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)
Nov 28, 2015, 9:05 pm
#3121
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA plat, SPG gold
Posts: 721
Something funny happen today.
Went to top off my serve for the month. Accidentally entered the wrong pin and the Walmart rep said, "Usually it's the last four on your gift card there".
Haha, good to know this rep has an idea of what's going on and let's it
Went to top off my serve for the month. Accidentally entered the wrong pin and the Walmart rep said, "Usually it's the last four on your gift card there".
Haha, good to know this rep has an idea of what's going on and let's it
Nov 29, 2015, 5:45 am
#3122
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 159
Has anyone had any success loading (via Kate) the $500 MCGC that are sold at Office Max?
Nov 30, 2015, 12:30 pm
#3123
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 321
My standby WM just started asking if my cards are gift cards or not. I tried covering up the "gift card" part at the top, but they saw right through that. I'm going to try another WM, but might have to try the show my bank card and do the switch-a-roo. Will definitely make loading more time consuming as I'll have to probably do it in batches of $500. (Or perhaps make up a story that my bank card can only do $500 transactions! :P)
And unfortunately Kate was down at this store today.
And unfortunately Kate was down at this store today.
Nov 30, 2015, 12:33 pm
#3124
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 28
First Serve Run in Dallas
So I completed my first Serve load via FD today. I have been out of the country for 3 years, but keeping up with FT on the MS threads, now being the first time I had to try it out. I wanted to start small so I went to WM and bought the smallest increment VGC ($25).
I went to FD and asked to load my Serve card. The cashier looked at me weird and was pretty confused. There was a line behind me so I let them go ahead. She opened her drawer and started searching for a barcode to scan to rind up the Serve reload. I noticed she scanned something that said Vanilla. She wasn't convinced it was right so I felt uncomfortable about it, it being my first attempt.
I then went to the other FD right down the road. I showed my Serve ONE VIP card and asked to load $25. Immediately the man looked up and said to the female cashier "Have you heard about this new scam?" then tapped a sheet of paper taped to the counter. I found this curious, because I am almost positive he wasn't talking about me, but probably was talking about MS in general at the very same moment I was doing my first attempt ever. She opened a drawer with several barcode cards on a ring. She rang up the barcode, asked me to swipe my Serve card, then I swiped the VGC. It prompted me for my PIN. I entered the last four digits of the card. She handed me a receipt and I immediately got an email from Serve saying the load was successful.
The first place seemed really unsure about Serve and how it worked and literally 300 yards down the street they were on top of things and were even talking about scamming while I was at the counter. I guess this is a YMMV anecdote.
From my experience today, why is the AMEX Serve rung up with a Vanilla Reload barcode at FD?
I am looking forward to doing this more often considering the amount of stores that are available in the area. Thank you all for your advice and help. This being my first run, I am pleased with how smooth it went.
I went to FD and asked to load my Serve card. The cashier looked at me weird and was pretty confused. There was a line behind me so I let them go ahead. She opened her drawer and started searching for a barcode to scan to rind up the Serve reload. I noticed she scanned something that said Vanilla. She wasn't convinced it was right so I felt uncomfortable about it, it being my first attempt.
I then went to the other FD right down the road. I showed my Serve ONE VIP card and asked to load $25. Immediately the man looked up and said to the female cashier "Have you heard about this new scam?" then tapped a sheet of paper taped to the counter. I found this curious, because I am almost positive he wasn't talking about me, but probably was talking about MS in general at the very same moment I was doing my first attempt ever. She opened a drawer with several barcode cards on a ring. She rang up the barcode, asked me to swipe my Serve card, then I swiped the VGC. It prompted me for my PIN. I entered the last four digits of the card. She handed me a receipt and I immediately got an email from Serve saying the load was successful.
The first place seemed really unsure about Serve and how it worked and literally 300 yards down the street they were on top of things and were even talking about scamming while I was at the counter. I guess this is a YMMV anecdote.
From my experience today, why is the AMEX Serve rung up with a Vanilla Reload barcode at FD?
I am looking forward to doing this more often considering the amount of stores that are available in the area. Thank you all for your advice and help. This being my first run, I am pleased with how smooth it went.
Last edited by OldPainless; Dec 1, 2015 at 12:57 pm Reason: TMI
Nov 30, 2015, 1:21 pm
#3125
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
the VR barcode is scanned first in order to start the process of reloading your Serve card. If you look at the VR card, it shows all accounts that can be reloaded with it although some have fees to process a reload.
Nov 30, 2015, 1:58 pm
#3126
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 28
Thanks Mamibear, I did not know Vanilla and Amex were related. So are Serve loads rung up with a VR barcode at 7/11, CVS, and Wal-Mart as it is at FD?
Nov 30, 2015, 3:04 pm
#3127
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
Only FD is with Vanilla reloads network. Walmart does not use that network for Serve reloads (they just type "70-action" on their register to start the reload process).
Despite of maybe stating the obvious and I do understand you are new and trying to start small, but $25 GCs are too small for MS. Go for the $25-$500 ones and load them with the full $500 to minimize the fee.
Nov 30, 2015, 3:10 pm
#3128
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: ATL
Programs: DL, Marriott
Posts: 728
The Citigold debit card was via Walmart using the same method as VGC, so I'd imagine it counts against the same limit. This was not an online debit card load.
Nov 30, 2015, 8:58 pm
#3129
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 66
The problem with doing direct deposits from your bank into serve is that most banks require trial deposits to verify the external account, and those trial deposits are debited from the account after confirmation.
Since Serve does not allow ACH debits, the verification will fail. We need a list of banks that don't debit the trial deposits after verification. Anyone have any datapoints?
Someone on DoC suggesting using the P2P payment at Capital One 360 which should work because no trial deposits are involved. I haven't tried it myself though.
Since Serve does not allow ACH debits, the verification will fail. We need a list of banks that don't debit the trial deposits after verification. Anyone have any datapoints?
Someone on DoC suggesting using the P2P payment at Capital One 360 which should work because no trial deposits are involved. I haven't tried it myself though.
What DID work without any problem is using TD BANK "POP-MONEY" P2P PUSH transfer. $1 fee but better than $5. Hopefully it will do the trick. It does say "Direct Deposit" in Server after arriving but the details say POP MONEY.
Nov 30, 2015, 11:02 pm
#3130
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 589
Can I load Visa Buxx to serve online? nothing on the wiki about this.
Dec 1, 2015, 12:36 pm
#3132
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,714
Serve Reloadable at Rite Air & Dollar General
Apparently Serve is now reloadable at Rite Aid and Dollar General. Is this news or have I just not heard about this?
http://www.travelingformiles.com/ser...dollar-general
http://www.travelingformiles.com/ser...dollar-general
Dec 1, 2015, 12:47 pm
#3133
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 28
7/11 and CVS are cash-only, so they are out of discussion.
Only FD is with Vanilla reloads network. Walmart does not use that network for Serve reloads (they just type "70-action" on their register to start the reload process).
Despite of maybe stating the obvious and I do understand you are new and trying to start small, but $25 GCs are too small for MS. Go for the $25-$500 ones and load them with the full $500 to minimize the fee.
Only FD is with Vanilla reloads network. Walmart does not use that network for Serve reloads (they just type "70-action" on their register to start the reload process).
Despite of maybe stating the obvious and I do understand you are new and trying to start small, but $25 GCs are too small for MS. Go for the $25-$500 ones and load them with the full $500 to minimize the fee.
The ultimate purpose of my post was not to tell this thread something new, but rather to encourage people who are hesitant what my own experience was like loading for the first time. Of course, my $25 load wasn't to maximize MS but was a purposely conservative way to test out my card and comfort with the process. I have read on MS for years via FT, but I have lived abroad, so I learned recently that actually walking into a US store and doing MS is much different than having theoretical knowledge on the game. Thats all
I am sorry if I sounded like I was trying to give something new or teach people the process of loading. I just wanted to encourage people.
Last edited by OldPainless; Dec 1, 2015 at 12:52 pm Reason: Spelling
Dec 1, 2015, 1:14 pm
#3134
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA PS, AA GLD, SPG GLD, PC PLT, CC GLD
Posts: 217
Apparently Serve is now reloadable at Rite Aid and Dollar General. Is this news or have I just not heard about this?
http://www.travelingformiles.com/ser...dollar-general
http://www.travelingformiles.com/ser...dollar-general
Dec 1, 2015, 1:57 pm
#3135
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Delta, Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 672
RA is cash only everywhere...