[Matt Beard]

I have found that the fixed options of £20 or £40 that Polar Instant offers for topping up your account are too rigid. Want to top up £30 or £25, or even £100? No go.

I made a little "bookmarklet" javascript tool that is hosted on one of my pages below (you can't add javascript in this forum!). The code is pretty basic and could probably be improved a lot, but it works.

Test code is here: Top-Up Amount Changer

EDIT2: Some people have said that they got an error message when trying to use lower amounts, but recently others have succeeded. Perhaps validation was put in, then taken out again for some reason (like too few signups!)

 

[PaulMorris]

Nice, can this be used to make an initial credit of £5 for example and not £20, or does this only work for post-registration top-ups.

 

[Matt Beard]

Now, that never would have occured to me!

 

[E Geeza]

Mmmm, a 1p top-up to get you on the system?

 

[smartie]

Minimum amount is £5

Mmmm, a 1p top-up to get you on the system?

 

[Matt Beard]

Note: This will not work on iPhone or iPad, and I don't know about Android (don't know if you can use bookmarklets on Andriod)

 

[PaulMorris]

@Matt Beard which OS, browser have you tested and what is the specific use case? I've tried but couldn't get this to work on a Mac. The page I was looking at just had large buttons with £20/£40. Clicked the bookmarked link entered the value, nothing seemed to happen.

 

[PaulMorris]

Answered my own question and cost myself an unwanted £15 in testing....

Doesn't work in OSX Safari browser. Additional info: polar instant doesn't supply a final invoice page to confirm the amount, or go to 3D-secure authentication confirming the amount its taking and asking for pasword with your card company. When you enter the card details and click pay, er..... you've paid. £20, that is, not the £5 I was hoping.

I really was hoping they'd confirm how much they're taking after getting card details, or at least have chance to cancel at the 3D-Secure dialog. Nope, ker-ching!

Google Chrome on OSX might work, I see what's supposed to happen now. When you fire the javascript it overwrites the value in the box with the value you've selected. Good luck.

 

[Matt Beard]

Hmm, that is very odd - it should work with any JaveScript capable browser. Unless Polar have changed the page to stop this :-(

 

[Buzby]

OSX with Chrome worked fine for me - but a I just edited the properties fields myself - worked a treat.

 

[GBEV]

Still works, the best fiver I have never spent... or have I as I can't get it back right?

 

[Bikerchickone]

Thank you @Matt Beard I've just used this and worked perfectly - with a little help from my techie hubby! Very impressed and thanks again!

 

[GBEV]

Thank you @Matt Beard I've just used this and worked perfectly - with a little help from my techie hubby! Very impressed and thanks again!

Congrats, now try to get one of their posts to work, no fault of Matt, might need hubby again in a diesel.
Hope it works but do please let us know.

 

[Bikerchickone]

Congrats, wait untill you try to get one of their posts to work, might need hubby again in a diesel.
Hope it works but do please let us know.

Will do! The ones nearest to me are apparently free so I'm hoping they'll work!

 

[Buzby]

Still works, the best fiver I have never spent... or have I as I can't get it back right?

Think of it as the cost of the RFID card - they'll send that to you within days.

 

[tarq]

You & me the same, PaulMorris. Oh well can't win them all.

Must say it was strange not to have a 'final amount' page before the transaction went through.

At least I'm getting a good selection of cards now, ('when' the 'source east' one turns up!),

I think I have all I'll need.

 

[Bikerchickone]

You & me the same, PaulMorris. Oh well can't win them all.

Must say it was strange not to have a 'final amount' page before the transaction went through.

At least I'm getting a good selection of cards now, ('when' the 'source east' one turns up!),

I think I have all I'll need.

I got a final amount showing as £5 on the button that was £20 before, then they sent me an email to confirm the £5 amount. Hopefully the card will turn up in the next few days. I'd say if the amount on the button didn't change to £5 it probably didn't work. Will report back if and when mine turns up, but my card has only been debited £5 according to the bank.

 

[IanTat]

I have done this previously and can confirm the £5 charge and the card arriving in the post a few days later. Yet to use it though!

 

[astewardson]

Cheers Matt, just done it on Safari on OS X

 

[planetf1]

Many thanks... I did this last week (before an expected long trip which didn't surface). £5