Bluebird Pre-authorized Check Bounced
Apr 7, 2014, 8:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 89
Bluebird Pre-authorized Check Bounced
Yes I wrote the pre-authorization code on it. This was my rent check for my landlord. The bank rejected it with "Unable to Locate Account." So I got hit with $130 in both Insufficient Funds and late fees from my landlord. After talking to a BB supervisor and his manager and then his manager, I have the rent money back but not the $130 in fees. They just say that the check looks fine on their end.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
Apr 7, 2014, 10:09 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, AS, DL, BA, F9, IHG Plat, HH Gold, CC Gold, SPG Gold, MR Silver
Posts: 1,786
Yes I wrote the pre-authorization code on it. This was my rent check for my landlord. The bank rejected it with "Unable to Locate Account." So I got hit with $130 in both Insufficient Funds and late fees from my landlord. After talking to a BB supervisor and his manager and then his manager, I have the rent money back but not the $130 in fees. They just say that the check looks fine on their end.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
Apr 7, 2014, 10:38 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,503
Yes I wrote the pre-authorization code on it. This was my rent check for my landlord. The bank rejected it with "Unable to Locate Account." So I got hit with $130 in both Insufficient Funds and late fees from my landlord. After talking to a BB supervisor and his manager and then his manager, I have the rent money back but not the $130 in fees. They just say that the check looks fine on their end.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
Lets say your rent is $2500 and you write a BB check and preauthorize it like your suppose to but you then give it to your landlord within the hour and then he immediately goes to a bank and then tries to cash the check, the landlord will run into problems since it takes BB some time to reserve the funds....for whatever reason.
From Bluebird website
https://www.bluebird.com/legal#7-bluebird-checks
7. Bluebird Checks
c. Pre-Authorization Required; Pre-Authorization Process
Pre-authorization of Bluebird Checks in amounts of $2,000 or less will generally be provided immediately upon request, assuming sufficient Available Funds in your Bluebird Account. Pre-authorization of Bluebird Checks in amounts greater than $2,000 will generally take two to three business days to process, and may require confirmation of your pre-authorization request over the telephone and your provision of additional information.If we request additional information and you do not provide it within the timeframe requested, the pre-authorization may not be provided. If you need to make a payment greater than $2,000 in a short time-frame, consider using our Pay Bills feature or other means of payment.
c. Pre-Authorization Required; Pre-Authorization Process
Pre-authorization of Bluebird Checks in amounts of $2,000 or less will generally be provided immediately upon request, assuming sufficient Available Funds in your Bluebird Account. Pre-authorization of Bluebird Checks in amounts greater than $2,000 will generally take two to three business days to process, and may require confirmation of your pre-authorization request over the telephone and your provision of additional information.If we request additional information and you do not provide it within the timeframe requested, the pre-authorization may not be provided. If you need to make a payment greater than $2,000 in a short time-frame, consider using our Pay Bills feature or other means of payment.
Apr 8, 2014, 12:40 am
#4
vishnu88
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Chase UR, AAdvantage, Dividend Miles, United MileagePlus
Posts: 100
Yes I wrote the pre-authorization code on it. This was my rent check for my landlord. The bank rejected it with "Unable to Locate Account." So I got hit with $130 in both Insufficient Funds and late fees from my landlord. After talking to a BB supervisor and his manager and then his manager, I have the rent money back but not the $130 in fees. They just say that the check looks fine on their end.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
I have had other problems with BB; now I'm done with them. I hate that they can't be emailed and you have to call them. Does anyone know how I could get them to reimburse me? I wonder if regular AmEx would help.
Apr 8, 2014, 6:10 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
I personally wouldn't send checks with BB to avoid this - I know some people do and have no issues but I'd rather have 0% chance of a problem.
I'd rather do 100% billpay to CC and pay my rent/mortgage the old fashioned way.
I'd rather do 100% billpay to CC and pay my rent/mortgage the old fashioned way.
Last edited by hamhead; Apr 8, 2014 at 6:39 am
Apr 8, 2014, 6:43 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
Just IMO.
Last edited by hamhead; Apr 8, 2014 at 7:01 am
Apr 8, 2014, 7:11 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
I wonder if your landlord tried to do an ACH pull based on the check? Some places will try to convert your check to an ACH pull and that won't work with BB. That might explain the account not found message. I have seen this as a possible explanation for other "rejected" BB checks reported on other forums (which interestingly enough were also rent checks).
Apr 8, 2014, 7:22 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Some people are worried about MS and feel they are safer paying legitimate bills - I think this started with bloggers IMO who probably risk some scrutiny if they endorse true MS (VR -> BB -> CC company ad infinitum). They rely on credit card applications as income and I think CC companies would frown on a blogger who heavily endorsed MS and maybe cut ties. Not to mention people who screw it up and rage in the Comments section.
Just IMO.
Just IMO.
To OP, someone else had a problem very similiar to this a couple of weeks ago. They had some machine that read the checks in. I questioned if the machine actually used the routing numbers and acct number to actually try to do an ACH pull instead of just depositing the check. Most "normal" bank acct checks have no real value until they are cashed so can work either way.
Question if your landlord or his bank tried to use the check in this manner OR if it was an actual cashing of the check.
Apr 8, 2014, 8:29 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
Lets be honest here. These prepaid companies don't care if you pay your mortgage, HOA, utilities, student loans, credit cards, auto loans. They make money when you swipe. Your not going to avoid a shutdown if BB drops the hammer. People have been doing this for over a year with no shutdowns. The problem is when you try to pay people that aren't in their system. Sure they might reimburse you for the fees and what not but what a headache. Your crazy if you think you are staying under the radar because your paying other bills besides credit cards. They clearly don't care at this point and must be making money.
Apr 8, 2014, 9:09 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 286
I've had a similar thing happen when paying my child's daycare tuition with a BB check. Same error about unable to locate account. I believe it was linked to the payment processing system that the provider was using. They do not actually take the checks and deposit them in the bank. Instead, they use an electronic check system where they enter in your routing and bank number, so I think it essentially is simulating an ACH pull which BB does not allow. Fortunately, I was not hit with any fees. Was this your first time paying rent with BB checks?