Abstract: A prepaid payment card used to reload or credit a prepay account with prepaid service value carrying a unique identifier generated by a payment provider, the unique identifier being associated with prepaid transaction data capable of indicating designated service values and identified service providers, said card enabling purchasers to gift a prepaid payment card having any desired value and without requiring knowledge of the end user's service provider. Also disclosed are methods for using the prepaid payment card by funding the card at the point of sale or designating a prepaid service value at the moment the unique identifier is generated, so as to provide the benefits of the new prepaid payment card and to mimic the prior art products using the new method.