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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 Jan 27, 2015, 6:03 pm
  #3181  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 25
Sorry if this has already been covered... Couldn't find it...

Can "Square Cash" be used to liquidate the TM card? I know that "prepaid cards" aren't aceepted as debit cards according to Square but I also know some people have had success with certain gift cards or prepaid cards. Has anyone tried the T-Mobile card? Otherwise, I plan on using ATM.
taterman is offline  
Old Jan 27, 2015, 10:18 pm
  #3182  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,506
Originally Posted by taterman
Sorry if this has already been covered... Couldn't find it...

Can "Square Cash" be used to liquidate the TM card? I know that "prepaid cards" aren't aceepted as debit cards according to Square but I also know some people have had success with certain gift cards or prepaid cards. Has anyone tried the T-Mobile card? Otherwise, I plan on using ATM.
Good luck with liquidating the card. Some ppl have been shut down by square rather quickly as in less than $2k. Also the tmobile risk dept would flag u so fast for liquidating in large amounts that u wont get far.
ericdabbs is online now  
Old Jan 27, 2015, 10:29 pm
  #3183  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Very weird thing just happened tried to load 2 950s that were purchased a few weeks ago and both wouldnt load. 2 different amounts, the automated response said I entered the wrong info.

update; seems CS thinks that card has a hold on it, dont have that card on hand,traveling. It will be the 2nd time, loads have been minimal and no WMing. Small amount left on it at present, might just put that card to sleep

Last edited by craz; Jan 28, 2015 at 1:52 pm
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Old Jan 27, 2015, 11:50 pm
  #3184  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Left Coast
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM, HH Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold (UA comp)
Posts: 1,353
Trouble Activating 2nd Card

So I received my 2nd permanent card and tried to register it online. Once I get to the final step, it says:

"The card you entered has already been registered. Please login to view your card account information."

I tried again and same response. I called the 866# and got the correct balance on this new card, and the 1st card has the correct balance on it (online), so I did not get a replacement card by accident.

I do not want to call and alert TMo that I have 2 cards, but it looks like the system already knows me with the demographic info that I punched in when I was trying to activate the new card. Kinda' strange in any case.

I would like to have 2 TMo cards to load every month and want to have separate online access for each card or at least access both cards with one login. Right now I can only get balances on the 2nd card by phone and online I can only access the 1st card. Any input appreciated.
weezl is offline  
Old Jan 28, 2015, 8:58 am
  #3185  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,506
Originally Posted by weezl
So I received my 2nd permanent card and tried to register it online. Once I get to the final step, it says:

"The card you entered has already been registered. Please login to view your card account information."

I tried again and same response. I called the 866# and got the correct balance on this new card, and the 1st card has the correct balance on it (online), so I did not get a replacement card by accident.

I do not want to call and alert TMo that I have 2 cards, but it looks like the system already knows me with the demographic info that I punched in when I was trying to activate the new card. Kinda' strange in any case.

I would like to have 2 TMo cards to load every month and want to have separate online access for each card or at least access both cards with one login. Right now I can only get balances on the 2nd card by phone and online I can only access the 1st card. Any input appreciated.
What is wrong with letting TMo know about your 2nd card? Its in the T&Cs that you can have a 2nd Tmo card. You somehow think you are the only one that ninjaed your way through a 2nd card without them knowing. Just call them and let them know of the problem. You do know that if you do get blocked on 1 card that they will block the 2nd card as well since they are both registered under your SSN.
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Old Jan 28, 2015, 9:21 am
  #3186  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Left Coast
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM, HH Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold (UA comp)
Posts: 1,353
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
What is wrong with letting TMo know about your 2nd card? Its in the T&Cs that you can have a 2nd Tmo card. You somehow think you are the only one that ninjaed your way through a 2nd card without them knowing. Just call them and let them know of the problem. You do know that if you do get blocked on 1 card that they will block the 2nd card as well since they are both registered under your SSN.
I have no idea how many folks do this. The cryptic reference to advantages of the 2nd card were tough to DEcrypt. That's fine, I will call them. So the big question is, if I MS $4K/mo per card = $8K/mo per SSN, will I be more likely to be shut down than with one card at $4K/card, all other things being equal? In other words, what is the real (or at least perceived) advantage of a 2nd card?
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Old Jan 28, 2015, 10:21 am
  #3187  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 427
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
You do know that if you do get blocked on 1 card that they will block the 2nd card as well since they are both registered under your SSN.
Has this been happening in practice? I don't recall seeing any reports other than (maybe by my incorrect inference) people getting multiple card shut independently.
bigugly is offline  
Old Jan 28, 2015, 10:28 am
  #3188  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,506
Originally Posted by bigugly
Has this been happening in practice? I don't recall seeing any reports other than (maybe by my incorrect inference) people getting multiple card shut independently.
Can't find all references for this. Note that these references were from June 2014. I doubt highly that things have changed to be more favorable. I just remember I was using this card and following this thread around the time all the shutdowns started in Mar 2014

Post #1872
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22960176-post1872.html

Post #1879
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22960849-post1879.html
ericdabbs is online now  
Old Jan 30, 2015, 10:39 am
  #3189  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 145
does anybody know what happens to your money when you're being shutting down ? what's the process like ? and are you still be able liquidate your cash while you'r account is limited?
Furyleader is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2015, 11:54 am
  #3190  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,506
Originally Posted by Furyleader
does anybody know what happens to your money when you're being shutting down ? what's the process like ? and are you still be able liquidate your cash while you'r account is limited?
When you are shut down permanently and you have a balance in your account they will send you a check. I am not shut down so I don't know how long the process takes but I think I read like 2 weeks. When they shut you down you won't be able to liquidate any of your funds in your account.
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Old Jan 30, 2015, 1:03 pm
  #3191  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 145
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
When you are shut down permanently and you have a balance in your account they will send you a check. I am not shut down so I don't know how long the process takes but I think I read like 2 weeks. When they shut you down you won't be able to liquidate any of your funds in your account.
thanks, that's not too bad considering paypal will hold your fund for 180 days..
Furyleader is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2015, 1:51 pm
  #3192  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,363
Originally Posted by Furyleader
thanks, that's not too bad considering paypal will hold your fund for 180 days..
It takes 20 business days for you to get your money back...I'm still waiting for mine. I should get mine back next week.
ZBigFam is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2015, 2:05 pm
  #3193  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 145
Originally Posted by ZBigFam
It takes 20 business days for you to get your money back...I'm still waiting for mine. I should get mine back next week.
any actitives why yours was shutted down ? is this product something we hit hard and dump ?
Furyleader is offline  
Old Feb 1, 2015, 2:56 pm
  #3194  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 93
T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)

Late to this party. I'm maxing out my Serve capacity with RLs so I looked to this card. My phone was originally with TMob but I switched to a different carrier. However I transferred the phone # so the # still looks like it is a TMob line. Will they assume I am a customer since I have one of their exchanges in my number? Hoping for a break on the fees.
taildragger is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2015, 7:17 am
  #3195  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
Originally Posted by taildragger
Late to this party. I'm maxing out my Serve capacity with RLs so I looked to this card. My phone was originally with TMob but I switched to a different carrier. However I transferred the phone # so the # still looks like it is a TMob line. Will they assume I am a customer since I have one of their exchanges in my number? Hoping for a break on the fees.
There are no fees for this card (even if you aren't a Tmo customer) as long as you

1) Load via RLs that have a value > $300
2) Load more than $500/mo

You should be maximizing these cards first (consensus about safe loading is about $5k/month) before you use RLs to load to Serve because TMo (or rather Blackhawk) refunds the purchase price of the RL packs when you follow step 1 outlined above.
Ritley572 is offline  


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