Online shopping - plastic with a difference

You've got debit cards - linked to your bank account and you've got credit cards, both allowing potential fraudsters to access your funds

Now there's Cashplus, a piece of plastic you can top-up with funds, as and when you need to. In theory slightly safer than debit or credit cards. You can only spend as much as you have in your account - no overdrafts

Still early days - not many top-up places or means to electronically transfer from a bank account.

More details: http://www.mycashplus.co.uk/faq.htm

Credit cards in the UK still give valuable protection for transactions that cost more than £100. The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (section 75) says that, if there is a problem with the goods and services you buy, then the card issuer, as well as the retailer, is responsible and you may be able to get a refund from them.

AFAIK, the Cardplus card doesn't come under this Act (as it's not a credit card). Still safer than Debit cards though.

Is this the one that charges £1 per transaction?
Bit steep really, if it's aimed at low-earners and people without conventional bank accounts.

Don't think so.

These are the fees/charges (smallprint):

Card Issue/Replacement fee Maximum £9.95
Monthly Subscription fee £4.95 (per month charge) per Account * Doesn't mention this on their site - v.norty
ATM Withdrawal fee £2.00 (UK) £3.00 (Outside UK)
Cash Advance fee (at bank) £3.00
Cancellation fee £10.00 (refund of cash value in the card)
Top Up fee by debit card £2.00
Foreign Transaction fee 2.75% of amount withdrawn/spent

Text balance updates provided by Free email or to mobile phones (maximum once per month)
Change your PIN Free
Check your balance Free
All purchase transactions Free
Speaking with Customer Service Agent (CSA) 50 pence per minute

Terms and Conditions: http://www.mycashplus.co.uk/pdfs/715...CapriceTnC.pdf

* Nevermind - it's a start, soon there'll be more competition and there will be others, hopefully without monthly charge. You would have thought they'd make enough money from the Mastercard charges they get off the retailers (which we end up paying for) or from the 0870 number you dial and the 50p a minute if you speak to a CSA.

dont think i will get 1

Nor will I.

I like Cahoot's Webcard idea - you get a single use credit card number generated for each transaction.

Cahoot Webcard: http://www.webcard.cahoot.com/webcard_what.html