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.
Oct 16, 2014, 8:27 pm
#7396
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,312
Oct 16, 2014, 8:27 pm
#7397
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 66
DO NOT BUY A "PREVIOUSLY-USED" cash wrap case. It will not work if has already been registered by a previous user. It has a encrypted uSD card inside the cashwrap case which can't be reused as it is tied to your phone number.
Oct 16, 2014, 8:34 pm
#7398
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,012
Damn. Thought I could use an old phone we just use as like an iPod. Thanks.
Oct 16, 2014, 10:44 pm
#7400
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
IME it will work IF the previous user closes their ISIS/Softcard account. I had to have my Softcard account closed and reopened, and within seconds of them closing it, it flashed up an iOS notification to setup a new Softcard account.
Oct 16, 2014, 11:01 pm
#7401
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 208
When you have multiple serve account. Is it safe to use multiple serve accounts to pay the same cc? Or should the serve account and bill pay cc be the same name?
Oct 17, 2014, 12:31 am
#7402
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 514
Any experience with Citi Premier Visa hit by CA? Given all the info about Citi Visa hit by CA, most likely this one is also a CA, yet any real experience?
Oct 17, 2014, 5:18 am
#7404
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 66
Not 100% sure if a "stranger" closes their ISIS account you can use THEIR FORMER cashwrap case but in my 2 "used cases" off ebay they were useless and (IMO) I doubt it.
I do doubt that because the MicroSD card in the cashwrap is still "burned" with their info. Cashwrap relies on THREE verifcations. #1) You cell account is provisioned for it, #2) Special SIM card from your mobile provider & #3) the info burned to the encrypted MicroSD card inside the cashwrap case.
You might be correct on the "if the seller closes their account the case can be reused" but I (without any evidence) doubt it. I wouldn't want to spend money on a used case and take that chance. Opening and changing YOUR OWN ACCOUNT will work as I have done that myself since they are all tied to the same phone device IMEI & phone number which is tied to the cashwrap's encrypted MicroSD card.
I have tried switching my iPhone SIM provisioned and used with a cashwrap case into an Android device where it did work with NFC then back to the cashwrap cased iPhone and it took about 2 hours of phone calls with ISIS advanced level support (actually here in the US!) to get it working again. The frontline ISIS support people are morons who simply read from a script that says either: Get a new case, Get a new sim, turn off WIFI or reboot your phone . That is their only answer to any problem. I got through to "real technical support" by posting a nasty Twitter message which is all I use Twitter for these days as it seems to be the only way to get any problem resolved with any company.
One of the "real" support people told me that if I give them the number off the encrypted MicroSD card in the case they MIGHT be able "clean it" so it can be reused but I found it impossible to read the number so we never went there and she said it might not work.
Bottom line, DON'T buy a used cashwrap case even if the seller says it was "never used" unless you can get a refund and don't buy one "on sale" from a cell provider if the box was opened (I did that too and it wouldn't work) because it probably was a return that was "tried out" by the person who returned it. The ONLY 2 I got to work were brand new ones that were never opened.
Last edited by MisterEdF; Oct 17, 2014 at 5:23 am Reason: TYPOS
Oct 17, 2014, 7:31 am
#7405
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 47
Loaded with Citi AA Mastercard on 10/15 it appears to be a "purchase" transaction. Statement date is 11/1 so we'll see.
10-15-2014 AMERICAN EXPRESS SERVE 8009540559 FL
POI FUNDING TRANSACTIONS(EX MC MONEYSEND
Transaction Type: Purchases
Posted Date :10-15-2014
10-15-2014 AMERICAN EXPRESS SERVE 8009540559 FL
POI FUNDING TRANSACTIONS(EX MC MONEYSEND
Transaction Type: Purchases
Posted Date :10-15-2014
Oct 17, 2014, 8:23 am
#7406
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 825
Anyone else get this overnight?
Your payment request of $XXXX.XX on 10/15/2014 is being processed and will be received by CREDIT CARD COMPANY in 2-4 days.
*In case you cannot tell, I hid the amount and credit card name.
Your payment request of $XXXX.XX on 10/15/2014 is being processed and will be received by CREDIT CARD COMPANY in 2-4 days.
*In case you cannot tell, I hid the amount and credit card name.
Oct 17, 2014, 8:31 am
#7407
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 35
That is probably because YOUR old ISIS account is still tied to the same "special" ISIS SIM card in your phone and the same cashwrap case secure MicroSD ID.
Not 100% sure if a "stranger" closes their ISIS account you can use THEIR FORMER cashwrap case but in my 2 "used cases" off ebay they were useless and (IMO) I doubt it.
I do doubt that because the MicroSD card in the cashwrap is still "burned" with their info. Cashwrap relies on THREE verifcations. #1) You cell account is provisioned for it, #2) Special SIM card from your mobile provider & #3) the info burned to the encrypted MicroSD card inside the cashwrap case.
You might be correct on the "if the seller closes their account the case can be reused" but I (without any evidence) doubt it. I wouldn't want to spend money on a used case and take that chance. Opening and changing YOUR OWN ACCOUNT will work as I have done that myself since they are all tied to the same phone device IMEI & phone number which is tied to the cashwrap's encrypted MicroSD card.
I have tried switching my iPhone SIM provisioned and used with a cashwrap case into an Android device where it did work with NFC then back to the cashwrap cased iPhone and it took about 2 hours of phone calls with ISIS advanced level support (actually here in the US!) to get it working again. The frontline ISIS support people are morons who simply read from a script that says either: Get a new case, Get a new sim, turn off WIFI or reboot your phone . That is their only answer to any problem. I got through to "real technical support" by posting a nasty Twitter message which is all I use Twitter for these days as it seems to be the only way to get any problem resolved with any company.
One of the "real" support people told me that if I give them the number off the encrypted MicroSD card in the case they MIGHT be able "clean it" so it can be reused but I found it impossible to read the number so we never went there and she said it might not work.
Bottom line, DON'T buy a used cashwrap case even if the seller says it was "never used" unless you can get a refund and don't buy one "on sale" from a cell provider if the box was opened (I did that too and it wouldn't work) because it probably was a return that was "tried out" by the person who returned it. The ONLY 2 I got to work were brand new ones that were never opened.
Not 100% sure if a "stranger" closes their ISIS account you can use THEIR FORMER cashwrap case but in my 2 "used cases" off ebay they were useless and (IMO) I doubt it.
I do doubt that because the MicroSD card in the cashwrap is still "burned" with their info. Cashwrap relies on THREE verifcations. #1) You cell account is provisioned for it, #2) Special SIM card from your mobile provider & #3) the info burned to the encrypted MicroSD card inside the cashwrap case.
You might be correct on the "if the seller closes their account the case can be reused" but I (without any evidence) doubt it. I wouldn't want to spend money on a used case and take that chance. Opening and changing YOUR OWN ACCOUNT will work as I have done that myself since they are all tied to the same phone device IMEI & phone number which is tied to the cashwrap's encrypted MicroSD card.
I have tried switching my iPhone SIM provisioned and used with a cashwrap case into an Android device where it did work with NFC then back to the cashwrap cased iPhone and it took about 2 hours of phone calls with ISIS advanced level support (actually here in the US!) to get it working again. The frontline ISIS support people are morons who simply read from a script that says either: Get a new case, Get a new sim, turn off WIFI or reboot your phone . That is their only answer to any problem. I got through to "real technical support" by posting a nasty Twitter message which is all I use Twitter for these days as it seems to be the only way to get any problem resolved with any company.
One of the "real" support people told me that if I give them the number off the encrypted MicroSD card in the case they MIGHT be able "clean it" so it can be reused but I found it impossible to read the number so we never went there and she said it might not work.
Bottom line, DON'T buy a used cashwrap case even if the seller says it was "never used" unless you can get a refund and don't buy one "on sale" from a cell provider if the box was opened (I did that too and it wouldn't work) because it probably was a return that was "tried out" by the person who returned it. The ONLY 2 I got to work were brand new ones that were never opened.
I've set up seven iPhone 4S in cashwrap cases and none of those iPhones was using any kind of special SIM card--in fact some were even using super-old full-size SIM cards that were cut down to micro-SIM size.
I was also able to set all these phones up on Softcard without needing any special AT&T provisioning on the account. When I was in the AT&T store buying the cases they tried to tell me I needed to add a special ISIS plan to the lines I was activating the cases on. I told them I'd do it later but in the end it doesn't appear to have been needed at all.
In my experience you definitely need cellular data on in order to set up the Softcard account, add cards to the wallet, or pay with the wallet.
Oct 17, 2014, 9:43 am
#7408
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BOS
Posts: 588
If you did send a payment... I don't really understand your question. I get those emails every time I send a payment.
Oct 17, 2014, 10:27 am
#7409
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Should we try complaining to SoftCard about this cash advance fee? Because they must be having issues getting their product off the ground given they offered free Jamba Juices to their users for about 6 months earlier this year and late last year. They advertise their product as being able to use any credit card with American Express Serve, but who's going to use it if they will be hit with a cash advance fee to load the card?
you have a point but I don't think it'll prosper. There's many ways to add money to Softserve card, not just via CC load so it's not SC's problem if amex or individual CCs charge a CA fee to load Serve. They'll likely say there's other options you can choose from. My2C.
You can try but you're wasting your time. The reply will be: "You CAN use any credit card. You can also use a debit card, use an ACH transfer, use cash at various outlets or find a card that doesn't CA because our disclaimer clearly states you may be charged a CA fee if you load with a CC."
You have no grounds for a complaint since it clearly states it in the TOS. But feel free to try since there is no CA fee for a complaint.
You have no grounds for a complaint since it clearly states it in the TOS. But feel free to try since there is no CA fee for a complaint.
Oct 17, 2014, 10:31 am
#7410
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Far too many
Posts: 315
Automatic vs Manual CC Serve Loads
According to the Serve representative, the reason the first load from a Club Carlson Visa was coded as a purchase while the next were coded as quasi-cash is that the first was manual, while the rest were automatic loads I had calendared in the Serve account.
If this is true, it may still be possible to use the Carlson Visa for Serve loads as long as these are each done individually, and not by setting Serve to load from the card automatically.
If this is true, it may still be possible to use the Carlson Visa for Serve loads as long as these are each done individually, and not by setting Serve to load from the card automatically.