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

Old May 14, 2013, 2:55 pm
  #646  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Originally Posted by CBS9000
Well, if I could, I could buy green dot with CC, load to BB, write check to myself, or trusted friend.

Very hard to find beans in NYC area that can be bought with CC. Green Dots are everywhere
You CAN'T buy Green Dots anywhere with a credit card. So a Green Dot is worth even less than a REAL bean (the veggie kind).
DCBob is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 3:07 pm
  #647  
 
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 DCBob
You CAN'T buy Green Dots anywhere with a credit card. So a Green Dot is worth even less than a REAL bean (the veggie kind).
Yes you can. I've done it.
TheDapperDon is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 3:11 pm
  #648  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Originally Posted by TheDapperDon
Yes you can. I've done it.
The rack provided by Green Dot says cash only. So if you bought one with a CC, an employee was not following the rules. Obviously, you can even buy cash from a hotel with a credit card if the front desk employee rings it up as a cash out. But that employee risks getting fired.
DCBob is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 4:04 pm
  #649  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 801
I've purchased Green Dot MPs with CC. It's easy.
WhateverDude is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 5:04 pm
  #650  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 613
Just purchased my first Vanilla Prepaid Reload at CVS. Loaded it to my Bluebird--after customer service informed me that the account number to use was my Bluebird number (my stupidity).

Paid a bill immediately after loading the Bluebird.

I am in the game!
JATR4 is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 5:08 pm
  #651  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
Originally Posted by WhateverDude
I've purchased Green Dot MPs with CC. It's easy.
You're lucky...I put in a little work to try to find a place that will take CC. No dice....
ricohitman is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 5:42 pm
  #652  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
Originally Posted by JATR4
Just purchased my first Vanilla Prepaid Reload at CVS. Loaded it to my Bluebird--after customer service informed me that the account number to use was my Bluebird number (my stupidity).

Paid a bill immediately after loading the Bluebird.

I am in the game!

welcome! You will become addicted.

Tip: save your bluebird space for giftcards with pins...chase has fee free giftcards right now and there are tons of other opportunities to buy gift cards in bonus categories. Load the VRs on MVD.
drdrew450 is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 6:04 pm
  #653  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 81
Any way to load gift cards to BB without a physical Walmart. . .strange as it may be, but not easily accessible Walmart for me!
jabtravel is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 8:11 pm
  #654  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
Originally Posted by jabtravel
Any way to load gift cards to BB without a physical Walmart. . .strange as it may be, but not easily accessible Walmart for me!
you can load online, but it is not worth the cost
drdrew450 is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 9:51 pm
  #655  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
Originally Posted by JATR4
Loaded it to my Bluebird--after customer service informed me that the account number to use was my Bluebird number (my stupidity).
For my first time I had to google how to load it and had to watch a video from Extrapackofpeanuts.com. No worries, we all started somewhere.
SuperKirby is offline  
Old May 14, 2013, 9:55 pm
  #656  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
Originally Posted by ricohitman
You're lucky...I put in a little work to try to find a place that will take CC. No dice....
Yeah, impossible for me as well. I remember 2 years ago (way before BB) I tried to by a Moneypak with a CC and the cashier yelled at me, CASH ONLY. Wouldn't even let me buy it with a debit card. I had to go find an ATM and get cash out.
SuperKirby is offline  
Old May 15, 2013, 10:05 am
  #657  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: I see palm trees....
Posts: 414
Can the One Vanilla prepaid Visa GCs be used to fund BB?
I'm talking about the non-reloadable ones that you can load up to $500 on for a $4.95 fee:



I've read conflicting reports...some say yes, others no.
Bean is offline  
Old May 15, 2013, 10:20 am
  #658  
 
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 Bean
Can the One Vanilla prepaid Visa GCs be used to fund BB?
I'm talking about the non-reloadable ones that you can load up to $500 on for a $4.95 fee:

...

I've read conflicting reports...some say yes, others no.
Try it out yourself with a small amount like $20 and report back.
lad2 is offline  
Old May 15, 2013, 1:32 pm
  #659  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SDF
Programs: UA, HH
Posts: 692
Originally Posted by CBS9000
Well, if I could, I could buy green dot with CC, load to BB, write check to myself, or trusted friend.

Very hard to find beans in NYC area that can be bought with CC. Green Dots are everywhere
That's why I was surprised. It's a known fact that Green Dots are 1. Cash only 2. Cannot be loaded on BB.
Artemk is offline  
Old May 15, 2013, 2:07 pm
  #660  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
I tried buying green dot moneypaks with a credit card once at walmart and once at 711, failed on both.

But I bet CVS would sell them, I never bothered because I would rather go with the cheaper VRs or paypal cash card for 3.95 vs 4.95 for moneypaks.
drdrew450 is offline  

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