AAA - no processing fee giftcards
Dec 4, 2013, 8:18 pm
#211
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
guys, my last few AAA Visa GC's are not loading to my BB. I tried two different Wally, both kiosk and cashier. It keeps saying "alternate tender required". I used my BOA debit card right after to load BB and it went through. I loaded 10 giftcards already last month without any problems but have gotten the "ban" since attempting to purchase more. I have a feeling my cards have been frozen. When i login to the myprepaidbalance.com website though, it shows the full balance of each card. i was thinking of trying to load it on AP. Apart from that, it seems like i need to call Metabank. Can anyone offer any suggestions? How do i know if my cards have been frozen?
Dec 4, 2013, 10:00 pm
#212
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 222
I will try a small purchase. I forgot to mention I did call the 866 number and everytime I put in the card numbers it keeps saying "i had trouble getting your card number". The little piece of paper that the machine spits out after reads "Debit not available APPR. CODE = 04".
Last edited by Tofe; Dec 5, 2013 at 9:45 am
Dec 5, 2013, 8:06 am
#213
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat...basically all the status you can get for free...
Posts: 66
More datapoints from NW suburban ORD purchases:
11/21 - $1k purchase on a Delta Amex coded as purchase
12/3 - $4k purchase on Barclay (Miles & More) coded as a purchase
Hoping I won't find out on my next visit that I've been shut down like others, but I certainly can't complain...$5k of fee-free GCs to meet minimum spend is pretty nice.
11/21 - $1k purchase on a Delta Amex coded as purchase
12/3 - $4k purchase on Barclay (Miles & More) coded as a purchase
Hoping I won't find out on my next visit that I've been shut down like others, but I certainly can't complain...$5k of fee-free GCs to meet minimum spend is pretty nice.
Dec 5, 2013, 11:41 am
#214
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
I will try a small purchase. I forgot to mention I did call the 866 number and everytime I put in the card numbers it keeps saying "i had trouble getting your card number". The little piece of paper that the machine spits out after reads "Debit not available APPR. CODE = 04".
Dec 5, 2013, 12:09 pm
#215
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 222
Thanks Gator. Yes, confirmed. My account has been frozen and am getting a check in the mail. Anyways, my advice to people not frozen as yet is to spread the GC loads to BB over a longer time period. I believe my rush to load BB triggered their action.
Dec 6, 2013, 2:33 pm
#216
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: SPG, HHonors, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 36
AAA Clerk denied my $1000 gift card purchase today citing fraudulent activity. This was my 4th visit to AAA in four weeks where I've purchased a total of $3000 in GCs previously.
The lady first said you realize this will come up as a Cash Advance on your credit card, to which I said proceed. She then asked why I was buying them. She went on to ask why I buy them at different AAA locations (I've bought them at a total of 2 locations). She then went on to say she won't sell it to me at all because of red flags showing a pattern of fraudulent activity (I guess buying $3000 with of GCs during the holiday season over a four week period...) She said it is out of her hands, company policy, but make a point that scammers purchase GCs with credit cards then report their credit card stolen.
Didn't like the vibe at all
The lady first said you realize this will come up as a Cash Advance on your credit card, to which I said proceed. She then asked why I was buying them. She went on to ask why I buy them at different AAA locations (I've bought them at a total of 2 locations). She then went on to say she won't sell it to me at all because of red flags showing a pattern of fraudulent activity (I guess buying $3000 with of GCs during the holiday season over a four week period...) She said it is out of her hands, company policy, but make a point that scammers purchase GCs with credit cards then report their credit card stolen.
Didn't like the vibe at all
Dec 6, 2013, 8:13 pm
#217
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New England
Programs: DL PM, HH Gold, the rest come and go
Posts: 313
Any data points from MSN? There next weekend and would love to pick up more.
LIH or PDX?
Dec 10, 2013, 11:23 am
#218
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Michigan
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 503
Purchased $3k last night at my local AAA office after calling in and having them verify (they made 3 separate phone calls while I waited) that I didn't have to be a member. Not sure who they called that cleared it, but they were assured it was for non-members as well, and my visit only took ~10 minutes to walk out of there with $3k spread out over 3 different CCs from my recent AOR.
Dec 10, 2013, 12:45 pm
#219
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 30
In a way getting a check in a reasonable period of time is a good deal - no Walmart time required. Metabank's reasons behind it are stupid and illogical (what is their supposed purpose of the cards???), but an easy cash out. Glad you can afford the float! Please update us on the check receipt timing.
A profitable GC probably holds it's balance for a week or more (the float) and the user probably uses it multiple times as credit (interchange).
Dec 10, 2013, 1:37 pm
#220
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
The issue is that Metabank wants to make a profit. They make their money several ways but the two biggest are float and interchange fees. When you buy the GC and cash it out all at once as a debit card they probably lose money.
A profitable GC probably holds it's balance for a week or more (the float) and the user probably uses it multiple times as credit (interchange).
A profitable GC probably holds it's balance for a week or more (the float) and the user probably uses it multiple times as credit (interchange).
Dec 11, 2013, 1:15 pm
#221
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), AA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Plat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat.
Posts: 655
I have a couple left which I just found out were frozen.
Dec 11, 2013, 1:38 pm
#222
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), AA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Plat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat.
Posts: 655
checks will be in the mail
called Meta Bank (number given by AAA), and confirmed that my remaining cards were frozen. This has been for at least 3 weeks. And there has been no notification of any kind, email/paper mail/phone. I did not know until i tried to use one card today. If I did not call today, they would just keep sitting on my money. What a bunch of d*bags!
Dec 11, 2013, 6:00 pm
#223
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
I got my checks today for the frozen gift cards, so despite finding it untoward that Metabank would freeze the cards solely based on "discretion" when I didn't violate any policies, I do give them credit for turning the check around promptly.
Dec 11, 2013, 6:05 pm
#224
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), AA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Plat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat.
Posts: 655
Good news. Any risk in their clawing back the miles/points/cashback?
Dec 11, 2013, 6:59 pm
#225
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 222
Yes, I was sitting on my remaining cards for a few weeks then only found out they were frozen after attempting to load BB.