Double delay in getting funds onto prepaid card -- why?

[Fleur93]

I got a prepaid PayPal MasterCard to give to my son, a college student. The idea was to have a quick way to give him money without giving him access to my bank account by giving him a debit card that's linked to that bank account. I've had PayPal for years, but I've only used it to make online purchases, and I was dismayed to discover that before I could load the prepaid MasterCard, I had to transfer money from my bank account to PayPal and that there was a 3 to 5 day delay in the funds getting into Paypal. Nevertheless, I waited out the initial transfer, and then went into PayPal to transfer the money to the prepaid MasterCard. Then I was informed that there is another 3 to 4 day delay to get the money from PayPal onto the MasterCard! A 7- to 9-day delay to transfer my own money is ridiculous! Rather than giving money to my son quickly, I put my money into limbo. Why would anyone want this? Why does it work this way? Is there any way around it?

[snowshoe]

From the card FAQs:

There are multiple ways to add money to the PayPal Prepaid Card:

1. Direct Deposit: Direct deposit is the easy and free way to add all or part of your pay check or government payment to a PayPal Prepaid Card. You must enroll in direct deposit in order for your card account to receive these electronic deposits. LEARN MORE
2. NetSpend Reload Network:Our reload network is nationwide. There are more than 100,000 convenient locations where you can add money to your card account. It's easy to find the locations nearest to you:
   1. When you enroll in our real-time alerts service, just text your ZIP code to 22622 and we'll instantaneously respond with the nearest location (text messages are subject to fees charged by your carrier).
   2. Visit www.PayPal.com/prepaid and use our RELOAD CENTER LOCATOR. There is no fee to use this online locator service.
3. Bank Transfers: If your PayPal Prepaid Card account is linked to your PayPal Account, you can add money from virtually any U.S. bank account. If you have a checking or savings account, or a bank debit card, use it to add money to your PayPal Prepaid Card account. This service is an online service only.
4. Tax Refunds: Tell the Internal Revenue Service, and your state and local tax authority to electronically deposit your refund to your PayPal Prepaid Card account. Shorten the waiting time even more by e-filing your tax returns. LEARN MORE
5. Reload Packs: This method of value loading is convenient when you don't have your card with you. Reload Packs are available at many retail locations. Visit www.PayPal.com/prepaid and use our RELOAD CENTER LOCATOR to find those locations. There is no fee to use this online locator service.

[Daarkguardian]

Fleur93, I had this problem and share the same situation. Had PayPal for years as buyer and seller on eBay and going through the process of getting verified.  

I'm responding because I didn't like the response given by the "expert". Anyone can cut and paste policy but to added nothing to it is just being plagaristic and rude. 

To FIX your problem, you'll need to have a secondary card. This will mean calling up Paypal and giving them your SSN and account information. Afterwards, you and your son should each have a card on the same account. 

Now to load the card fast so there's no delays. DON"T USE PAYPAL ACCOUNT AND LOAD FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. I learned that the hard way when my transfer was stuck for two weeks until I called PayPal after other transsactions went through and my payment to myself just sat there. PayPal claims it's all my bank but I had online access and knew it cleared after two days. They then had to get a supervisor to override the computer and release it. PayPal is a very paranoid company despite the SSN and bank records. 

Let's say you are on the west coast and your son is on the east coast, you each have your card on you.  You what your son to have $100 right now. Take your card to 7-Eleven, give them your card, the money plus $4 transaction fee and tell them to reload the card. In less than a minute the card is load. Guess what? Now your son on the otherside of the country now has access to the money. Your sharing the same pool of money. I do this all the time for traveling family members. It's better than Western Union. PayPal can be a pain but once you get through the BS, it's actually worth it until something better comes along. Cheers.