Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Jan 7, 2013, 9:11 pm
#5326
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 295
Speculating here, but I'm guessing it wasn't the total amount of spend that set off the fraud trigger, but the constant charges of a similar amount. For example, better to have a $4031.60 charge than four separate charges for $1007.90 each. I've run into this with Citi and BOA in the past.
Jan 7, 2013, 9:13 pm
#5327
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Anyone here knows if we can buy money order(MO) at Walmart with AmEx prepaid? if yes what are the limits? (I couldn't find amex pp thread)
Jan 7, 2013, 9:14 pm
#5328
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 624
Speculating here, but I'm guessing it wasn't the total amount of spend that set off the fraud trigger, but the constant charges of a similar amount. For example, better to have a $4031.60 charge than four separate charges for $1007.90 each. I've run into this with Citi and BOA in the past.
Jan 7, 2013, 9:25 pm
#5329
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sweet Home Chicago
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 646
Jan 7, 2013, 9:39 pm
#5330
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 46
Signed up strictly to ask this question. I am a noob in the miles game and I just recently received the United Mileage Plus Explorer card. I am not going after the 5x rewards points because I cannot apply for another credit card currently as I am trying to buy my first house. I have been trying to find a way to pay my student loans while earning miles.
I pay around $500 a month in student loans and I also spend around $300 to $400 a month at costco and I do not have an amex card. This bluebird card sounds perfect for me to earn a bunch of extra miles each month that I am not currently earning.
My question is are you only able to use vanilla reload cards to add funds to BB or am I able to buy visa gift cards as well?
It sounds like it would be worth the extra 800 miles per month on my card for basically $8 in processing fees for a couple GC but it sounds like sometimes the VR can be hard to find with the 5x points craze going on.
Any advice on my situation would be helpful and once again be easy on me since I am new to the game.
I pay around $500 a month in student loans and I also spend around $300 to $400 a month at costco and I do not have an amex card. This bluebird card sounds perfect for me to earn a bunch of extra miles each month that I am not currently earning.
My question is are you only able to use vanilla reload cards to add funds to BB or am I able to buy visa gift cards as well?
It sounds like it would be worth the extra 800 miles per month on my card for basically $8 in processing fees for a couple GC but it sounds like sometimes the VR can be hard to find with the 5x points craze going on.
Any advice on my situation would be helpful and once again be easy on me since I am new to the game.
Jan 7, 2013, 10:02 pm
#5332
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Programs: UA 1K, 1.3mm
Posts: 918
Jan 7, 2013, 10:05 pm
#5333
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 624
Signed up strictly to ask this question. I am a noob in the miles game and I just recently received the United Mileage Plus Explorer card. I am not going after the 5x rewards points because I cannot apply for another credit card currently as I am trying to buy my first house. I have been trying to find a way to pay my student loans while earning miles.
I pay around $500 a month in student loans and I also spend around $300 to $400 a month at costco and I do not have an amex card. This bluebird card sounds perfect for me to earn a bunch of extra miles each month that I am not currently earning.
My question is are you only able to use vanilla reload cards to add funds to BB or am I able to buy visa gift cards as well?
It sounds like it would be worth the extra 800 miles per month on my card for basically $8 in processing fees for a couple GC but it sounds like sometimes the VR can be hard to find with the 5x points craze going on.
Any advice on my situation would be helpful and once again be easy on me since I am new to the game.
I pay around $500 a month in student loans and I also spend around $300 to $400 a month at costco and I do not have an amex card. This bluebird card sounds perfect for me to earn a bunch of extra miles each month that I am not currently earning.
My question is are you only able to use vanilla reload cards to add funds to BB or am I able to buy visa gift cards as well?
It sounds like it would be worth the extra 800 miles per month on my card for basically $8 in processing fees for a couple GC but it sounds like sometimes the VR can be hard to find with the 5x points craze going on.
Any advice on my situation would be helpful and once again be easy on me since I am new to the game.
Jan 7, 2013, 10:12 pm
#5334
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 46
Thanks very much. Sounds like I will be signing up for the BB. No hard credit pull right? Now I need to find out where the VR are in my area.
Jan 7, 2013, 10:12 pm
#5335
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 624
Jan 7, 2013, 10:13 pm
#5336
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Jan 7, 2013, 10:20 pm
#5337
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 46
No hard pull. There's a list of locations at www.vanillareload.com. Ignore Walmart, they aren't there yet. Your best bet is CVS though. They are no longer at Office Depot. Welcome to FT
Jan 8, 2013, 2:33 am
#5338
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
Just an FYI which may or may not apply to you. I bought some whities here in a north Boston SVC and when i swiped my Chase card the CC register said "Another Form of Payment Required". He had no problem trying three times. Then I tried buying a candy bar. Same message. Even though i prob spend 6-8k month on that card, I decided to call Chase. Sure enough they blocked the card because she said that much spending at a drug store raises a flag. She reset my account, still didnt work, same message. Had to call fraud department and get them to lift ban. They also put a note, which I asked them to do, that large CVS purchases were acceptable.
In case it helpful, which its probably not but...
In case it helpful, which its probably not but...
Jan 8, 2013, 6:16 am
#5339
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Jan 8, 2013, 6:55 am
#5340
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 20
Money Orders Require Pin Based Debit Cards
The reason most prepaids don't work in buying money orders at USPS or Walmart, is because although they might say debit on them, but you swipe them as a credit card and are selecting credit as the payment method despite the funds being already loaded on the card.
If you find a prepaid with a pin number, then that would work, as it is then truly like a debit card.
If you find a prepaid with a pin number, then that would work, as it is then truly like a debit card.