Visa prepaid debit cards are much harder to empty online when their balance of available funds is below $5.00.
More and more we’re running into websites where they impose a minimum allowable payment. Some minimum payment thresholds go as low as $1 while $5 seems to be the upper end right now.
I recently painted myself into a corner-style situation where I had made multiple small Visa payments on one of my regular monthly bills to empty the cards and accidentally left myself a remaining balance due on the bill of only $2.28.
Even though that was now my total amount due, the website’s $5 minimum payment threshold prevented me from making my final payment. The website wouldn’t even take my regular credit cards.
I had to call the company’s customer service to make my final payment over the phone. I explained to the kind gentleman that I used these prepaid Visa gift cards to support a local charity and they were okay with that. But, boy was I embarrassed!.
I learned two lessons that day: First, never let any of your Visa balances go below $5 before you empty them. And second, plan your multiple bill payment strategy so that your last payment on a bill will be greater than $5. Then use a card that will completely pay off the bill, yet still leave more than $5 on the Visa. For example, if the final payment is $10, make sure you use a Visa that has more than $15 on it before you make the $10 payment.
