Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Dec 7, 2012, 7:27 pm
#3796
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 20
I've paid several bills with Bluebird; each payee has been in the system. My wife and I would like to make tax-deductible church charitable contributions using Bluebird's bill payment, which will require us to enter the church's address and such. As far as I can figure, this shouldn't be any issue, but I just want to make sure: I'm not missing anything that could potentially make this a problem, am I?
Dec 7, 2012, 7:34 pm
#3797
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Money laundering is a scheme to hide ill-gotten money.
If you're buying VR with cash, then I can see a potential money-laundering issue when buying in size. You're then recycling, and hiding, any illegally gained money.
But how is money laundering a concern when buying with a credit card? No cash is used and there's a clear paper trail. There's nothing being concealed.
What am I missing?
If you're buying VR with cash, then I can see a potential money-laundering issue when buying in size. You're then recycling, and hiding, any illegally gained money.
But how is money laundering a concern when buying with a credit card? No cash is used and there's a clear paper trail. There's nothing being concealed.
What am I missing?
Dec 7, 2012, 7:36 pm
#3798
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MKE
Programs: Fly: AA EXP UA Gold MM Stay: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat Drive: Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 782
Dec 7, 2012, 7:47 pm
#3799
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
As has been reported earlier in this thread, the "memo" section of the check is always left blank on the actual paper checks that get sent out. Just put your account number in the space labeled "account number" when setting up the payees. That space appears in the "Pay Bills" section regardless of whether or not your company is listed. You should never use the "Send Money" section to pay bills because there is no dedicated account number space.
Dec 7, 2012, 8:19 pm
#3800
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
Money laundering is a scheme to hide ill-gotten money.
If you're buying VR with cash, then I can see a potential money-laundering issue when buying in size. You're then recycling, and hiding, any illegally gained money.
But how is money laundering a concern when buying with a credit card? No cash is used and there's a clear paper trail. There's nothing being concealed.
What am I missing?
If you're buying VR with cash, then I can see a potential money-laundering issue when buying in size. You're then recycling, and hiding, any illegally gained money.
But how is money laundering a concern when buying with a credit card? No cash is used and there's a clear paper trail. There's nothing being concealed.
What am I missing?
Edit add
And they could ask you where you get the money you use for all this or how you pay off those cards. Whats your income, what do hou do with the gcs you buy? Etc etc
How much of this will you tell them?
Last edited by Marathon Man; Dec 7, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Dec 7, 2012, 8:40 pm
#3801
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 147
transferred money from bluebird to my boa checking. BB says its complete BoA says they never got it. Anybody deal with this? BB customer service says talk with BoA the money was "successfully" transferred. BoA says nope we got nothing. Stuck... 
Dec 7, 2012, 8:46 pm
#3802
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
sometimes takes 5 days for money to magically appear....
Dec 7, 2012, 8:47 pm
#3803
Formerly known as cagalindo
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MCO TPA
Programs: Citi AA/HH/TYP Amex SPG/HH & Chase SP/PC
Posts: 1,335
in the same boat... first one went through but this second one i didnt get the money... its only been 4 days so im gonna wait... i know if i call now they will say call back later anyways
Dec 7, 2012, 8:52 pm
#3805
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 20
I can concur. When bluebird says ACH to a bank it complete it usually takes another 1-3 days to actually show up in your bank account. At least it does show up...
Dec 7, 2012, 9:14 pm
#3806
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 147
today is day 5, they said there is a glitch and it should be there on monday.
Dec 7, 2012, 9:28 pm
#3807
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 33
Yes, I paid my child's school fee via BB check, no problem. You will have to call your church to confirm that they received the check. As far as I can tell, the BB site doesn't tell you when the check is received or cleared.
Dec 7, 2012, 10:09 pm
#3808
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 197
Bluebird Customer Service Hold Times?
Anyone having problems getting a hold of reps at BB? One phone line is giving me a recording after I get through the prompts and it's telling me that the service is SO successful that they can't take any more calls because of the demand, and then it hangs up. The other number I've called just doesn't get answered. I was on hold for 15 minutes this morning before I hung up, without ever talking to a rep. Any specific phone numbers working for you all?
Dec 7, 2012, 10:43 pm
#3809
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
If so, the SPG Card is blocked. Call to find out if it has triggered a fraud alert and the card being blocked. You should also receive both a phone message and an email message asking you to call to verify (attempted) transactions if your card is blocked.
Dec 7, 2012, 10:45 pm
#3810
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Here's my experience today:
I bought one VR with Amex GC with no issues at CVS.
Got a new Amex GC and went to another store with VR and got "alternate payment method" error. They tried multiple times. Then went back to the original store where I had success, and got same error.
Is the Amex card 'too new'? The original successful purchase was one I bought a few days ago.
I bought one VR with Amex GC with no issues at CVS.
Got a new Amex GC and went to another store with VR and got "alternate payment method" error. They tried multiple times. Then went back to the original store where I had success, and got same error.
Is the Amex card 'too new'? The original successful purchase was one I bought a few days ago.
Last edited by Happy; Dec 7, 2012 at 11:29 pm