Myplash began offering Teen Prepaid Mastercards, which seems to coincide with the holiday season.  What is unique about these cards is that there are almost a hundred different card designs with movie characters, athletes, musicians, and cartoon characters.  Introduced by Plastic Cash International, these cards contain images which include Paul Frank, Emily Strange, Plain White Ts, Rich Boy, Flo Rida, Skelanimals, So So Happy, Twilight characters, and Kassia Meador.  This is Myplash’s latest attempt to brand their cards to teens and young adults.

 
Fees for the Myplash cards are average.  The monthly fee is $4.95, activation fee is $6.95, and reload fee is $4.95.  The cards do have a $1.95 inactivity fee and a $2.00 paper statement fee.  Contacting customer service will cost $1.50 via email and $1.95 with a phone.  Transferring finances to another Myplash card will cost $0.50. per transfer.  Electronic bill pay will cost $0.50 per transaction and disputes will cost $15 per transaction.  Overall, the Myplash card service charges are fairly standard.

 
Teenagers between the ages of thirteen and seventeen will require parental consent before applying for the cards.  
The credit card industry is struggling to attract new customers that may have been hindered by the CARD Act.  Young adults and teenagers seem to be the new targets.  The CARD Act restricted anyone under the age of twenty-one from obtaining a credit card.  Prepaid cards are now easier for young individuals to obtain.  Prepaid cards are a great option for those who have poor credit or are too young to apply for a credit card.  Before getting a prepaid card, it is important to compare the different fees offered.  Though prepaid cards can be a good alternative to debit and credit cards, the associated fees can make them fairly expensive.  Prepaid card issuers generate revenue through these fees.  Regulations limiting fees for debit and credit cards do not apply to prepaid cars.