Last edit by: JAXBA
Read the wiki before posting a question.
It's a literacy test that's easy to pass.
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.
Mentions of Softcard (formerly ISIS) are purely incidental to setting up and using Serve/Softcard. Softcard does not hold money, and you cannot load to it.
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
Normal 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.
Serve/Softcard Check if your phone/network is compatible
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.
The SD card in the iPhone case used for Softcard is account specific. Once an account has been registered to a card, it cannot be used for another.
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.
Online Credit Card Loads
Only one card can be linked at a time.
As of 10/09/14, coding of credit card loads changed. In general, Mastercard and American Express cards post as before; see below for information on point earning. Visa cards transact as a cash advance and, therefore, require available CA limit; although most cards post as a purchase.
The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card and has no cash advance ability.
Treated as purchase, earns cashback/points/miles:
Treated as purchase, but doesn't earn points/miles:
Posts as a cash advance:
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.
Several people have reported no problems with 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. YMMV.
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.
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 or Serve/Softcard
Helpful instruction post, latest. Thanks raeneye.
Also see this thread: Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
Switching to Serve/Softcard
Switching from BB to Serve
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 #8530
It's a literacy test that's easy to pass.
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.
Mentions of Softcard (formerly ISIS) are purely incidental to setting up and using Serve/Softcard. Softcard does not hold money, and you cannot load to it.
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
Normal 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 (NOT a gift card with a PIN that some people call a "Debit card")
- Online Credit Card Load - $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.
Serve/Softcard Check if your phone/network is compatible
- 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 (NOT a gift card with a PIN that some people call a "Debit card")
- 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.
The SD card in the iPhone case used for Softcard is account specific. Once an account has been registered to a card, it cannot be used for another.
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.
Online Credit Card Loads
Only one card can be linked at a time.
As of 10/09/14, coding of credit card loads changed. In general, Mastercard and American Express cards post as before; see below for information on point earning. Visa cards transact as a cash advance and, therefore, require available CA limit; although most cards post as a purchase.
The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card and has no cash advance ability.
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
Treated as purchase, but doesn't earn points/miles:
- American Express (May count toward minimum spend)
Posts as a cash advance:
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.
Several people have reported no problems with 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. YMMV.
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.
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 or Serve/Softcard
Helpful instruction post, latest. Thanks raeneye.
Also see this thread: Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
Switching to Serve/Softcard
- Call up Bluebird or Serve and close account. Make sure your account is at $0.00 before calling. Just close it, don't ask for a temp Serve or anything. CSR will say account is now closed and you have 30 days to change your mind should you decide to re-open it.
- Download the Softcard mobile app from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. If you're an iPhone user you have to buy the NFC CashWrap case from your carrier store.
- Launch Softcard Mobile App and create Softcard account. You'll be asked if you want to open a Serve account; Yes you do. Start the registration through Softcard mobile app for a Serve account, once you are finished you will be told you will receive an Email from Amex with your account approval. I waited a few hours and called Serve customer service like the wiki says and completed the registration.
- Once I got off the phone with Serve I received an email from Serve where I verified my account and email; at this point Amex Serve is open.
- Launch Softcard Mobile app again click add new
- Activate card with Softcard and select Amex Serve. Follow the instructions & you're good to add. Once this is complete a Serve Card will populate in Softcard. Must activate physical card to get full load limits. Check account status and it automatically credits to your serve account based on who you signed up with. (Verizon - $25, T-Mobile - $50, AT&T - $30 (For AT&T: Get $15 w/activation. Earn additional $15 w/account replenishment))
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.
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 #8530
Serve - Another Paypal/Amazon Payments.
#5566
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, M life Noir
Posts: 1,279
Got stopped by a WM cashier today - apparently the register asked her to check the card after I put in my VGC PIN. She saw the card in my hand and said since it wasn't embossed she would have to cancel the load.
I've read earlier accounts of this but haven't had an issue in a while now.
Just wondering if there is any sign that maybe Walmart is pushing out new training or if I got 'lucky' and hit one that's going closely by the book?
I've read earlier accounts of this but haven't had an issue in a while now.
Just wondering if there is any sign that maybe Walmart is pushing out new training or if I got 'lucky' and hit one that's going closely by the book?
#5567
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
No kidding.
If FD had bought DT, then there might be some expectation that the load locations could expand. But with DT buying FD, they could just kill it. Particularly if DT eventually phases-in their own transaction system.
What next, locusts ?
If FD had bought DT, then there might be some expectation that the load locations could expand. But with DT buying FD, they could just kill it. Particularly if DT eventually phases-in their own transaction system.
What next, locusts ?
#5568
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
Posts: 1,453
I used Serve heavily back when they allowed CC @ CVS. I do not have a 5% Office Store card, so I'm wondering if there is much value for me MSing using VGC, etc. I do not have a 5%/6% Grocery Store card, either. I have: CSP, Freedom, United, Southwest, Forward, Premier, Prestige, AA Plat/AA Exec, SPG, Hilton, Club Carlson, US Air, and NFL. Without adding another card, I don't feel like there's much value, except maybe with the Club Carlson ($500 = 2500 points - $5.95 fee = $238 for 100K points). Plus scads of time.
Probably wait and see what happens with FD/DT. Nearest FD is 15 miles away. Four DT within 4 miles of me.
Probably wait and see what happens with FD/DT. Nearest FD is 15 miles away. Four DT within 4 miles of me.
#5569
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
I signed-up and activated physical Serve card with Isis. My credit card load transaction limits still show $200/$1000 online. I did not load via credit card online prior to activating physical Serve card. Am I good to go with loading with $500/$1500 limits and just ignore what the website says?
#5570
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Got stopped by a WM cashier today - apparently the register asked her to check the card after I put in my VGC PIN. She saw the card in my hand and said since it wasn't embossed she would have to cancel the load.
I've read earlier accounts of this but haven't had an issue in a while now.
Just wondering if there is any sign that maybe Walmart is pushing out new training or if I got 'lucky' and hit one that's going closely by the book?
I've read earlier accounts of this but haven't had an issue in a while now.
Just wondering if there is any sign that maybe Walmart is pushing out new training or if I got 'lucky' and hit one that's going closely by the book?
#5571
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Chicago Burbs
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 223
I signed-up and activated physical Serve card with Isis. My credit card load transaction limits still show $200/$1000 online. I did not load via credit card online prior to activating physical Serve card. Am I good to go with loading with $500/$1500 limits and just ignore what the website says?
#5572
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
WM registers do some strange things. Yesterday I loaded a BB twice at 2 different registers and it went fine. Then went to load a Serve at a third register and it put a message on the customer facing LCD readout on the register that it had to be loaded at customer service. Went to another register and tried again and it loaded fine. I'd suggest trying again at another register.
I found out if this is only happens on isolated register, i.e. not store-wide, it would be the cashier is at a level that his / her log in only allows up to certain amount per transactions as well as not allowed for certain transaction. It could be their cashiers have a period of training / probation period until they are allowed to handle higher amount transactions / expansion of types of transactions. This happened twice to me on the same visit last week. Eventually I was able to find a register that there was no such restriction on the cashier.
I also found out that even supervisor's log in could be timed-out - i.e. if this is the scheduled break of the supervisor, her log in would not work... she had to call another supervisor to come over to handle my transactions at the MC.
There are a ton of internal checking in WM's POS system. It is mind-boggling.
#5573
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
I posted my experience a few days ago. Their system will cause an error if you try to use two cards withholding the same # on different accounts. When I did it I got an error. Assuming it was the standard card verification, I called and after a conversation and some initial confusion as to why it wasn't working, the CSR was able to see that the card # was attached to another account. AU cards with different card numbers should probably work fine.
"The card entered is not available for registration. Please enter a different card number."
This is an AU card, but the primary card has never been used on any Serve account at all. In fact, it's only had one transaction on it so far, which was a local store. The error came back instantly when I tried to add the card, which confuses me even more - it's a Citi card, so Amex shouldn't be able to verify whether I'm the primary account holder or an AU in 1/10 of a second.
I'm thinking the error isn't even related to AU/non AU, but the error message of course gives me no more information to go on. Googling it returned no helpful results. Anybody seen this one before?
Edit to answer my own question, and admit my own stupidity:
I wasn't adding the card I thought I was. The card I thought I was trying to add had never been added to an account before. The card I was actually trying to add is currently registered on another Serve account. When I tried adding the card I actually intended to add, it went through without any problems. That's what I get for having a half dozen identical cards.
That does make me wonder, though - if I removed the first card from the other serve account, would I eventually be able to add it to this serve? Do they check to make sure it's never been registered to any other Serve account, or just that it's not currently registered? I've done a little too much card switching in the past few days to really feel like trying my luck with more changes at this exact moment.
Last edited by bobert24; Jul 28, 2014 at 5:01 pm
#5574
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 71
I can confirm AU cards with different numbers but have their name on the card works fine.
New accounts have been required (from my experience) to have ID and front of card uploaded and then it's released from restrictions.
Kinda annoying at first but if you have everything in order it's easy and then your account should be free and clear for a long time.
New accounts have been required (from my experience) to have ID and front of card uploaded and then it's released from restrictions.
Kinda annoying at first but if you have everything in order it's easy and then your account should be free and clear for a long time.
#5575
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
I am sorry if it is answered somewhere (I could not find it). Can one pay someone else's (credit card) bill using his/her own serve? I don't think serve ask for name of the bill pay account.
#5576
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 19
Please forgive my stupid question if this has been asked a million times. I did do some digging from page 1 of this thread, but since Serve has changed a lot since then and Walmart is changing too, I'm not confused.
1. I signed up for BB yesterday (without a temp card) but have changed my mind now and want to use Serve instead. As I haven't received and used my BB card, can I just call BB, close account, and open Serve ISIS immediately?
2. When loading with my CC, is there any difference in point earning between loading at Walmart and loading online?
3. Can I load at Walmart with VGCs purchased from Simon Mall or Gift Card Mall?
1. I signed up for BB yesterday (without a temp card) but have changed my mind now and want to use Serve instead. As I haven't received and used my BB card, can I just call BB, close account, and open Serve ISIS immediately?
2. When loading with my CC, is there any difference in point earning between loading at Walmart and loading online?
3. Can I load at Walmart with VGCs purchased from Simon Mall or Gift Card Mall?
#5577
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I can confirm AU cards with different numbers but have their name on the card works fine.
New accounts have been required (from my experience) to have ID and front of card uploaded and then it's released from restrictions.
Kinda annoying at first but if you have everything in order it's easy and then your account should be free and clear for a long time.
New accounts have been required (from my experience) to have ID and front of card uploaded and then it's released from restrictions.
Kinda annoying at first but if you have everything in order it's easy and then your account should be free and clear for a long time.
#5578
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 252
I have a similar experience. I got a new CF and loaded $200 the first time successfully. On the second day, I kept getting an error message and was told to call the toll free number which I did. I was then asked to submit via a secure link a scan of the front of my DL and CCs I want to use. I asked the supervisor if there was a limit to # of CCs I can use and she said there's no limit and once I pass verification, I can use any of those cards to upload funds. I chose to use just 3 CCs for this account where I am primary to one and for the other 2, I used cards where AUs have different card numbers than the primary holder. Just minutes after sending the scan, I was able to upload from one of the CCs. The link to my bank account was also verified soon as I submitted the 2 small deposits.
#5579
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
you are correct, there is no drop down menu to choose the CC you want to use but I have cancelled/removed a card (temporarily) and used the other 2 interchangeably w/o a problem since I sent the scan of my CCs. I use different CCs to upload so that funding comes from 3 different CCs instead of just one. The default source of funding for me is my bank CA but I always click change funding source and it will show the last CC I used; I have to remove that CC first and add the others that I have on file with them so that the upload will not be blocked. So far, so good.
#5580
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,577
Updated the Wiki to reflect this as I had the same question awhile back and no one bothered to update it.