The visa buxx card is no ordinary debit card

It has been specially designed to offer teens spending independence and responsibility, while keeping parents informed, involved, and in control.
Visa Buxx is not a credit card – it's a prepaid card that enables you to load the card online or over the phone and monitor spending. You can work with your teen to review their spending habits. If the card is ever lost or stolen, you are not responsible for any unauthorized purchases, making the card safer than cash. And it's welcome everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, making it perfect for schoolbooks, everyday errands, travel, and life's little emergencies.

Benefits for Parents
Powerful financial education tool because Visa Buxx helps your teen learn budgeting by managing the prepaid amount on the card.
Parental control with online tracking of purchases and spending limits, so you and your teen can talk about financial responsibility.
Safer than cash because if it's lost or stolen both you and your teen are protected. You'll pay nothing for unauthorized purchases.
Peace of mind for you and your teen in case of emergencies, when traveling, or for everyday errands.
Convenient alternative to running to the ATM every time your teen needs money.

Benefits for teens
Independence to make responsible purchases without having to borrow a credit card or carry lots of cash.
Flexibility to use it everywhere that accepts Visa debit cards.
Smarter than cash because Visa Buxx gives teens tools to learn about financial responsibility and managing their own budget.
Security because only the teen can use the card, and online account information is password protected.
Always the right gift because parents can authorize family or friends to put money on the Visa Buxx card. It's faster and safer than mailing a check or giving cash.




How it works

It has been specially designed to offer teens spending independence and responsibility, while keeping parents informed, involved, and in control.
Visa Buxx is not a credit card – it's a prepaid card that enables you to load the card online or over the phone and monitor spending. You can work with your teen to review their spending habits. If the card is ever lost or stolen, you are not responsible for any unauthorized purchases, making the card safer than cash. And it's welcome everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, making it perfect for schoolbooks, everyday errands, travel, and life's little emergencies.

FAQ's


What is a Visa Buxx card?
Visa Buxx is a prepaid, reloadable Visa card created especially for teens. Visa Buxx makes it easy for parents to teach teens how to create a budget, manage money, and shop wisely. The card can be used everywhere that accepts Visa debit cards – that's millions of locations worldwide. Parents enroll their teen in the program and can also monitor their teen's spending; they set the spending limits by the prepaid amount loaded on the card.

What is the difference between a prepaid card, a check card and a credit card?
The prepaid Visa Buxx card looks similar to a Visa credit card; both have the Visa trademark and hologram. And merchants accept it just like any other Visa debit card. But Visa Buxx cardholders don't have a credit line. The Visa Buxx card will only allow teens to access the prepaid amount of money that's on the card. And like a check card, the money is automatically deducted from the account.

What are the benefits of a Visa Buxx card?
The Visa Buxx prepaid card helps put an end to last-minute ATM trips and constant nagging for money. With online, telephone, and automatic loading, combined with parental controls like spending limits, the Visa Buxx card makes it easy for you to provide your teen with spending money while teaching your teen financial responsibility. It enables parents to monitor spending and it's safer than cash because Visa protects you and your teen if the card is ever lost or stolen. And it gives your teen the freedom to use it everywhere that accepts Visa debit cards. Visa Buxx is perfect for school books, supplies, music, food, travel, and is great for peace of mind in case of emergencies.

Why is the Visa Buxx card safer than carrying cash?
When cash is lost, it is gone forever. However, if the Visa Buxx card or card number is ever lost or stolen you're protected with Visa's Zero Liability Policy. Your teen's card will be replaced and the balance will be transferred to the new card. The replacement card usually arrives in five to ten business days. Click here for more information on how Visa's Zero Liability Policy protects you and your teen. Financial institutions that offer Visa Buxx may have their own guidelines on how they fulfill the replacement card. Be sure to check your terms and conditions when you apply.

How does automatic loading make budgeting easier for parents?
Automatic loading is a convenient way to set up allowances, or budget how much money is given to a teen. Every week, once a month, or whenever you deem most appropriate, a pre-selected amount can be transferred from a parent's credit card, check card, or checking account to the teen's Visa Buxx card. It's quick and easy, and helps take the stress out of giving teens cash. Please note that when loading from your checking account, the transfer may take five to seven days. Contact your financial institution to set this up. Make sure you confirm completion of transfer before your teen tries to use the funds.

How does Visa Buxx help teens with budgeting?
Visa Buxx gives teens a tool to learn the importance of budgeting wisely and planning accordingly by supplying an account history for them to review. Teens can access the account history feature at the financial institution's Visa Buxx Web site to keep track of purchases, get a card balance, and find information and tips on financial management subjects.

Can parents set spending limits?
Yes, parents determine how much money gets loaded on the card, as well as when and how the card is loaded. Parents also can log on to the financial institution's Visa Buxx Web site to review their teen's spending and suspend the account at any time, for any reason. In this way, the Visa Buxx card offers teens financial independence within safe, comfortable, and structured limits.

How can parents guide their teens to the most appropriate places to shop, especially online?
Parents can review a teen's account anytime and see how much they are spending and where they are spending it. Parents can discuss with their teens how and where the card can be used. Together, you and your teen can agree on the best places to shop. But even more important is talking to your teen about money and what you expect from them.

How can Visa Buxx help teens be financially responsible?
Using a Visa Buxx card is a first step – and a big responsibility – for your teen. When you sign your teen up for their Visa Buxx card, encourage them to take the "Money Tools" quiz. Educational information is also included with each card. Taking the quiz and reviewing the materials together will help to prepare your teen for the real world of managing a budget and using a Visa Buxx card.

Why is Visa Buxx a great way for family and friends to give gifts?
Parents can authorize family members or friends to put gift money on the Visa Buxx card. It's faster and safer than mailing a check or giving cash, and it enables the teen to get what they want. After the initial set-up by the parent, which can be done by signing up with your financial institution, a gift giver is automatically provided with instructions on how to go to the financial institution's Visa Buxx Web site and add a gift to the Visa Buxx card.

How does the Visa Buxx card work?
The Visa Buxx card is a prepaid card, so spending limits are set by the amount of money parents load onto the card. When a teen makes a purchase with the Visa Buxx card, the purchase amount is deducted from the card balance. When the card balance is low, parents can add money to, or "reload," the card from their credit card, check card, or checking account (transferring money using a checking account can take five to seven days.) Parents can even schedule automatic loading to provide an allowance on a regular basis. It's a perfect tool for parents and teens to talk about budgeting, spending, and financial responsibility.

Who can use the card?
Only the teen whose name appears on the card can use the card.

How do parents add money to the card?
Adding money to the Visa Buxx card is the quick and easy way to make sure your teen has money for everyday uses, travel, and emergencies. Just log onto the financial institution's Visa Buxx Web site or call the 800 number on the back of the card anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember to verify transfer of funds before your teen uses the card.

Why is it so important to always know the balance on the card?
Merchants cannot tell how much money is on the card until your teen tries to make a purchase. Any attempt to make a purchase that is for an amount greater than the cardholder's available balance will be declined. While this does not happen very often, it is important for the cardholder to keep track of their available balance to help avoid this situation. Your teen can use a second payment method (cash, check, or a credit or debit card) in combination with the Visa Buxx card to make a purchase greater than the balance on the card. It's okay for the card to fully deplete funds. If this happens, simply follow the appropriate steps to replenish the card.

What if a merchant puts an item through without prior authorization?
Occasionally, a merchant does put an item through without prior authorization. If the purchase exceeds the available balance, the cardholder's account will have a negative balance. In these rare circumstances where an overdraft occurs, you would be notified to load more funds onto the card.

How do teens keep track of their balance?
We recommend that they use the transaction register (similar to a check register) to record all of their purchases and deposits. This makes it easy to keep track of their current balance and is great practice for when they have a checking account in the future. By tracking their activity regularly, your teen will always know how much they are spending, where they have spent it, and how much is on the card. This helps them to understand budgeting and the value of money, and it makes shopping with Visa Buxx easy.

How do parents and teens find out the card balance?
Both parents and teens can check the card balance by logging onto the financial institution's Visa Buxx Web site, or by calling the 800 number on the back of the card.

Do merchants ever tie up more funds than your intended purchase price?
It is important to know that some merchants like restaurants and gas stations "reserve" more money than your teen may actually plan to spend. They do this to cover variable costs like tips or a tank of gas. Within three days, the "reserve" is cancelled and the funds become available again on the Visa Buxx card.

What if the Visa Buxx card is lost or stolen?
Either a parent or teen should call the 800 number on the back of the card immediately. And remember to always keep your card number in a safe place—you'll need it for a replacement card. Your replacement card will arrive in 7 to 10 business days.

Is identification required to use the card?
As a security measure to protect the teen, a merchant might ask to see a teen's ID, which could be a school ID or a driver's license. If the teen doesn't carry ID, the merchant can match the signature on the back of the card to the teen's signature on the receipt.

Can teens use the Visa Buxx card at an ATM?
If the financial institutions offer it, and a parent rquests a PIN (personal identification number) for the teen at the time of application, the teen can use the Visa Buxx card to withdraw cash from Visa ATMs worldwide. Check with your financial institution on whether there is a fee for this service.

Can the Visa Buxx card ever be suspended?
Either a parent or a teen can suspend the account at any time, for any reason. The Visa Buxx card cannot be used again until it is reactivated by the parent. This can be done by calling your financial institution.

How can parents and teens ensure their account information is secure?
All information given to Visa Buxx is secure and strictly confidential. To access the cardholder's account via the Web, the cardholder's username and password are required. Once the user is logged in, extra security measures make private information unreadable as it passes over the Internet.

Will the card impact the teen's credit rating, if misused?
Since the Visa Buxx card does not offer a line of credit, it will not impact the teen's credit rating. However, if the card is being misused, parents can suspend the account at any time.

How do I get a Visa Buxx card?
Parents can sign up online immediately. Just click here to get started.

Can a Visa Buxx card be added to a Visa account that's already open?
Since Visa Buxx is a prepaid card and not a credit card, it cannot be added to an existing Visa account. In fact, parents don't even need to be Visa cardholders in order to get a Visa Buxx card. And they don't have to qualify for a credit card to get their teen a Visa Buxx card.

Can more than one teen be on the same Visa Buxx account?
Each teen in the family is required to have a separate card with their own unique card number. If you have more than one teen, the Visa Buxx enrollment process makes it easy for you to sign them up at the same time.

How can parents contact Visa with additional questions about Visa Buxx?
You can reach us toll free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-354-9302, or you can email us at visabuxx@visa.com. We'd be happy to answer your questions.