Prepaid Card Review Directory

The Sterling MasterCard

What Prepaid? Summary

Date Reviewed: October 2007

Which Prepaid Rating

What's Good

The Sterling prepaid card is one of only a handful of fully branded MasterCard cards available in the UK. It has Chip and Pin, and is accepted at more than 24 million locations around the globe. You don't need a bank account and are guaranteed to be accepted, regardless of your credit history. You can manage your account online and top-up your account at more than 14,000 Post Office branches, and also at e-pay participating retailers.

What's not so good?

If you intend to use the card frequently for ATM cash withdrawals, it can be expensive. You will also have to pay a monthly fee, regardless of how often you use the card

Key Features

Application Process
5 Stars

Very efficient application process. Apply online and you will receive a confirmation letter the following day. This letter contains a barcode enabling you to make an initial top-up at the Post Office. You then receive your Sterling MasterCard in around 3 days. Or, if you just can’t wait, you can pay for your card immediately with a debit card, and get your Sterling card even quicker!

Card Design
3 Stars

Only one card design is available, but it’s a decent enough design, and will appeal to most consumers.

Fees

Sterling card offer two different products, which will suit both customers that use their card frequently, and those that use their card less often. The sterling “Activeplus” product has a monthly fee, but no reload or retail per use fees, so is relatively cost effective for customers that will use the card frequently.

Their “flexiplus – pay as you go” product does not charge a monthly fee or reload fees, however, it does charge a fee of £1.50 for every purchase transaction, regardless of the value of goods purchased.

There are more cost effective fully branded prepaid MasterCard’s available within the UK, so its worth doing your research before making a final card selection.

Self Servicing
3 Stars

You can service your account on the Sterling website or via an interactive voice response. You can view your balance, last 60 days transactions and change your personal details. You can also order additional cards for any persons over the age of 13. Sterling card also offer a SMS facility where balance details may be sent to your mobile phone on request.