Jan 6, 2016, 10:21 am
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
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
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
- 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
Amex Serve (2016) [Many shutdowns starting Jan 8, 2016]
Oct 16, 2016, 3:07 pm
#1741
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 292
Now that I activated my personalized Serve (just got it yesterday, mail delivered at 5:30pm on sat!), I see on the Amex site that CVS, Rite Aid and 7-11 are also Serve reload options. Do they only take cash for reloads and not prepaid VGCs ? And if they take VGCs, which ones work ?
Oct 16, 2016, 3:59 pm
#1742
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWN/OAJ/RDU/ILM (Formerly BTV)
Programs: HH D i a m o n d !!!
Posts: 356
Trying to understand the point of Serve.
Amex CC load still work but does not count towards min spend? So you can get some points each month for ongoing spend. Direct load via CC from other issuers no longer works?
Load using GCs. I guess this is just an alternative to doing something like WM billpay or buying MO with GCs? Basically load Serve then use serve to cash out at an ATM and redeposit cash elsewhere to payoff CC bill or use serve to directly billpay your CC? Is it really just for people that don't have access to WM billpay? Or an advantage for Amex CC users since WM BP won't work with Amex? Responses here or PM always appreciated, TIA
Amex CC load still work but does not count towards min spend? So you can get some points each month for ongoing spend. Direct load via CC from other issuers no longer works?
Load using GCs. I guess this is just an alternative to doing something like WM billpay or buying MO with GCs? Basically load Serve then use serve to cash out at an ATM and redeposit cash elsewhere to payoff CC bill or use serve to directly billpay your CC? Is it really just for people that don't have access to WM billpay? Or an advantage for Amex CC users since WM BP won't work with Amex? Responses here or PM always appreciated, TIA
Oct 17, 2016, 2:56 am
#1743
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,506
There are no Family dollar or Dollar general within 25 miles, so that won't work.
Now that I activated my personalized Serve (just got it yesterday, mail delivered at 5:30pm on sat!), I see on the Amex site that CVS, Rite Aid and 7-11 are also Serve reload options. Do they only take cash for reloads and not prepaid VGCs ? And if they take VGCs, which ones work ?
Now that I activated my personalized Serve (just got it yesterday, mail delivered at 5:30pm on sat!), I see on the Amex site that CVS, Rite Aid and 7-11 are also Serve reload options. Do they only take cash for reloads and not prepaid VGCs ? And if they take VGCs, which ones work ?
CVS = Cash only
RA = Cash only
7-11 = Cash only
CC load works only on Amex CCs but you do NOT get any points loading with an Amex branded CC. I am not sure if Serve loads still count towards min spend.
Oct 17, 2016, 12:24 pm
#1744
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 292
Thanks !
Since I have no Family Dollar or Dollar General in my area, it looks like WM is the only option to reload serve with VGC, and I'm loathe to go there due to the location, traffic and very long lines, I tend to avoid Wal-Mart if I can.
I guess my Serve is going to stay in my drawer now that I drained it by ATM yesterday. The closest fee-free Moneypass ATM was 5 miles away, too. Not convenient.
Since I have no Family Dollar or Dollar General in my area, it looks like WM is the only option to reload serve with VGC, and I'm loathe to go there due to the location, traffic and very long lines, I tend to avoid Wal-Mart if I can.
I guess my Serve is going to stay in my drawer now that I drained it by ATM yesterday. The closest fee-free Moneypass ATM was 5 miles away, too. Not convenient.
Last edited by madbrain; Oct 17, 2016 at 7:27 pm
Oct 19, 2016, 10:31 am
#1745
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 77
Are there any CVS GC's that can be liquidated via MO, similar to how it can be done with OSS VISA GC's via WM, grocery store, or other? 5% CB at drugstores hasn't been a quarterly category since I've been MS'ing, and MO's are by far my best option post multiple Serve account closures. Trying to determine if I should buy a few max load Vanilla GC's (or other GC's) to cap out the $1.5K 4Q spend.
Oct 19, 2016, 11:32 am
#1746
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 39
FD and DG generally will allow loads with Vanilla cards, but policy varies from store to store.
Are there any CVS GC's that can be liquidated via MO, similar to how it can be done with OSS VISA GC's via WM, grocery store, or other? 5% CB at drugstores hasn't been a quarterly category since I've been MS'ing, and MO's are by far my best option post multiple Serve account closures. Trying to determine if I should buy a few max load Vanilla GC's (or other GC's) to cap out the $1.5K 4Q spend.
Oct 19, 2016, 1:05 pm
#1747
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 127
I have a Serve card (and a Bluebird card), but I want to do some planning prior to the time they inevitably get shut down. I'm hoping to have my wife get one or both cards when mine get shut down. While she has no problem with getting them and having them used for MS purposes, she's not going to want to load them every month at Walmart. My question is, will I be able to load it for her at Walmart? In other words, when you swipe your Serve card to start the load process, do the Walmart CSRs care if the name that pops up is a female name and obviously not the person (me) swiping the card? If they do care, can I order my Wife's Serve card using only initials for her first and middle names (i.e., J.A. Smith). Any other thoughts or comments on this are welcome.
Oct 19, 2016, 4:41 pm
#1749
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 292
Can you use an Amex gift card to reload serve online and then do a bill payment with it ?
And will the purchase of Amex gift cards on americanexpress.com/gift count towards minimum spending requirements on a new Amex platinum ?
And will the purchase of Amex gift cards on americanexpress.com/gift count towards minimum spending requirements on a new Amex platinum ?
Oct 19, 2016, 4:48 pm
#1750
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 39
Ah, sorry. Well, it's always worth a shot at your local PO(s) to try the Vanillas, since the system changes seem to be for Metabank, I think? So give it a shot, Vanillas generally have worked at the PO (for me, as recently as last week).
Oct 21, 2016, 3:49 pm
#1751
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 292
And will the purchase of Amex gift cards on americanexpress.com/gift count towards minimum spending requirements on a new Amex platinum ?
One thing I'm not sure about - I have been reloading my Serve from my new Amex Platinum card. I know there won't be cash advance fees since I reset the limit to $0.
However, would interest fees apply in this case ? Platinum is supposed to be a charge card and paid in full every month, but I wonder. If interest-free, it's basically a $1000/month no-fee cash advance. Is this likely to result in Serve shutdown ?
Oct 21, 2016, 4:41 pm
#1752
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 206
Looks like the answer is no, according to Serve reps.
Also no.
One thing I'm not sure about - I have been reloading my Serve from my new Amex Platinum card. I know there won't be cash advance fees since I reset the limit to $0.
However, would interest fees apply in this case ? Platinum is supposed to be a charge card and paid in full every month, but I wonder. If interest-free, it's basically a $1000/month no-fee cash advance. Is this likely to result in Serve shutdown ?
Also no.
One thing I'm not sure about - I have been reloading my Serve from my new Amex Platinum card. I know there won't be cash advance fees since I reset the limit to $0.
However, would interest fees apply in this case ? Platinum is supposed to be a charge card and paid in full every month, but I wonder. If interest-free, it's basically a $1000/month no-fee cash advance. Is this likely to result in Serve shutdown ?
Oct 21, 2016, 6:34 pm
#1753
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 292
Neither, just using bill pay to pay some other cards. But yeah, I won't worry too much about it, if they shut down my Serve, it won't be a huge loss.
Oct 24, 2016, 8:52 am
#1754
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: Ink/Sapphire/Freedom/SPG
Posts: 338
What are the general tips? What's the max load I can try?
As of now i read this ->
Code:
Just for anyone out those that try to load Serve at FD and fail due to either 1. Attempted to load a 2nd $500 load 2. Didn't realize that someone else maybe 10 minutes before you loaded $500.
Nov 7, 2016, 11:00 pm
#1755
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: Aadvantage, Alaska, SPG, United
Posts: 30
Anyone having issue loading to onevip at FD using staples Metabank VGC?