Jan 10, 2015, 8:55 pm
Last edit by: ericdabbs
The previous megathread is here.
Read the wiki before posting a question.
It's a literacy test that's easy to pass.
As of April 16, 2015 regular Serve cards will only accept American Express network cards for online credit card loads.
Softcard Serve accounts are apparently grandfathered in the old system and continue to work as before, being able to load Mastercard, Visa, and Discover (see below).
Serve loads count towards minimum spend on AmEx-issued cards, including SPG.
This is the Serve thread. Post questions or information concerning other topics in the appropriate threads elsewhere in this forum.
For additional information on using prepaid debit cards, see PIN available now for Visa/MC prepaid debit cards.
You cannot make an ACH pull from Serve. The direct deposit account and routing numbers are for deposits only.
https://www.serve.com/#/add-cash
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Loads at 7-11 and CVS are cash only. Debit cards are NOT allowed.
Loads at Walmart have been confirmed with debit cards. Self checkout does not work for loading Serve. Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of prepaid debit cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked, then discreetly use your prepaid card when asked to swipe. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC (Walmart Money Center) again to load.
Debit loading at Family Dollar appears to be limited to $500 per day per store total (not per person or per account). Whoever gets there first gets the load for the day. Troubleshooting loading problems at FD
Regular Serve
You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $7k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.
Softcard Serve
Softcard has shutdown and there is no longer any way to apply for this version.
You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $8k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.
Temp Serve
You can only load a maximum of $500/day, $1000/month on a temporary card. Once you get your permanent card, then you can load more. The initial $500 when you purchase the temp card doesn't count against the $5,000/month load limit.
OneVip Card: (Mucho gracias, AndrewTheMan)
This card is essentially just like the regular, fee-free, "old" serve. You may reload this card up to $2,500/day; $1,000/transaction at Walmart (not impacted by Blue Bird daily limit change). Have not tested FD or anywhere else. KATE takes this no problems..
You can use this to load the FIDO AMEX up to 1k a month.
Limits for online debit card and credit card loads reset at 9 PM PST/12 AM EST
Online Credit Card Loads
Only one card can be linked at a time.
For online CC/DC loads, the name on the Serve account is supposed to match the name of the primary or joint cardholder. So using someone else's CC/DB card to load a Serve account is not allowed.
A few report no problems loading with an AU card in the Serve account holder's name. Increase your chances by making sure the AUs social security number is on file with the Credit Card.
When adding a new card you will usually need to call Serve Account security (1-800-555-4318) for verification of the new card on the second load try. This verification usually requires uploading of a photo of your ID and the credit card. You may pre-emptively avoid the error by going to the above website, logging in, and uploading a scan of a photo ID and the card you are trying to add. You may call back to expedite approval. One person with a Serve/Softcard account reported being sent to the main Serve number for this process.
https://www.serve.com/help/#add-money-5
Regular Serve Credit Card Loading
Regular Serve can only load from American Express network cards. In addition to those issued directly by American Express, this includes the following:
Softcard Serve Credit Card Loading
If you are fortunate enough to be grandfathered into a Softcard Serve Account, you can also load other credit cards beside American Express cards. Softcard Serve is not available to new applicants anymore so you'll need to get one of the other Serve options if you don't already have one. In general, Mastercard and American Express cards post as purchases. Visa cards transact as a cash advance and, therefore, require available CA limit; although most cards post as a purchase.
Treated as purchase, earns cashback/points/miles:
Treated as purchase, but doesn't earn points/miles:
Posts as a cash advance:
The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card and has no cash advance ability.
A few report being unable to add the Chase IHG MC.
Online Debit Card Loads
For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. While initial transactions may work, your account will eventually be flagged.
Switching to Serve
Helpful instruction post, latest. Thanks raeneye.
Also see this thread: Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
Switching from BB to Serve
Switching from Redbird is presumably similar. See the RedCard thread for more information.
The number to call to approve your registration after closing Bluebird: Serve Account security 1-800-555-4318
Loading with debit card at Walmart register
Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.
Training a WM cashier:
Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered.
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.
Using Serve
For online bill pay
For bank transfers
Under Settings --> Funding & Transfers --> Bank & Cards --> U.S. Bank Account, you can add your bank info and transfer funds from your Serve card directly to your bank. The bank account must be verified, either by the standard "deposit 2 small sums into your account, such as $0.23 & $0.42" method, or doing an "instant verification" by actually logging into your bank account while still logged into Serve.
===
People with an apartment address can find helpful information quoted in post #7
Read the wiki before posting a question.
It's a literacy test that's easy to pass.
As of April 16, 2015 regular Serve cards will only accept American Express network cards for online credit card loads.
Softcard Serve accounts are apparently grandfathered in the old system and continue to work as before, being able to load Mastercard, Visa, and Discover (see below).
Serve loads count towards minimum spend on AmEx-issued cards, including SPG.
This is the Serve thread. Post questions or information concerning other topics in the appropriate threads elsewhere in this forum.
For additional information on using prepaid debit cards, see PIN available now for Visa/MC prepaid debit cards.
You cannot make an ACH pull from Serve. The direct deposit account and routing numbers are for deposits only.
https://www.serve.com/#/add-cash
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Loads at 7-11 and CVS are cash only. Debit cards are NOT allowed.
Loads at Walmart have been confirmed with debit cards. Self checkout does not work for loading Serve. Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of prepaid debit cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked, then discreetly use your prepaid card when asked to swipe. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC (Walmart Money Center) again to load.
Debit loading at Family Dollar appears to be limited to $500 per day per store total (not per person or per account). Whoever gets there first gets the load for the day. Troubleshooting loading problems at FD
Regular Serve
- Serve loading via VR/MP or WM/FD load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
- Online Debit Card Load - $200/day and $1,000/month [B]
- Online Credit Card Load (AmEx only) - $200/day and $1,000/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $7k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.
Softcard Serve
Softcard has shutdown and there is no longer any way to apply for this version.
- Serve loading via VR/MP or WM/FD load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
- Online Debit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
- Online Credit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $8k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.
Temp Serve
You can only load a maximum of $500/day, $1000/month on a temporary card. Once you get your permanent card, then you can load more. The initial $500 when you purchase the temp card doesn't count against the $5,000/month load limit.
OneVip Card: (Mucho gracias, AndrewTheMan)
This card is essentially just like the regular, fee-free, "old" serve. You may reload this card up to $2,500/day; $1,000/transaction at Walmart (not impacted by Blue Bird daily limit change). Have not tested FD or anywhere else. KATE takes this no problems..
You can use this to load the FIDO AMEX up to 1k a month.
Limits for online debit card and credit card loads reset at 9 PM PST/12 AM EST
Online Credit Card Loads
Only one card can be linked at a time.
For online CC/DC loads, the name on the Serve account is supposed to match the name of the primary or joint cardholder. So using someone else's CC/DB card to load a Serve account is not allowed.
A few report no problems loading with an AU card in the Serve account holder's name. Increase your chances by making sure the AUs social security number is on file with the Credit Card.
When adding a new card you will usually need to call Serve Account security (1-800-555-4318) for verification of the new card on the second load try. This verification usually requires uploading of a photo of your ID and the credit card. You may pre-emptively avoid the error by going to the above website, logging in, and uploading a scan of a photo ID and the card you are trying to add. You may call back to expedite approval. One person with a Serve/Softcard account reported being sent to the main Serve number for this process.
https://www.serve.com/help/#add-money-5
Regular Serve Credit Card Loading
Regular Serve can only load from American Express network cards. In addition to those issued directly by American Express, this includes the following:
- AAA Rewards AmEx
- Alitalia AmEx
- Bank of America Accelerated Rewards AmEx
- Bank of America Asiana Airlines AmEx
- Bank of Hawaii AmEx Card with MyBankoh Rewards
- Bloomingdale's AmEx
- Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select AmEx
- Citi Dividend AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
- Citi Thank You Preferred AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
- Dillard's AmEx
- FNBO AmEx
- FNBO Graphite AmEx
- FNBO Platinum AmEx
- Macy's AmEx
- Penfed Premium Travel Rewards AmEx
- SavingStar AmEx
- Travelocity AmEx
- US Bank Flexperks AmEx
- USAA Cash Rewards/Rewards Plus AmEx
- Wells Fargo Propel World/365 AmEx
Softcard Serve Credit Card Loading
If you are fortunate enough to be grandfathered into a Softcard Serve Account, you can also load other credit cards beside American Express cards. Softcard Serve is not available to new applicants anymore so you'll need to get one of the other Serve options if you don't already have one. In general, Mastercard and American Express cards post as purchases. Visa cards transact as a cash advance and, therefore, require available CA limit; although most cards post as a purchase.
Treated as purchase, earns cashback/points/miles:
- Bank of America (FIA) (MasterCard, American Express)
- Barclaycard (Mastercard, Visa)
- Capital One (Mastercard, Visa)
- Chase (MasterCard, Visa)
- Citi (MasterCard, American Express)
- Discover
- Wells Fargo (American Express)
Treated as purchase, but doesn't earn points/miles:
- American Express issued (Counts toward minimum spend -- see post #434) but does not earn points. Example: For the Delta Amex card, Serve counts towards min spend DL miles sign-up bonus, but that spend and subsequent trials of spend on Serve will not earn points. Don't do it, man!
Posts as a cash advance:
The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card and has no cash advance ability.
A few report being unable to add the Chase IHG MC.
Online Debit Card Loads
For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. While initial transactions may work, your account will eventually be flagged.
Switching to Serve
Helpful instruction post, latest. Thanks raeneye.
Also see this thread: Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
Switching from BB to Serve
- Login to BB account, bring account balance to Zero, (By Bill Pay, Send money, etc..)
- Call BB, tell them that you want to open a serve account and close your current BB account. after they check everything they will say something like: "Your account will be permanently closed after 31 days, you can reopen it within 31 day if you change your mind, and you can apply for your new Serve account now, just make sure use the exact same register info from BB."
- at this point BB is closed. next morning, goto CVS and get a temporary Serve card (only with cash), load $500, ($2.95 waived, Yeah!!)
- get back home, register temporary Serve online, First error: "phone number already registered, please try a different number" could be the my BB's ghost account still showing up on their system, could be my info is not match my BB's registration? i'm not really sure at this point. What I did is keep the same number but change from Cell phone to home phone. and registration went through
- after the register and login, second error: "We're still processing your application. Please check your email for an update"
- I have see people on the thread reported waiting for weeks for the same message, So, I pickup the phone and called them, ask them to speed up the process.
- CSR, told me that my account went to "account security protection department" transfer me to them.
- at account security protection department, they told me need to call back on my phone number which I registered to verify.
- after the call back of verification, CSR told me that my new Serve account is active now, email address verification will be send with in 5 minutes, permanent card will be received within 7-10 days.
- CSR also told me the I can load and spend on the temporary card, but not bill pay.
Switching from Redbird is presumably similar. See the RedCard thread for more information.
The number to call to approve your registration after closing Bluebird: Serve Account security 1-800-555-4318
Loading with debit card at Walmart register
Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.
Training a WM cashier:
- If the WM cashier doesn't know how to load the card, advise them to enter "70" then press "action code".
- If you are using a temp card that doesn't have your name on it, you can swipe the card from your side of the terminal. The WM rep never has to touch any of your cards. The screen will say "enter account." That is your prompt to slide the card.
- The terminal will ask the WM employee if you are loading in multiples of $2000. Advise them to enter "no."
- Avoid saying gift card. Always refer to your card as a debit card.
Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered.
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.
Using Serve
For online bill pay
- You can pay the credit card that you used to buy VRs/GCs
- Error 1302 means that you have 1 pending payment the same amount as the one you just submitted. For example, 1000 bill pay to sapphire preferred from Friday and then on Saturday you submit another bill pay for 1000 to sapphire preferred, you will get this error.
- Tip: if using online bill pay to the same place multiple times, vary your amounts by $0.01 to make it easier to track since your confirmation number does not match the tracking number on your credit card statement
For bank transfers
Under Settings --> Funding & Transfers --> Bank & Cards --> U.S. Bank Account, you can add your bank info and transfer funds from your Serve card directly to your bank. The bank account must be verified, either by the standard "deposit 2 small sums into your account, such as $0.23 & $0.42" method, or doing an "instant verification" by actually logging into your bank account while still logged into Serve.
===
People with an apartment address can find helpful information quoted in post #7
Serve - Another Paypal/Amazon payments (2015)
Aug 29, 2015, 10:29 pm
#2026
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 322
I have read the wiki, the information keeps changing; I thought you can have only one Serve card, how come people are able to have multiple serve cards?
2nd, where can you buy gift cards to load it to serve? Can you buy VGC in Walmart and load it there?
What about american express CC linking to your online serve account?
2nd, where can you buy gift cards to load it to serve? Can you buy VGC in Walmart and load it there?
To your first question if you mean online, no,
Last edited by nfpa70e; Aug 29, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Aug 29, 2015, 11:54 pm
#2027
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
I have read the wiki, the information keeps changing; I thought you can have only one Serve card, how come people are able to have multiple serve cards?
2nd, where can you buy gift cards to load it to serve? Can you buy VGC in Walmart and load it there?
What about american express CC linking to your online serve account?
2nd, where can you buy gift cards to load it to serve? Can you buy VGC in Walmart and load it there?
What about american express CC linking to your online serve account?
Anywhere that sells VGC with a PIN that are not Vanilla brand. Yes, the cards in Walmart work. Make sure that they are issued by Sunrise Bank if you get them in Walmart because they also sell Vanilla.
Please don't be stupid by immediately opening the VGC from the packaging and then asking to load your Serve card right in front of the cashier. Return to your car or something to open the card and then go back inside the store.
Yes, you can link an American Express credit card to load Serve online. If it's a card issued by Amex, then it will allow you to meet minimum spend but not earn points. If it's issued by another bank, it should earn points.
Aug 30, 2015, 12:11 am
#2028
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: AA, AGR, DL, MR, WoH, UA
Posts: 951
Aug 30, 2015, 6:04 am
#2029
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 322
It seems like those who know this stuff answer properly, those who don't let them keep pissing in the pants. Better ignored.
In your serve account, you can link debit card, credit card. From April 2015 on wards, Serve has stopped linking 3rd party CCs. You have already answered that you can link AMEX network card online and use that towards 1K spending, you won't get any points but you can use that towards Min Spending.
How about the debit card with the PIN? Can you buy it in store and unload that online to your serve account? without having to go through Walmart register or KATE?
If it's issued by another bank, it should earn points
Last edited by nfpa70e; Aug 30, 2015 at 6:24 am
Aug 30, 2015, 6:25 am
#2030
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
do NOT even try it or you'll get flagged. even if you register the dift card and make it appear like a regular DC issued by your bank, the numbers alone will reveal what it is so just load them in-store, either at WM or FD.
Aug 30, 2015, 5:18 pm
#2031
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Orange County
Posts: 57
Hi I was hoping to get some clarity on some verbiage. I use to have a serve account but closed it back in April/may. I just opened a new account again since it didn't have my old account info.
Anyways I just got the Amex 100k miles on 3k spend. So I know filling up your server account using your Amex counts against your min spend but people say you don't get points. Does that mean I will get my promo points after my min spend but anything besides that I won't get any points after? Is that right ?
Last question is can a serve account act like a checking acct? I can only pay my rent via checking. It auto withdrawals it. Is that possible with the serve account? Trying to figure out best way to use the 3k or give it back to myself. If I withdrew it all slowly in a month or 2 would that work?
Anyways I just got the Amex 100k miles on 3k spend. So I know filling up your server account using your Amex counts against your min spend but people say you don't get points. Does that mean I will get my promo points after my min spend but anything besides that I won't get any points after? Is that right ?
Last question is can a serve account act like a checking acct? I can only pay my rent via checking. It auto withdrawals it. Is that possible with the serve account? Trying to figure out best way to use the 3k or give it back to myself. If I withdrew it all slowly in a month or 2 would that work?
Aug 30, 2015, 5:35 pm
#2032
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
Thanks Phantom
It seems like those who know this stuff answer properly, those who don't let them keep pissing in the pants. Better ignored.
In your serve account, you can link debit card, credit card. From April 2015 on wards, Serve has stopped linking 3rd party CCs. You have already answered that you can link AMEX network card online and use that towards 1K spending, you won't get any points but you can use that towards Min Spending.
How about the debit card with the PIN? Can you buy it in store and unload that online to your serve account? without having to go through Walmart register or KATE?
I don't think you can link card issued by another bank.
It seems like those who know this stuff answer properly, those who don't let them keep pissing in the pants. Better ignored.
In your serve account, you can link debit card, credit card. From April 2015 on wards, Serve has stopped linking 3rd party CCs. You have already answered that you can link AMEX network card online and use that towards 1K spending, you won't get any points but you can use that towards Min Spending.
How about the debit card with the PIN? Can you buy it in store and unload that online to your serve account? without having to go through Walmart register or KATE?
I don't think you can link card issued by another bank.
Your comment on not being able to link s card issued by another bank is actually quite annoying to me. It shows that you have a presupposition, which is completely fine. What's not fine is the air with which you show such supposition, that you are right and I'm wrong.
I don't think you understand the difference between the card issuing bank and the payment network. The difference is huge for the purposes of Serve. I'm mobile so can't type properly, but suffice it to say you are wrong.
To the other poster, I can't quite multiple because I'm mobile, but Serve can work for receiving deposits, but you cannot pull funds out of it in the way you would with a traditional checking account. Pulls fail. You can use Serve to send a check in the mail or to withdraw to a real checking account, but you cannot have an external site pull funds.
Aug 30, 2015, 7:19 pm
#2033
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6
loaded at FD today and they charged me $3.95 for every 500 load. I believe it is because we have the new blue serve which does not offer free reloads. However, I was able to load $2000 at the same FD.
Aug 30, 2015, 7:56 pm
#2034
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
That's cool. Was it all at the same time, or did you come back later in the day? Also, was it not possible to split tender?
Aug 30, 2015, 8:10 pm
#2035
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6
loaded $1000 first and used too $500 vgc to pay plus my bank debit card for the 3.95 fee. Come back later to load another 1000 in about one hour. The manager said she is not aware of any store limits. She can load as many as I prefer as long as the system takes it.
Aug 30, 2015, 9:25 pm
#2036
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 322
In my understanding, which could be totally wrong, I thought prior to April 2015, serve would let you link any credit card and load $200 per day. I did this several times, after 4/15, it is my understanding that you can only link Amex network credit cards.
Last edited by nfpa70e; Aug 30, 2015 at 9:32 pm
Aug 30, 2015, 9:49 pm
#2037
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
On an internet you have no idea what I was supposing or not. I could have written, I thought, I don't believe.... etc etc, what is there to take offence to these little things instead of focusing on the substance. If I said I don't think you can link...does that mean I was proving you are WRONG and I'm RIGHT.
In my understanding, which could be totally wrong, I thought prior to April 2015, serve would let you link any credit card and load $200 per day. I did this several times, after 4/15, it is my understanding that you can only link Amex network credit cards.
In my understanding, which could be totally wrong, I thought prior to April 2015, serve would let you link any credit card and load $200 per day. I did this several times, after 4/15, it is my understanding that you can only link Amex network credit cards.
Anyways, I said this clearly in one of my previous messages. "Yes, you can link an American Express credit card to load Serve online. If it's a card issued by Amex, then it will allow you to meet minimum spend but not earn points. If it's issued by another bank, it should earn points."
Amex, the bank, issues credit cards. Those credit cards all run on the Amex network. Other banks, like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, etc., issue cards that also run on the Amex network. The former group are called first party Amex cards while the latter are third party. Both types can be used with Serve. First party cards will not earn points, but the transactions count towards minimum spend. Third party cards will earn points and have the transactions count towards minimum spend.
For example, I have a Fidelity Amex card. It's issued by Bank of America and runs on the Amex payment processing network. It earns points for Serve transactions. I also have an Amex Platinum. Serve transactions count towards minimum spend but do not earn points. That's what I mean by third party.
Aug 30, 2015, 10:19 pm
#2038
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Orange County
Posts: 57
do you mind clarifying this? So once you meet your minimum you still get your points, but anything else besides that you don't earn any, correct?
Aug 30, 2015, 10:53 pm
#2040
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 322
For example, I have a Fidelity Amex card. It's issued by Bank of America and runs on the Amex payment processing network. It earns points for Serve transactions. I also have an Amex Platinum. Serve transactions count towards minimum spend but do not earn points. That's what I mean by third party.
Clearly there is different understanding. What I said was non-amex network credit cards can't be used to load the serve accounts. This is what I mean by 3rd party CCs for e.g. Chase VISA card will fall under this category.
Anyway, can you use amex network CC to link and load online, $200 per day, $1000 maximum per month? or even this shouldn't be attempted.