GreenDot Stole My Money

My wife and I bought a Greendot Visa Debit card for our son to buy some online video games. We paid the market that we bought it from $1.95 for activation + $20 to put on the card.

I had multiple issues registering the card, but finally made it through the process. Until the card is registered you cannot call and talk to a human if you have issues. If you attempt to use their online chat, they provide little help and tell you to call, which of course you hit a dead end as it requires registration first. If you pause for any reason during the chat for more than 2 minutes it automattically drops that chat and you have to start over again with a new associate. This was very frustrating to say the least.

This company requires a full SS#, not just the last 4 digits to register the card. If you don't use a valid SS# you can't register it. If you don't use a valid phone number they can't contact you with your security code. A full SS# is required on the phone after you've registered the card. This practice on the side of the consumer is very insecure if you're a true believer in identity theft. I've never had to give my full SS# with my bank or CC company's following initial signup.

After finally registering the card I told my son to use it up quick as I had a feeling about this company. He made two purchases totaling $9.98 and tried to continue, but was locked out from using it any longer. I looking into it on Greendot's website and found that I was charged $7.95 as a "Monthly Maintenence" fee. 

Again, I chatted with a Greendot associate and they said that was normal, but he said it's not supposed to be until the 17th of the month. He didn't have an explanation, but took my number and said someone would call me back. Keep in mind that this was the 21st, so we had at-least 25 days to avoid any charges such as this. My plan was to use our funds [$20] then close the card and be done with it.
Feeling uneasy after giving out my SS# I was willing to forfeit the the remaining $2 and any possible refund of the $7.95 I closed the account. I just didn't want to be on the hook with them any longer.

Today, Monday, someone called me from GreenDot and started to explain the $7.95 charge. I told them that I wasn't supposed to be charged that until the 17th of next month. I also told them that I closed the account and wanted nothing more to do with them and hung up. Odd thing is, immediately after hanging up I get a call from a bot saying something about offering my help with credit. Coincedence?

Consider my experience a warning in dealing with this company. Once you purchase this card you're stuck. The store does not refund and now to go through the registration process that requires you to give out your SS# and phone# in order to use this card.

I'll keep my eye on my credit report as I feel real uneasy about these guys.