MoneyPak cards-green dot cards - need info

[Ash&Steve1]

Hey everyone!Im new to being a member,however have been getting lots of my questions answered in the past months!Anyways,My fiance asked me to get him a greendot card and i did so.Im not sure how to check it through their system though to see after i gave him the number if it went into his account.Any info you guys can help me out with will be appreciated!! Thanks.

[thugwife]

Aint those cards credit cards that are prepaid. If it is, then he cant use them. There is no way that he can use them. They dont take credit during canteen and he wouldnt be able to use them when he calls out on the phone either.

If Im wrong then I'll say I am but IF it is what Im thinking about, he cannot use them. he cant even get a live operator dialing out collect.

[ant's wife]

if you bought a green dot card that's exactly what it is a pre paid credit card and he can't put money on his own books.

[ChickfromMD]

These ladies are right on target. GreenDots are NOT a way of putting money on his books in MD, and I would be careful because those Green Dot cards are actually considered contraband in MD DOC.

[Angisette]

i use a website it is to pyut money on my bf books in county (he goes to prison tonight) its touchpay . com i think or something close to that you should be able to use the card on the internet and put the $$ on his books for him. also you can use it on the collect call accounts.

[forestparkphil]

Originally Posted by Ash&Steve1

Hey everyone!Im new to being a member,however have been getting lots of my questions answered in the past months!Anyways,My fiance asked me to get him a greendot card and i did so.Im not sure how to check it through their system though to see after i gave him the number if it went into his account.Any info you guys can help me out with will be appreciated!! Thanks.

I don't think this is meant to add money to his "prison" account. This is more often than not used as a way for the guys on the inside to "move money around". Hopefully he is not being strong-armed or extorted.

Phil

[xgot420issuesx]

Yep, everyone is right, this is a pre paid debit card and an inmate can not do anything with it and it is illegal for an inmate to have one also. So if you gave him the number for this card, other than something against the rules not to mention illegal, there is NOTHING he can do with it.

In my state, the DOC policy online, clearly states how illegal it is.

[crazy2010]

Always check with the prison before you do anything!! Cause what applied last night might be changed today. But I only use the prepaid to send money alot of these peeps are in for crimes having to do with money & fraud. SO DON"T BE A VICTIM!!!!!!

[Anewme25]

Originally Posted by forestparkphil

I don't think this is meant to add money to his "prison" account. This is more often than not used as a way for the guys on the inside to "move money around". Hopefully he is not being strong-armed or extorted.

Phil

Exactly! He's tryin to move $ around on the outside...unless there is something in your state that allows people to add $ to books via greendot-but I doubt it. He may owe someone $ too...

[heizmyheart]

Can someone tell me why an inmate would need 150 every 2 weeks put on a Green Dot Money Card? What exactly are the cards being used for? I hate to question him but to me it just sounds outrageous. Please help a sista out....

[Keltria]

Originally Posted by heizmyheart

Can someone tell me why an inmate would need 150 every 2 weeks put on a Green Dot Money Card? What exactly are the cards being used for? I hate to question him but to me it just sounds outrageous. Please help a sista out....

Hi there and welcome to PTO.

I moved your thread here, because it has the answer you seek.

[Hisoneandonly]

Originally Posted by heizmyheart

Can someone tell me why an inmate would need 150 every 2 weeks put on a Green Dot Money Card? What exactly are the cards being used for? I hate to question him but to me it just sounds outrageous. Please help a sista out....

not sure an inmate would need that much for so often. But imo it doesn't sound good

[thugwife]

Originally Posted by heizmyheart

Can someone tell me why an inmate would need 150 every 2 weeks put on a Green Dot Money Card? What exactly are the cards being used for? I hate to question him but to me it just sounds outrageous. Please help a sista out....

There is no way in HELL that a inmate is given a Green Dot Card. It dont happen, it cant be mailed in, and it CANT be used for commisary. Those that are getting money mailed from the prison to apply to the card (that I assume you pay for) is doing dirty dirty.

Now, I dont care. Its on you, but aint no prison in the USA that I have heard of that allows inmates to have prepaid debit cards. Shit, on visit my husband aint even allowed to go to a vending machine nor can he even touch MONEY, so its a no-no.

[timsbaby41]

I'm with you Thugwife. He doesnt need that much money. He owes somebody money for something. Does he gamble, is he an addict? Those are the two big money makers in prison ( and tabacoo ).

[heizmyheart]

Thank you all for the input that answered my question.

[crazy2010]

I use prepaid credit cards to put money on his books, I use j-pay over the phone its way more convenient for me. Here in florida they can spend up to $75.00 a week on commissary. I don't put that much but if I did he could spend it. Also at visitation here they can use their inmate card to buy stuff in the visitor park. Hope this info helps!

[Soon2BmrsP]

thugswife said it best-not sure what state your man is in but in this state--green dots arent allowed for an inmate

[tarazana]

Did u ever get asked for one ?

Sent from my iPhone using PrisonTalk

[Msquiroz]

Yes!!!!
you have to put money on it n I guess u take some out n put some on his books

[thatwiz]

No.It's a prepaid credit card. I hope he's not asking you for one-he can't have that locked up.

[Msquiroz]

Originally Posted by thatwiz

No.It's a prepaid credit card. I hope he's not asking you for one-he can't have that locked up.

I know..I keep telling mine "your gonna get in trouble If u have that" & he finally listened

[rizz'sgirl]

I thought the green dot cards were refills for the prepaid credit cards??? I think that you can also use them to put money on their books...maybe I'm just behind on everything LOL!!!

[Beachhouse]

So it's a non allowed thing?

[NikNak88]

To my knowledge inmates are not allowed to have credit cards...and that is what a Green Dot card is. It's a prepaid debit card (I use mine allllll the time)
The money pak cards are what you buy at 7-11, Walgreens, CVS, etc to load your Green Dot card. The money paks cost 4.95.
There is nothing he can use his Green Dot card for in prison. And from personal knowledge of an inmate who had one...they are usually used for doing illegal things.

Sent from my iPad using PrisonTalk

[SimplyMe123]

There are no facilities that use Green Dot cards for canteen. Inmates use these to pay other inmates (through their loved ones), whether it's for contraband, gambling debts, or simply paying someone back for canteen items. There is no reason they would need one for anything sanctioned by the DOC.