Oct 25, 2013, 11:21 am
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.
Aug 10, 2014, 8:22 pm
#5986
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 2,272
So I finally got through to a serve rep and they told me I can only load once in a 24 hour period which I knew. The problem is after I hung up the phone I did the math. I made a load around 1am on 8/9/14. The rep was telling me its within 24 hours and I should be able to load after 1am. The problem with that logic is that it was 24 hours at 1am this morning 8/10/14. In a few hours it will be 1am again only it will be 1am on 8/11 and that will be 48 hours after the load, so I am very confused by the rep's claim that there is nothing wrong with my account.
Aug 10, 2014, 8:58 pm
#5988
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 48
HELP!!!! I just went to Family Dollar to add $500 to my Amex Serve with a Vanilla Visa Gift Card. The transaction seemed to go through fine – on the pin pad, said approved, then a few lines down, “declined.” The entire cash register shut down, the screen said “fraud alert,” etc….
I offered to come back after another errand. When I did, I was told by the manager that they could only load $495 max, and that, due to the fraud alert, I had to come back 24 hours later. Fine. When I got home, I checked my gc balance – sure enough – $500 was gone. But it was NOT added to my AMEX Serve Account. So $500 has disappeared. I will try to call Family Dollar Corporate, but at this point, do I have any other options??? I can’t believe this has happened! And I have no receipt b/c the register shut down…
I offered to come back after another errand. When I did, I was told by the manager that they could only load $495 max, and that, due to the fraud alert, I had to come back 24 hours later. Fine. When I got home, I checked my gc balance – sure enough – $500 was gone. But it was NOT added to my AMEX Serve Account. So $500 has disappeared. I will try to call Family Dollar Corporate, but at this point, do I have any other options??? I can’t believe this has happened! And I have no receipt b/c the register shut down…
If merely on hold, you should have your funds made back available, generally in 7 days.
If it does settle after a day or two, go back to the store and explain the situation, hopefully they will refund the money at that point.
Good luck
Aug 10, 2014, 9:01 pm
#5989
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Call One Vanilla, it may be possible that your $-0- balance is the available balance. The missing $500 may be "held" pending settlement by Family Dollar.
If merely on hold, you should have your funds made back available, generally in 7 days.
If it does settle after a day or two, go back to the store and explain the situation, hopefully they will refund the money at that point.
Good luck
If merely on hold, you should have your funds made back available, generally in 7 days.
If it does settle after a day or two, go back to the store and explain the situation, hopefully they will refund the money at that point.
Good luck
Aug 10, 2014, 9:34 pm
#5990
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 218
My Serve card was declined at the POS system at Best Buy even though I have set a credit card in my account as an unlimited backup source. I tried calling them and I got an incompetent rep who said my account looks fine and put me on hold for too long. I have a $0.00 balance in my Serve account and have already loaded and withdrawn the max of $1000.00 from the credit card this month, but in the past I have had no problems using the Serve card to make purchases and it would still pull the money from my credit card. Is anyone else having this issue?
I was trying to buy Visa GCs at Best Buy for the $25 back on $250 Amex Offer.
Loading money to the Serve card is an option but then I would be missing out on credit card cashback. I did not anticipate having issues with using the card in this manner since I have done it before.
I was trying to buy Visa GCs at Best Buy for the $25 back on $250 Amex Offer.
Loading money to the Serve card is an option but then I would be missing out on credit card cashback. I did not anticipate having issues with using the card in this manner since I have done it before.
Aug 10, 2014, 10:08 pm
#5991
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 565
Why are people using CC as a backup source for purchase? Why don't you just use the CC directly? You don't get more or less points routing it through Serve.
Aug 10, 2014, 10:27 pm
#5993
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 127
I think sometimes stores don't allow you to use credit card to buy certain cash and cash equivalent. so you can use serve to pretend you were using a debit..?
Aug 10, 2014, 10:36 pm
#5994
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 218
Same situation to me. However, the manager of the store I went to was very friendly and helpful. He digged through a list of transactions to find my Serve load and printed the receipt for me. He also called Corporate line to get the fund back to my VGC. It took total 14 days to get the fund back but I was glad everything was sorted out. So I would suggest to get back to the store ASAP and talk to the manager and get a copy of transaction (and yes, he has power to do so) and ask him to either refund the money or call Corporate line to reinstate the fund back to your OV. You don't need to call OV or Serve at this point as they will not see your transaction at all.
Aug 10, 2014, 10:37 pm
#5995
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 218
We load Bestbuy offer into the Serve card and would like to take advantage of both Amex offer and credit cash back.
Aug 10, 2014, 10:38 pm
#5996
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 174
Aug 11, 2014, 1:22 am
#5997
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 2,272
So I ended up calling serve again and after being transferred to another rep they are now claiming the serve loads are being denied by the credit card company. I'm using a chase ink. Has anyone had an issue with Chase refusing to allow a serve load?
Aug 11, 2014, 2:25 am
#5998
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 396
Same situation to me. However, the manager of the store I went to was very friendly and helpful. He digged through a list of transactions to find my Serve load and printed the receipt for me. He also called Corporate line to get the fund back to my VGC. It took total 14 days to get the fund back but I was glad everything was sorted out. So I would suggest to get back to the store ASAP and talk to the manager and get a copy of transaction (and yes, he has power to do so) and ask him to either refund the money or call Corporate line to reinstate the fund back to your OV. You don't need to call OV or Serve at this point as they will not see your transaction at all.
Aug 11, 2014, 3:31 am
#5999
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: HNL
Posts: 55
I think some people are using it to buy stuff at costco where visa/MC aren't accepted and/or using sync offers. Either one of those methods puts an "Amex" purchase onto your visa/MC.
Aug 11, 2014, 9:35 am
#6000
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Same situation to me. However, the manager of the store I went to was very friendly and helpful. He digged through a list of transactions to find my Serve load and printed the receipt for me. He also called Corporate line to get the fund back to my VGC. It took total 14 days to get the fund back but I was glad everything was sorted out. So I would suggest to get back to the store ASAP and talk to the manager and get a copy of transaction (and yes, he has power to do so) and ask him to either refund the money or call Corporate line to reinstate the fund back to your OV. You don't need to call OV or Serve at this point as they will not see your transaction at all.
Also - fyi -she said the limit had been met at my store earlier in the day at 11am. So ONE person adding money to serve 10 hours earlier is what messed this whole thing up. The store I went to (in the NC triangle) has a $500 limit. Grrr....
Thanks again everyone!