No credit card? No problem! ☺
And no, this is not a sponsored or advertorial post either. I just happen to quite like the convenience of using this prepaid card. This is not my first prepaid card though, it just happens to be the one I’m using right now when I felt like blogging about it. ?
So, first things first. You must have an active Globe mobile (postpaid or prepaid) and GCash account. If you don’t have GCash, it’s just a simple matter of registering through *143# or GCash app (available for both iOS and Android smartphones). After registration, you may now get your own card.
So, how to get one? You will need to present an ID or two to be able to purchase a card (important!). Just go your nearest GCash Caravan or Globe store and buy a card for P150. The CS/SA would [probably] help you link the card to your GCash account. Once you get the SMS confirmation of succesful card activation, wait 24 hours and you’re ready to use your beep MasterCard! Of course, make sure you have money in your GCash first. This is a prepaid card after all. ?
Speaking of which, you gotta load up your GCash account before you can go swiping to heart’s content. The most convenient way [for me] to cash in is thru the trusty 7-11. There’s one practically on every other corner and they’re open 24/7 so you can’t beat that for convenience. And best thing is, there’s no cash-in charge or fee! Win! ?
But of course, you got other cash-in options. Another would be reloading thru mobile banking–if you have a BPI account, that is. Or, if you’re a prepaid subscriber, you may convert your load to GCash, but with a 10% transaction fee. But really, where’s the sense in all that when you can just go to the nearest 7-11? ?
Now, what do I do with this little plastic card? Let’s see.. so far these are what I’ve used it for:
- Bought load for prepaid numbers (there’s a small rebate if it’s for a Globe/TM number)
- Paid for Agoda hotel bookings
- Linked to my PayPal account (there was a P48.33 charge)
- Paid for groceries at different supermarkets
- Paid a Pag-ibig monthly housing loan bill (but which didn’t get reflected in the next HL bill, which I am still trying to fix)
- Paid for PayMaya VISA card (I know, I know ?)
Basically, you can use it pretty much as you would a credit card, given that there’s enough money loaded in it of course. One feature I like is that I get an SMS confirmation everytime I use the card; the amount used is there, as well as the merchant paid, and the remaining balance. Detailed expense tracking doesn’t get any better than that. ?
Another thing you can use it for is to pay for transportation via MRT/LRT, Airport Loop, BGC bus and Citylink. Not that I have tried using the card on any of those, seeing as I am stuck here in the province. ? You reload it like you would a regular beep card through any of the 44 stations of the LRT and MRT and in select Bayad Center, Tambunting, Villarica and SM Bills Payment Counters.
One important thing to note is that your GCash money is separate from your beep stored value. Meaning, you can’t use your GCash money to [for example] ride the MRT if you don’t have any or enough beep credits. In the same vein, you may have P10,000 worth of beep credits, but you may not use a single peso of it to purchase anything by swiping your card or to pay for an online booking. Sucks, I know, but sometimes you really can’t have your cake and eat it too. Oh well.
That niggle aside, it’s actually a pretty nifty card to have, especially if you don’t have a credit card. Totally saves you from credit card debt too. ?