New Twist on CIM?

[Scootover88]

So late at night when my insomnia kicks in, I brainstorm random things. Tonight, I came up with what I immediately thought was a brilliant idea, so my first instinct was to share it here so you guys can bring me back down to earth with the negatives I haven't thought of yet. Has anyone ever considered/discussed/tried sending any sort of prepaid, cash or gift card, preferably one that can be used at an atm, but really any that can be converted to cash or personal funds through bank transfer, PayPal or whatever other method a vendor may prefer. As with normal CIM, a certain level of trust and rapport will need to be present of course. But in most cases, if you keep the number from the card, you can track where and how much of the money is pulled, so it would reduce the risk of "skimming" or at least give you solid evidence of it occurring, prior to the vendor actually receiving so you can prove your "innocence" and vendors can hold receivers responsible if needed. They too can track the money on the card obviously. I do believe it might create an extra bit of work for vendors, so maybe only acceptable or feasible for trusted buyers making substantial orders, but still an idea as it would allow vendors to hold their receivers more accountable on CIM orders... Thoughts or experiences? 

 

[jackwade]

I don't remember the details, but a few years back lots of vendors took the Green card thingie.  Something must have went bust, I see no one accepting it now.  Too bad, it was so convenient...

Yeah and this would probably be why most vendors won't/aren't accepting cards.

Something obviously happened because Greendot is fully unacceptable by almost everyone, as you said. I can't think of a single vendor that allows it ever since.

I am guessing there was a problem with Greendot not having any stores to pay out large sums at the store when you would cash them. What was cool about greendot is the sender was fully anonymized, too bad Greendot didn't have the store and bank support to allow people to pick up enough cash. I am also guessing they required personal info to cash the card out, and it was more invasive and restrictive and MG/WU.

MG/WU is also very large and can afford to be in compliance with Federal regulations on Laundering and banking policies. Greendot I am guessing didn't have the success or infrastructure to design a good compliance system and the Fed probably made life hell for them as a result.

What always creeped me out about Greendot is technically the sender could load up thousands of cards with thousands of dollars without providing any info. Very very different and weird system, that I am guessing caused major problems with Fed regulators.

MG requires name/addy/phone regardless, and then over 900 you have to provide ID. How the hell was Greendot getting away with their system?? Again, it must have relied on making life HELL for the receiver/cashier.

That's my guess. Anyone else?

 

[AngryBird]

At one time, I knew someone who would take this, but not in the way you described. Didn't need the actual card, just the recharge thing with the scratch off on the back. Put your $ on the recharge, send the # revealed under scratch off to person and those funds can then be used to add to balance on their own card. Could send the number by email. Nothing actually mailed. Fast, clean, and made me very happy. Alas, that friend is no longer with us. Sucks to get old. The young people keep up with folks on FB, old folk read the obits. 

 

[Jhardi36]

Yeah and this would probably be why most vendors won't/aren't accepting cards.

Something obviously happened because Greendot is fully unacceptable by almost everyone, as you said. I can't think of a single vendor that allows it ever since.

I am guessing there was a problem with Greendot not having any stores to pay out large sums at the store when you would cash them. What was cool about greendot is the sender was fully anonymized, too bad Greendot didn't have the store and bank support to allow people to pick up enough cash. I am also guessing they required personal info to cash the card out, and it was more invasive and restrictive and MG/WU.

MG/WU is also very large and can afford to be in compliance with Federal regulations on Laundering and banking policies. Greendot I am guessing didn't have the success or infrastructure to design a good compliance system and the Fed probably made life hell for them as a result.

What always creeped me out about Greendot is technically the sender could load up thousands of cards with thousands of dollars without providing any info. Very very different and weird system, that I am guessing caused major problems with Fed regulators.

MG requires name/addy/phone regardless, and then over 900 you have to provide ID. How the hell was Greendot getting away with their system?? Again, it must have relied on making life HELL for the receiver/cashier.

That's my guess. Anyone else?

Interesting. I never knew any of that.