It seems everyone is complaining about Russell Simmons’ pre-paid Visa RushCard.
The NY Times wrote a scathing review of the consumer card, and a loyal reader wrote in to complain about the raw deal she received with her new RushCard.
Maybe Simmons should stop frolicking in the surf with women young enough to be his granddaughters, and pay attention to what’s going on?
Loyal reader Tasha S. wrote:
Hey Sandra,
I am a loyal reader of yours and I just wanted to let you know about a fraudulous situation I recently experienced with the RushCard, Russell Simmons’ pre-paid debit card. I decided to get one of his cards out of support for him because I think its quite obvious the card isn’t receiving the attention they hoped for. So I received my card in the mail and immediately transferred money into the account from my bank. I was going to use the card as a “gas card” only, so I deposited $150 on the card. When I received my email alert from the bank informing me of my recent activity, I noticed that they withdrew $160 from my account, not the $150 that I clearly inputed. So I called customer service and the issue was quickly resolved.
Later, I went to the gas station to use the card for the first time. I spent $26 at the pump, which was on a Wednesday. The next morning I checked my balance on their website and the amount was accurate, also including a $1.93 fee. (I didn’t know that everytime you make a payment they charge you $1.93!) Before I went to bed that night, something told me to check that balance again, and so I did. To my surprise, they had the nerve to charge me again for the same transaction! Again, I only spent that $26 at the pump ONCE, but there were two charges with the same amount from Shell gas station, just on two different days. So I called customer service to address the situation and both representatives I spoke with were beyond rude.
I’m not even an ugly person, but she brought out the worst in me that night! After a 35 minute cursing match, they refunded me my $26. I then tried to close my account because I didn’t want them taking anymore of my money and they said I had to spend all of it to get it back. So that means I have to make transactions, therefore you STILL get my money because you’re going to charge me ridiculous fees! Oh and they don’t tell you this when you sign up, but there’s a $19.95 activation fee as well. They take that at their leisure.
I understand the mistakes happen, but them being a “financial” institution making mistakes like that is unacceptable. They are supposed to be encouraging people to manage their finances appropriately and instead they’re robbing people. Having the RushCard was a horrible experience and I would advise everyone not to support this business venture of Russell Simmons. Just goes to show that you can’t support everything just because its black owned!!
xoxo
Tasha S.
therealmztasha.blogspot.com
Thanks for the info. I like to support black owned businesses also but don’t think I will hang out with Russell on this one…
OMG…he reminds me of that ghastly lookin boy in SinCity that got his thang blowed off.
First hint that this card was a fraud *the commercial was bootleg and was like an infomercial. I’VE only seen it on BET*
To my surprise, they had the nerve to charge me again for the same transaction! Again, I only spent that $26 at the pump ONCE, but there were two charges with the same amount from Shell gas station, just on two different days. So I called customer service to address the situation and both representatives I spoke with were beyond rude.
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Hey Tasha, Sorry that happened you. But this here above sounds like a merchant problem….why would they charge your card for two transactions?
My guy and I both have the Rush card ( I got the baby phat one, but I haven’t activated it yet)….it is a $20 activation fee, and I think the ATM fees are steep. I also have a Debit card, w/my bank….if we both go to the same ATM, mine is free….he has to pay $3.00 every rip…..
Needless to say, he’s thinking about changing, and I’m not even thinking about activating my card….LOL
Wow!
divine you are a hot mess… lol You ain’t lying though. And neither is the author of the email. My mom has a babyphat card and even though she set it up for direct deposit, she gets charged when they put her lil social security check in, everytime she uses it and everytime she looks at it. I’ll stick with my credit union.
I have tried so hard to support black business. It is not easy, once the sale is complete you’re on your own. Hubby bought a used vehicl, the next day the door fell off the henge, I called the guy and told him about it and he said “as is”. I was like damn I understand the car is used but I would never expect a door to fall off.
Thanks for putting the RushCard on blast. If I ever see anyone with one I will be smh and wonder why anyone would let someone charge them to spend their own money.
With that Ghetto Ass BabyPhat symbol on the card….I laughed so hard at my homegirl when she pulled that mugg out to put $4 hoeass dollars in my car after driving her all over DFW!
awww damn…. you know that actually cost her $5.93 now… lol
Pre-paids are a scam, not just his, they all are. They have to make money someway so I respect it as business, they cant charge overdraft fees.
i had one of those cards about 6 years ago. i been stop fooling around
i’m outtie.. holla!
My brother and his girlfriend have one.They haven’t experienced any problems since they had it.The only problem my brother have with them is the gas.He has to go inside the store to purchase the gas (kind of dumb in sense), but if you don’t push CLEAR after you get gas, it’s a chance they charge you again.
my friend has they baby phat ..card and that card is gets on my nerves …it a pain in the a**
Hell, you can’t support MOST things b/c they are black owned. I don’t care how that sounds either; it is what it is. We have a long way to go and Russell Simmons should be ashamed.
When you receive the Rush card the packaging states there is a activation fee. I never applied for one because of the gotdamn cat on the front.
Many pre-paid cards have the fee attached. I did research for my company because we had so many checks returning with bad addresses. Its best to get a card through the check cashing place because the services are cheaper than any pre-paid card. Anywho, I receive a weekly law journal a article in the journal was about who should endure the cost of the pre-paid card the employee or employer. It has not yet been determined if its the employee responsibility to maintain a bank account or card or the employer being that at times checks are misaddressed (by data persons) or cashed by theft. Anywho the fee would have been really high monthly for the customer and the employer would have been responsible for lost card payments. So I said all that to say that there are astronomical fees associated with any pre-paid card. That’s how they make their money to pay employees and keep the business afloat
@ Sharonda- The gas stations in my city are starting to do the same thing. I had to go inside and ask somebody why I couldn’t use my debit card and they said because so many people were overdrawing on their accounts by getting gas they had to stop letting people use debit cards at the pump. You have to have a large balance in order to use it at the pumps now- don’t remember the exact amount but it had to be over $500 because that’s how much I had in my account at the time I tried to get some. By taking the card directly the cashier, they can enter an exact amount instead of people pumping $85 worth a gas with only $2 in the bank.
The Rush Card was suppose to be a way for people who didn’t want to open up bank accounts to have easier access to their money and not get hustled by the check cashing places. But they got hustled anyways.
@msmullens
And the Rush card helped people who were in default with a bank. Some people have burnt damn near every bank listed in the phone book. Sometimes banking institutes notify other institutes about an open account or there is a collector’s notice for bank accounts. The Rush card eliminates or blocks any institute from garnishing or freezing the card because it not an actual bank account. It’s considered more of a credit card. So there are perks associated with the card (if you are in debt or have collector notices)
After reading ya’lls comments I felt like I went to damn school today…………
I am sorry but I can not see how they scammed you. In today word, you must read the fine print. When they sent you the card, they attached a pamplet. You should have taken the time to read the pamplet. How do you think they make their money. They have to charge fees just like the bank. The bank charge on secured bank cards an activation fee and certian transaction fees. The rush card is nothing but a secure credit card. All I am saying is make sure you read the fine print before signing on the dotted line.
Off topic…but can we get updates on Urshers new born daughter please???
Oops…just saw it was a baby boy…Tom Joyner and them said girl!
I am currently a Rush Card customer. I cannot stand that Russell claims that he is helping people out. That is b/s! The card cost $20 to activate. Each time you use the card, you are charged $1.
So if you use your card 10 times a day, you will get charged $10. When I go to the ATM, I pay the ATM fee which is $3 plus Rush Card charges $1.95.
If you want to speak to a customer service rep, you will speak to someone in a third world country. Not only that, they are not attentive have no customer service skills.
Rush Card is a rip off. He does not need to pay child support, he has us doing it for him. I use my card regularly and I am going to switch back to my bank.
Russell, I hate when people say that they help people when they are deceptive ass opportunist. If you want to help your people out, give them customer service jobs. No, you hire m/f’s that are in another country. That is not keeping it real.
Why did I become a customer? I wanted to support a black business. I feel like he played me as well as everyone else. I am saying good-bye to Rush Card. My eyes are wide open!
oh me and prepaid don’t get along at all..more fees than a regular credit card once you start adding them all up..
I have been a pre-paid user for a few years now. But the Rushcard is never an option for me. The fees are too high. I would like to recommend a pre-paid card that I have actively use for the past years. The Netspend Card. You can order it online, or get one at the check cashing places.
I use this card for my direct deposits. Instead of getting paid on Friday, I get paid on Wednesday because your money is available to you immediately. Even for taxes, I have my taxes direct deposit and get them 5 days instead of 10. I can safely vouch for this card, and I am always telling people, if you want to do the pre-paid, go with netspend.
It also allows you to go negative $10 over without a charge.
Here is the website if interested: http://www.netspend.com
you guys can’t possibly be this out of touch with business. yes, double charges are the fault of the merchant. the rush card is still a banking card, which means you will incur fees for having it (as you do with an amex, most mc/v charge annual fees as well), or per transaction fees. this is how he makes his money. he didn’t create the card from the kindness of his heart; and damn sure not free of charge.
i’m not sure where or what the scathing write up could get him on. this is business. when you have horrible credit and can’t get ish else, this is what you have to deal with. no, i dont have one. no, i dont have horrible credit. no i wouldn’t get one, but if i did, i would find out the terms of the usage BEFORE i get it.
since it’s holiday season, i’ll share this with you, in case someone gives you a gift card. these gift cards work the same way. if someone gives you a visa gift card for $50, you really only have about 45 to use because of fees. people, research what you’re getting and using. russell is a businessman. he hasn’t done anything wrong. him being black, of course he’s being ridiculed. there are so many banks that send ridiculous offers THAT PEOPLE ACCEPT, with initial credit lines of 300, but theres an admin fee of 175, annual fee of 100, and a membership fee of 25, leaving you with available credit of 100, sometimes less.
dont yall go acting all A-1 (credit) on me; ya know you know it’s true.
obviously, i’m clueless and out of touch about math this morning cuz mine is all phucked up. yall get the point though…$400 limit, but all the excessive fees takes away from ya credit line, leaving you with a meager limit when it’s all said and done.
#15…wow, i’ve been fortunate enough to have a bit more than 500 in my account consistently, but i feel ya pain at the gas station.
being able to pump gas on ya 5 account balance was a life saver, i can’t even front. the difference is I actualy had a deposit coming that day or the next so it would NEVER overdraft or return once they put it through. thankfully, it hasn’t been rough on me like that lately. but dammit, i can relate.
i remember when i would pay with my credit card and gas company would ‘hold’ $100…i mean just hold up the extra money. this is when gas was still like a buck or less. i’d go spend 20-25 on gas, but you’re holding up another 75????
and that whole pay at the pump, but come in to get your receipt or talk to the clerk??? i’m slangin’ bricks as soon as I get inside. the hell I pull over at ur station for if I still have to come in. that station is quickly added to the list. i’d never go again.
Who cares about the rush card! Can we get some more pictures of Russ’s Girlfriend in a bikini???
Could someone just inform me why you need a prepaid debit card? Do the people that have these have serious credit issues, so that they can’t even get a bank account and get the free debit card that is accompanied with most checking accounts? Maybe its just me, but it seems like that is the real issue.
DUHHH…I thought everybody knew that the RUSH card is for people who cannot get a REAL bank account and debit card???? It is like Greencard and all the other prepaid cards out there for people with bad credit and those who cannot get a real checking account.
What does a $20.00 activation fee mean? Most prepaid debit cards I’ve purchased in the past to use when ordering online for safety the most you are charged is 9.95 if you are purchasing a new card and 4.95 to do a reload through “green dot”.
19.95 activation fee? That’s a red flag right there. But I’m sure there banking on the fact that they are dealing with people who can’t have regular credit cards, which you would be surprise translates into many people’s minds as a person on the low end of the tadding pole in Society who is not bright, so they take advantage. However always read the fine print. Just seeing the massive ATM fees should have been a red flag also.
I did not want to get the Rush Card but someone convinced me to do it. Get the Rush Card and support Russell from Def Jam and Phat Farm. Sure, I will give it a try. I liked the card because it was pink and had a cute Baby Phat symbol on it. I have to change my direct deposit information and the Baby Phat Rush Card can kiss my a–.
I gave it a try and the experience from a 1-10 was a 1.5!
I forgot to mention that I went clothes shopping and the amount came up to $600. I used my card and it declined twice but I knew my funds were there. I check my activities online daily so I checked when I got home. My $600 was gone. I printed the information and brought it to the store. They blamed Rush Card, and Rush Card blamed the store. I had to go back and forth and I no one was trying to out my money back on my card.
I got fed up and put both companies on the three way. They blamed each other and nothing was getting accomplished. It was a headache. I got my money back weeks later. I never in my life will do this shhh again. The customer service reps are clueless. What country are they from?
^^^It was actually the fault of the RUSH card, when a merchant runs your card the “bank” gives an approval. What may have happened is the merchant timed out while receiving a response from the card. This would show an approval on the bank side but since it didn’t get to the merchant in time it shows up as a denial to them. When this is done your money will be held in a pending status just like any other charge. I hope i didn’t confuse you, i was in the industry for 10 years so what is an easy explanation to me may not be that way for someone else.
I didn’t know that if you had bad credit they won’t give you a checking account?Learn something new everyday lol.Lucky for my bank, if my account closed (and it did because I stopped working for while) they will open it back up.I guess because I with a privately-owned bank.My bank is pretty good and it’s not local bank.But I learned not to use debits in certain places (especially online and at the gas station) because they will like hold the amount of your purchase and charge the same amount of the purchase til it clears.My dad who uses the same bank I as I do, the bank or the gas station double charged him for gas a couple times.Then the bank started recommending that you push clear after you pump the gas.Just never throw away receipts!
And for the record, don’t get Chase lol!Ever ever ever!!
dblaq Says:
Who cares about the rush card! Can we get some more pictures of Russ’s Girlfriend in a bikini???
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Aren’t you married with children?
Island Princess Says:
I forgot to mention that I went clothes shopping and the amount came up to $600. I used my card and it declined twice but I knew my funds were there. I check my activities online daily so I checked when I got home. My $600 was gone.
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I would have had a panic attack, literally. My heart would have been racing as I called customer support on speed dial. I’m always checking my balance online and if I see $1 missing, I’m calling!
[EDIT]
Great advice @ pointhimout, ursmyle4me and 2bme!
@ Sandra Rose: Uh no! Who told you that! I have one kid but I am very so not married!
@island princess
That happens every other month to my mom with her direct deposit.. but she done phucked a bunch of banks so I guess that’s what she gets, huh?
Damn…this is some bullshit!!!
I am so glad that I didn’t get this card!!!
Teachturn Says:
Could someone just inform me why you need a prepaid debit card? Do the people that have these have serious credit issues, so that they can’t even get a bank account and get the free debit card that is accompanied with most checking accounts? Maybe its just me, but it seems like that is the real issue
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Some ppl may only use cash or have a checking account. You can’t purchase airline tickets or concert tickets online with either of those so they buy the prepaid cards. For security purposes some like the prepaid cards vs their bank cards. Some like them like they like those disposable cell phones, they are untraceable. When you purchase a prepaid calling card they don’t ask for your name and address, they just want the money.
Alana Says:
DUHHH…I thought everybody knew that the RUSH card is for people who cannot get a REAL bank account and debit card???? It is like Greencard and all the other prepaid cards out there for people with bad credit and those who cannot get a real checking account.
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You can have bad credit and still get a checking account, it’s bad debt that hinders not getting one. Ppl who have screwed over other banks not maintaing their account wiriting checks their ass couldn’t cash.
FYI, there is a difference between having a poor credit score and having bad credit. Ppl don’t realize everytime they apply for a credit card or are going from mortgage lender to mortgage lender trying to find the best rate to purchase a home or refinace it decreases your credit score. I was talking with my daughter last night and asked what happened to the vehicle you wanted to purchase? She said that she is not going to get it right now. I told her if you are not serious about getting one you need to quit going from car lot to car lot and giving them all your info because it decreases your credit score and will increse your interest rate when you are looking for financing for the house you want to purchase after you graduate.
It’s sad that so many people fall for this Rush Card nonsense. Russell Simmons markets this foolishness as if he’s such a kind benevolent soul who’s just tryna help his people out! LOL! I take payments from customers over the phone for my business. As soon as they mention their Rush card, I know I don’t have that sale. That shizz never works. We need to wake up. Russell needs the money to support Kimora and her opulent lifestyle. Why would I need to pay someone else so that I can use my own money? OMG! That’s so absurd.
To the writer/complainer of the RUSHcard…
YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO READ THE FINE PRINT BEFORE PURCHASING!!!!
THE 1.93 AND 19.95 CHARGE ARE NOT A SURPRISED.
He has to make some money off it somehow, ya ding-bat!
I havent read all of the comments but I have a Rush card and the fees are laid out when you get the card. This reader obviously did not read before she signed up for the card. There is a fee per transaction, a fee to use it for the first time, a fee if you use the card at a gas station-directly at the pump, a fee when you load money, depending on how you choose to load your funds. He’s not scamming anyone, people just need to read. with prepaid debit cards you have to use all the funds on the card, they do not refund them to you….
Instead of Russell posting on sites about folks calling his white women “bust downs”…he NEEDS to address this ridiculos issue regarding his cards…
Well dayum, I’m happy I have a regular ole bank account and a regular ole debit card with a visa symbol. Wells Fargo gets me in fees to though. This RUSHCARD seems like bs though.
I gave my son a pre-paid Visa, I dont think there were any activation fees, just fee of the card in additon to the amount on the card.
Is it young people that mostly use pre-paid cards? What’s so bad with getting a bank account??
I think your reader is not being totally honest with us. What person with a bank account would get a Rush Card? How did she think ole Russy made his money? As for closing the account, how about just doing an ATM withdrawal of all the money on it? It’s not like she had to do a million transactions all of which would come with a fee. Anyway, I understand people complaining about the outrageous fees, but that reader letter is hogwash.