On XX/XX/XXXX I bought a prepaid debit card through NetSpend from my local grocery store ( XXXX ). I purchased the card for {$4.00}, and put {$130.00} on the card to pay my car insurance from my computer. Once I got home I attempted to activate it. I put in the necessary information ( SSN, birthdate, full name, etc, ). Once I completed this process and put the inactive card number in, I received and error message and was instructed to call the company. I did not see anything strange with this as I have had my identity stolen before. I called and attempted to complete the process over the phone and was directed immediately after entering my number to a customer service agent ( which I use this term very loosely as you will soon realize ) and was first informed about a previous charge on my card from five years ago that resulted in a negative balance of {$XXXX}. I was then told that until I cleared this debt, I could not activate my card. My only other options were to of course let them take the funds " owed '', or to get a refund on my purchase and wait 20 days for it to come in the mail. In addition to that I would be charged a fee for them to do this. In retrospect I did not react well to this news. I became quite the person to deal with and I ended up hanging up the phone because I was so frustrated. After I had calmed down just a bit, I called them to try to find out about their policies and where it stated that they were allowed to do this. I still have not gotten the answer to that. I was then told by a representative, that I would need to submit my ID, SSN, and proof of residency. I have done this countless times from this past Friday until now, but they keep saying different things like I did not receive a reference number, my copies were incomplete. Today I have scanned the documents in versus taking a photo from my phone, so hopefully this annoyance will cease. As for them taking my money, I have researched and researched. From what I have gathered, they can not legally do this, especially since they made no attempts to collect said debt from XX/XX/XXXX. Their response is that they treat me like any bank would when there is a balanced owed. My response was that a bank would attempt to collect said debt, through email, snail mail, or phone call. It is even more frustrating since I have told them they may collect said debt, and they still refuse to activate my card. I have repeatedly told them that I would no longer be bothered with their company or their services once this has been done. Why can I not have access to my own funds? Why am I punished for a debt I have no knowledge of from XXXX years ago? Please let me know if I have missed some legality. 
