I use Green Dot for my deposits. Until now, I'd never had any issues with them (though I've certainly read plenty of stories of people who have). The process is pretty easy: 1) I set up and receive a Green Dot Visa card. 2) The client purchases Money Paks at a retailer (CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, etc.) in amounts up to $500 on each, payable in cash. 3) He emails me the codes on the back of the cards, I load the money onto my Visa, and we're done. No financial or personal info for either of us exposed.

But, lo and behold, Green Dot Money Pak activation codes are NOT ALWAYS on the backs of the cards. SOMETIMES they're on the receipt. (Why Green Dot can't just standardize and pick one or the other is beyond me.) This wouldn't have been a huge deal if my client, discretion-savvy fellow that he is, hadn't SHREDDED HIS RECEIPTS prior to giving me the codes. Since I told him the activation codes would be on the backs of the cards, he assumed they'd be on the backs of the cards and got rid of the paper trail.

I called the Green Dot customer service line, and after speaking with three different people, the third finally suggested that he return to the store of purchase and request duplicate receipts. So, we'll see how that works out.

Lesson learned: If you use Green Dot, ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS UNTIL EVERYTHING HAS FINISHED TRANSFERRING.

For my shorter, local dates that don't require a deposit, cash is still king. Or if we're in the same city, I would consider meeting to accept a cash deposit prior to the date. However, if I'm travelling to see him or he's travelling to see me, I wouldn't advise him to send cash through the mail!

I have had MANY problems w/ Greendot!

Used FedEx for cash and have never had a problem and the amounts have not been trivial. It does require that the lady have a mail drop but those are pretty easy to set up.

-- Modified on 4/26/2009 1:16:07 PM

Since all boxholders, even at private mail box companies, are required to fill out PS-1583 with full legal name and residential address, it is possible to find out a lot about who owns a private or USPS postal box. You actually have to have a court protective order and jump through hoops if you want to ensure none of your info is released (see link below). Too much effort and risk for me! Green Dot, despite the hiccups, is (as far as I can tell) 100% anonymous from client to provider.

Don't even get me started on PayPal.

Anyway, I didn't intend this to be a discussion of other methods of transferring deposits, just a heads up if you choose to use Green Dot.

Nothing has changed.
Different vendors. Walgreens, Radio Shack, Bp...and so many others.
Some vendors offer reloads right from the card. Some use reciepts..it all depends.

But nothing else has changed. You just didn't know it. And now you do. You still can't beat it. I started using them 5 years ago. it will be okay.
Hopefully you will get it straight, and now you know. Don't throw away those receipts.
love
Sexy

I use Greendot, thanks for the heads up. I actually almost had an issue like yours, but the cashier apprised me of those details. Most cashiers tell me, don't throw the receipt away until you've completed the transaction, the activation code is on the receipt.

But good to know as a reminder.

Have fun!

Mackenzi : ))

Fake ID works fine to set up box

I try to avoid doing anything illegal, especially when it's related to this part of my life or has to do with filling out federal forms. I also pay my taxes on time and in full, look both ways before crossing the street, and never run with scissors.

(I may have briskly jogged with scissors one time back in '98, but the evidence was dismissed, and I maintain my claim to innocence to this day.)