HOW YOUR PRIME CARD WORKS

What is a Prime Card?

The Prime Card is an instant prepaid MasterCard card. It can be used to buy goods and services online, in shops and over the phone. It’s accepted at over 24 million locations worldwide – wherever you see the MasterCard acceptance mark. When you buy a Prime Card, you can load it with up to £150 (or up to £500 if you buy it here online).

Once you have purchased your Prime Card, you can upgrade it to a reloadable card (for a small fee), which means you will be able to top-up the funds on your card whenever you are running low. Click here for more details.

Is the Prime Card a credit card, and can it go into debt?

No and no. The money you pay to load onto the Prime Card when you purchase it is the total money available for you to spend. Once this has run out, you have two choices: either upgrade your card to a reloadable card and top it up with more money; or simply dispose of the card and buy another.

When does my card expire?

If you do not upgrade your Prime Card to a reloadable card, your card expires when you have spent all the money loaded onto it or when you hit the expiry date, which is printed on the front of the card. If you have upgraded your card, it expires when you reach the expiry date shown on the front of the card. You can then request a replacement card.

Can my card be reloaded?

If you choose to upgrade your card to a reloadable card, you will be able to top-up the funds on your card again and again. For more information on how to upgrade to reloadable and to apply now, please click here.

I thought all cards now had to be 'Chip and PIN'. Why is there no chip on my Prime Card?

Cards do not need to be ‘Chip and PIN’. In fact, most non-UK credit and debit cards (including those in the USA) are not ‘Chip and PIN’ and they are all accepted in worldwide locations, including the UK. Retailers must accept all cards, even those without chips.

Can I use my Prime Card to withdraw cash from an ATM machine?

You can use your Prime Card at ATM machines worldwide if you have successfully upgraded your card to a reloadable card with ATM access. Until you have upgraded to reloadable, cash withdrawals are not possible. For more information on how to upgrade your card, please click here.

Can I use my card to get cash-back in a shop or pub?

No. The Prime Card can’t be used for cash-back transactions.