Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Nov 16, 2012, 9:52 am
#2626
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 757
In my experience WF used to handle this fine when they had my note 5 years ago. GMAC who has mine now I needed to avoid doubling up a payment (e.g. if the hypothetical payment is 3K split the 3.3K extra into 1.65K checks) or they will just push out the calendar on me until I call. With GMAC, if I paid by a "pull", not a "push" I can designate it as I wish. Unfortunately BB doesn't allow pulls.
Nov 16, 2012, 9:58 am
#2627
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 642
I am curious to know if it will be possible to make additional principal prepayments through Bluebird toward my Wells Fargo Mortgage? I will be paying down my mortgage by about $40,000 per year in prepayments beyond the normal monthly payment, Dave Ramsey style.
Would I have to request a check and just take it into a Wells Fargo branch on a regular basis?
I would plan on directing the spend toward minimum spend bonus thresholds and working toward the 2nd threshold on my DL Reserve card (worth the fees for me to get the extra MQMs).
Would I have to request a check and just take it into a Wells Fargo branch on a regular basis?
I would plan on directing the spend toward minimum spend bonus thresholds and working toward the 2nd threshold on my DL Reserve card (worth the fees for me to get the extra MQMs).
Nov 16, 2012, 10:00 am
#2628
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Nomadic
Programs: A Few Here, A Few There
Posts: 76
Nov 16, 2012, 10:02 am
#2629
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Nomadic
Programs: A Few Here, A Few There
Posts: 76
Yes, I went yesterday and bought $1000 in Visa Gift cards from OD and redeemed them at CVS for VR. I got funny looks both times and the manager at the CVS even said that I don't think we take Visa Gift Cards for these. However, all the transactions went through.
I know that is not translating to 5 points/$, but I will take over 5,000 UR for $8.90.
I know that is not translating to 5 points/$, but I will take over 5,000 UR for $8.90.
Nov 16, 2012, 10:11 am
#2630
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
I just wanted to chime in on problems that others might experience-
paid my property tax thru BB, check issued, funds withdrawn.
Prop tax peeps never received.
BB phone rep refers to CS, email states "ten business days to investigate".
I have the funds to send the prop tax people a check direct, but it is a pain, and who knows what their "investigation" will do as far as immediate refund/reload.
Lessons-allow plenty of time, keep additional funds at the ready.
BTW, I have successfully paid credit card bills with no problem using the BB.
paid my property tax thru BB, check issued, funds withdrawn.
Prop tax peeps never received.
BB phone rep refers to CS, email states "ten business days to investigate".
I have the funds to send the prop tax people a check direct, but it is a pain, and who knows what their "investigation" will do as far as immediate refund/reload.
Lessons-allow plenty of time, keep additional funds at the ready.
BTW, I have successfully paid credit card bills with no problem using the BB.
Nov 16, 2012, 10:22 am
#2631
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 586
I am curious to know if it will be possible to make additional principal prepayments through Bluebird toward my Wells Fargo Mortgage? I will be paying down my mortgage by about $40,000 per year in prepayments beyond the normal monthly payment, Dave Ramsey style.
Would I have to request a check and just take it into a Wells Fargo branch on a regular basis?
I would plan on directing the spend toward minimum spend bonus thresholds and working toward the 2nd threshold on my DL Reserve card (worth the fees for me to get the extra MQMs).
Would I have to request a check and just take it into a Wells Fargo branch on a regular basis?
I would plan on directing the spend toward minimum spend bonus thresholds and working toward the 2nd threshold on my DL Reserve card (worth the fees for me to get the extra MQMs).
Nov 16, 2012, 10:47 am
#2632
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM Reserve
Posts: 567
I asked this exact question because I was thinking I might have to make an online payment if the Bluebird payment didn't arrive in time. They said that any money received above the current amount due is automatically applied to the next month's payment, NOT your principal. I would suggest sending a small amount via Bluebird and fill out the Memo box with instructions to apply it to your principal. I would try to use as much language as possible from the normal principal payment forms (not sure if you do it online or send a check). Then wait and see what happens.
Nov 16, 2012, 10:53 am
#2633
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 212
Was able to purchase VR at three different CVS stores over the past two weeks with different CCs - all three had at least 15+ VR cards in stock.
I'm gonna bet that the whole VR/CVS opportunity will not crash and burn like VR/OD did, regardless of how much publicity it receives on FT and the blogs. Like others have posted on FT in the past, I have tried to convince hundreds of people over the years to take advantage of points/miles with their everyday spend - I would say less than 10 have actually followed through and pursued it.
With respect to VR/CVS, as has been stated by others, the only reason to partake is to either meet minimum spend at 1 point per $, or accumulate HH points at 6X per $ using one of the AMEX HH cards. The great thing about the VR/OD deal was that you were getting 5X UR points using Ink, and those UR points had a ton of possibilities (airlines, hotels, even cash). The amount of people who are going to go through all the trouble to buy VR at CVS on a regular basis are a very small percentage of those in the points game. It basically comes down to
# into VR/CVS << # into points/miles << average CC user
Only those obsessed with squeezing every point or mile out of every $ that leaves their pocket every month will pursue this regularly (you can count me in amongst those
). Now if Chase comes out with a new card which gives 5X UR points at drug stores, that could be a deal breaker! I am actually praying that CVS does not become one of the Freedom cards quarterly bonuses in the future. 
I'm gonna bet that the whole VR/CVS opportunity will not crash and burn like VR/OD did, regardless of how much publicity it receives on FT and the blogs. Like others have posted on FT in the past, I have tried to convince hundreds of people over the years to take advantage of points/miles with their everyday spend - I would say less than 10 have actually followed through and pursued it.
With respect to VR/CVS, as has been stated by others, the only reason to partake is to either meet minimum spend at 1 point per $, or accumulate HH points at 6X per $ using one of the AMEX HH cards. The great thing about the VR/OD deal was that you were getting 5X UR points using Ink, and those UR points had a ton of possibilities (airlines, hotels, even cash). The amount of people who are going to go through all the trouble to buy VR at CVS on a regular basis are a very small percentage of those in the points game. It basically comes down to
# into VR/CVS << # into points/miles << average CC user
Only those obsessed with squeezing every point or mile out of every $ that leaves their pocket every month will pursue this regularly (you can count me in amongst those
). Now if Chase comes out with a new card which gives 5X UR points at drug stores, that could be a deal breaker! I am actually praying that CVS does not become one of the Freedom cards quarterly bonuses in the future.
Nov 16, 2012, 10:54 am
#2634
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 89
i did a money xfer from bb to my linked checking account last froday 11/9. as of today it has not posted. i understand monday was a holiday. should i be worried? i have xferred money before and it worked fine. thanks.
Nov 16, 2012, 10:54 am
#2635
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Nov 16, 2012, 11:10 am
#2636
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,145
Interesting..i bought a couple VRs at CVS yesterday...the cashier didn't think i could use credit, i acted shocked and said i'd done it before...she read something on her computer (handwritten and taped to the side) about gift cards...i said this wasnt a gift card, it was a card I could be and reload a debit card with...she seemed to like that answer and then just processed it. Went through just fine...granted, no 5x, but SPG points. I do like the idea of buying gift cards at OD and using those to buy VR at CVS. Starts to cut into the profit a little though, but still worth it.
Nov 16, 2012, 11:19 am
#2637
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 1,782
I went to buy some gift cards at OD today and they had to call the manager over of course. The clerk said that just 2 weeks ago, someone came in to get the reloadables (or regular gift cards, can't remember) and after they activated them, they asked for a price check. Of course when the cashier was distracted, the person grabbed the cards and bolted.
I wonder that they can't track the cards down and cancel the load. After all, they've scanned it into their system to activate right?
I wonder that they can't track the cards down and cancel the load. After all, they've scanned it into their system to activate right?
Nov 16, 2012, 11:24 am
#2638
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,689
I went to buy some gift cards at OD today and they had to call the manager over of course. The clerk said that just 2 weeks ago, someone came in to get the reloadables (or regular gift cards, can't remember) and after they activated them, they asked for a price check. Of course when the cashier was distracted, the person grabbed the cards and bolted.
I wonder that they can't track the cards down and cancel the load. After all, they've scanned it into their system to activate right?
I wonder that they can't track the cards down and cancel the load. After all, they've scanned it into their system to activate right?
Plus the fact they have cameras everywhere. So someone idiot got their pretty lil picture taken.
However, if they were just travelling through your town, it makes it harder for them to find.
Fools!
Nov 16, 2012, 11:30 am
#2639
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: DL Silver, HH Gold, PC Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 420
Found that the CVS just a few blocks from my office has the beans and successfully bought 1 @$500 with the Hilton AMEX without the cashier saying a word about it. Had one slot on the GC rack for them (way down toward the bottom) and had a good number in stock.
Nov 16, 2012, 11:38 am
#2640
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: DL SM, Marriot PLT, Tall guy in need of legroom
Posts: 1,478
Have read this thread 5X over and confused as to if I can't access da beans and only have a BB with my Delta ST MC loading the Bird up, what else is possible than just $1/mile type stuff? I have an SPG Amexa as well and so just trying to see if BB is even necessary ..PM'd help would be most appreciated as well.