May 27, 2015, 12:00 am
Last edit by: iflyjetz
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 discussion. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread.
For information on switching from BB to Serve, see the Serve thread wiki.
Bluebird Load Limits:
The cash load limit for a temp card is $1,500 total.
*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.
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 discussion. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread.
For information on switching from BB to Serve, see the Serve thread wiki.
Bluebird Load Limits:
- Cash loading via VR or WM load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
- Cash loading up to $1999.99/day at Walmart registers (tested by PedroNY in Post #525 and showed to not be enforced. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1501215-bluebird-prepaid-debit-now-fdic-insurance-paper-checks-2015-a-35.html#post25611848 )
- 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
The cash load limit for a temp card is $1,500 total.
*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.
Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2015)
Jan 6, 2015, 12:49 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
So he should have lied even though she noticed it? Acting suspiciously is the fastest way to be treated with suspicion.
Jan 6, 2015, 1:02 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
She didnt ask him what he had, so there was nothing to lie about, just commented that thats what other people are using. He didnt have to respond to it at all, or couldve made a comment like oh, thats cool.
Jan 6, 2015, 1:08 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 224
Is the process similar to buying a money order? Or is there a different sequence that the cashier has to do?
Jan 6, 2015, 1:11 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
She wouldn't have made the comment about the gift cards if she hadn't seen his. He found a cashier willing to do multiple transaction tenders for him with his gift cards and you're trying to tell him to be stand offish with her.
It's terrible advice and you should be admonished for giving it. He should do exactly what he did and seek her out like he said from now on because she will help him no questions asked. It's the perfect cashier.
Jan 6, 2015, 8:09 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
Noticed what ?
Keeping your mouth shut is not "acting suspiciously".
Read it again:
She mentioned she has seen people loading with Visa Gift cards and I told her that's what I have
Nope.
Merely advised not to admit to using GCs.
You must not have done your research.
Acting suspiciously is the fastest way to be treated with suspicion.
She wouldn't have made the comment about the gift cards if she hadn't seen his.
She mentioned she has seen people loading with Visa Gift cards and I told her that's what I have
He found a cashier willing to do multiple transaction tenders for him with his gift cards and you're trying to tell him to be stand offish with her.
Merely advised not to admit to using GCs.
It's terrible advice and you should be admonished for giving it.
Jan 6, 2015, 9:43 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
It's unbelievable how many people here have no interpersonal social skills. His cashier was friendly so he was friendly in return. There was no reason for him to act out of the ordinary or "keep his mouth shut" and not be friendly and personable with her. She knew exactly what was going on and she was being courteous. Be courteous in response by not acting aloof.
Some of you think you're part of the illuminati just because you know how to liquidate a gift card. Don't forget to pay your dues to the masons this year.
Look up social engineering. It's funny what people who like you will do for you and what kind of information you can get out of them. Stop pretending you're johnny on the playground who has a secret to taunt people with.
By the way, "keeping your mouth shut" when someone is making conversation with you certainly is acting suspiciously. It's a little crazy you even pretend to think otherwise.
Last edited by Ritley572; Jan 6, 2015 at 9:51 pm
Jan 7, 2015, 12:00 am
#22
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
By the way, "keeping your mouth shut" when someone is making conversation with you certainly is acting suspiciously.
Again, exactly WHO stated you should remain completely mute ? What, you can't have a friendly pleasant conversation with a cashier without spillin' the beans that you're attempting to do what many WMs have BANNED ?
It's a little crazy you even pretend to think otherwise.
Here's a tip
Jan 7, 2015, 5:54 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
Exactly WHO stated you should not be friendly ? What the hell does that have to do with runnin' your mouth about GCs ???
Keep your mouth shut ABOUT THE GCs. That's all.
Again, exactly WHO stated you should remain completely mute ? What, you can't have a friendly pleasant conversation with a cashier without spillin' the beans that you're attempting to do what many WMs have BANNED ?
I have better things to do than play "pretend" with the uninformed.
Here's a tip: Do your research, instead of pontificating on matters you don't understand.
Keep your mouth shut ABOUT THE GCs. That's all.
Again, exactly WHO stated you should remain completely mute ? What, you can't have a friendly pleasant conversation with a cashier without spillin' the beans that you're attempting to do what many WMs have BANNED ?
I have better things to do than play "pretend" with the uninformed.
Here's a tip: Do your research, instead of pontificating on matters you don't understand.
Jan 7, 2015, 6:44 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Exactly WHO stated you should not be friendly ? What the hell does that have to do with runnin' your mouth about GCs ???
Keep your mouth shut ABOUT THE GCs. That's all.
Again, exactly WHO stated you should remain completely mute ? What, you can't have a friendly pleasant conversation with a cashier without spillin' the beans that you're attempting to do what many WMs have BANNED ?
I have better things to do than play "pretend" with the uninformed.
Here's a tip: Do your research, instead of pontificating on matters you don't understand.
Keep your mouth shut ABOUT THE GCs. That's all.
Again, exactly WHO stated you should remain completely mute ? What, you can't have a friendly pleasant conversation with a cashier without spillin' the beans that you're attempting to do what many WMs have BANNED ?
I have better things to do than play "pretend" with the uninformed.
Here's a tip: Do your research, instead of pontificating on matters you don't understand.
Moral of the story is there are plenty of ways to act friendly and not suspicious while still not outright admitting you are using giftcards, unless you are asked directly and pointed questions, and even then, if you know anything about social interactions you should still do just fine.
Jan 7, 2015, 7:35 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Apparently people miss one of the top rules of MS. Never admit that you are using a GC! Even if the cashier mentions it, you can acknowledge it. If you are asked directly, just say no. Believe me I have been asked many times with the cashier freaking out when she thought it was a gift card. I just politely respond "No. It's a debit card." Swipe, put in my pin, and move on. You don't have to tell the cashier that you are using a GC. If they say, they need to swipe it on their side, don't hand them the card. Insist that you always do it from your side and would like to do that. Even if they seem cool with it. Eventually someone else will notice or find out and that's how store bans happen.
Jan 8, 2015, 7:30 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
+1
And even if a curious supervisor stops by to "instruct" the cashier, telling you the transaction isn't working because you're trying to use a GC (hadn't shown it to her and still kept referring to it as a debit card) --- just walk away and come back after her shift ends. That was my one and only failure in 4 years and that Walmart is still working well for me.
And even if a curious supervisor stops by to "instruct" the cashier, telling you the transaction isn't working because you're trying to use a GC (hadn't shown it to her and still kept referring to it as a debit card) --- just walk away and come back after her shift ends. That was my one and only failure in 4 years and that Walmart is still working well for me.
Jan 8, 2015, 3:31 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Gulf Coast of FL
Posts: 115
I broke in a fresh new WM cashier today. It's actually easier when they don't know what they're doing sometimes. Ha!
Jan 8, 2015, 3:51 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Southwest A-list & Companion Pass, Enterprise, Hilton, Wyndham, etc
Posts: 225
I've had a cashier give me a hard time about Visa debit cards. I must have used her a dozen times, and it's always, "You don't have a PIN," "these won't work," or, "these have been stopped," etc. I don't know how she knows; I don't show her the cards - always on my side of the counter. Maybe she has X-ray eyes.
Every time I tell her to try, and, sure enough, the transaction goes through no problem. You would think she'd learn.
But the last time I saw her, I somehow got confused between the pin codes for the two cards I was loading. Reading one and swiping the other - really stupid. Boy, was she happy to see that "Tender not allowed" pop up.
Some human beings are just constructed to enjoy giving people trouble and seeing others having problems. What on Earth is it to her whether or not I load stuff on my Bluebird? It's a kind of voyeuristic sadism. I just don't get it.
After I realized what I'd done (what a scare) I went back a few minutes later, and, miracle of miracles, Kate was working, and I just loaded the cards.
No problems since, but I haven't got her again. It will be nice to disappoint her. "Oh, it's working; I just entered the wrong pin last time." Nothing like the truth.
Every time I tell her to try, and, sure enough, the transaction goes through no problem. You would think she'd learn.
But the last time I saw her, I somehow got confused between the pin codes for the two cards I was loading. Reading one and swiping the other - really stupid. Boy, was she happy to see that "Tender not allowed" pop up.
Some human beings are just constructed to enjoy giving people trouble and seeing others having problems. What on Earth is it to her whether or not I load stuff on my Bluebird? It's a kind of voyeuristic sadism. I just don't get it.
After I realized what I'd done (what a scare) I went back a few minutes later, and, miracle of miracles, Kate was working, and I just loaded the cards.
No problems since, but I haven't got her again. It will be nice to disappoint her. "Oh, it's working; I just entered the wrong pin last time." Nothing like the truth.
Jan 8, 2015, 5:39 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 32
VGC to BB @ Wally checkout today posted as "American Express Serve reload" as opposed to "bluebird POS."
Anyone else have this happen?
Anyone else have this happen?