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)
Jul 29, 2014, 4:05 pm
#6376
Join Date: May 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,164
this thread is filled with False Alarms all the time, i think we need to check our steps and make sure we did our homework before stating inaccurate information, just my 2 Cents.
Jul 29, 2014, 4:10 pm
#6377
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
It's fine with me. If it's inaccurate, somebody will say so. & not spoonfeeding either. You have to extract useful information out.
Jul 29, 2014, 4:33 pm
#6378
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 53
Regarding target customers, I've been curious for months now about who Amex DOES target for its BB product. I've read that they want the unbanked. But why? The "unbanked" are un-banked for a reason... either they have very little income, or have illegal income, or are an illegal alien.
Why would any company target those types?
Jul 29, 2014, 4:53 pm
#6379
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/06/...-as-excessive/
Last edited by MileageAddict; Jul 29, 2014 at 9:32 pm Reason: removed obscenity
Jul 29, 2014, 9:47 pm
#6380
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
I normally wouldn't put more than 5k on it per month, but sometimes things just happen. Unexpected things.
Regarding target customers, I've been curious for months now about who Amex DOES target for its BB product. I've read that they want the unbanked. But why? The "unbanked" are un-banked for a reason... either they have very little income, or have illegal income, or are an illegal alien.
Why would any company target those types?
Regarding target customers, I've been curious for months now about who Amex DOES target for its BB product. I've read that they want the unbanked. But why? The "unbanked" are un-banked for a reason... either they have very little income, or have illegal income, or are an illegal alien.
Why would any company target those types?
Jul 29, 2014, 10:36 pm
#6381
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
This is a great point that I didn't even consider. Amex has traditionally been a product/service used by more well off people. Part of the reason you often see "lower end" establishments not accept it was because not as many people were trying to use them and since the costs were higher to the merchant they just didn't accept them. If you go an create a lot of products specifically aimed at a lower income class you suddenly have a lot more people wanting to use Amex products as establishments that historically didn't take them.
Jul 30, 2014, 12:19 am
#6382
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 53
Good strategy, I hope it works. I'm sick-n-tired of merchants refusing to accept Amex. But I don't think the "unbanked" will sway merchant decisions. Amex charges merchants too much... plain & simple.
On another note, I just received notice that my Walmart credit card is switching from Discover to MC.
On another note, I just received notice that my Walmart credit card is switching from Discover to MC.
Jul 30, 2014, 12:00 pm
#6383
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NY
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, CC Gold, SPG Gold, AA Exec Platinum
Posts: 99
I loaded with the person that use to load split 500's for me. Really pushing me to just use Serve..
Jul 30, 2014, 3:12 pm
#6385
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 53
Justtony, very strange, there should be more consistency in loading rules! I wonder if you can load $500, go buy groceries, then return to the counter & load another $500?
Impatiently waiting 2 more days so I can put more money in my BB...
The rule is a little bit lame. BB won't be able to compete with true checking accounts when they tie their customers' hands like this.
I still don't understand the business model of catering solely to the "unbanked" and the "elite". The vast majority of folks are neither. It's like a clothing manufacturer making clothes only for women who are 4'11.5". Why constrict your potential customer base?
Impatiently waiting 2 more days so I can put more money in my BB...
The rule is a little bit lame. BB won't be able to compete with true checking accounts when they tie their customers' hands like this.
I still don't understand the business model of catering solely to the "unbanked" and the "elite". The vast majority of folks are neither. It's like a clothing manufacturer making clothes only for women who are 4'11.5". Why constrict your potential customer base?
Jul 30, 2014, 3:27 pm
#6386
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 53
This is not true. A lot of people are unbanked because ChexSystems sucks. Part of the reason the NY AG is going after them.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/06/...-as-excessive/
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/06/...-as-excessive/
I do have a huge record of successfully-paid-off bank loans, credit cards, & mortgages. Not sure how ChexSystems differentiates between bankable or non-bankable folks.
I cringe at the thought of one more BigBrother record-keeping system.
Jul 30, 2014, 6:47 pm
#6387
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
Are Vanilla cards the only ones that you cannot load at WM? Do other GC from grocery stores work?
Jul 31, 2014, 10:01 am
#6388
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SDF
Programs: UA, HH
Posts: 692
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html
Aug 3, 2014, 1:19 am
#6389
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 53
I unloaded OV onto BB today via Kate, but it was painstakenly slow. A bunch at $40 or $45, twice at $95 (not in that order), numerous declines in-between, plus I took a break every 5 or 6 swipes to shop a little.
Sometimes error code 57, sometimes code 12. I couldn't see any rhyme/reason why some transactions went through & others didn't. Twice the machine seemed to pause midtransaction, for a lengthy time, and then printed a summary/reboot receipt and continued on. Never allowed me to zero out a OV.
Kate seems buggy, and behaves as if programmed in Pascal. Also won't do $15 transactions... apparently there's a minimum limit, but I didn't experiment what the min limit is, because I was there 90 minutes as it was.
Sometimes error code 57, sometimes code 12. I couldn't see any rhyme/reason why some transactions went through & others didn't. Twice the machine seemed to pause midtransaction, for a lengthy time, and then printed a summary/reboot receipt and continued on. Never allowed me to zero out a OV.
Kate seems buggy, and behaves as if programmed in Pascal. Also won't do $15 transactions... apparently there's a minimum limit, but I didn't experiment what the min limit is, because I was there 90 minutes as it was.
Aug 3, 2014, 6:08 am
#6390
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 359
My Kate indicates the minimum transaction is $20. It displays on the screen after I start the loading transaction.