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EA launches branded prepaid debit card

Friday 4-Dec-2009 10:17 AM Bills service as new way to purchase and save when buying EA Sports titles

6 Comments

Electronic Arts has launched an EA Sports branded prepaid debit card that enables users to receive a per cent back from every purchase at high-street and online retailers in the form of redeemable points.

"The EA Sports DebitSmart Visa Prepaid Card is a great opportunity for us to offer our community of loyal customers a new way to purchase and save on their favorite EA Sports game titles," said Todd Sitrin, group VP global marketing at EA Sports. "Consumers use the card while making their everyday purchases and are rewarded with EA Sports video games. This program is a perfect marriage of encouraging responsible spending while providing a unique reward program."

The Visa-branded card is reloadable and funds can be allocated from a payroll direct deposit, checking account, another prepaid card or at thousands of retail locations nationwide.

The service was created in partnership with Coconut Creek.

Supplied by Edge-Online: 'EA launches branded prepaid debit card'

Edge-Online

// Interactive

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Anyone know when we'll see it?...

conceptwhite_fox on 4 Dec '09

it's nice to see publishers getting on board with a decent loyalty scheme.

quintus on 4 Dec '09

Decent loyalty scheme? It certainly won't be decent!

Prepaid cards are notoriously expensive. Almost always there's a fee for the card itself, a charge every time you top up the balance, a charge for getting back any credit you don't use.

It just won't be worth it. If anybody is stupid enough to get one they'll end up paying far more in fees than they would ever get back in terms of rewards etc.

Anybody who is looking for something like this there are two better options:

1. If you're 18 or over look at getting a cash back credit card (pay it off in full every month to avoid interest!)

2. If you're not 18 or can't get / don't want a credit card then simply buy games online and use a cashback website. In fact, this can be done in conjunction with a cashback card.

**Edit**

Just looked at their website - it's US only and is a waste of time and money. It offers nothing more than a normal cashback scheme (topcashback / quidco etc) but it charges for the privilege.

Here's the charges they hide away in their T&Cs:

Card Issuance Fee FREE for ALL cards - Primary & Companion
Monthly Service Charge $1.99 per month
POS Signature Purchase or Online Purchase FREE
POS Signature Purchases � Int�l $1.00
POS Purchase w/Cash Back � USA $0.50
POS Purchase w/Cash Back � Int�l $1.00
PIN POS Purchase $0.25
POS Balance Inquiry $0.50
POS Decline $0.50
ATM Withdrawal � US $1.00�
ATM Withdrawal � Int�l $3.00
ATM Balance Inquiry $0.50
ATM Decline � US $0.50
ATM Decline � Int�l $1.00
Card to Card Money Share or Funds Share or leave as Card to Card FREE
Card to Bank Transfer $1.99
Bank to Card Transfer $1.00
Micro Deposit Verification $2.50
Reload Using a Reload Network FREE�
Text Messaging FREE�
Email FREE
Card Cash Out with Check $15.00
IVR $0.95 per call
Live Agent $2.95 per call
PIN Change FREE
Replace lost/damaged card $15.00
Paper Statement Mailed $5.00
Expedited Card $20.00
Bill Pay Electronic $0.75 per Item
Bill Pay � Check $1.75 per Item
Bill Pay Decline $0.25
Negative Balance Fee $25.00
Dispute Fee4 $25.00

Utterly pointless in my view..

benf90 on 4 Dec '09

^^^
Damn...

johnafirth on 4 Dec '09

Did this quote not indicate this was a US-only scheme?

"...funds can be allocated from a payroll direct deposit, checking account,..."

It did to me.

But yes, there are plenty of (UK based) cashback sites available that allow you to then spend your rewards on (anything, not just) EA Games products.

Also, if buying direct from EA the prices may well be higher (nearer to the US Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, by definition) anyway, so you'll end up losing out with not being able to shop around for the best deal.

Fool� money� easily parted� etc.

BFN,

fp.

fanpages on 5 Dec '09

@benf90
I yield

quintus on 7 Dec '09

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