Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Credit, Debit and Prepaid Card Programs > Manufactured Spending
Reload this Page >

Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2013-2014)

Old Apr 3, 2013, 11:44 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: markr33
Read the wiki before posting a question.

Check your BB load limits BEFORE asking in this thread about "tender not allowed" or any other errors.

Bluebird website. There's no need to buy a Bluebird kit in-store; sign-up free on the website.

The original FlyerTalk discussion thread is here: Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card

Bluebird Load Limits:
  • BB loading via VR or WM load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
  • Online Debit Card Load* - $200/day and $1,000/month
  • Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
  • Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
  • ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month

*For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt. If blocked, call Account Protection Services at 1-800-660-2454 to clear it (9am-8pm EST, Mon-Fri).

The day currently resets around midnight Eastern/11pm Central/10pm Mountain/9pm Pacific.

For online bill pay
  • You can pay the credit card that you used to buy reloads
  • Error 1302 means that you have 1 pending payment the same amount as the one you just submitted. For example, 1000 bill pay to sapphire preferred from Friday and then on Saturday you submit another bill pay for 1000 to sapphire preferred, you will get this error.
  • Tip: if using online bill pay to the same place multiple times, vary your amounts by $0.01 to make it easier to track since your confirmation number does not match the tracking number on your credit card statement


Loading with debit card at Walmart
Self checkout does not work for loading.

Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of gift cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC again to load with gift cards.

Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.

If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.

Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html for additional information on using prepaid debit cards.

Training a WM cashier:
  • If the WM cashier doesn't know how to load the card, advise them to enter "70" then press "action code".
  • If you are using a temp card that doesn't have your name on it, you can swipe the card from your side of the terminal. The WM rep never has to touch any of your cards. The screen will say "enter account." That is your prompt to slide the card.
  • The terminal will ask the WM employee if you are loading in multiples of $2000. Advise them to enter "no."
  • Avoid saying gift card. Always refer to your card as a debit card.

Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.

DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.

TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered .

HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.

UPdate Notice on Sept 15, 2014.
Some minor changes on the ATM limits and fees:
Out-of-Network ATM Fees:
Beginning October 30, 2014, the fee for withdrawing funds using out-of-network ATMs will increase from $2.00 to $2.50. ATM operator fees may also apply.
Free In-Network MoneyPass ATMs:
Effective immediately, all Bluebird Customers can withdraw funds for free when using in-network MoneyPass ATMs. You can find one of the more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs below.
ATM Withdrawal Limits Increase:
We have increased your daily ATM limit, so you can withdraw up to $750 per day. Your monthly ATM withdrawal limit will remain at $2,000.

-----

If you use Wal-Mart Savings Catcher, you can earn double rewards by redeeming to your BlueBird account <== Doubling of savings catcher amounts ended sometime in the summer of 2015.
Print Wikipost

Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2013-2014)

Old May 7, 2013, 11:33 am
  #571  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Originally Posted by phdtomd
You could pay for things that don't accept CC's... maybe. Perhaps getting points for something you may not normally get points for. Then I dunno, use the money you were going to use to pay said bill that doesnt accept cc's to pay your cc bill.
Ding ding ding.
TheDapperDon is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 12:03 pm
  #572  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 968
Originally Posted by Explore
So I ordered paper checks for myself, but if you fund BB via debit cards bought with credit cards, you will always owe what you deposit. So you might as well pay off CCs from Bluebird and issue checks from your ordinary bank checking account as always, right?
Interesting that you bring this up because I've been considering BB for awhile now and just signed up yesterday.

The only reason I could see not paying off a CC bill is that you're afraid of the ban hammer. I'd imagine that deposits of, say, $5000 every month and then a bill payment of $5000 has to set off some accounting red flag for manual review of your account.

I just refi'ed my mortgage and am planning on using it for that, plus a water bill and my electric bill - the three things I currently can't pay via CC. The remainder every month I'll probably send to my CC.

I am sure this has been answered upthread but I thought I'd ask anyway - if the biller is in the automatic system, does it mean that the payment will be electronically sent, or is it still possible that a check might be issued? The reason I ask is because I'd rather not risk my mortgage payment being late due to a paper check being issued - I'd rather Provident just ACH it out of my account instead of risking late fees.
sullim4 is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 2:06 pm
  #573  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
Originally Posted by sullim4
I am sure this has been answered upthread but I thought I'd ask anyway - if the biller is in the automatic system, does it mean that the payment will be electronically sent, or is it still possible that a check might be issued? The reason I ask is because I'd rather not risk my mortgage payment being late due to a paper check being issued - I'd rather Provident just ACH it out of my account instead of risking late fees.
Generally, yes. You will see the estimate date by BB for your payment to arrive. It's usually 2-3 business days for electronic payment. And obviously longer if the payment is via a paper check. Add 1-2 business days on top of that for payment processing time on the biller's end to be on the safe side.

If you can, do a small test payment mid-cycle so you can test & gauge how long it would take for your particular case.
lad2 is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 2:13 pm
  #574  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,766
Originally Posted by sullim4
Interesting that you bring this up because I've been considering BB for awhile now and just signed up yesterday.

The only reason I could see not paying off a CC bill is that you're afraid of the ban hammer. I'd imagine that deposits of, say, $5000 every month and then a bill payment of $5000 has to set off some accounting red flag for manual review of your account.
I follow the rule that you shouldn't put more than $2,500/month in debit card purchases on any given credit card (or even bank). So I spread the 5K around several cards.
Explore is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 2:18 pm
  #575  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Originally Posted by Explore
I follow the rule that you shouldn't put more than $2,500/month in debit card purchases on any given credit card (or even bank). So I spread the 5K around several cards.
I agree with this strategy.
TheDapperDon is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 2:42 pm
  #576  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT
Posts: 1,467
Originally Posted by Explore
I follow the rule that you shouldn't put more than $2,500/month in debit card purchases on any given credit card (or even bank). So I spread the 5K around several cards.
Where the $2,500/month/card-rule comes from?
supergrandslam is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 2:43 pm
  #577  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
Question

Originally Posted by TheDapperDon
I agree with this strategy.
How did you guys come up with the 2500 number?
lad2 is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 2:56 pm
  #578  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I don't view it as a rule. I just like to keep my balances manageable in case of emergency. It's not a rule per se.
TheDapperDon is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 2:56 pm
  #579  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
Originally Posted by lad2
How did you guys come up with the 2500 number?
what he said. i have never heard this magic # before
uncommonsensical is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 3:15 pm
  #580  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
Originally Posted by uncommonsensical
what he said. i have never heard this magic # before
The magic number is ~3.14159265359
ricohitman is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 3:52 pm
  #581  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 274
Originally Posted by sullim4

I just refi'ed my mortgage and am planning on using it for that, plus a water bill and my electric bill - the three things I currently can't pay via CC. The remainder every month I'll probably send to my CC.
if your electric bill pge, you can pay with cc.
I am always able to pay water bill.
https://secure6.i-doxs.net/PGE/OneTimeValidate.aspx
oozze is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 4:14 pm
  #582  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 968
Originally Posted by oozze
if your electric bill pge, you can pay with cc.
I am always able to pay water bill.
https://secure6.i-doxs.net/PGE/OneTimeValidate.aspx
My electric/gas company is Puget Sound Energy - while they have a credit card option, the fee is rather steep and does not make it work. PSE is in BB's system.

My water company is a sub-biller that the HOA uses called ISTA (which I now believe is called YES Energy Management). ISTA is in the BB bill pay system, so I plan on using that.
sullim4 is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 4:27 pm
  #583  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 274
I am curious if anyone here is writing paper check your your DH who is also BB owner?
If yes, did you do it often?
I did once last month for $1.5k and wonder if i should keep doing or not
oozze is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 4:46 pm
  #584  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by oozze
I am curious if anyone here is writing paper check your your DH who is also BB owner?
If yes, did you do it often?
I did once last month for $1.5k and wonder if i should keep doing or not
Another way to put it is, "Can I keep writing ordinary (but large) bank checks to my SO who lives at the same address?"

Replace BB with your regular bank and ask again - would you dare ?
Spoddy is offline  
Old May 7, 2013, 4:59 pm
  #585  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 274
Originally Posted by Spoddy
Another way to put it is, "Can I keep writing ordinary (but large) bank checks to my SO who lives at the same address?"

Replace BB with your regular bank and ask again - would you dare ?
regular bank? why not?
made multiple cash deposits into my accounts...and i have no problems.
why would you scare about it? as long as it is not 10k deposit in cash...

It is not the bank that i am worried..it is BB that i am concerned to get shut down.
oozze is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.