By Mr. B
Out of the blue today I received a card from Revolution MoneyExchange. I admit that I was surprised to see it, considering that I had not ever requested one. Yes, I did open a Revolution MoneyExchange account at the beginning of 2008 when they were running their $25 sign-up bonus offer, but haven’t touched my account since then.
What is it?
First things first: it is not a credit card, nor do they pull a credit report when sending you the card. Instead, it’s more like a debit card – think of it as a card that allows you to access the funds in your MoneyExchange account. Specifically, it’s a debit card without a name or signature on it. The only way to get money out of it is to know the PIN.
You can use the card to make PIN-based purchases at a growing list of merchants, or withdraw cash from ATMs. Note: there are fees for ATM withdrawals, but not for making purchases). Like a typical debit or credit card, it requires activation before you can use it (phone or Internet). I’m still shocked that they sent it without a request, but to their credit they do mention in the paperwork that you can simply cut it up and toss it in the trash if you don’t want it.
$15 Bonus Offer
Speaking of trash, I was just about to throw the card away when I noticed that the paperwork included an additional bonus offer. Specifically:
Make a purchase of $25 or more and we’ll give you $5. Do this three times – We’ll give you $15!
Okay, I’ll play along. It sounds easy enough. I think I’ll simply transfer about $100 into my MoneyExchange account, and over the next month or two I’m bound to buy a few things that I would normally buy anyway. For instance, I noticed that Barnes & Noble is on their list of merchants, and since University classes are starting again, a textbook purchase could easily be one of my three swipes.
Here’s the fine print from the paperwork (emphasis = mine):
Make a purchase of $25 or more with your MoneyExchange RevolutionCard and we’ll put $5 in your MoneyExchange account. This offer can be used up to three (3) times for a maximum credit to your account of $15. Qualifying purchases must be completed within 90 days of activating your card. MoneyExchange accounts will be credited within 7 business days after making a qualifying purchase under this offer.
Revolution seems to be really pushing their MoneyExchange service, so if you have an account, check your mailbox to see if you receive the card and the bonus offer. It’s a decent little bonus for not much work.
Don’t have a MoneyExchange account?
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