Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Oct 26, 2012, 9:26 am
#691
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Florida
Programs: UA Premier Gold, TK Elite Card, AF Gold Medallion
Posts: 256
As luck would have it, I visited an OD today and noticed they had some of these sought-after cards. So I took one to the register, handed it to the cashier and said I wanted to put $500 on it. He punched his buttons, told me to swipe my credit card, I did, signed electronically, he thanked me and that was it. He never even looked at my credit card, never mind my ID - manager's approval? No way. Heck, buying $5 worth of light bulbs at Lowes they make you show your credit card and ID. Not at the OD I was in today, at least not with that cashier, for me.
I'm reading all sorts of different experiences that people are having with this. I think the acronym YMMV has never been more true.
I'm reading all sorts of different experiences that people are having with this. I think the acronym YMMV has never been more true.
Oct 26, 2012, 9:32 am
#692
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
Has anybody set up direct deposit with the BB? I'd like to do this to get free ATM withdrawals. But I've never done DD with a credit/debit card like this before.
Other than having employer DD, I'm thinking of using PayPal transfers or ACH pushes from my checking accounts. But account transfers from those sources need a bank account number and routing number. Obviously, the BB doesn't have that. Do I accomplish an ACH push to the BB by "making a payment" to a "credit card"? Even if we were to go the legit route with payroll DD, how would the employer DD into basically an AMEX account?
Other than having employer DD, I'm thinking of using PayPal transfers or ACH pushes from my checking accounts. But account transfers from those sources need a bank account number and routing number. Obviously, the BB doesn't have that. Do I accomplish an ACH push to the BB by "making a payment" to a "credit card"? Even if we were to go the legit route with payroll DD, how would the employer DD into basically an AMEX account?
Oct 26, 2012, 9:35 am
#693
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
Actually, the BB does have a routing number and an account number. Once you've logged into your BB account, just play around a bit and you'll find them. I've already set up AP for DD on my BB.
Oct 26, 2012, 9:40 am
#694
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
Does anybody know if Paypal or ACH pushes will count as DD for BB?
Oct 26, 2012, 9:40 am
#695
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
+1. My employer is all online for DD and changing accounts, I'll be doing it today as it takes maybe a minute total for me to change anything.
Oct 26, 2012, 9:45 am
#696
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago
Programs: United Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 184
Works with Citi. I did that. You have to add the payee as if they will be sending check by mail. In reality it gets paid same day electronically. Make sure you name the payee as "CITIMORTGAGE".
Oct 26, 2012, 9:49 am
#697
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Florida
Programs: UA Premier Gold, TK Elite Card, AF Gold Medallion
Posts: 256
So I have to wait until the second paycheck after I fill out the new form before they actually deposit in my accounts.
Oct 26, 2012, 9:53 am
#699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
So I have to wait until the second paycheck after I fill out the new form before they actually deposit in my accounts.
, I feel your pain.
Oct 26, 2012, 10:51 am
#700
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 301
As far I can see from BB bill pay, there is no indication whether the check is cashed or not, most bank ebillpay works this way though, only Citibank's let you know when the check is not cashed after certain days.
No image of the check either.
No image of the check either.
Interested to hear (from tonyflyer or anyone else) if there is some feedback on the BB site that shows which checks have actually been cashed, perhaps with a scan of each check.
(For comparison, I had a bank account in the past that gave no feedback at all. Withdrew funds when the check was sent and there was no way to know if it ever got there.)
(For comparison, I had a bank account in the past that gave no feedback at all. Withdrew funds when the check was sent and there was no way to know if it ever got there.)
Oct 26, 2012, 10:58 am
#701
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 301
Funny, my experience was exactly the opposite.
My BB account was suspended/locked yesterday due to two VR reloads within 24-hours, at least that was I was told by an Amex BB CSR, she unlocked my account but advised me to wait for at least 24 hours to do another reload. My two reloads worked again today
My BB account was suspended/locked yesterday due to two VR reloads within 24-hours, at least that was I was told by an Amex BB CSR, she unlocked my account but advised me to wait for at least 24 hours to do another reload. My two reloads worked again today
Some data points:
I loaded $1000 via Van Reload at 3pm today.
I loaded another $1000 via Van Reload at 1215am (just past midnight). In both instances, I went ahead and tried to load an additional $500 (to go over the $1000 daily limit), and the error message kicked in.
So...unlike the Amex Prepaid card, which won't allow you to load again in less than 24 hours, the Bluebird max load of $1000/day is based on a calendar day, not 24 hours.
Also, I loaded a mixture of OD reload cards and Walgreen's reload cards. The reload cards are slightly different - OD cards have a bar code on the bottom, and Walgreen's reload cards have a magnetic strip, as well as a green background where the 10 digit secret code is printed. Both cards reloaded without a problem.
I loaded $1000 via Van Reload at 3pm today.
I loaded another $1000 via Van Reload at 1215am (just past midnight). In both instances, I went ahead and tried to load an additional $500 (to go over the $1000 daily limit), and the error message kicked in.
So...unlike the Amex Prepaid card, which won't allow you to load again in less than 24 hours, the Bluebird max load of $1000/day is based on a calendar day, not 24 hours.
Also, I loaded a mixture of OD reload cards and Walgreen's reload cards. The reload cards are slightly different - OD cards have a bar code on the bottom, and Walgreen's reload cards have a magnetic strip, as well as a green background where the 10 digit secret code is printed. Both cards reloaded without a problem.
Oct 26, 2012, 11:17 am
#702
Join Date: May 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HHonors Silver
Posts: 429
Any one happen to know which OD in New York (preferably in NYC) that sell vanilla reloads?
Oct 26, 2012, 11:17 am
#703
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,041
Funny, my experience was exactly the opposite.
My BB account was suspended/locked yesterday due to two VR reloads within 24-hours, at least that was I was told by an Amex BB CSR, she unlocked my account but advised me to wait for at least 24 hours to do another reload. My two reloads worked again today
My BB account was suspended/locked yesterday due to two VR reloads within 24-hours, at least that was I was told by an Amex BB CSR, she unlocked my account but advised me to wait for at least 24 hours to do another reload. My two reloads worked again today
Can't be just the two VR reloads. Tons of us have done that.
Can you give us a hint of what else may have transpired?
Oct 26, 2012, 11:27 am
#705
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 301
The reason given to me by the CSR was repeated (two) failed VR reloads (due to less than 24-hours from the one before), but she was able to unlock the account right away though.
I have done only some bill pays and VR reloads, one bill pay was $200 to my CC bill (only thing I can think of that might be out of line).
I have done only some bill pays and VR reloads, one bill pay was $200 to my CC bill (only thing I can think of that might be out of line).