Apr 3, 2013, 11:44 am
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:
*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
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:
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.
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.
Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2013-2014)
May 9, 2013, 1:09 pm
#601
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 104
Bullcrap, first of all the system was designed to only allow a check over 2000 with approval from them after questioning? What other BANK sticks their nose that deep into your business?!
Secondly the BB account gradually got a balance of over 10K in the last 6 months even with me paying mortgage and a CC bill or two. Since I got the checks I tried to reduce the excess tied up with BB. I didn't load it up quickly and try to unload it all.
I don't have a bank account tied to it and I prefer to pay my CC bills from a bank account not BB, which would seem the safer, more indirect way to cycle. I am paranoid that paying CC bills with BB wont someday cause a financial revue from amex or shutdown from chase after seeing reload purchases made with their card and payment made with BB.
This was a test to see if I could send a check to my wife (which others have done) and let her put the funds in a real bank. It was denied with no phone call or questions or explanations. If this were a true BANK that would be illegal. So instead I paid a 4k ink bill and a 5K amex bill. The fact that you cant write a large check to a loved one is annoying. If they had asked I would have told them we wanted to go to Vegas for the weekend and the casino doesn't take BB. It's my money, but they dictate who I can write a check to and have hoops for me to jump through to get it back?
Piss on BB I will run them up to the max every month and dump the cash back in the bank or pay the CC bills directly until they shut me down. I will continue to pay my mortgage, but no other charges will ever hit my or my wife's BB.
BB CHECKS ARE A WORTHLESS ATTEMPT TO LOOK LIKE A LEGITIMATE BANKING ACCOUNT.
Instead of what they are, which is a shady dodge by walmart to enter the banking business after the US government told them they couldn't.
Secondly the BB account gradually got a balance of over 10K in the last 6 months even with me paying mortgage and a CC bill or two. Since I got the checks I tried to reduce the excess tied up with BB. I didn't load it up quickly and try to unload it all.
I don't have a bank account tied to it and I prefer to pay my CC bills from a bank account not BB, which would seem the safer, more indirect way to cycle. I am paranoid that paying CC bills with BB wont someday cause a financial revue from amex or shutdown from chase after seeing reload purchases made with their card and payment made with BB.
This was a test to see if I could send a check to my wife (which others have done) and let her put the funds in a real bank. It was denied with no phone call or questions or explanations. If this were a true BANK that would be illegal. So instead I paid a 4k ink bill and a 5K amex bill. The fact that you cant write a large check to a loved one is annoying. If they had asked I would have told them we wanted to go to Vegas for the weekend and the casino doesn't take BB. It's my money, but they dictate who I can write a check to and have hoops for me to jump through to get it back?
Piss on BB I will run them up to the max every month and dump the cash back in the bank or pay the CC bills directly until they shut me down. I will continue to pay my mortgage, but no other charges will ever hit my or my wife's BB.
BB CHECKS ARE A WORTHLESS ATTEMPT TO LOOK LIKE A LEGITIMATE BANKING ACCOUNT.
Instead of what they are, which is a shady dodge by walmart to enter the banking business after the US government told them they couldn't.
May 9, 2013, 1:33 pm
#602
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
May 9, 2013, 1:50 pm
#604
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 79
A $9,000 BB check is likely to be approved if the payee is the IRS.
May 9, 2013, 6:34 pm
#605
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
K, now re-read my response to you. Two completely different scenarios.. Once the checks are authorized, the funds are IMMEDIATELY deducted from your balance, and naturally will clear when cashed!
May 9, 2013, 7:57 pm
#606
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 81
When using BB to pay an Amex credit card (premier rewards card), is the payee "American Express" and do I put the credit card number in the "account #" section? Thanks for the help!
May 9, 2013, 8:09 pm
#609
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 81
Does the recipient of a BB check have to confirm the pre-auth code? Or can they just deposit? Thanks in advance!
May 10, 2013, 6:30 am
#610
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NE
Programs: UA PLAT, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 211
Just deposit.
May 10, 2013, 8:49 am
#611
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 60
Can we have multiple BB accounts (same ssn, personal details)? I tried to register second BB account and was rejected. I have 10K manufactured spend requirement. Thanks.
May 10, 2013, 10:34 am
#613
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
May 10, 2013, 2:25 pm
#614
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: BAEC Silver, WN CP, Marriott Gold
Posts: 424
No more BB loading from non-reloadable gift cards?
I got a number of $100 Visa prepaid debit gift cards through the Staples deal last month. I registered them all with my name/address and got PINs. Then I signed up for BB and received my permanent card, which I activated and successfully loaded 2 cards online ($98 each - the $2 fee). I know they have a daily limit of $100, so I planned to do them slowly. It worked on Monday and Wednesday, then yesterday I linked another and tried to pay but got an error to call their security team. Talked to a lady on the phone today who indicated that they had recently changed policy and you were no longer allowed to link non-reloadable prepaid cards (so Vanilla is OK, just no disposable gift-cards). I looked through their terms and conditions on the site and see no mention of this - has anyone else had this happen? Is this for Wall-Mart physical stores as well, or just online? I am afraid to try again as she said the account would be closed if I tried to link another.
Surprised that they are doing this because I would think the $2 fee makes it profitable for them (I didn't care since I only paid $95/each for the cards).
Surprised that they are doing this because I would think the $2 fee makes it profitable for them (I didn't care since I only paid $95/each for the cards).
May 10, 2013, 2:38 pm
#615
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