Sunny Sweet of Seattle admits that money is very tight right now.

"I've had a very difficult couple of years and am rebuilding my life," said Sweet.

Sweet works in Kent full time, but hasn't been able to get a bank account or credit card because of finance issues after a divorce. So she applied for a prepaid debit card through her local grocery store and signed up to have her payroll check automatically deposited.

"I thought that would be far more convenient. I wouldn't have to carry cash in; I wouldn’t have to go to the bank, cash my check, pay a fee to have it cashed, then carry it to the store, then pay a fee to have the money put on the card, which is what I was doing twice a month and it was ending up costing me about $20 a month," Sweet explained.

The first time her paycheck was electronically deposited, she says her money was available to her right away. But the second time, Sweet says her paycheck was transferred early on a Monday morning. A few hours later, she went online to check her funds.

"The money wasn't there. And I checked two hours later and the money wasn't there. And then I thought, 'You know what? I think I'd better call them,'" said Sweet.

Sweet said she spent the next day and a half on the phone, trying to get access to her money.

"I had no money for food. I had no money for anything. Fortunately, I had a bus pass so I could get to work but it was very stressful for me to think, 'OK, is it going to be another day? Another two days? Is it going to be a week? When are they going to do this?'" said Sweet.

According to the Washington State Attorney General's Office, the current economy has made these prepaid debit cards, or payroll cards, very common.

"The financial institution will give you a card. Now, you don't have any other banking relationship other than through that card, which you can use at an ATM or to purchase goods and services like a debit card. But you're not bankable otherwise. You're not writing checks; you're not accessing a credit card or a credit line," said Assistant Attorney General Doug Walsh.

The AG's office says these cards are now regulated by the Federal Reserve, so those who hold them have certain rights.

According to Jim Pishue, President of the Washington Bankers' Association, electronic fund payroll transfers must be available to consumers the banking day after they are deposited.

"When did you finally get access to your money?" KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy asked Sweet.

"Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, right before the end of their day," said Sweet.

So Sweet's next-day service was within banking regulations, but she believes it could have taken much longer, had she not called the company to complain.

"He said, 'Oh, we'll get it done this week.' And I'm like, 'No, you'll get it done today,'" said Sweet.

Sweet filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission because of what she believes was poor customer service. Chuck Harwood of the FTC says she did the right thing.

"To exercise those rights, you have to monitor closely your account. So, if you're expecting a paycheck to go in a certain day, and it doesn't go in there, you need to act immediately," said Harwood.

When you'll have access to your money is a question you should ask before you get a prepaid debit card. Do some research -- most companies have that information in their terms and conditions. But if you're not happy with the service, both the FTC and the AG's office said to take your money out and use another card. There are plenty out there. Sunny Sweet did close the prepaid debit card account.

Meanwhile, the AG's office says the bottom line is if you want access to your money right away, it might be better to just take your check to a bank and cash it, even if you have to pay a fee.