Capcom Visa cards full of hidden charges (just like Guile)

by JC Fletcher { Mar 6th 2009 at 1:02PM }

Those pre-paid Capcom Visa cards are nice collectibles, but it turns out that they do a little collecting of their own. In case you aren't intimately familiar with the minutiae of the credit card world, Defend Your Dollars laid out, in plain language, the fees associated with the prepaid cash card (which is not a credit card, nor is it a debit card).

Just a few examples: You have to pay $10 to buy the thing, followed by $4.95 monthly. You put another $4.95 down as a fee when you want to reload the card. And unless you specify a "signature-based debit transaction" at retailers, you're charged a quarter for a PIN-based transaction. You also pay for balance inquiries, ATM transactions, overdrafts (to the tune of whatever you spent plus ten dollars), customer service calls, bill payment by check (seriously), and not using your card for 90 days.

This isn't unique to the Capcom cards: this is just how it is for prepaid cash cards. You pay a lot for the privilege of having a card. It's your call whether you love Bionic Commando's Nathan Spencer enough to put up with this business.

[Via The Consumerist -- thanks Don!]

Tags: capcom, capcom-unity, credit-card, visa

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

samfish (is ready for MadWorld!) @ Mar 6th 2009 1:09PM

I had one of these pre-paid cards once. My ass is still recovering...

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Mar 6th 2009 1:27PM

Yeah is like keeping your money in a coat with holes in the pockets.

Danny F. @ Mar 6th 2009 1:09PM

Its just as the article state, this is normal for pre-paid cards in most cases. Which is why I implore people to get normal credit cards or just get a simple debit card and account. No point getting 10% off on simple capcom stuff when u you can get up 15% off on internet sites like amazon using a regular card without having to pay a fee just to use the damn card.

Danny F. @ Mar 6th 2009 1:11PM

Though I will admit... I wish I had the option to print my card with a SF4 Logo or background like that.

A Gouken Debit Card, and a Akuma Credit Card would be awesome lol.

Ghen @ Mar 6th 2009 1:41PM

I hear you. it sounds almost worth it for the graphic above :D I don't play Blanka but his electric shock would look perfect on a credit card!

Dragon @ Mar 6th 2009 4:12PM

But couldn't you get that picture on a capital one credit card if you used that picture? Or any other gaming pic? Or are there copyright laws that interfere with that...?

Ignatius @ Mar 6th 2009 1:10PM

Screw that.

Cody @ Mar 6th 2009 1:13PM

The saddest part is, these pre-paid cards (especially videogame themed ones) are targeted at just the right kind of crowd that would over look all that fine print. Horr-e-blay!!

umm....hello??? @ Mar 6th 2009 3:23PM

except that around 80% of most consumers fall into "the right crowd" automatically for not reading fine print....

Abobo @ Mar 6th 2009 1:14PM

I LOVE the title of this article. Kudos, JC.

reebo @ Mar 6th 2009 1:18PM

$.05

$.10

$.05

$.10

xx Beta Max xx @ Mar 6th 2009 1:20PM

OMG great headline.... "like guile"... classic!

acefondu @ Mar 6th 2009 1:22PM

haha, I lol'ed as well.

juju187 @ Mar 6th 2009 2:13PM

funny because its true

Lee @ Mar 6th 2009 1:32PM

If you buy cards just because of the pictures on them you deserve to have change dribbling out of your pocket.

ToRo @ Mar 6th 2009 1:39PM

I remember hearing about this in one of the giantbomb podcasts. Sadly, there are those hardcore fans that will pay all those hidden fees for a card with a picture on it.

WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Mar 6th 2009 1:42PM

Every time you use the card, it costs half your EX meter.

That crap cost me a tourney win.

JWC @ Mar 6th 2009 1:44PM

I'd get it. But only under the name M Bison.

Rudolphe @ Mar 6th 2009 2:10PM

Lol, awesome.

deaftly @ Mar 6th 2009 2:00PM

KA Randall is so fucked now that I have his card number.

Josh @ Mar 6th 2009 2:01PM

Wow, that's terrible.

Just get a debit card, people.

juju187 @ Mar 6th 2009 2:14PM

cash is king

Josh @ Mar 6th 2009 2:28PM

Well, for online purchases, a debit card is probably the best way to go.

Hooray It's Rob! @ Mar 6th 2009 2:29PM

And debt is dumb.

Josh @ Mar 6th 2009 2:33PM

Yeah, screw debt.

tuaamin13 @ Mar 8th 2009 10:47PM

Actually, credit cards tend to have more fraud protection than debit cards. Unless you've got a really good bank, a credit card is safer than a debit card.

Just pay it off at the end of the month. No interest accrued.

HighFiveJesus @ Mar 6th 2009 2:04PM

the word debit on there is very misleading then.

debit cards are the way to go, unless the restrictions on it bother you. (but its just saving your money, not charging you for little extras)

umm....hello??? @ Mar 6th 2009 3:27PM

credit cards offer more security and better liability protection than debit cards. but you're more likely to get into debt with a credit card.

Vcize @ Mar 6th 2009 3:58PM

If you're not an F'ing moron that can't control your own spending, then anything other than a credit card is just a freaking waste.

Better protection, more convenient, and tons of free stuff.

Vidikron @ Mar 6th 2009 5:03PM

"Better protection, more convenient, and tons of free stuff."

I think every single one of these would be highly dependent upon the institution that backs them.

Rudolphe @ Mar 6th 2009 2:10PM

That's pretty damned ridiculous, it should be illegal honestly. I'm about to get a machine to print my own images on a credit card.

754Boy @ Mar 6th 2009 2:30PM

I ordered one of these just because it looks cool. Will never use it though mainly because of all the lame fees associated with it.

Josh @ Mar 6th 2009 2:33PM

But you get charged for not using it.

Josh @ Mar 6th 2009 2:34PM

This was a reply to 754Boy (I guess obviously).

Twist @ Mar 6th 2009 2:50PM

Wow this is Super Lame Turbo HD Remix Edition right here. I can get pre-paid reloadable Visa Gift/Debit Cards for free from my bank that don't come with any of these fees and stuff attached.