# Need answer sorta fast. Can I give money to a prepaid card internationally? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-answer-sorta-fast-can-i-give-money-to-a-prepaid-card-internationally/814469 "2018-05-19T17:56:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-answer-sorta-fast-can-i-give-money-to-a-prepaid-card-internationally/814469/1 "2018-05-19T17:56:34Z")
I’ve never used one. I’m googling it but thought i’d also ask here. I’m in US, other person in UK. Can they go get a card, read me off the number or whatever and let me give them a couple hundred dollars instantly? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-answer-sorta-fast-can-i-give-money-to-a-prepaid-card-internationally/814469/2 "2018-05-20T10:52:35Z")
It will depend on the T&C’s of the card issuer. Some of them can be topped up by SMS or a simple bank transfer. The cardholder should call their issuer and ask. Note that there will certainly be a fee. If the amount is small, it might be simpler to put a few Dollars into an envelope and post it. The cardholder can then go to one of the many currency exchanges and get GBPs ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-answer-sorta-fast-can-i-give-money-to-a-prepaid-card-internationally/814469/3 "2018-05-20T15:35:23Z")
One thing to take into consideration is that the US is not in the Single Euro Payments Area (the UK is), so it may not be straightforward to make a fee-free transfer. Otherwise it’s true that there are cards one can buy at a bank or post office that can be activated online, have an IBAN printed on the back to transfer money to (up to some limit of a few thousands), and can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs and to buy stuff online or in stores. Make sure to check the T&C carefully first, as **bob++** advises.