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.
Nov 5, 2014, 8:59 am
#7816
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 321
Yes I confirm this too....Citi AA master card was used and shows up as POI Funding Transactions no fee yet looks like this still works did this on 10/28.
Nov 5, 2014, 9:25 am
#7818
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 109
Has anyone received the error message, "CARD ISSUER DECLINE TRANSACTION CODE" when trying to add a credit card? I received an updated cc because my old one was comprised, and now it can't be added to Serve. It's the same exact card as before, just a different number and expiration.
Update: Looks like FIA is a joke. I activated my card via their automatic phone system days ago, but I had to call and speak to a human who told me my card was "ready for use," even though it clearly wasn't until she manually activated it. Terrible company.
Update: Looks like FIA is a joke. I activated my card via their automatic phone system days ago, but I had to call and speak to a human who told me my card was "ready for use," even though it clearly wasn't until she manually activated it. Terrible company.
Last edited by rooney; Nov 5, 2014 at 9:42 am
Nov 5, 2014, 11:35 am
#7819
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 48
FD Loads
If true, then it must be new. I was not able to do multiple loads to different Serve cards a few weeks ago unless it was a velocity limit (attempted it back to back). (Back in July I was not successful loading onto the same Serve card at the same store even after 6 hours!)
Nov 5, 2014, 12:12 pm
#7820
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 209
how long are people waiting between loading via online CC and xfer into linked checking account?
Nov 5, 2014, 1:28 pm
#7823
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 209
clearly i'm an idiot then
dammit I hate being an idiot
dammit I hate being an idiot
Last edited by riversidetom; Nov 5, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Nov 5, 2014, 2:31 pm
#7824
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
Bank account transfers?
I'm confused about the recent discussion here about withdraws to bank accounts. In the wiki, early on, it says:
However, people seem to be saying that you can do exactly this. And, the wiki seems to back these people up, by contradicting itself near the bottom. In the section of the wiki titled "SPENDING YOUR SERVE CARD MONEY:", there's a heading of "For bank transfers":
So what gives? Is the wiki just wrong (and if so, could someone update it, please? I do not have enough posts to do so), or am I misunderstanding something?
You cannot make an ACH pull from Serve. The direct deposit account and routing numbers are for deposits only.
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.
Nov 5, 2014, 2:53 pm
#7825
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
I'm confused about the recent discussion here about withdraws to bank accounts. In the wiki, early on, it says:
However, people seem to be saying that you can do exactly this. And, the wiki seems to back these people up, by contradicting itself near the bottom. In the section of the wiki titled "SPENDING YOUR SERVE CARD MONEY:", there's a heading of "For bank transfers":
So what gives? Is the wiki just wrong (and if so, could someone update it, please? I do not have enough posts to do so), or am I misunderstanding something?
However, people seem to be saying that you can do exactly this. And, the wiki seems to back these people up, by contradicting itself near the bottom. In the section of the wiki titled "SPENDING YOUR SERVE CARD MONEY:", there's a heading of "For bank transfers":
So what gives? Is the wiki just wrong (and if so, could someone update it, please? I do not have enough posts to do so), or am I misunderstanding something?
Nov 5, 2014, 6:56 pm
#7827
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 77
I had experience #2 tonight at a different WM with a FULLY FUNCTIONAL Kate! I only had 2 $200 VGC's, and treated them as 2 separate $200 loads (I'm still feeling my way around how things may go in my area, thus why the low loads). Anyway, in re-reading the wiki, it looks like I may have been able to combine both of these $200 VGC's into 1 $400 transaction, since up to 4 swipes are allowed per transaction, and up to $500 is allowed per transaction? I'm not quite seeing this option spelled out, so ca nsomeone confirm/deny if this is the case?
Nov 5, 2014, 8:36 pm
#7828
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I had experience #2 tonight at a different WM with a FULLY FUNCTIONAL Kate! I only had 2 $200 VGC's, and treated them as 2 separate $200 loads (I'm still feeling my way around how things may go in my area, thus why the low loads). Anyway, in re-reading the wiki, it looks like I may have been able to combine both of these $200 VGC's into 1 $400 transaction, since up to 4 swipes are allowed per transaction, and up to $500 is allowed per transaction? I'm not quite seeing this option spelled out, so ca nsomeone confirm/deny if this is the case?
You may also want to read the Wiki of BB thread because Serve works identically when using debit card load and it is a product introduced long after BB came about.
Human and the register can take up to 4 correct swipes and your Serve counts for one swipe so only 3 swipes left for the loading cards.
No idea where the $500 coming from. Serve daily load limit is $2500 but obviously if your source cards have a maximum value of $500 or below, you would need to use multiple transactions to reach the daily limit.
Nov 5, 2014, 10:26 pm
#7829
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 565
Kate is ONE card at a time. It also has a velocity limit. Please read wiki multiple times because you obviously misunderstand a lot of things.
You may also want to read the Wiki of BB thread because Serve works identically when using debit card load and it is a product introduced long after BB came about.
Human and the register can take up to 4 correct swipes and your Serve counts for one swipe so only 3 swipes left for the loading cards.
No idea where the $500 coming from. Serve daily load limit is $2500 but obviously if your source cards have a maximum value of $500 or below, you would need to use multiple transactions to reach the daily limit.
You may also want to read the Wiki of BB thread because Serve works identically when using debit card load and it is a product introduced long after BB came about.
Human and the register can take up to 4 correct swipes and your Serve counts for one swipe so only 3 swipes left for the loading cards.
No idea where the $500 coming from. Serve daily load limit is $2500 but obviously if your source cards have a maximum value of $500 or below, you would need to use multiple transactions to reach the daily limit.
Nov 6, 2014, 12:21 am
#7830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
It is YMMV - I loaded 1500 on a BB in one transaction this afternoon in my store. It is always a localized experience when it comes to WMT, like the CVS in the old days.