Canada Post Prepaid Visa Review [Features, Pros & Cons]

This Canada Post Prepaid Visa review does not have a hard job of introducing the company in question – Canada Post is the primary postal operator in Canada, known initially as Royal Mail Canada. It provides services to more than 16 million households and over 6,200 locations. Canada Post delivers to a larger area than any other country in the world, including Russia.

What Do I Need to Know About the Canada Post Prepaid Visa?

Canada Post reviews find two types of reloadable prepaid cards – a cash passport prepaid MasterCard and a prepaid reloadable Visa card.

Cash passport Canada is ideal for travel and suitable for shopping in the US and on international websites in the local currencies. Visa is better for everyday use and in-store and secure online shopping in Canadian dollars.

What is the best prepaid Visa Canada has to offer? 

We continue our research with Canada Post prepaid Visa. 

In this review, we will have a quick run-through of the main features, ways to apply, the pros and cons of choosing this card, and the most frequently asked questions.

Services Overview

Just like any other reloadable Visa, the Canada Post prepaid card offers greater control over your spending and prevents you from going into debt. It’s simple to use, and you can get it within minutes by simply walking into Canada Post and buying the card you will then activate over the phone. No credit checks or bank accounts are needed. The service does not report to credit agencies.

This makes Canada Post Visa a simple prepaid card you can top up repeatedly and use wherever Visa is accepted. You can use your Canada Post prepaid Visa for split payments, as well as pre-authorized and recurring payments.

Prepaid Credit Card Features

The Canada Post Visa prepaid card can be used globally wherever Visa cards are accepted. The only exclusions are gambling sites and merchants that require manual imprint.

The following limits and fees apply:

Canada Post Visa Card Fees

• Purchase Fee $15.00
• Maintenance Fee $3.00/month (monthly payment at the beginning of each month)
• Reload Fee $3.00 
• Canada ATM Fee $2.00  (the ATM service provider may charge additional fees)
• Foreign ATM Fee $2.00  (the ATM service provider may charge additional fees)
• Cash Advance Fee $2.00 
• Foreign transaction fee 2.5% (Foreign currency conversion goes through USD conversion first for all currencies other than USD)

Canada Post Prepaid Credit Card Load Limits and Maximums

• Maximum Card Balance $10,000
• Maximum total load amount $40,000/for the life of Card
• Minimum load per transaction $25
• Maximum in person load $500/per transaction
• Maximum online load $2,500/per transaction
• Maximum load per Interac e-transfer Initially $500

Canada Post Prepaid Visa Review – Cash Withdrawals Limits

• Minimum withdrawal $20/per transaction
• Maximum withdrawal $500/per transaction
• ATM withdrawal limit $500/ per 24h
• Over the counter cash advance limit $500/per 24 hours
• Maximum Card-to-Card transfer limit $500/per transaction
• Maximum Card-to-Card transfer limit $1500/during any 30 days
• Maximum cashback $50 (Chip Cards only/must be less than the total purchase amount)

Typical approval time

In contrast to other prepaid cards and credit cards, you can walk out of Canadian Post with your own card within minutes after purchase. All you need to do is pay the purchase fee.

Unsecured or Secured

This Canada Post prepaid Visa card review found it a secured prepaid card with both chip and PIN protection.

Loading Funds

If you need to top up your prepaid card, Canada Post cash or debit load is the fastest way to go, as deposited money will instantly be available to you.

You can also load your card in any of the following ways:

• A bill payment bank transfer. The funds will be available in 1 to 3 days.
• Interac e-transfer or another fund loading third-party service. Funds are usually available within 1 day.
• Card-to-Card transfers to and from other Canada Post prepaid reloadable Visa cards 

Expiration

Even if the card expires, worry not. The money on it doesn’t disappear. In fact, if you have funds in the account, you should automatically get a replacement 45 days before the card expires.

Eligibility Criteria

If you are 16 or older, you can get your own Canada Post prepaid Visa card at any Canada Post near you. You will need to provide photo identification, driver’s license, or passport. 

How to Apply for a Prepaid Credit Card with Canada Post 

After providing the documents and paying a $15 purchase fee in any Canada Post location, you will receive a personalized card that you will need to activate by calling customer service. You will be able to add $500 to your card on the spot.

Once you have bought your card, you will need to activate it and get a PIN.

Step 1:

Call Cardholder Services at 1-866-760-1543 and enter your 16-Digit Card number.

Step 2:

Enter your month and day of birth.

Step 3:

You will be assigned a 4-digit PIN.

Step 4:

You can change this PIN by following the guidance on the phone. Later, you can change the pin on the website or by calling customer support.

Canada Post Visa Prepaid Card Pros & Cons

Privacy & Security Policy

Since Canada Post is not actually a bank, all transactions are conducted through Vancity Community Investment Bank and follow their privacy and security policies.

The bank will use your information to verify your identity and personal background, operate the card, enable the services you may need, and communicate with you on future offers. Your personal details and may be available to employees, financial and business partners.

Your information could be disclosed without consent only in situations required and permitted by law.

Canada Post User Reviews & Feedback

Most reviews focus on the ease of use and the ability to instantly top up the card at every Canada Post location around the country. Negative reviews, for the most part, mention poor and slow customer service.

Our Canada Post prepaid reloadable Visa card review found one curiosity among users of this card – they like the lack of a rewards system, claiming it might, in fact, push you to spend unnecessarily. 

Canada Post Reloadable Visa Alternatives

KOHO Prepaid Visa Card

One of the Canadian prepaid credit cards favourites and an alternative to Canada Post prepaid Visa is Koho Prepaid Visa. With its 2% cashback rewards system, Koho prepaid Visa is often a favourite choice of many. Koho’s round-up and automated savings feature helps you save money. And the fact that you only have as much money as you put in prevents you from going into debt and living beyond your means.

Home Trust Secured Visa

Unlike so many prepaid Visa cards, this secure card will allow you to build your credit rating. What’s more, you don’t need a minimum credit score or income threshold to start, and almost everyone gets accepted. By using Home Trust Secured Visa, you can also build your credit history. Widely accepted at over 1 million ATMs globally and everywhere Visa is used, it is an excellent choice for travellers.

Wrap up

Even if it comes with certain fees, Canada Post prepaid Visa is suitable for those who want to have a better way to control their spending and put some firm limits on their purchases. Other prepaid credit cards in Canada might come with cashback and rewards; however, sometimes, this might actually lead to unnecessary spending. 

In contrast, this card has no rewards system and provides a clear-cut and straightforward way of controlling your money. This Canada Post prepaid Visa review found it is especially popular with parents who find its simplicity ideal for their children’s needs.