Kalixa Prepaid MasterCard Card Review

Product Snapshot
Kalixa is a new breed of Contactless Prepaid MasterCard® – it's pay-as-you-go so there's no credit agreement, it’s not linked to your bank account and you can only spend what you have loaded onto it.

With no monthly account charges and no transaction fees, Kalixa is a practical and cost-effective alternative to a credit or debit card. It's globally accepted – online, on the high street or at cash machines – in fact anywhere that accepts MasterCard.

Kalixa's quick and easy online application can be completed in less than 2 minutes. To register, all you need is an active email address and a valid postal address (so we can send your shiny new Kalixa Card to you within 5-7 days). Just make a minimum load of £10 and you’re away!

No transaction is too small, but with a maximum balance capacity of £9,000 you can use Kalixa to pay for anything from a newspaper to a new car ... or a big night out to the night-bus home! With Kalixa’s full online account management it's easy to keep track of your spending, allowing you to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re on top of your finances.

Kalixa. Control your cash.

The Good
An excellent card design is complemented with a competitive fee structure and excellent customer service. With Free POS transactions and fixed fee ATM withdrawals the Kalixa prepaid MasterCard is an excellent Pay As You Go Prepaid MasterCard. Contactless card allows fast and convenient transactions up to £15.

The Not so Good
Only a GBP card is available - hence the card may not be ideal for use as a travel card in Euro/Dollar regions but Kalixa do boast market leading exchange rates and NO FX fees - so you might actually be better off than using some EURO/USD cards. A very good general spend everyday money prepaid card proposition.

Application Process

• Apply online - You can apply for a shiny new Kalixa Prepaid MasterCard at www.kalixa.com. A quick 2 minute application process; you will require an active email address and a valid postal address (to receive the card).
  
  To complete the application, you must complete your first load of £10 – this can be done online using a credit or debit card, or via bank transfer.
  

That's it really and your card should be delivered to you in 5-7 days.

Card Features

• Free POS Transactions - No transaction fee on Point of sale purchases.
• High Load and Card Limits.
• Chip & PIN Secure - User selected PIN at registration.
  

Fees

• Card Issue Fee - £6.95
• Monthly Fee - FREE.
• Transaction Fee UK - FREE.
• ATM Withdrawal Fee UK - £1.75.
• Reload Fee - Free via Barclays, £1.95% via Credit/Debit card & FREE via Salary Transfer.

The Kalixa Prepaid MasterCard is one of the few prepaid cards which allows loading via credit card - an excellent feature for those who love the convenience of online banking and transactions.

Online Account Management and Self Servicing
The Kalixa Prepaid Mastercard card team provide full online account management at www.kalixa.com. Using the online interface you can manage your prepaid card account including

• statements,
• account changes and
• loading options.

Using Abroad
The Kalixa Prepaid card is MasterCard branded which at last count means that you can use your card at over 29.5 million retailers around the globe as well as at over 1.5 million ATM's to withdraw cash.

The card is currently available in GBP only which makes it ideal for use at home in the UK but usage abroad will incur an exchange rate but no FX fee. POS transactions are still free but ATM withdrawals will set you back £2.25 but again no additional FX fee is charged - so not really recommended for making ATM withdrawals abroad.

Also for usage in USD and EURO regions, it may be wiser to get a specific Euro or Dollar Prepaid travel card although with NO FX fee's and market leading exchange rates, the Kalixa card is a better traveller than most. However, if you are looking to travel to a non Euro/Dollar region, then the Kalixa Prepaid Card is as competitive as they come.

* SPECIAL OFFER: ZERO FX FEES ABROAD : FX FEES permanently waived. NO FX FEES - Save up for a nice big prezzie with Kalixa!

Reload Options
Options galore with the Kalixa Prepaid card as they offer a variety of options including some fixed fee and free options. You can load your Kalixa MasterCard as follows

• Barclays Branches using Cash - FREE
• Bank Transfer - FREE
• Online Credit Card - 1.95%
• Online Debit Card - 1.95%
• Click & Buy - 5.00%
• Moneybookers - 3.5% (min £1.00)
• Salary Transfers - Free

An excellent range of options and Kalixa is one of the few providers to offer the convenience of online loading via credit and debit card - an excellent feature indeed.

Customer Service
The Kalixa prepaid card customer services team can be reached using the online contact form on the Kalixa Website or via phone. Customer services details are as follows.

• By Telephone : 02076367319 (Standard rates from BT Landlines)
• Website: Using the Contact form on the Kalixa Website
• Lost and Stolen: 0800 783 7087 (UK), 0044 207 580 4038 (Abroad)
• By Post:Vincento Payment Solutions Ltd., PO Box 6272, London, W1T 4TP, UK

Complaints Procedure
Kalixa are dedicated to responding to all complaints addressed through Customer Services within 24 hours. Formal complaints will be responded to within 5 days.

Complaints can be made via phoning the Customer service team on: 02076367319 (Standard rates from BT Landlines). Alternatively, you may email complaints@kalixa.com (free).

If you are still not satisfied after following our procedures, you can ask the Ombudsman to review the complaint. Alternatively you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SR or telephone 0845 080 1800. Calls may be recorded.

Awards
The Kalixa Prepaid Card has just been launched recently and has already received some excellent reviews in the press. It was recently named as the “bargain of the week” by Independent & featured among national press including Independent, Daily Telegraph & Daily Mail.

Definitely a case of "Watch this space"!!