I've never had to submit additional id verification documents for a prepaid card.

Apparently the system had a glitch and didn't like my given address on the online "activate card" page per netspend.com.

I was then directed to call this 800 number, the agent tried to trouble shoot using an address I lived at previously (2 years ago) and this apparently as well was rejected. From here I was give an email "document@netspend.com" to send "a picture of social sec. card and state id". - Which by the way takes on average 6 business hours for completion. Wonderful.

Seriously, wtf. This is a card loaded with $40 measly dollars. I know there is federal regulations that require these companies to verify my id, but gosh, $40?! I'm a natural born US citizen and this again is 40 flipping dollars!

Green dot, PayPal Prepaid (Visa), Google Wallet (MasterCard).... None of these outfits had me go through such hoops.

Anyone else have this issue??!

Yeh **** that. Sorry, netspend can go **** themselves.

Seriously. And according to Glassdoor.com the "document inspectors" make a whopping $16.00 hourly wage.

Defiantly feel better my SSN and ID are in safe hands of the professionals.


This whole company seems shady... Even the CSR at the call center tried asking for my SSN in its entirety.


****, should've went for the other off-brand international prepaid visa...

If you want to use your card for international use, you need to send in the ID. I seriously doubt that NetSpend would demand it if they didn't have to considering that it isn't great for business. It says on the packaging when you buy the card that you may have to send in ID due to the Patriot Act. It shouldn't have come as such a surprise.

You don't even have to email the info. On their website, after you create your account, you can just use a drop down to direct them to your photos. I think that you've managed to make something that should have just taken a few minutes into a convoluted process.

When I sent mine in it took just a few hours for them to OK it. It wasn't any big deal. I use my NetSpend card for just about everything online. They have low fees and no international transaction fees. No one has a gun pointed at your head; you're free to use any card you want.

Nope. Simply went to the website and clicked activate card. Created a user name/password, basic info and that was it. No ability to upload any docs from this web address (the same url on the sticker of the card that says activate).




I guess I'm frustrated that the process at Walgreens that took 5min at checkout for the PayPal visa wasn't repeated at the retailer where I purchased my netSpend card.

Essentially I was expecting that the cashier would prompt me for ID and to key in my SSN, etc, etc. - Just as the cashier at Walgreens had walked me through.

Instead it was a simple point-of-sale transaction buying the NS card.


You're definitely right. I jumped the gun and got pissed too quick. Had I researched the actual card I would have maybe discovered this "additional document(S)" verification process and the possibility there of.

However, the card packaging and website itself lead one to believe it's a very automated system, i.e. instantaneous completion/AUTH.

Instead money I paid is now in some digital purgatory, sitting in limbo for 6hrs.

The call center rep was very apologetic, indicating this dosn't happen that often.

I'm guessing it's because I had an amex opened in the last year with a prior address that flagged an alert of possible misrepresentation of my identification.


Anyway **** it. As I told the call center people it's not there fault. I hate when they say sorry, lol. It's an over complex, multifaceted algorithmic security system lacking human overriding functionalities.

Bottom, thank you for calling out my "over-reaction". Tomorrow morning it'll all be settled.

I just wanted to point out what I feel is somewhat invasive, requesting a photo of my physical social security card? Being how easy it is to counterfeit sensitive documents in today's age, especially when the possible candidate was printed in the 80s, it just seems a bit much...

/Rant over

I think that the entire system of doing things in the US is risky. When I lived in Massachusetts my Social Security Number was used as my drivers license number. I think that the Feds have made that illegal now. But still, there is way too much that works on trust. For example, when people send out 50 job applications online they are sending out their SSN to a large number of strangers that they are told are trustworthy. Unfortunately, jails are filled with trustworthy individuals. I can see why you might get worked up considering that there is a lot at risk. I think that the entire system needs to be re-worked.

6 hour average is amazing fwiw

Hmm...

Not only did I have to EMAIL my photo ID and SS card photo, I also had to EMAIL further proof of my billing address, the receipt of purchase as photos, as well.

When I tried to activate my card, the site popped up with a message informing me to call a number. There was NO option of any drop down box. Trying to log in was met with a big fat red lettered notice again insisting I call the number provided.

When I called the number, the 'csr' informed me I WASN'T the card holder, and refused to do anything for me. I was directed back to the 7-11 I purchased the pos from.

Had I not still had my cash receipt, I would've been out 50 dollars.

The lady at the 7-11 called and spoke with someone who generated a reference number, provided an incomplete email addy and set about itemizing a list of their demands for me to spread eagle any and all proof of my being me in jpeg format (list above).

Upon calling them back after the email was rejected, I was treated like a dullard regarding the wrong addy, then laughed at.

I forwarded my original email with an offer to provide them my blood type, a sample of my blood...and also asked if the 6 - 10 hour time frame I was now looking at would be shortened if I provided them results from my last pap smear and/or submitted to a colorectal exam.

I bought that card and loaded it to ensure I would have a means to add minutes to my cell. Even though 911 can be called from any cell, supposedly, I've encountered odd routings and delays in getting response and with a psychopath for an ex who doesn't seem to respect court orders informing him to stay the feck away, there is a certain degree of false comfort in knowing my phone isn't out of minutes.

Mind blown, and Lesson learned. Netspend will never have control over a penny of my monies in the future.