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Did you receive mail that looked like junk mail from Visa or MetaBank? That could have been your stimulus check.
The cards, issued by MetaBank, will be sent to people who did not provide the IRS with banking information and whose tax return was processed by the IRS centers in Austin, Texas, or Andover Massachusetts.
Nearly four million people will receive their stimulus check by prepaid debit card rather than a paper check or direct deposit.
According to the IRS, if you receive your stimulus check as a prepaid debit card, it will arrive in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services.” The Visa name will appear on the front of the card and the back of the card has MetaBank as the issuing bank.
It’s easy to think this is junk mail. We have all taken mail that looks like this and cut it up thinking it was junk mail. Don’t cut up this one.
Most who are receiving these cards filed taxes with the IRS in 2018 or 2019 but did not set up direct deposit.
Here are some things you should know:
If your card is stolen (or lost), call 1-800-240-8100 to report it. The card will be immediately deactivated, and you'll get a new one in the mail — however, you will be charged $7.50 for the replacement card and $17 for priority shipping.
To check your balance, you can log on to EIPCard.com or call 1-800-240-8100 to hear your balance from an automated system.
The Debit Card will be mailed to the address on your latest tax return filed.
The card can be used for free online, over the phone, or in person the same way any Visa debit card can be used.
You can also withdraw cash for free at ATMs in the card’s network or by transferring the money to a bank account.
You should never incur a fee with these cards unless you:
ask for the balance at an ATM ($0.25) (but there are other ways to find out the balance for free, including calling, using the mobile app, going online, or asking for free monthly paper statements)
take more than one withdrawal at an ATM that is not in the card’s network ($2)
use the card internationally
lose it and need a replacement
The IRS said it has already delivered stimulus payments totaling $239 billion to more than 140 million Americans. The money has arrived in a variety of ways since April, including direct deposit to bank accounts, Direct Express cards connected to other Federal programs and by paper check in the regular mail.
How to activate your EIP card
Call 800-240-8100 (TTY: 800-241-9100). You'll need to provide your name, address and Social Security number. You will also be asked to create a four-digit personal identification number (PIN) required for ATM transactions and automated assistance and to hear your balance. For security, don't use personal information as your PIN. For cards with more than one name, only the primary cardholder (listed first on the card) may activate the card. There is no charge to activate the card. You can create a user name and password for your card online, at the Money Network site. Be sure to have your card handy when you log in. You can see your balance and transaction history online any time at EIPCard.com. You can get the same information by calling the toll-free number (800-240-8100).
Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/info-2020/stimulus-payment-debit-cards.html
https://www.usatoday.com/money/
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/05/26/irs-stimulus-debit-cards-cut-up-mistakenly-reported-scam/