Here we will see about the Does Walmart Accept Prepaid Cards?
We all know how convenient paying for things has become with prepaid cards, particularly in those moments when we’re not strapped with cash and we need to make a purchase or pay for any other service. However, despite the popularity and convenience that comes with prepaid cards, some stores just do not accept prepaid cards, and you’re probably wondering if Walmart is one of those stores.
Well, let’s find out!
Does Walmart Accept Prepaid Cards?
Before heading to any Walmart store with nothing but a prepaid card sitting comfortably in your purse or wallet, you would want to be sure that Walmart stores accept prepaid cards to avoid having to experience that awkward moment on the line.
Anyone who frequents Walmart would confirm that indeed, Walmart accepts Prepaid cards as a means of payment. The interesting thing is that this means of payment is not just restricted to in-store purchases. You can also use your prepaid cards to confirm purchases on the Walmart online stores.
If you’re looking forward to using a prepaid card on your next visit to Walmart, here’s how you can get started.
Get A Prepaid Card
This is pretty much the most obvious step. Before you can use a prepaid card, you need to first have one. The great news is easy to get particularly because they do not usually require credit checks.
To get a prepaid card,
- You can visit a bank, credit card company, a known retail store, or other financial services provider and have it issued to you physically, or
- You can place an order for a using the issuer’s website and have it delivered to you via mail.
When you get a prepaid card, your card funds are usually part of an account held by a bank or credit union. It is this bank or credit union that keeps your money from which you can load your prepaid card.
Prepaid Card Activation
After getting your prepaid card, before you can go on to use it, you’ll need to activate it.
Just like getting your prepaid card, activating it is easy and requires only a few steps. All you need is your card number, the three-digit security code, and the card expiration date.
The card activation process can either be done online, using your phone or instantly after being issued.
Online
This method is typically adopted by those who ordered their prepaid cards online using the issuer’s website. The activation Web address is usually included with the card.
- Open the activation Web address provided by the issuer in your web browser
- Click the “Activate Card” option. An account creation form would pop up
- Enter the details required in the account creation form
- Once this is done, click the submit button and sign the back of your card.
The notification that says that your card is now active and your account has been created is your cue that your prepaid card is now ready for purchases.
In cases where you lose the activation website, you can go to the issuer’s website and search for an “Activate Card” button, and then follow the steps above.
Activate Using Your Phone
On the other hand, you don’t need to go online before activating your prepaid card. Prepaid card issuers also provide an activation phone number along with card documents. Here, all you need is your phone, the phone number, and your prepaid card details.
- Call the activation phone number and enter the required card details using your phone’s keypad when prompted.
- The notification that says your card has been activated will allow you to know once the process is complete.
- Sign the back of the card. The prepaid Visa is ready to use for purchases.
Instant Activation
You can activate your prepaid card right after collecting it either from the bank, a retail store, a credit union, or other financial service providers. Here, you would not need to worry about what your activation website or activation phone number is as the cashier would activate the card for you through the register and then give you an activation receipt.
Making Purchases With A Prepaid Card in Walmart
Now that you’ve gotten a hang of how to get a prepaid card, let’s cover the basics of how you can use these cards to make purchases in Walmart.
Just like credit cards, you can use your prepaid card to make purchases in Walmart by either handing your prepaid card over to the cashier and allowing them to swipe or scan your prepaid card or you can do it yourself at the self-checkout.
If you’re making purchases via Walmart’s online store, purchases can be confirmed by entering the 16-digit card number and security number when requested just like a normal debit or credit card.
Conclusion
Prepaid cards, which can also be called stored-value cards, pay-as-you-go cards, or, more formally, general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards, can be used for making purchases in Walmart (both in-store purchases and online purchases). Just like debit cards, prepaid cards are preloaded with money before they can be used. Once the preloaded money is used up, you can no longer make purchases till it is loaded again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a prepaid card the same as a debit card?
No. Although neither prepaid cards nor debit cards allow you to build credit, a prepaid card differs from a debit card because prepaid cards are not linked to a credit account like a debit card. A prepaid card is more like a gift card.
What are some retail stores that issue prepaid cards?
You can purchase a from retail stores like Walmart, Kroger Supermarkets, Target, Costco. However, these retail stores possess only a few of the different prepaid cards that exist. This limits your choices.
Can I use prepaid cards issued from other retail stores to make purchases from Walmart?
Yes. Unless other restrictions apply, the same way gift cards can be used across different stores, so it is with prepaid cards.
Would I get charged for transactions with my prepaid card?
Yes. The amount charged for transactions differs depending on the type of prepaid card. This is one of the factors you would want to consider when deciding on where to get a prepaid card. Like most financial products, prepaid cards charge fees that include card opening fee, card activation fee monthly usage fee, reload fee, and transaction fee.
How do I know what type of Prepaid card to get?
A lot of factors contribute to deciding a choice of prepaid card. The most important factor, however, is the fee the prepaid card attracts.
You can find some of the best-prepaid cards here https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/best-prepaid-debit-cards
How Can I load money on my prepaid card?
There are different ways through which you can load your prepaid card. You can perform a direct deposit, transfer from checking or savings account, use checks via the mobile app, or by paying cash at the register at participating retailers.
Are there any disadvantages of using a Prepaid Card?
The main advantage of using a prepaid card is that you can only complete transactions up to the amount you have loaded onto it and the fact that it doesn’t help you build credit.
