.50
Maintenance fee	No charge
Transaction fee	UK: No charge
Top up fee	Bank transfer: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: 2.75%, UK: £1.50
Maximum card balance	£3,000.00
Card replacement fee	Free
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£5.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. No maintenance fee 2. No transaction fee in UK 3. Maximum card balance: £3000.00 4. Free card replacement to original UK address

Ministry of Sound

Your view:

Ministry of Sound Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	£9.99
Maintenance fee	No charge
Transaction fee	Overseas: 3%, UK: 20p
Top up fee	PayPoint: 3%, PostOffice®: £1.00
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: £1.50, UK: £1.50
Maximum card balance	£3,500.00
Card replacement fee	£4.99
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	No charge
Card validity	1 year
Features	1. No maintenance fee 2. Maximum card balance: £3500.00 3. No card closure fee

Mywonga

Your view:

Mywonga MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£9.95
Maintenance fee	£2.25 per month
Transaction fee	Overseas: £1.50 + 2%, UK: 50p
Top up	£1.50 per load
Top up - bank transfer	BACS: 50p, CHAPS: £20.00
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: £2.50 + 2%, UK: £1.75
Maximum card balance	£1,500.00
Card replacement fee	£5.00
Balance enquiries	Online: Free, SMS: 15p
Card closure fee	£2.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Low card closure fee

O2

Your view:

O2 Money Visa Card:

Card issue fee	No charge
Maintenance fee	No charge
Transaction fee	Overseas: 2.75%, UK: No charge
Top up fee	No charge
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: 2.75%, UK: No charge
Maximum card balance	£1,800.00
Card replacement fee	No charge
Balance enquiries	Online: Free, Mobile: Free
Card closure fee	No charge
Card validity	3 years
Features	1. No card issue fee 2. No maintenance fee 3. No transaction fee in UK 4. No top up fee 5. No card replacement fee 6. No card closure fee 7. Card validity: 3 years

Oakam

Your view:

Oakam Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	£5.00
Maintenance fee	£4.50 per month
Transaction fee	Overseas: 3.5%, UK: No charge
Top up fee	PayPoint & CC: 3%, PostOffice®: £1.00, Debit card: 60p, Bank transfer: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: £1.50, UK: 75p
Maximum card balance	£3,000.00
Card replacement fee	£5.00
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£15.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Maximum card balance: £3000.00 2. No bank transfer fee

On-X

Your view:

On-X Go Prepaid MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£9.99 (includes maintenance fee)
Administration fee	£5.00
Transaction fee	Overseas: 2.75%, UK: 20p
Top up	PostOffice®, Debit card, Payzone: 50p
Top up - Credit card	£2.00
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: 2.75%, UK: £2.00
Maximum card balance	£650.00
Card replacement fee	£6.99
Balance enquiries	Phone: 10p per minute
Card closure fee	£5.00
Card validity	1 year
Features

Payzone

Your view:

Payzone MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£5.00
Maintenance fee	No charge, £2.00 (after 60 days of inactivity)
Transaction fee	No charge
Top up fee	£0 - £100.00: £3.95 £101.00 - £350.00: £6.95
ATM withdrawal fee (UK)	£1.50
Maximum card balance	£350.00
Card replacement fee
Balance enquiries	Online: Free, ATM: 50p
Card closure fee	£7.00
Card validity
Features	1. No card maintenance fee 2. No transaction fee

PostOffice

Your view:

PostOffice® Visa Travel Money Card:

Card issue fee	No charge
Maintenance fee	No charge
Transaction fee	2.75%
Top up fee	1.5%
ATM withdrawal fee (UK)	Overseas: £2.00, UK: £1.50
Maximum card balance	£5,000.00
Card replacement fee	No charge
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£5.00 (or equivalent in $/€)
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. No card issue fee 2. No card replacement fee (to original address) 3. No maintenance fee 4. Maximum card balance: £5,000.00

Quidity

Your view:

Quidity 360 Money Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	£5.00
Annual maintenance fee	£4.95
Transaction fee	2.95%
Top up fee	PostOffice®: No charge, PayPoint: 3%, Credit/debit card: 1.95%, Bank transfer: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	£1.50 (£2.00 for withdrawals over £50)
Foreign exchange fee	0.55% of transaction amount
Card replacement fee	£5.00
Balance enquiries	Online: No charge
Card closure fee	£7.00 + 2% (minimum £10.00)
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Free top ups (PostOffice® & Bank transfer)

SpeedCard

Your view:

SpeedCard Visa Electron Card:

Card issue fee	£9.95
Maintenance fee	£2.45 per month £4.00 per month (after 120 days inactivity)
Transaction fee	UK: 50p
Top up fee	Bank transfer - 1%
ATM withdrawal fee	UK: £1.20
Maximum card balance
Card replacement fee	£10.00
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£5.00
Card validity	2 years
Features

Splash

Your view:

Splash Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	£5.00
Annual maintenance fee	£4.95
Transaction fee	2.5%
Top up fee	PostOffice® & PayPoint: 3%, Credit/debit card: 2.5%, Bank transfer: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	£1.50 (£2.00 for withdrawals over £50)
Foreign exchange fee	ATM: 2.5%, Merchant: 1% (of transaction amount)
Card replacement fee	£5.00
Balance enquiries	Online: No charge
Card closure fee	£5.00 + 1%
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Referral reward: £5.00

Sterling

Your view:

Sterling Card Activeplus Prepaid MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£9.95 (additional card: £4.95)
Maintenance fee	£5.95 per month + £5.95 per month (after 120 days of inactivity)
Transaction fee	Overseas: £1.50, UK: No charge
Top up	Free - Cash
ATM withdrawal fee (UK)	Overseas: £3.00, UK: £1.50
Maximum card balance	£5,000.00
Card replacement fee	£4.99
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	1 year
Features	1. No transaction fee in UK 2. Maximum card balance: £5,000.00

The News of the World

Your view:

The News of the World Prepaid MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£6.49 (Second card free)
Maintenance fee	PAYG: No charge, Weekly: £1.00, Monthly: £4.99
Transaction fee (UK & Overseas)	PAYG: 2.95%, Weekly: No charge, Monthly: No charge
Top up	Bank transfer: Free, PayPoint: 3%
ATM withdrawal fee (UK)	PAYG: 1.5%, Weekly: £1.00, Monthly: 50p
(Overseas)	PAYG: £2.25, Weekly: £2.25, Monthly: £2.25
Maximum card balance	£3,000.00
Card replacement fee	£4.99
Balance enquiries	Online: Free, SMS: 8p
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	3 years
Features	1. Free second card 2. No transaction fee on Weekly and Monthly tariffs 3. Maximum card balance: £3,000.00 4. Card validity 3 years 5. PAYG, Weekly and Monthly options.

Tuxedo

Your view:

Tuxedo Master/Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	Mastercard: £9.95, Maestro: £4.95 (additional card £4.99)
Maintenance fee	Monthly: £4.99, PAYG: No charge
Transaction fee	Monthly: No charge, PAYG: 2.95%
Top up fee	PostOffice®: 99p, PayPoint: 3% Bank transfer: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	Monthly: 50p (UK), £2.25 (overseas) PAYG: 1.5% (UK), £2.25 (overseas)
Maximum card balance	£3,000.00
Card replacement fee	£4.99
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	3 years
Features	1. PAYG (pay as you go) and Monthly options 2. 3 years card validity

Virgin

Your view:

Virgin Prepaid MasterCard:

Card issue fee	£9.95 (additional card: £4.95)
Maintenance fee	Monthly: £4.75, PAYG: No charge
Transaction fee (UK)	Monthly: No charge, PAYG: 2.95%
(Overseas)	Monthly: 2.95%, PAYG: 3.5%
Top up fee	PostOffice®, Debit card, Bank transfer: Free PayPoint:2.75%, Credit card: 2.5%
ATM withdrawal fee (UK)	Monthly: £2.95, PAYG: 2.95%
(Overseas)	Monthly: £1.50, PAYG: 3.5%
Maximum card balance	£1,600.00
Card replacement fee	£4.95
Balance enquiries	Online: Free
Card closure fee	£5.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. Free top ups (PostOffice®, Debit card, Bank transfer) 2. PAYG and Monthly options

White Eagle

Your view:

White Eagle Maestro Card:

Card issue fee	£9.95 (additional card: £9.95)
Maintenance fee	£3.95 per month (additional card: 95p per month)
Transaction fee	Overseas: No charge, UK: No charge
Top up fee	PayPoint: 3%, Bank transfer: Free
ATM withdrawal fee	Overseas: 1.5% (minimum £2.00), UK: 95p
Maximum card balance	£5,000.00
Card replacement fee	£9.95
Balance enquiries	Online: Free, SMS: 20p
Card closure fee	£10.00
Card validity	2 years
Features	1. No transaction charge (UK and overseas) 2. Maximum card balance £5000.00

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