Jun 22, 2013, 10:42 am
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
There is a new thread for 2017: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1819569-pin-available-now-visa-mc-prepaid-debit-cards-2017-a.html
Federal Reserve interpretation of Dodd-Frank financial reform regulations has resulted in Visa/MC gift cards getting PINs as of April 1, 2013.
Setting PINS
At Walmat, many MCs default to credit(and fail) and require pressing a button to change the payment type to debit. Here are the workarounds:
Old POS systems (monochrome black on green terminals and replacement color terminals):
1a. Screen shows "Insert or Swipe Card Quickly" with "Espanol" button in lower right (note if your screen blinks)
1b. Swipe card
1c. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..." with with working animation in lower center and "Cancel" button in lower right
2. Press "Cancel" on the screen or red button on pad (if your screen blinks, do not hit button until after blink)
3. Press "ATM/DEBIT" from upper left
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5a. Enter PIN
5b. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..."
6. Cashier hits blue (not green) Debit button on their side.
New POS systems (color terminal):
1. Swipe GC
2. Press "Change Payment" on screen (Yellow button on pad should also work, but screen works better for some. Timing is critical.)
3. Press "DEBIT"
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5. Enter PIN - Screen showing another 'Waiting for cashier...'.
6. Ask Cashier to hit blue color Debit button on the screen
When splitting transactions among multiple cards at a Walmart register, make sure to have the cashier hit the debit button on their physical keypad. If they hit the debit button on the touchscreen, it will not work. If your transaction got declined, try having the cashier hit 'Debit' using the physical keypad on the right of the screen.
As of 6/19/2014, Walmart rejects Debit attempts above $49.99 on all cards issued by InComm/ITC Financial Services, namely all Vanilla VISA and OneVanilla. There is no workaround.
Error Messages
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Not enough funds available to cover whatever amount was typed in, or most likely NOT typed in.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again.
Federal Reserve interpretation of Dodd-Frank financial reform regulations has resulted in Visa/MC gift cards getting PINs as of April 1, 2013.
Setting PINS
- MetaBank VISA or Sunrise VISA -use the last four digits of the card number (or to set personal PIN call 888-524-1283)
- US Bank VISA and Mastercard - Newer cards come with a PIN printed on cardstock inside the package. To set/reset PIN, call 866-952-5653. One person reports: VISA that has pre-set PIN locks PIN on first use if not previously reset; always call to set PIN before use. If you forget to reset the pin and you can't unload the funds to your BB, call the toll free # and ask rep. to "reset" the card and they will do some magic and you should then be able to unload the funds at WM.
- Vanilla VISA and OneVanilla(not MyVanilla, etc) - selection of 4 digits on the first transaction becomes the PIN
At Walmat, many MCs default to credit(and fail) and require pressing a button to change the payment type to debit. Here are the workarounds:
Old POS systems (monochrome black on green terminals and replacement color terminals):
1a. Screen shows "Insert or Swipe Card Quickly" with "Espanol" button in lower right (note if your screen blinks)
1b. Swipe card
1c. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..." with with working animation in lower center and "Cancel" button in lower right
2. Press "Cancel" on the screen or red button on pad (if your screen blinks, do not hit button until after blink)
3. Press "ATM/DEBIT" from upper left
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5a. Enter PIN
5b. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..."
6. Cashier hits blue (not green) Debit button on their side.
New POS systems (color terminal):
1. Swipe GC
2. Press "Change Payment" on screen (Yellow button on pad should also work, but screen works better for some. Timing is critical.)
3. Press "DEBIT"
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5. Enter PIN - Screen showing another 'Waiting for cashier...'.
6. Ask Cashier to hit blue color Debit button on the screen
When splitting transactions among multiple cards at a Walmart register, make sure to have the cashier hit the debit button on their physical keypad. If they hit the debit button on the touchscreen, it will not work. If your transaction got declined, try having the cashier hit 'Debit' using the physical keypad on the right of the screen.
As of 6/19/2014, Walmart rejects Debit attempts above $49.99 on all cards issued by InComm/ITC Financial Services, namely all Vanilla VISA and OneVanilla. There is no workaround.
Error Messages
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Not enough funds available to cover whatever amount was typed in, or most likely NOT typed in.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again.
PIN available now for Visa/MC prepaid debit cards(2013-2016).
Apr 20, 2013, 11:59 pm
#721
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: SPG Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 223
Stopped by Kroger to purchase two US Bank visa's ($500 each) on Saturday. No problems paying with CC; however, the cashier asked for my drivers license number in order to complete the transaction. Is this new? It was my first time purchasing these from Kroger and I've never been asked for a license number at any other store.
I was excited that I was able to load them at Walmart MC with no problems. Their automate machine wasn't doing MO. I walked up to counter and asked for $1000 using multiple debit cards. I specified amount for each. The whole thing was a breeze.
I was excited that I was able to load them at Walmart MC with no problems. Their automate machine wasn't doing MO. I walked up to counter and asked for $1000 using multiple debit cards. I specified amount for each. The whole thing was a breeze.
Apr 21, 2013, 2:43 am
#723
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 130
Edit: Oh, the register doesn't ask for the DL info until I swipe my Amex BCP. Not sure that matters, but just in case.
Last edited by jmdeng; Apr 21, 2013 at 2:46 am Reason: CC info
Apr 21, 2013, 5:52 am
#724
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Well I shop at fry's which is owned by Krogers, and not once have I had to show ID to buy GC... So it's not a corp policy.
Apr 21, 2013, 9:50 am
#725
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 117
Forgive me, I'm new to the Bluebird strategy and I'm trying to understand it.
If you're able to setup a Visa gift card with a pin, and Bluebird says you can connect debit cards to the account:
1. Have you essentially made your gift card a debit card?
2. Can you load Bluebird with the gift card online and not have to visit Wal-Mart?
Thanks!
If you're able to setup a Visa gift card with a pin, and Bluebird says you can connect debit cards to the account:
1. Have you essentially made your gift card a debit card?
2. Can you load Bluebird with the gift card online and not have to visit Wal-Mart?
Thanks!
Apr 21, 2013, 9:54 am
#726
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Around The World
Programs: ALL :)
Posts: 384
Forgive me, I'm new to the Bluebird strategy and I'm trying to understand it.
If you're able to setup a Visa gift card with a pin, and Bluebird says you can connect debit cards to the account:
1. Have you essentially made your gift card a debit card?
2. Can you load Bluebird with the gift card online and not have to visit Wal-Mart?
Thanks!
If you're able to setup a Visa gift card with a pin, and Bluebird says you can connect debit cards to the account:
1. Have you essentially made your gift card a debit card?
2. Can you load Bluebird with the gift card online and not have to visit Wal-Mart?
Thanks!
2. Yes online up to $200
Apr 21, 2013, 10:02 am
#728
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
Actually, it's $100/daily limit plus a $2 FEE. 
In-store, $1,000/daily limit plus NO FEE
https://bluebird.com/faqs#fees-and-limits
In-store, $1,000/daily limit plus NO FEE
https://bluebird.com/faqs#fees-and-limits
Apr 21, 2013, 10:18 am
#729
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Starwood Gold , HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, Aadvantage, Rapid Rewards CP
Posts: 1,586
I bought some Chase cards today, but I didn't see what kind of shipping they use. Anyone? Wish they would let you choose something with tracking or confirmation.
Thanks
Thanks
Apr 21, 2013, 10:20 am
#730
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
Apr 21, 2013, 10:23 am
#731
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Around The World
Programs: ALL :)
Posts: 384
Actually, it's $100/daily limit plus a $2 FEE.
In-store, $1,000/daily limit plus NO FEE
https://bluebird.com/faqs#fees-and-limits
In-store, $1,000/daily limit plus NO FEE
https://bluebird.com/faqs#fees-and-limits
Apr 21, 2013, 10:25 am
#732
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
each of my 11 chase debit cards came in it's own envelope(looked like normal mail)...took about 4-5 business days.
loaded 4 at my neighborhood walmart. (avoid the big stores if you can)
Went to a normal cashier and asked to load 1000 on my bluebird. I then had a bunch of trouble loading, but as soon as she knew I was loading 500 at a time from 2 cards it went fine.
Went to the service desk to load my wifes bluebird with two more and this time I said I had two cards and it went quickly back to back to load 1000.
loaded 4 at my neighborhood walmart. (avoid the big stores if you can)
Went to a normal cashier and asked to load 1000 on my bluebird. I then had a bunch of trouble loading, but as soon as she knew I was loading 500 at a time from 2 cards it went fine.
Went to the service desk to load my wifes bluebird with two more and this time I said I had two cards and it went quickly back to back to load 1000.
Apr 21, 2013, 11:10 am
#733
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: SPG Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 223
Perhaps it's a K.S. policy then, since I've been asked for ID at more than one location. No big deal in any event, apparently. Also, FWIW, I've been told by more than one Safeway clerk & manager that they're "supposed" to check your ID at the register, but often they don't.
Apr 21, 2013, 1:15 pm
#734
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA LT Gold 1MM ,Hyatt Explorist,Marriott Platinum,HHonors Diamond
Posts: 364
In my experience Kroger always checks Driver License info and match it to credit card used to purchase the gift cards and enter the driver license info into the system IF the amount is more than $75 in total gift card purchases...not helpful of course for $500 visa/mc gift cards purchases but good to know for double/triple/quadruple dipping purposes....
Apr 21, 2013, 4:36 pm
#735
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Looks like I need to pick up some Metabank cards. Also, it sounds like US Bank MCs are starting to work. Good to know.