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Amex Serve (2016) [Many shutdowns starting Jan 8, 2016]

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Old Jan 6, 2016, 10:21 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: cbn42
The previous megathread is here.

The following megathread is at Amex Serve master thread (2017)




On January 8, 2016, most Serve cards that were being used for MS were closed by Amex due to "unusual activity". Recurring waves of shutdowns have continued.


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.

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.[/SIZE]

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

Loads at Dollar General - Works with Vanilla visa. Tried to load 2 500 gift cards and it worked. Not sure about more than 1000 $

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
  1. Login to BB account, bring account balance to Zero, (By Bill Pay, Send money, etc..)
  2. 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."
  3. 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!!)
  4. 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
  5. after the register and login, second error: "We're still processing your application. Please check your email for an update"
  6. 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.
  7. CSR, told me that my account went to "account security protection department" transfer me to them.
  8. at account security protection department, they told me need to call back on my phone number which I registered to verify.
  9. 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.
  10. 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
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Amex Serve (2016) [Many shutdowns starting Jan 8, 2016]

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Old Jan 6, 2016, 11:11 am
  #46  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Originally Posted by svsfan
Just received email from Serve that starting Jan 6, you can no longer withdraw money from ATM outside US.

"We are writing to inform you of a change to the terms and conditions of your American Express Serve® Account:

International ATM:
Beginning January 6, 2016 you will no longer be able to withdraw money using your Serve Card at ATMs outside of the United States.

You can still enjoy free ATM withdrawals when using an in-network MoneyPass® ATM nationwide. You can find one of the more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs using the link below. Withdrawals at non-MoneyPass ATMs have a $2.50 American Express Serve fee, and ATM operator fees may also apply. "
I just got that too. I've never and will never use serve internationally anyway.
hiima is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 11:13 am
  #47  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by AzureByJohn
Walmart Store Locator. Enter zip/city. Then click "Refine your store search", then choose "Money Center". However, this is absolutely terrible, as it isn't accurate at all. Rather, you won't get false positives, but it will definitely leave out a large chunk of stores with money centers.

A *slightly* better option is to go here, which I think is Walmart's page which tries to use your IP address to geolocate the nearest store. There should also be a list near the top for other nearby stores. Choose a store then click the link "Store hours and services". Scroll down to "Departments & Services". There should be a section that lists "Financial Services". Any store with that and "Bluebird by American Express" or "Walmart MoneyCard" should be fine.
Thank you! I'm a newb and I'd been using the other method (the moneypass site or whatever), and as a result I assumed my closest (non-supercenter) WM didn't have these facilities. It looks like it does, but I will verify in person.

Meanwhile:

Newb here (like I said), have read this wiki and other FAQs enough times to give myself multiple headaches, think I have a decent handle on it. Just giving a small report on my initial experiences, and then I have some questions at the end.

Ordered a OneVIP. Purchased a "Metabank" $100 VGC at my local grocer for $100+$6 fee on my CSP as a test run. I was able to call the number on the card to set a PIN. This afternoon I ran up to the nearest WM SC (the one that looked like it should have a KATE on the ATM finder site--I think I will ultimately be able to use a closer one). It did, in fact, have a KATE, and it is functional. I was able to unload my VGC to my new OneVIP, and immediately received the email confirmation. Yay! Now I have to figure out how to get more cost-effective VGCs.

Questions:

--Anyone know why the KATE receipt said "Dispensed: $40.00"? I definitely received $100 in my Serve account, and my $100 GC definitely has a zero balance now. My only theory is that the receipts are backed up/stuck in the machine, and I got someone else's. That said, there was no one else using the machine, and I sat nearby for a while checking balances etc. No other receipt came out.

--Not really crucial, but how does one use the Serve at an ATM for cash withdrawals? No amount of googling, nor looking at my account or the papers that came with it, tell me how to set a PIN. I don't anticipate needing to withdraw cash from it, but it's bugging me that I can't figure it out. Nevermind, I figured this out. (You set up a PIN when you apply, and can change it from your serve.com account. I just forgot the former and failed to find the latter.)

--I've read conflicting stuff, is it okay for me to just load VGCs in my Serve account, or should I do some bank transfers for appearances' sake?

Disclaimer: I don't intend to spread any of this info around, and I won't be doing much throughput, just a few cards here and there. In other words, if this stuff ever gets shut down, I won't be part of the problem.

Thanks!

Last edited by Jenesequoia; Jan 6, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Jenesequoia is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 2:13 pm
  #48  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HHonors Silver
Posts: 429
any one able to load SoftServe for $500 a day/$1500 a month in Jan? Looks like SoftServe's limit is also changed to $200/$1000.
allanfan is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 2:20 pm
  #49  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,674
Originally Posted by allanfan
any one able to load SoftServe for $500 a day/$1500 a month in Jan? Looks like SoftServe's limit is also changed to $200/$1000.
I was able to. I did my loads on Jan 1, Jan 2, and Jan 3.
ChrisFlyer66 is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 2:22 pm
  #50  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 93
Just finished $1500 load to my softserve using Chase Freedom.
joytatee is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 3:02 pm
  #51  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG
Programs: Hyatt Giraffe
Posts: 1,664
Originally Posted by hiima
I just got that too. I've never and will never use serve internationally anyway.
Shortsighted - low ATM fee and excellent conversion rates And if you loaded with $200 Visa GCs with Chase Ink 5X, even better.
sam_goh is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 3:10 pm
  #52  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 5
quick question.
new to MS
I checked the reload fees for one VIP on serve website
it says Up to $3.95 (fee varies by retailer) in the chart, and on the pop up fee chart it says $0 Cash Reload at CVS/pharmacy®, Walmart® and participating 7-ELEVEN® locations and also in the bottom Reloadit fee of up to $3.95 applies.
so i am guessing one VIP is free to reload in Walmart, 7-Eleven and CVS
is this a recent change to their terms or has it always been this way?
Anyone manage to reload one VIP free at Dollar general or other locations?
thanks in advance
clubs07 is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 5:28 pm
  #53  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 92
Originally Posted by clubs07
...so i am guessing one VIP is free to reload in Walmart, 7-Eleven and CVS...

Anyone manage to reload one VIP free at Dollar general or other locations?
thanks in advance
Your answers start at line 12 of the Wiki. Some DG's and RA's also may work. Suggest the "Start Here" and "Serve (2015)" threads.
noassumptions is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 6:13 pm
  #54  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 5
deleted

Last edited by clubs07; Jan 6, 2016 at 6:55 pm
clubs07 is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 6:25 pm
  #55  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 5
thanks.
i actually did go through the forum.
i know cvs and 7/11 is cash only
i am thinking of loading at Walmart or DG
what I really wanted to ask was if there is a fee for loading serve One VIP at Walmart.
i read successful loading of One Vip at DG w/o a fee at DG on reddit and i know this is YMMV


the terms on Serve website was confusing to me
the following info is only available if you follow the link to fee terms and a pop up appears.
>$0 Cash Reload at CVS/pharmacy®, Walmart® and participating 7-ELEVEN® locations
in the bottom of the same link
>Reloadit fee of up to $3.95 applies

and this info is on the chart in the main page

>Up to $3.95
(fee varies by retailer)

i am just trying to figure out if serve one vip recently introduced a fee, since I am not sure if GC reloads are considered as cash reloads or reloadit.

basically I am trying to decide whether to apply for BB or Serve One VIP and if I have to pay reload fees for Serve One VIP I will go with BB.



Originally Posted by noassumptions
Your answers start at line 12 of the Wiki. Some DG's and RA's also may work. Suggest the "Start Here" and "Serve (2015)" threads.

Last edited by clubs07; Jan 6, 2016 at 6:55 pm
clubs07 is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 7:37 pm
  #56  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 71
One VIP loads are free at Walmart and Rite Aid.
svsfan is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 7:58 pm
  #57  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, HH, UA, Marriott, SW, Club Carlson, IHG
Posts: 202
Originally Posted by svsfan
Just received email from Serve that starting Jan 6, you can no longer withdraw money from ATM outside US.

"We are writing to inform you of a change to the terms and conditions of your American Express Serve® Account:

International ATM:
Beginning January 6, 2016 you will no longer be able to withdraw money using your Serve Card at ATMs outside of the United States.

You can still enjoy free ATM withdrawals when using an in-network MoneyPass® ATM nationwide. You can find one of the more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs using the link below. Withdrawals at non-MoneyPass ATMs have a $2.50 American Express Serve fee, and ATM operator fees may also apply. "
Yeah, it is too bad. Same happened to Bluebird. It was a good way to withdraw cash abroad. The end is very sudden! I'd be mad if I'd just left on a trip and was counting on using BB/Serve as my main ATM card...
flyernick is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 8:44 pm
  #58  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,752
the visa (chase UA mileageplus) i have loaded in my softserve account expires 3/16. i haven't received the new card yet, but when i do, am i better off trying to call in to give the new expiration date, or update the card on the serve website?

the reports of not being able to link a non-amex card via the serve website have me a little nervous.
riphamilton is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 8:52 pm
  #59  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
YMMV.

Last edited by Chelski; Jan 30, 2016 at 9:04 pm
Chelski is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 10:04 pm
  #60  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 93
Originally Posted by riphamilton
the visa (chase UA mileageplus) i have loaded in my softserve account expires 3/16. i haven't received the new card yet, but when i do, am i better off trying to call in to give the new expiration date, or update the card on the serve website?

the reports of not being able to link a non-amex card via the serve website have me a little nervous.
I got a new card too. (Chase Freedom with chip) I just updated the card info on the serve website on 12/30/15 and started loading on 1/1/16 with no problem.
joytatee is offline  


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