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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 Apr 16, 2015, 10:03 pm
  #3586  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: TX
Posts: 756
Originally Posted by BoeingOrNotGoing
Well to my surprise got a check in the mail from bancorp for the balance and I didn't send them anything, I guess BHN was just having fun with me.
What was your turnaround time? I've been waiting for more than a month and have already filled out the FDIC form.
subdawg is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2015, 11:43 am
  #3587  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: AS, UA, IHG, HH,
Posts: 171
Originally Posted by subdawg
What was your turnaround time? I've been waiting for more than a month and have already filled out the FDIC form.
3-4 weeks, I didn't fill any fdic forms out and I pretty much cut my losses on this. Just haven't had time lately to deal with this and I never trusted this "bank" to hold any significant amount of my $.
BoeingOrNotGoing is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2015, 12:35 pm
  #3588  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 108
So I loaded my t-mobile card with Reloadit after about 8 months. I was unable to make bill payment (it said Invalid Info even though everything was right). I called them and they said the risk department has placed a block on my card. Then they connected me to the risk department and the person asked me why I was paying credit card bills. He said that's not the use of this card. Also, he asked me to send a scanned copy of the Reloadit pack along with the receipt of purchase of the pack. Thank God I had retained both of them.

Just a precautionary note to everyone here to save your receipts and reloadit packs.
FTaddict is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2015, 4:31 pm
  #3589  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Originally Posted by FTaddict
So I loaded my t-mobile card with Reloadit after about 8 months. I was unable to make bill payment (it said Invalid Info even though everything was right). I called them and they said the risk department has placed a block on my card. Then they connected me to the risk department and the person asked me why I was paying credit card bills. He said that's not the use of this card. Also, he asked me to send a scanned copy of the Reloadit pack along with the receipt of purchase of the pack. Thank God I had retained both of them.

Just a precautionary note to everyone here to save your receipts and reloadit packs.
Yikes. Scary...

Who knew they didn't want you to use their BP for ccs?

If you hadn't been so smart to save those receipts and packs, you would never ever have gotten your money back.

I had no idea. Thanks so much for the warning.
Brugge is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2015, 5:48 pm
  #3590  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, DL, Hyatt, Hilton
Posts: 127
Originally Posted by Brugge
Yikes. Scary...

Who knew they didn't want you to use their BP for ccs?

If you hadn't been so smart to save those receipts and packs, you would never ever have gotten your money back.

I had no idea. Thanks so much for the warning.
Thx for the tip. Sticking to ACH pulls.
46sky is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2015, 6:17 pm
  #3591  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Originally Posted by Brugge
Yikes. Scary...

Who knew they didn't want you to use their BP for ccs?

If you hadn't been so smart to save those receipts and packs, you would never ever have gotten your money back.

I had no idea. Thanks so much for the warning.
Sorry, my over the top sarcasm is probably unwarranted. I checked the wiki, and guess what? Not a word about this. Apparently no one has updated the wiki in the past 5 or 10 years.

Yes, if the OP had read a ways back thru the thread, this would have been avoided. But when the wiki doesn't mention one of the prime things to know.

Argh.. I didn't really want to take responsibility for updating the wiki. But since on one else seems willing to do it.....
Brugge is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2015, 8:34 pm
  #3592  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 721
Do you mix up your BP stores?

To me that's the biggest advantage to boycotting the website BP, there's only one URL that works but you got multiple stores to choose from: Wm, Kmart, etc
zceuxbhjutf is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2015, 9:50 pm
  #3593  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
Originally Posted by 46sky
Thx for the tip. Sticking to ACH pulls.
Sorry I am new to the product, but is it confirmed that T-Mobile accepts ACH pull?

I know Amex Serve/Bluebird does not accept ACH pull. I am under the impression that prepaid products never allow ACH pull...
cloudybw is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2015, 10:28 am
  #3594  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 293
Originally Posted by cloudybw
Sorry I am new to the product, but is it confirmed that T-Mobile accepts ACH pull?

I know Amex Serve/Bluebird does not accept ACH pull. I am under the impression that prepaid products never allow ACH pull...
TM has rejected each ACH that I've tried.
BigDawgFT is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2015, 2:30 pm
  #3595  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 207
So is it confirmed that reloading using the reloadit safe will not give the $3.95 fee credit anymore?
cyclotron is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2015, 2:58 pm
  #3596  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 122
Originally Posted by cyclotron
So is it confirmed that reloading using the reloadit safe will not give the $3.95 fee credit anymore?
You will get the $3.95 credit.
redarmy is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2015, 6:31 pm
  #3597  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Originally Posted by cyclotron
So is it confirmed that reloading using the reloadit safe will not give the $3.95 fee credit anymore?
It is confirmed, over and over, that you WILL get the credit.

It seems T-M didn't have any sinister reason to require using the Safe. All they are doing is trying to reduce fraud in the system. They are hoping by requiring use of the Safe, and having a waiting period of several hours after purchase to transfer funds to a T-M account, they can reduce fraud. Not sure if that will actually help, but it seems that's all they are up to here.
Brugge is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2015, 3:16 pm
  #3598  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
Has anyone had any success paying Sallie Mae student loans with Reloadit's BP service? I am trying to, but it will not accept my date of birth (maybe incorrect format?).
commdiver is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2015, 5:35 pm
  #3599  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
Could someone please update the wiki to reflect the new developments (including but not limited to the requirement to use the safe for the Reloadit packs, hard coded against credit card when buying packs at Save-A-Lot, and value reload fees being refunded for safe loads). I honestly would do it myself, but I don't yet have enough posts.

Also, does anyone know how long it takes for the Reloadit site to verify a T-Mobile card?
Phantom707 is offline  
Old Apr 23, 2015, 2:38 pm
  #3600  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 62
Thumbs up

Originally Posted by Brugge
Argh.. I didn't really want to take responsibility for updating the wiki. But since on one else seems willing to do it.....
As always, Brugge to the rescue!!^
ashegam is offline  


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