Jun 28, 2013, 3:20 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
Moderator note: A new thread for 2016 is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1738030-gobank-greendot-online-banking-debit-card-2016-a.html
Do NOT let Rite-Aid scan the GoBank barcode. You will be charged, but your funds won't load. It is a PIA to get your funds back.
Want to stay active? Be sure to only load when your balance is at or close to 0. Continuing to load when you have funds in there seems to be a no no. Swipes are recommended, but there are folks active that don't swipe.
Lots of $200 loads can get you shutdown. GoBank does not like paying load fees on low denomination loads. Two $500 loads is better than five $200 loads.
Shut down reports:
Please list your load/spend/billpay details (in a single statement/lifetime?) e.g.,
type of load, number of loads, denomination of your gc or mp, amount of your billpay, any actual swipe/dd?
lad2 (closed) - May: $2.7K 9 loads 5DDs - June: $5.5K 5 loads 6DDs - July: $4.6K 6 loads 1DD - August $9.9K 19 loads 1DD - no swipes
TheDapperDon (open) June $4.5k 5 loads. All GCs. 1 swipe. Everything else BP to CC. 1500 most loaded in one day .July - $3489 5 loads. All GCs. Several swipes. No load until below $20 or so remaining.
raghu455 (closed) May $2k 4 loads, june $7k all GCs. All BP to CC.
drdrew450 (closed) 17K in loads, unloaded all through bill pay, less than a month
cuebert (closed) $4.5k in 9 MP loads, BP out. That was fast.
sgideons (closed) May $7k 17 loads, june $17k 27 loads, july $5k 6 loads, september $3.5k 4 loads. Unloaded 90% ACH pull, 5% PP to self, 5% bill pay tool. Closed on September statement date.
MDWCommuter (closed): June only, $8k in 60 loads, all GC. $2k is most loaded in one day. Wrote 2 BP to CC checks, no ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, always carried at least a $1k balance
ArtemK (closed): 1st month - 5/21 - 6/21 - loaded $6,700, 6/21 - 6/30 - $4K loaded, all via GCs. Unloaded all via BP to Citi and Chase. No ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, no swipes.
rdover1 (Closed): 1st month - $23.6k loaded (WM GC), ~$1k spend, rest bill pay (mostly to CC)
rdover1 2nd card (closed): Closed mid cycle, survived 1st month. No bill pay, only MO. Never loaded over ~$4k. Total activity ~$12k.
T3pleShot (closed): 7k in loads at WMT, 10 loads, mostly $500, some $200, $4k billpay to CC, 5 swipes totaling about $25.
ctbarron (open): Month1 - $3.8k loaded, all bill pay out, 1 swipe; Month2 - $3.7k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD; Month3 - $4.2k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD. Zero membership fee, usually a balance of under $150.
americanindian (closed)- closed after 3 months today. had about 7.5k deposit each month, with lots of small value(<$20) purchases each month. liquidated mostly using bill pay.
rodsren (closed)- the dapperdon warned me. I was closed today after less than 5,500 or loaaing in less than 3 weeks (was going to try to keep it to 7,500 - 10,000 but didn't luck out.)
binnycode (closed, re-opened) - 7x $200 loads + 1x $700 load + 3x $500 over 2 days got me shut down. Called CSR and they re-opened my account, letting me know that "direct deposit would reduce my number of trips to walmart" lol!
Do NOT let Rite-Aid scan the GoBank barcode. You will be charged, but your funds won't load. It is a PIA to get your funds back.
Want to stay active? Be sure to only load when your balance is at or close to 0. Continuing to load when you have funds in there seems to be a no no. Swipes are recommended, but there are folks active that don't swipe.
Lots of $200 loads can get you shutdown. GoBank does not like paying load fees on low denomination loads. Two $500 loads is better than five $200 loads.
Shut down reports:
Please list your load/spend/billpay details (in a single statement/lifetime?) e.g.,
type of load, number of loads, denomination of your gc or mp, amount of your billpay, any actual swipe/dd?
lad2 (closed) - May: $2.7K 9 loads 5DDs - June: $5.5K 5 loads 6DDs - July: $4.6K 6 loads 1DD - August $9.9K 19 loads 1DD - no swipes
TheDapperDon (open) June $4.5k 5 loads. All GCs. 1 swipe. Everything else BP to CC. 1500 most loaded in one day .July - $3489 5 loads. All GCs. Several swipes. No load until below $20 or so remaining.
raghu455 (closed) May $2k 4 loads, june $7k all GCs. All BP to CC.
drdrew450 (closed) 17K in loads, unloaded all through bill pay, less than a month
cuebert (closed) $4.5k in 9 MP loads, BP out. That was fast.
sgideons (closed) May $7k 17 loads, june $17k 27 loads, july $5k 6 loads, september $3.5k 4 loads. Unloaded 90% ACH pull, 5% PP to self, 5% bill pay tool. Closed on September statement date.
MDWCommuter (closed): June only, $8k in 60 loads, all GC. $2k is most loaded in one day. Wrote 2 BP to CC checks, no ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, always carried at least a $1k balance
ArtemK (closed): 1st month - 5/21 - 6/21 - loaded $6,700, 6/21 - 6/30 - $4K loaded, all via GCs. Unloaded all via BP to Citi and Chase. No ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, no swipes.
rdover1 (Closed): 1st month - $23.6k loaded (WM GC), ~$1k spend, rest bill pay (mostly to CC)
rdover1 2nd card (closed): Closed mid cycle, survived 1st month. No bill pay, only MO. Never loaded over ~$4k. Total activity ~$12k.
T3pleShot (closed): 7k in loads at WMT, 10 loads, mostly $500, some $200, $4k billpay to CC, 5 swipes totaling about $25.
ctbarron (open): Month1 - $3.8k loaded, all bill pay out, 1 swipe; Month2 - $3.7k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD; Month3 - $4.2k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD. Zero membership fee, usually a balance of under $150.
americanindian (closed)- closed after 3 months today. had about 7.5k deposit each month, with lots of small value(<$20) purchases each month. liquidated mostly using bill pay.
rodsren (closed)- the dapperdon warned me. I was closed today after less than 5,500 or loaaing in less than 3 weeks (was going to try to keep it to 7,500 - 10,000 but didn't luck out.)
binnycode (closed, re-opened) - 7x $200 loads + 1x $700 load + 3x $500 over 2 days got me shut down. Called CSR and they re-opened my account, letting me know that "direct deposit would reduce my number of trips to walmart" lol!
Gobank by Greendot - online banking with debit card
Feb 6, 2014, 9:59 am
#1741
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Two approaches. Method A is load as much as you can as quickly as you can. They will shut you down quickly, perhaps in a matter of days, but you'll get some benefit. If you want to drag it out a little longer don't load the maximums and don't withdraw cash quickly - let the money sit and then use GoBank's bill pay function. Once they shut you down be prepared to send in ID info and wait a couple of weeks to get your money back. GoBank does seem a bit more professional than say MVD in handling closures.
Method B would be to use GoBank sparingly. Load $500 or $1,000 per week, let is sit a day or two, then bill pay it out (I just pay off the CC's used to purchase the loads). Swipe the card a couple of times a month (no fees) for fun, make an ATM withdrawal here or there. I've managed to keep GoBank alive for about 8 months now using something like this, but I get little out of the card - just something else that can be done at Walmart while I'm there for MO's, Billpay, etc.
I don't know why you'd want to use an ATM to unload. Their bill pay function is fine and free and you can do larger volumes with this. I believe there are some data points in this thread where ATM activity draws more scrutiny, but YMMV.
Method B would be to use GoBank sparingly. Load $500 or $1,000 per week, let is sit a day or two, then bill pay it out (I just pay off the CC's used to purchase the loads). Swipe the card a couple of times a month (no fees) for fun, make an ATM withdrawal here or there. I've managed to keep GoBank alive for about 8 months now using something like this, but I get little out of the card - just something else that can be done at Walmart while I'm there for MO's, Billpay, etc.
I don't know why you'd want to use an ATM to unload. Their bill pay function is fine and free and you can do larger volumes with this. I believe there are some data points in this thread where ATM activity draws more scrutiny, but YMMV.
Feb 6, 2014, 4:27 pm
#1742
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Around The World
Programs: ALL :)
Posts: 384
Feb 6, 2014, 6:10 pm
#1743
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Feb 6, 2014, 7:15 pm
#1744
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
DapperDon - do you load smaller or larger GC's?
Feb 6, 2014, 8:42 pm
#1745
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
I have not read this thread in awhile...I was shut down a long time ago...see my info in the wiki...anyone successful getting a 2nd card after getting shutdown?
I could order one for my wife, give her parents address?
I could order one for my wife, give her parents address?
Feb 11, 2014, 4:02 pm
#1746
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: UA, DL, AA, ANA
Posts: 226
Two approaches. Method A is load as much as you can as quickly as you can. They will shut you down quickly, perhaps in a matter of days, but you'll get some benefit. If you want to drag it out a little longer don't load the maximums and don't withdraw cash quickly - let the money sit and then use GoBank's bill pay function. Once they shut you down be prepared to send in ID info and wait a couple of weeks to get your money back. GoBank does seem a bit more professional than say MVD in handling closures.
Method B would be to use GoBank sparingly. Load $500 or $1,000 per week, let is sit a day or two, then bill pay it out (I just pay off the CC's used to purchase the loads). Swipe the card a couple of times a month (no fees) for fun, make an ATM withdrawal here or there. I've managed to keep GoBank alive for about 8 months now using something like this, but I get little out of the card - just something else that can be done at Walmart while I'm there for MO's, Billpay, etc.
I don't know why you'd want to use an ATM to unload. Their bill pay function is fine and free and you can do larger volumes with this. I believe there are some data points in this thread where ATM activity draws more scrutiny, but YMMV.
Method B would be to use GoBank sparingly. Load $500 or $1,000 per week, let is sit a day or two, then bill pay it out (I just pay off the CC's used to purchase the loads). Swipe the card a couple of times a month (no fees) for fun, make an ATM withdrawal here or there. I've managed to keep GoBank alive for about 8 months now using something like this, but I get little out of the card - just something else that can be done at Walmart while I'm there for MO's, Billpay, etc.
I don't know why you'd want to use an ATM to unload. Their bill pay function is fine and free and you can do larger volumes with this. I believe there are some data points in this thread where ATM activity draws more scrutiny, but YMMV.
Feb 11, 2014, 5:01 pm
#1747
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I only have a single data point on this, but... One friend of mine got a card the same time as me, had the same load/amount pattern, similar disposal pattern, and got shut down after 4 months. When we looked at our transaction differences, the only thing we found was that I used over 50% $500 GC's to load (the rest $100-$200) while he used 80-90% $100 or $200 GC's. Perhaps GB likes fewer load transactions? Or, I am just randomly lucky - either one is possible with GreenDot.
DapperDon - do you load smaller or larger GC's?
DapperDon - do you load smaller or larger GC's?
Feb 12, 2014, 10:07 am
#1748
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 142
I found that my account was closed when I login today. I did 7K last month and 4K this month. I got a warning a couple of weeks ago. I think that my issue was unloading too soon after the loading. I need to find another way to unload VGCs.
Feb 12, 2014, 10:17 am
#1749
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
What did they say in the warning? Did they call?
Feb 12, 2014, 12:02 pm
#1750
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 142
I posted it earlier about it. They blocked my account after one ATM withdraw and I called them. They told me that I am supposed to use the card as normal checking account instead of frequently loading and withdraws. Actually, besides loading part (I use DD for my regular checking), I used the card exactly like my checking account. I used it just for online payment and occasional withdraw. Oh, well. I may start using MO to unload my VGCs.
Feb 13, 2014, 10:13 am
#1751
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 3
This is my first time posting so idk if i am doing this right but greendot blocked my card bc of my tax refund. i had to send documents stating who i was and still have not heard anything. as i did read on this happens all the time and they steal the money. I have made contact with my state genrel attorney, filed with the BBB and talked with the lawyer about small claims. they wont release my funds that are mine. they have a building is CA but idk if its a real one or not. has anyone gone through this and what was the out come
Feb 13, 2014, 10:15 am
#1752
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
This is my first time posting so idk if i am doing this right but greendot blocked my card bc of my tax refund. i had to send documents stating who i was and still have not heard anything. as i did read on this happens all the time and they steal the money. I have made contact with my state genrel attorney, filed with the BBB and talked with the lawyer about small claims. they wont release my funds that are mine. they have a building is CA but idk if its a real one or not. has anyone gone through this and what was the out come
Feb 13, 2014, 12:16 pm
#1753
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 3
yes
I have called and been told that it will take 7 to 14 business days. I understand but at the sametime i dont understand it. have you heard of it and them still holding up the account?
Feb 13, 2014, 12:20 pm
#1754
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 3
I didnt fax I took pics and emailed them bc i read that they will always say that they cant read the fax but dont tell you that till the end of the time frame. they said that it was bc i had a tax refund. they have it everywhere to dd your taxes on the card. i have been reading some ppl still dont have funds and they reply that it is bc the irs didnt release them but these ppl have tracking numbers and all that.
Feb 15, 2014, 6:37 pm
#1755
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
5 business days later go by and my account was still blocked. I called them and asked if they received my faxed. They verified and unblocked my account and my account has been good to go since then. It was about 2 months ago I think.
In 7-14 days you should be fine and get all your money back assuming everything is accurate and legit.