I take it you’re an Aussie? or Kiwi, or something. just from some random references you’ve made.

Canadian here. Don’t know if it is anything similar down there but prepaid credit cards here are a big ripoff and not as easy to get as they are in the USA.

I wound up getting mine not through my bank (they didn’t offer anything like that) but through a money handling company (a money mart or something similar) instead. It costs me two bucks to put any balance on it and there’s a seven dollar fee every month that I use it. Basically the most gigantic ripoff in the world.

I canceled that thing as soon as i had used it for what i wanted.

real credit cards are usually better if you can get a grip on them.

Still, doesn’t cost any sausages to ask.

Paypal may in fact be able to take money straight from your bank account if you provide it with enough information, so you should look into that as well. I’ve got that set up now and am much happier, aside from the “I can’t register to somethingawful like I’ve been meaning to” thing.