Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Nov 1, 2012, 5:22 am
#1233
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,868
Nov 1, 2012, 7:00 am
#1235
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 244
As long as they make a profit in the end (even after theft, etc...), I don't think they care. And it always amazes me to see people buy someone a $50 amex card at the grocery store with $4-5 fee. REALLY?!?!
So they are getting big percents from those people instantly. And that's if they don't lose the card and take the entire thing as profit
(where the BIG money is at!)
So they are getting big percents from those people instantly. And that's if they don't lose the card and take the entire thing as profit
(where the BIG money is at!)
Nov 1, 2012, 7:11 am
#1236
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BGM
Programs: HHonors Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Platinum, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 771
Got this response to my registration:
Thank you for your recent registration for a Bluebird Account.
Unfortunately we are not able to validate your registration information at this time. In order for us to process your registration, please contact us at 1-866-340-2773 during the following business hours: Monday - Saturday, 6:00AM-6:00PM (MST).
Please be sure to call us within 2 weeks to ensure your registration is not cancelled.
Any thoughts on why? I will call when I get back in the country next week, but am just surprised they deny automatic registration like that. Anyone else have this happen to them?
Thank you for your recent registration for a Bluebird Account.
Unfortunately we are not able to validate your registration information at this time. In order for us to process your registration, please contact us at 1-866-340-2773 during the following business hours: Monday - Saturday, 6:00AM-6:00PM (MST).
Please be sure to call us within 2 weeks to ensure your registration is not cancelled.
Any thoughts on why? I will call when I get back in the country next week, but am just surprised they deny automatic registration like that. Anyone else have this happen to them?
I let it go and then several days later got an email saying that they couldn't verify it and I needed to call them. So, I called and they told me that they had "new verification procedures" so that's why it didn't get verified automatically. I had to verify my name, address and SS#. Said I was good to go and my card would be here in 7-10 days.
Nov 1, 2012, 7:21 am
#1237
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 493
I had the same thing happen to me after I canceled my Serve account and immediately signed up for a BlueBird.
I let it go and then several days later got an email saying that they couldn't verify it and I needed to call them. So, I called and they told me that they had "new verification procedures" so that's why it didn't get verified automatically. I had to verify my name, address and SS#. Said I was good to go and my card would be here in 7-10 days.
I let it go and then several days later got an email saying that they couldn't verify it and I needed to call them. So, I called and they told me that they had "new verification procedures" so that's why it didn't get verified automatically. I had to verify my name, address and SS#. Said I was good to go and my card would be here in 7-10 days.
Though I did transfer some funds from my checking account, however it shows up as pending.
Nov 1, 2012, 7:30 am
#1238
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
I used to think this way too, but there really are a lot of people who cannot manage a bank account and get eaten alive by overdraft and other fees. They honestly are better served by things like bluebirds and one time use cards. At least they can only go to zero, and not negative. I've seen bank accounts hundreds of dollars in the negative from fees.
.
Nov 1, 2012, 7:36 am
#1239
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 147
I had the same thing happen to me after I canceled my Serve account and immediately signed up for a BlueBird.
I let it go and then several days later got an email saying that they couldn't verify it and I needed to call them. So, I called and they told me that they had "new verification procedures" so that's why it didn't get verified automatically. I had to verify my name, address and SS#. Said I was good to go and my card would be here in 7-10 days.
I let it go and then several days later got an email saying that they couldn't verify it and I needed to call them. So, I called and they told me that they had "new verification procedures" so that's why it didn't get verified automatically. I had to verify my name, address and SS#. Said I was good to go and my card would be here in 7-10 days.
Nov 1, 2012, 7:45 am
#1240
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BGM
Programs: HHonors Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Platinum, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 771
Well, I cant' even log into my new BB account even after it has been "approved" and my card is on the way. This is the message I get when I try to log in:
Sorry, your username and password is not working at this time due to your Bluebird Account status
Sorry, your username and password is not working at this time due to your Bluebird Account status
Nov 1, 2012, 8:55 am
#1241
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 233
Can anyone else confirm costco can feed the bird ?
Nov 1, 2012, 9:19 am
#1242
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 27
Bluebird has me thinking about how to enhance my overall Walmart strategy. Now that Walmart carries $20-$500 variable load Visa gift cards, I ran a little test. I tried to purchase a Visa gift card in-store with a Walmart e-code. The checker told me you can't buy gift cards with gift cards but she didn't attempt to ring it through. Does anybody know if the registers are programmed to prohibit this? I know you can do this at Walmart.com for $200 but if you can do it in the store for $500 it greatly improves the margins.
Nov 1, 2012, 9:24 am
#1243
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Long Beach
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,171
Nov 1, 2012, 9:36 am
#1244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
Yeah, it's not exactly the "whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God." But, really, the OD store manager doesn't need a tutorial in points churning. Offering a plausible explanation for why I was looking for this particular card did seem to motivate her to help me (not that she succeeded, of course).
That said, this all seems a bit academic to me because, best I can tell, there are a limited number of OD's where you can actually pick up the reload cards. And since nobody is telling folks where these stores are, and there seems to be no "scientific" way of searching for them, this OD trick seems more theoretical than practical.
But, really, the OD store manager doesn't need a tutorial in points churning. Offering a plausible explanation for why I was looking for this particular card did seem to motivate her to help me (not that she succeeded, of course).That said, this all seems a bit academic to me because, best I can tell, there are a limited number of OD's where you can actually pick up the reload cards. And since nobody is telling folks where these stores are, and there seems to be no "scientific" way of searching for them, this OD trick seems more theoretical than practical.