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T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)

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Old Jan 22, 2014, 3:27 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: XP1
Warning: The T-M website contains an apparent Bill Pay function. Attempting to use it to pay credit card bills, or probably any significant $ amount bills of any sort, will get your account frozen. Ditto large scale ATM or MO withdrawals. The one method of unloading likely to keep you under the radar is small scale WM BP. Also likely to get you shut down, according to consensus reports, is running much more than $5K a month thru your account. You ignore this advice at your own risk.

SUMMARY

1. FAQ's
2. Free to use for TMo customers.
3. Issued by Bancorp
4. Load at T-mobile store (Registers are HARD CODED not to accept anything other than cash.)
5. or Reloadit, (find a grocery store that sold reloadit cards with a cc)

List Stores hard coded for cash or Credit Card accepted
T-Mobile (cash only)
Home Depot (cash only, hard coded)
Harris Teeter - Bought with CC on 2/16/14, hard coded denied CC on 5 APR 2014
Winn-Dixie - Hard coded for cash (debit may work, untested) as of Oct-2015
Meijer (Cash/Debit including VGC)
Giant Eagle/GetGo (Cash, Debit including VGC )
Safeways/Vons/Pavilions in California - most only Cash
Food Lion - Manager override now required. Many stores cash or bank debit only, but registers are not hard coded.
Save-A-Lot: Hard coded cash only
BigY: At least some stores have gone cash only as of 1/8
Acme in PA: Hard-coded cash only (Source)

Note on ReloadIt Cards
These come in two main flavors, up to $500, and up to $950 (there are ones that go up to $50, too). Both are $3.95 load fee. The older grey cards, have CASH ONLY on them. Even if the cash register is coded to accept it, many cashiers will be hesitant to even try, or get shut down by manager.
The maximum value reload will be $2,500.00. There is no maximum number of times you may value reload your Card Account per day; however, the maximum dollar amount of value reloads you may make to your Card Account in one day is $2,500.00. We will accept direct deposits larger than $2,500.00, but any direct deposit value reloaded to your Card Account will count against the $2,500.00 daily limit.
Value Reload Fee: Each time you value reload $300.00 or more to your Card Account in a single transaction, you will receive a credit for any fee you paid. If you are a T-Mobile Wireless Customer and value reload your Card Account at a participating T-Mobile Wireless location, you will receive a refund at the register (and will pay no fee for your value reload). If you value reload your Card Account for $300.00 or more via another method, we will issue a credit to your Card Account in the amount of the fee you paid.

In practice, a ReloadIt >= $300 loaded via the safe will receive credit for the fee. However, the terms formally state "Please note: Value reloads made from Reloadit Packs that have been placed in the Program Manager’s Reloadit `Safe' are not eligible for any fee credit." so this is not guaranteed.

The Limits:
Daily limit: $2500 during a rolling 24 hour period
Monthly limit: ?
Annual Limit: ?
Max Bill Pay (per transaction): = $5000 (tested March 6th, can do 'at least' a second for the same amount to the same payee momment later).
Daily ATM limit: $500 (rolling 24 hr rather than calendar day)

Total monthly bill pay limit: ?
The maximum value of your Card Account is restricted to $10,000.00

T-Mobile Prepaid Customer Service Email: [email protected]

If you need to escalate to the FDIC, Bancorp's registered FDIC# is 35444.
If you want to try to open an FDIC complaint or investigation you can send one in electronically at
http://www2.fdic.gov/IDASP/DIRSInfoRequest.asp

Alternative FDIC link to file complaint
https://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp

FAQ
  • My fee did not get refunded. Has there been a policy change? ReloadIt Fees are processed overnight and could take 24 hours after you reload the card. As of 9/2015, ReloadIt cards added to the safe prior to loading on T-Mobile will still get the $3.95 refunded.
  • What is a safe transaction amount? There is no definite safe or unsafe amount. However, starting the last week of Jul 2015, people have been reporting the account frozen after transactions larger than $1K.
  • Can I use the BP Feature? It works well for some people. Many have reported getting shutdown after using it. A few have reported having the payments lost. Like all MS activity, use at your own risk.
  • Should I mix in some regular spending to make it look like this is my primary card? If it makes you feel better, go for it. However people who do this still get shutdown.
  • I can't log in. Did I get shutdown? Possibly. But more likely the website is having technical issues. Call in, o try to make a swipe purchase and test it out.
  • If I pay my taxes with this card, will I get shutdown? Large purchase raise red flags. Taxes are no different and there are reports of people being shut down for doing this.
  • What is a T-Mobile wireless customer? A qualifying T-Mobile wireless customer can be either a postpaid or prepaid customer. Source: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24790705-post3703.html
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T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)

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Old Oct 19, 2014, 10:14 pm
  #2716  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern VA
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott Titanium, National Car Exec Elite
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by cyclotron
I loaded money on this card but when I tried to do Billpay, all my stored Payees have disappeared. Is this a temporary glitch? Anyone else seeing this?
I logged in this morning to do BP and exact same thing.

Hoping it's just a temp glitch.
troydwhite is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 4:21 am
  #2717  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 427
Originally Posted by cyclotron
I loaded money on this card but when I tried to do Billpay, all my stored Payees have disappeared. Is this a temporary glitch? Anyone else seeing this?
This has happened to me before; later in the day the payees reappeared.
bigugly is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 7:57 am
  #2718  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Originally Posted by adminds
Thank you guys for answering my question. Actually I don't have a T-Mobile card (I am using Verizon) hence cannot get fee refunded, and I was trying to buy RoloadIt to feed my AccountNow.

So based on your information, the Safeways/Vons/Pavilions restrictions are: after activation fee <500 CC without manager approval, >=500 require manager approval!
I highly suggest that you reread this thread and determine who gets the fee refund or even the wiki for that much...
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 9:20 am
  #2719  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Originally Posted by cyclotron
I loaded money on this card but when I tried to do Billpay, all my stored Payees have disappeared. Is this a temporary glitch? Anyone else seeing this?
Wait, you aren't using the T-Mobile bill pay are you?

Many data points that doing that will get your account shut down. If you have a WM, use your T-M card to do bp thru WM. Or K-Mart. Just don't do bp thru the T-M site.
Brugge is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 9:25 am
  #2720  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Originally Posted by adminds
the Safeways/Vons/Pavilions restrictions are: after activation fee <500 CC without manager approval, >=500 require manager approval!
Correct, except it's not so much an approval that's required, it's that someone has to get a key from the manager and do an override. That draws attention to your purchase, which increases the likelihood of having it canceled by the manager before it is complete.
Brugge is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 9:26 am
  #2721  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
I can't believe people are still using the T-Mobile BP.
heyeaglefn is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 12:18 pm
  #2722  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 293
Originally Posted by heyeaglefn
I can't believe people are still using the T-Mobile BP.
Been using it for nearly a year now for small utility bills, handy-man expenses and the like. It's the large BPs that get their attention and the CSR told me so at the time of my first hand-slap. Agreed that WM is best opiton for larger payments, but no reason you cannot run some legitimate bills through this one.
BigDawgFT is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 2:21 pm
  #2723  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Originally Posted by BigDawgFT
Been using it for nearly a year now for small utility bills, handy-man expenses and the like. It's the large BPs that get their attention and the CSR told me so at the time of my first hand-slap. Agreed that WM is best opiton for larger payments, but no reason you cannot run some legitimate bills through this one.
Interesting...

It would be nice to have other ways to liquidate funds besides WallyWorld;

How small is small, and how often is not too often? Did the CSR give you a heads up on that?
Brugge is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 2:30 pm
  #2724  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 198
I got it! Thank you so much!!

Originally Posted by cdancer20
I highly suggest that you reread this thread and determine who gets the fee refund or even the wiki for that much...
adminds is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 4:43 pm
  #2725  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: The Empire State
Programs: CO (RIP), US (RIP), Amtrak. Lots of CC programs.
Posts: 442
Originally Posted by cyclotron
I loaded money on this card but when I tried to do Billpay, all my stored Payees have disappeared. Anyone else seeing this?
Yes. Apparently this has happened in the past and it's a glitch on their end.
cuebert is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 5:24 pm
  #2726  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 293
Originally Posted by Brugge
Interesting...

It would be nice to have other ways to liquidate funds besides WallyWorld;

How small is small, and how often is not too often? Did the CSR give you a heads up on that?
Four-figure federal tax payments triggered my review. I was told to stop doing tax payments. Normal utility bills and other expenses of up to $750 have not created any issues so far. I use it to pay stuff for which I cannot otherwise use a credit card.
BigDawgFT is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 6:19 pm
  #2727  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern VA
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott Titanium, National Car Exec Elite
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by BigDawgFT
Been using it for nearly a year now for small utility bills, handy-man expenses and the like. It's the large BPs that get their attention and the CSR told me so at the time of my first hand-slap. Agreed that WM is best opiton for larger payments, but no reason you cannot run some legitimate bills through this one.
I came across a $20k stash of ReLoadIt's, so I've been loading and unloading via BP and ATM withdrawals.

I viewed the ReLoadIt's as an early and perhaps one time Xmas present, so if I get shut down I'm not too concerned.

I never do a BP over $2k, usually between $1,500 and $1,900.

I use other methods at WM for BP, so I don't use TMobile for that.
troydwhite is offline  
Old Oct 21, 2014, 6:46 am
  #2728  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 201
Originally Posted by troydwhite
I came across a $20k stash of ReLoadIt's, so I've been loading and unloading via BP and ATM withdrawals.

I viewed the ReLoadIt's as an early and perhaps one time Xmas present, so if I get shut down I'm not too concerned.

I never do a BP over $2k, usually between $1,500 and $1,900.

I use other methods at WM for BP, so I don't use TMobile for that.
What does that mean? Did they "fall off the back of a truck?"
unkinected is offline  
Old Oct 21, 2014, 6:59 am
  #2729  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA, Southwest
Posts: 175
Originally Posted by troydwhite
I came across a $20k stash of ReLoadIt's, so I've been loading and unloading via BP and ATM withdrawals.

I viewed the ReLoadIt's as an early and perhaps one time Xmas present, so if I get shut down I'm not too concerned.

I never do a BP over $2k, usually between $1,500 and $1,900.

I use other methods at WM for BP, so I don't use TMobile for that.
You are playing with fire continuing to use BP. Why don't you just cash out with MO if the RL are so easy to get.
XtraPerks is offline  
Old Oct 21, 2014, 8:41 am
  #2730  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,363
Originally Posted by BigDawgFT
Four-figure federal tax payments triggered my review. I was told to stop doing tax payments. Normal utility bills and other expenses of up to $750 have not created any issues so far. I use it to pay stuff for which I cannot otherwise use a credit card.
Payments to Chase and Amex trigerred my account suspension. When they lifted it they said they didn't like seeing me pay for my credit card bill as they assumed I bought the reloadit with that very same card. The account rep did tell me that he thought that bill paying my home mortgage would be fine.
ZBigFam is online now  


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