If you are looking at an alternative for you or a family member to credit cards you might consider the Prepaid MasterCard. There are several benefits to a prepaid credit card which we will discuss here. If you want to know what they are, what features are offered, what the costs are, and why you would want one you are in the right place.

A prepaid MasterCard is a credit card with a running balance, much like store gift cards. With a prepaid credit card you open an account in which you place a certain amount of money. This amount can be $100 to $1000. When you use the prepaid credit card at a store the amount of the purchase will be subtracted from the balance. In other words if you have $1000 and you spent $100 you will then have $900 left on the card to use the next time you go shopping. Like gift cards or debt cards, you are held to the account balance that you have rather than having a limit placed on the card.

Benefits of this card are a lack of unauthorized purchases, ability to get the card even with bad credit, and a tool to repair your credit scores. You are also safeguarded with the card because you do not have to carry cash. If you lose the card it is possible to stop the account from being used and thus to save your money.

Where there are benefits of a prepaid MasterCard there are also some disadvantages. There are costs associated with the cards and these costs vary depending on the company offering the MasterCard. If you go directly to MasterCard for the everyday use card you will need to purchase the card, activate it, and then deposit money in the account. Other companies will have a processing fee, reload fee, and annual fee. The annual fee can be as much as $75 per year to have the card. A reload fee is often a percentage of the amount you have loaded on the card, though some prepaid MasterCards require only a $4 fee. If you pay an annual fee the reload fee is often waived. There will always be a start up fee.

Prepaid MasterCard credit cards require an application like any other credit card. Your credit history will determine if you can be awarded the credit card or must seek an alternative. The benefits of improving your credit score are one of the largest draws to this style of card.

However, there is one other benefit that adults find in the prepaid MasterCard. Adults who wish to make sure their children have spending money at school, for supplies, and for a few fun items enjoy the prepaid cards. They can monitor how much their child uses without worrying about them going over the limit. It also helps teach the child or teenager responsibility in using credit cards. You will need to shop around for the best prepaid MasterCard credit card to find the lowest fees and best benefits.

Author Bio: To learn more about prepaid Mastercards, visit http://www.smartcreditchoices.com.

Category: Finances
Keywords: credit, prepaid mastercard, prepaid credit card, mastercard, personal finance, finance