PayPower review: PayPower Pre-paid Visa Debit Card SCAM 11

Hello,

We apologize for any inconvenience and would like to help you resolve the issue. Please email your card and contact information to PR@Blackhawk-net.com so that we may assist you.

Thank you,
PR for PayPower

I have had a similar problem activating my PayPower card. They required my "initial value, " which I was told was $50. The customer service department disagreed and basically told me my money was gone and out the door unless I could get them the "correct" initial value. Since they were in complete control of the situation and I had no way to provide them with whatever mystical number they were expecting (when you receive a gift card, how else are you supposed to verify the value other than use the value reported to you by the gift giver and present on the receipt?!), my money is gone. I'm still pushing against them pretty hard, but I have a hunch I'm never going to see those $50.

Thanks PayPower for stealing my aunt's $50 gift,
Jordan

I have no problem with paypower at all.. I get my check direct deposit every two weeks.. I used the card everyday.. Beside the monthly service charge.. This card cone in handy... U use what u put in..

Customer since 2010

Thinking I'd just present my daughter with a cash card for her birthday and let her decide how to spend it, I purchased one of the Paypower cards at the local Safeway. This was in early April; it's now well into July. When she called to register the card, the company took all her information. But, when she tried to access her account to check the balance, there was a message that the card was not 'authorized.' Thinking that maybe I should have registered the card (as original purchaser) I finally called after she'd gone through the registration process numerous times with no satisfactory result. When I called, the agent (who was barely understandable - heavy latino accent) started asking for all sorts of personal information, claiming it was required for the process. This is after my daughter had already given them a ton of information they had requested to 'authorize' the card. I told the service representative that I had purchased the card as a gift for my daughter and had no intention of using it myself, so declined to provide any additional information. I have several other major credit/debit cards (VISA among them) and have never been asked for as much information as Paypower was requesting. I told the service representative that I was very disappointed in the authorization process, the ongoing delay for my daughter to be able to access either account information or purchases and that the company should go ahead and close the card account completely and refund the remaining balance (they apparently charge a monthly transaction fee whether the card is 'activated' or not) to my daughter's address (which they had asked for). The representative responded almost immediately that they could not de-activate the card and refund the money because the card had now been activated. By this time, I was becoming annoyed with what seemed to be a real 'run around' and told the representative that I still wanted the card deacitivated, money refunded, that I was terminating the conversation and pursuing alternative action through the State Attorney General's office, VISA, Safeway Customer Service and the Better Business Bureau. Copies of the information provided here have been forwarded to those offices and agencies. My intention is to post this story on several blogs, Facebook, and mention my dissatisfaction on Twitter. I've been told there's no such thing as 'bad' advertising - well, we'll see.
BTM

I agree with Ekky. Paypower is an incredibly useful tool that I use everyday too. I've been using it for over two years and have had only a few problems with their service. Currently, I cannot use the debit function and I admit, it's a bit annoying; nevertheless, quite useful.

They do ask for your SS# but I haven't had a problem with that. Plus, it's not like they verify that it's your Real number ;)
Also, they send a card out a few weeks after you register the card. Just keep track of your information and you'll be all set.

I bought this card for my disabled son to travel with. Cash is difficult for him to handle. I wanted the security that if he lost the card, we could report it and get him a replacement right away. When I went on line and gave out my son's personal information (social security number) birthday...I got a message that they could not process my request. I called customer service and spoke to a gentleman who could not speak English well. I had to have him repeat everything to try and understand him. He took my trouble report and told me someone would call me in two days. I got the call two days later and spoke to another person who could barely speak English. He told me that they could not verify my sons identity (same problem as other people who have tried) and therefore could not set up the account. After much arguing back and forth he finally told me the account information I provided on line did not match with government records! He refused to give me any options in verify my sons identity. He could still use the card but if the card was lost or stolen, we would be out $500. WHAT A SCAM! I jsut hope and pray they are not trying to use his personal information some how. WILL NEVER USE THIS COMPANY AGAIN. The customer service is all automated and it is very difficult to get to a person and when you do they are overseas.

Paypower scammed me too... I opened a card loaded with 5 Reloadit packs...paypower blocked my card and told me to snd them proof of purchase of the Reloadit packs... The packs were old and the receipts were gone... Paypower said too bad we have to keep your money...

My experience with Pay Power is somewhat the same as others experiences, On March 9, 2016 my card was stolen and I reported it as such on March 11, 2016 when I called the agent that I wanted the card blocked, he replied, (in bad English) he could not block the card to prevent usage, until I gave him some numbers on the bottom of my safeway receipt, where I bought the card. with original amount of $80.00 .By this time, the card had already been used on March 10, 2016. Would you believe, the balance was now at -$115.85 dollars After the two verbal sessions with the agent, I am now unable to login to my account. Today is March 20, 2016 and I still cannot login to my account. I do hope more people are made aware of this product! (1.0% for, 99.0% against would be my score) I am following suggestion of other complainants about notifying authorities about this product.
GM

I have used Paypower for a few years now without any glitches until recently! My cards were both blocked...and when calling Paypower the automated system would not recognize my information! I had to google to find a working email to get a response, which I had to send in my ID to prove who I was. Eventually, over days of fighting, my cards were unblocked. I reloaded $250 on my one card...and was blocked again! I'm beyond angry and frustrated! Once I get my money off the cards I will no longer be using this company! They have horrible customer service!

PayPower stay away! I booked a hotel and there was a preauthorization for the room, taxes plus deposit. 4 minutes later, I was charged the exact same amount again according to my statement, and my balance was lower by that amount. As soon as I logged in, I could see both transactions. The hotel provided me with a receipt for the one night stay which I provided to PayPower. I also took a screenshot of the double transaction. PayPower said, the amount would be returned to my card. It has been 2 weeks and no funds returned. The funny thing is, when I review my statement now, the 2nd transaction miraculously vanished off my statement. Why would they remove this transaction that was in error and not refund me my money?

Complete scam, the cards are NOT reloadable, instead it's transfered to a digital online card for online use only, which is useless to me, I needed this for in store purchases, Paypower will not refund all of the money and will only refund you via a cheque. I made a complaint to the grocery store where I purchased the card, they are now investigating the issue, I recommend you all complain to the retailers to pull these cards from the shelves