There’s seems to be a little confusion over the Bopo Prepaid Visa Card and the Prepaid Visa cards issued by ANZ from their online website prepaidshop.com.au

While there are similarities between the cards there are differences between the Prepaid Visa cards and Prepaid Visa Gift Cards.

Both cards allow:
Cards to be used to make transactions online.
Cards can be worldwide, where Visa is accepted.

This is where the similarities end for the Prepaid Visa Gift Cards.
They’re seems to a few more restrictions on where the Prepaid Visa Gift card can be used.

The Prepaid Visa Gift Cards cannot be used in the following scenarios.
Cannot be used at an ATM
Cannot widthdraw cash from Prepaid Visa Gift Card
Cannot be used for online gambling merchants (Adult ?)
Cannot be used at petrol pumps
Express payment services
Make purchases that exceed the Card Balance.

Just with the restriction alone places the Prepaid Visa Gift cards into niche market. The Prepaid Visa Card services is definitely targeting a different type of consumer and believe it offers a great solution for those last minute shoppers.

Their Corporate services benefit both Company and Employees as Companies are able to have branded Prepaid card created and offer them as incentive rewards to employees who will benefit from the being able to make purchases where Visa is accepted.

I wasn’t able to find information regarding Bopo offering Branded Corporate cards though they do have a facility for Companies to offer employees incentive rewards to employees.

While both cards offer similar services each prepaid visa card provider, Bopo seems to have covered both by having the option of withdrawing funds from an ATM puts the Bopo card ahead.

You can review the PrepaidShop FAQ to get more information about their services.
To review the Bopo credit card fee schedule here

Both Prepaid Visa card services offer great value for their target markets, we’ll be keeping an eye out to see how both services

Websites offering the Prepaid Visa Gift Card
Prepaidshop.com.au
Cometrue.com.au

Unlike Prepaid Visa Gift Cards that is offered by ANZ the Cometrue giftcard can only be used within Australia where EFTPOS is available.

Some may see the EFTPOS only as a barrier, it really shouldn’t be as many locations that do accept VISA/Mastercard within Australia have EFTPOS available.

The ComeTrue giftcard is a no frills version of the Prepaid visa cards. They have a shorter card life as card will expires within 6 months of being issued. The Giftcards cannot be reloaded or topped up with additional funds as  the value of the gift card is set at the time of purchase.

Just like cash, if you lost it, it’s gone forever, you won’t receive a replacement cards.

Fees are minimal, $0.20 per sms balance inquiry though this can be reduced if you check your balances online. There are no transaction fees for EFTPOS transactions.

Fees & Charges (just an overview)

$5.95 - Cost of the Gift Card
$0.50 - SMS Balance inquiry
$0.75 - attempt to make a transaction with Insufficient funds
$1.50 - ATM denial Fee.

To review all of the Cometrue Gift Card fees and charges here

While some of the features may be a barrier for some, I believe that this service works well with the last minute shopper market and I personally would look forward to Christmas with Cometrue gift cards rather than boxers and Socks.

Another great feature about the Cometrue giftcard is that for every Cometrue giftcard purchased, $1.10 is given to OzChild Charity.

So if your out of ideas and need a gift that you know they will use, consider using the Cometrue giftcard service and help support a great charity.

For more about the Cometrue Giftcard visit Cometrue.com.au