Occasionally someone will email me who wants to buy my e-book but they don’t have a credit card or a debit card, so they can’t make an online purchase. Sending me a check or money order isn’t realistic, because if you need to pass a drug test you usually don’t have that kind of time. But if you need to buy stuff without a credit card, there are some alternatives.
Prepaid Visa or MasterCard Gift Cards
You may have seen these hundreds of times and just walked right past them. Lots of stores (grocery stores, drug stores, Wal-Mart, etc.) sell all kinds of pre-paid gift cards, including MasterCard and Visa gift cards. I think the lowest card amount you can buy is $25, plus you get charged another $5 for the card itself (I guess that’s what it costs for a credit card sized piece of plastic).
You can use the card at any store that takes credit cards, which is pretty much everywhere. And you don’t have to spend it all in one place, because the unused amount just stays on the card for a future use.
Beware – Not all gift cards can be used for online purchases!
The important thing to know about Visa and MasterCard gift cards is that not all of them can be used for online purchases. The only way to know ahead of time which ones can or can’t be used online, is to find the customer service number on the gift card packaging and call them.
Of course there’s always a customer service phone number on the back of any credit, debit or gift card, but unfortunately the card is probably glued down so that you can’t see the back unless you actually buy it. But there will often be a phone number in the fine print somewhere on the back of the packaging, so find it, and just call them right while you’re in the store and ask them. If you want a card that can be used online, and you don’t risk wasting your money, then it’s worth the few extra minutes it will take.
Here’s a tip – don’t bother asking a salesperson inside the store about whether or not a certain card can be used online. They simply don’t have that kind of information. However, they might tell you “yes” because it sounds logical, right? But just trust me – you need to go to the source and call the card company itself.
To locate a store near you that sells pre-paid Visa or MasterCard gift cards, go to this website and enter your zip code:
https://www.allaccessgift.com/gift/index.m
Why I Have Stopped Recommending Green Dot Cards
Green Dot cards are very popular pre-paid debit cards that are sold in all kinds of stores, such as Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens, RadioShack, a ton of grocery stores, and probably lots more places I’ve never even heard of. But there are some things you should be aware of before you buy one.
I used to recommend Green Dot cards, because I know for a fact that they can be used for online purchases. I bought one once and it worked out real well for me. And if you spend an extra ten bucks for the re-loadable card, then you can buy what they call ‘MoneyPaks’ and load more money onto the card if you want. Pretty sweet, right?
But I’ve since come to learn that I may just have been lucky. There are many, many people who bought a Green Dot card and definitely didn’t have a positive experience as I did. Because more often than not, GreenDot is a scam for most people who buy them.
When I really started looking, I was kind of shocked by all the complaints you can find online about Green Dot cards. There are way too many websites to list here, but just to give you some examples of what I’m talking about you can check out these sites:
Scam.com Forum
Article: Customer Says Green Dot Took $270 from Him
Long list of Green Dot complaints on RipOffReport.com
Article on PissedConsumer.com: GREEN DOT STOLE MY MONEY!!!
And this person had one of the worst experiences, in terms of sheer frustration:
Article: Green Dot Visa. Scam? Fraud? Rip-off?
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Just go to Google and type in “green dot complaints” or “green dot scam”, and you can find lots more posts and articles like these.
To top it off, many of the complaints I read mentioned that Green Dot’s customer service is located overseas in the Philippines. So, good luck with that.
The problem is, pre-paid debit cards like Green Dot’s don’t have the same regulatory oversight that real credit cards do. That may or may not change someday, but right now they’re operating completely within the law, technically speaking. So that means, if you have a bad experience and you think you can call some kind of consumer agency to help you, then think again.
Just to be clear here, I am not out and out telling people they shouldn’t buy a Green Dot card. Like I said before, I bought one once and it worked out okay for me. So it’s up to you, but just make sure you read the fine print very carefully, be aware of the risks, and hope for the best.
Vote on this post:
So, if I don’t pass a UA, I can get my money back? Please let me know, and I will send you the info for the e-book.
Val
I just purchased the ebook but I entered an incorrect e mail can you please correct to bert4523@aol.com
i work at a mine and they want to start doing random drug testing again. im on a 4on 4off schedule and im smoke maybe 4 a week . just wondering if drinking water 2 or 3 hours before will work and how much i have to drink thanks for you time
So just like many people on this website, I’m a smoker and have a lot to lose if I have a failed drug test. The thing is, this isn’t for employment or anything so I don’t have a specific date this would take place. Recently some people I know were caught in this whole ordeal because of some texts and it’s about it make it’s way around to my parents (I’m still in high school). Also like many of these people, I’m short on cash. Can someone who has bought this book reply to this and tell me whether it’s good or if it’d be a waste of time? Muchas gracias a ti.
HEllo,
I will have a drug test in less than 3 weeks and haven’t got funds for the e book, please help!
Russ
Hi, I have 20 days and I will be going to school for truck driving, and as soon as I step in the building I have to test, I have been smoking medical marijuana probably 3-4 times a day. I really need this job to support my family and this is the best paying job I can get. DOT officers will be doing supervised testing and if I don’t pass I will never be able to get a government issued CDL. I havnt smoked in three days nor do I plan on smoking untill all this is over I started taking niacin and B12 pills today, I’m freaking out and I need help! I don’t have the funds to buy this ebook at the moment, could you please help?
Hi my name is stephanie and i have not smoked for around two weeks and before i would only smoke occasionally but i have a urine analysis tomarrow and i am nervous i might not pass can you email me with some advice asap thanx.
I’ve been smoking for about a year
Smoke about a dime a day
Take drug tests every month
Did what you said
And I pass niggaaa!
Hey look is there anyway u can help me, I’ve been unemployed for a lil while now an I think I’ve finally found a job, problem is I need to pass a drug test an I like the Mary Jane lol. But I don’t have any money for ur book an I need a pretty cheap an pretty secure way to pass other wise I’m probably goin to poor, if u could please help me pass I would be more than willing to buy one of your books once I get the money so please please please!!!! Get back to me
Thanks
hey whats up
well ive been smoking weed for about 12 years daily had many drug tests and the best thing i can say is dilution and i usuallu pass failed 1 time out of 20 but that was after a night of heavy parrting . i usually quit for only 2 days and take 1 500mg nician 2 times the first day and drink water 3 hours before the test umake sure you piss at least 2x.s before the test if possible or at least once when you wake up
ive jus read all yer stuff that i can.i jus got computer set back up and need this book.my wife has a credit card an gonna give her the money to do this,probably tomarrow sometime.could u jus email me an make me feel more assure that this is 4 real?ty<got kids and that i raise(not to wife)and cant afford to go to jail which is what im looking at if i fail on thursday.stupid i no 4 doing but i did!
I want to just have to past the test that’s all I don’t have a credit card or anything n I need to pass it how can I make it work
I used meth and now i have a urine analyisis in 36hrs what can i do so i pass. I have to or i in to jail! Plz help me
trying to order on line but cant seem to get past city or state
Hi my name is Alex and im going to need to take a drug test in the next 2 to 3 week and i need something thats fast and effective. everything looks pretty legit on your website but i still had a few questions if u could please email me.
well to start off you caught my eye with the comments and the fact that you sound like a fellow pothead i’m way to stoned to play with a plastic card but i’ll be buying your book first thing in the morning and looking forward to seeing it hit me up it would be awsome if you answered some things for me i really need this job keep up the good work you like the pothead version of obama
hi im dan im in the transportion filed.and i use to smoke pot but i had quit for a long pried of time. and every now and then i smoke.but now im unemployed and i did smoke for 3days. and ben on the clean out for 3days now and posible be taken adrug test in the next couple days what should i do?
I love to smoke pot but I rarely do it cause I’m faced.with random testing & if I get hurt on my job I get strait in the bosses truck & he takes me straight to the hospital were I am sure 2 be tested. I don’t have time to drink any drinks or take any pills to clean me out so I’m screwed if I fail it. Will this book help me? I have a good job and I don’t want 2 lose it. So please tell me what I can do.
I have tried to purchase your ebook and keep getting an error code. Please get in touch and let me know what I might be able to do.
i too am being randomly tested! its so lame! i wont know when it will take place( hints the word random)i’d say i am a great fan of pot. i have been smoking pretty much everyday for the past year-perhaps more.. who knows, but i love my job and id hate to find a new one but i love pot too. so far i,ve made it today with out smoking and i dont want this to be a perm. issue. i read your page and am interested but i cant help but feel weiry about purchasing your book. could you possibly e mail me back to get a tad bit more info… ps i totally appreciate what your doing and i hope it will work.
to who this may concern… My name is joe.. i got into some trouble march 7th 2009 it is now december 1st 2009. i have not smoked weed since convicted on november 24th. its been 8 days.. i want too generally clean out.. i have researched the net over and over like a librayian.. i have so many fines , and simply dont have the money for this or any of these fancy drinks… iv heard taking lots of vitamin b and vitamins, along with cranberry pills and lots of water will help you pass, but how many days should you do this ? does it work? and how many days should you stop smoking before getting tested? heres the thing, i get random u a.. only am on supervised probation… not a huge deal, but i still cant violate.. I could really use some advise and help.. i simply am in a tite situation and under a rock.. i live by the good book.. Just asking for advise , with an honest heart.. please hear me out.. with the deepest gratitude : joseph lawrence . thank you i live by the term paying it foward.. there is a movie on it .. thank you so much. i will be getting lots of u as. especially with my job
hey i havent smoked in over 6 months and i live with my parents i really just waant to burnn and i have no other way of doing w.o. being tested soo i have 2 questions 1. is this a scam and 2. can you email the book because i cannot have a boook like that be delivered to my housee thanks nick
GOT A JOB INTERVIEW WITH THE DMV TOMORROW AND NEED TO PASS A DRUG TEST FOR SURE!!! PLZ HELP!!! I WAS TOLD TO DRINK A GLASS OF WATER WITH 2 TBLSP OF VINIGAR AND 1 TBLSP OF BAKING SODA BUT IDK IF IT’LL WORK!!! PLZ I NEED A QUICK FIX FAST!!!! I DON’T SMOKE OFTEN AND THE LAST TIME I SMOKED WAS 2WKS AGO AND B4 THEN IT HAD BEEN ALMOST 2 MONTHS…
hi..
im really scared because i have a drug test today at 3:00 p.m.
i really want this job and unfortunetly its my dads job he put in a word for me and he has a real good reputation now i dont know what
to do,i cant call and reschedule and i bought some cleanse pills that
i dont even know if there gonna work im like really desperate can you help me
send me info in the mail i dont have a credit card but i do have a check book lets do it thru the mail thanks Bill
Hey I’m going to get your book but could you send me a email with a easier way to get to paying it at my email address I have 20 days and I need something fast.
JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THE TEST ARE VERY ANNOYINGWE ARE ALL ABOUT TAKING TEST BUT AS LONG AS WE PASS THATS ALL THAT MATTERS
Hey man, I don’t have a credit card but will be purchasing a pre-paid gift card soon, so i can receive your e-book. After reading yours’ and others’ testimonials, i am convinced this is the way to go. I have used Quick Fix and thought about purchasing a Whizzinator. Although these products do work, the truth is they are much too expensive and you run a very high risk of getting caught. I am very much looking forward to receiving the e-book, and I think I speak for the entire pothead community when I say thank you, and keep up the good work! -Mike