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 $500 over 2 days got me shut down. Called CSR and they re-opened my account, letting me know that "direct deposit would reduce my number of trips to walmart" lol!
Gobank by Greendot - online banking with debit card
Jun 30, 2013, 7:36 am
#886
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: JFK
Programs: *$ Gold :)
Posts: 1,061
Re: TheCallange GF case
Your GF's loads can potentially be on the same time and/or on the same atm as yours ?.. And if such, gc between you two can be from the same batch...
Your GF's loads can potentially be on the same time and/or on the same atm as yours ?.. And if such, gc between you two can be from the same batch...
Jun 30, 2013, 7:44 am
#887
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Western US
Programs: WN CP, WN A-List Preferred, AS MVPG 75k, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 554
Not only $900, but TheChallenger was closed after a month. That's also new info. Did you load the cards while you were traveling? Was this $900 loaded the same day all at once?
I wouldn't say GB is completely useless. I don't think they close accounts randomly. There was/were things we did they didn't like. If the WM loading is getting people shutdown, all who loaded @ a WM get shutdown.
I wouldn't say GB is completely useless. I don't think they close accounts randomly. There was/were things we did they didn't like. If the WM loading is getting people shutdown, all who loaded @ a WM get shutdown.
That is incredible that a $900 account got shut down.
2 semi-paranoid theories:
1) They are somehow able to tell where the loads originate - and OM $200 cards, which I'm sure they are seeing a bunch of - throw a trigger
and/or
2) Were you logging in to her account at the same IP address as yours? Of course that wouldn't trigger a shutdown, but maybe part of an account flag that since yours got shut down and someone is logging in from the same IP - that gets looked at.
2 semi-paranoid theories:
1) They are somehow able to tell where the loads originate - and OM $200 cards, which I'm sure they are seeing a bunch of - throw a trigger
and/or
2) Were you logging in to her account at the same IP address as yours? Of course that wouldn't trigger a shutdown, but maybe part of an account flag that since yours got shut down and someone is logging in from the same IP - that gets looked at.
1) Might be possible, the $500 load actually came from a real PayPal debit card. We drained a PP Cash card to GB to use as bill pay. And now that I think about it those two $200 gift cards came from a Safeway store due to the promotion going on, but they are the exact same type of cards as OM.
2) Last night was the first night I had ever logged on to her account, prior to that she only ever checked her balance on her phone after a load and her office. I'm fairly certain she signed up for the card using her office computer as well.
Jun 30, 2013, 7:47 am
#888
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Not only $900, but TheChallenge was closed after a month. That's also new info. Did you load the cards while you were traveling? Was this $900 loaded the same day all at once? Was this $900 ever serially loaded (a part of your $15k loading...like you loaded her card 1 min after you loaded your card)? How close are your and your GF's zip? Is your GF AU on any of your CCs or vice versa or share a loan or anything that ties you and your GF?
I wouldn't say GB is completely useless. I don't think they close accounts randomly. There was/were thing(s) we did they didn't like. If the WM loading is getting people shutdown, all who loaded @ a WM get shutdown.
Since your GF has a legit concern, are you going to call them and see what you can find out?
I wouldn't say GB is completely useless. I don't think they close accounts randomly. There was/were thing(s) we did they didn't like. If the WM loading is getting people shutdown, all who loaded @ a WM get shutdown.
Since your GF has a legit concern, are you going to call them and see what you can find out?
Jun 30, 2013, 7:53 am
#889
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
TheChallenge, were your GF's card serially loaded? (I have a habit of modifying my post after I post...and you replied before my modification to the post was completed)? Are there any way of implicating you two live together like having a loan or AU on each others CCs, etc? I assume all bills sent to her goes to her office? What do you mean by "she usually only loads or gets MOs for whatever I have left over"?
Jun 30, 2013, 7:55 am
#890
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Western US
Programs: WN CP, WN A-List Preferred, AS MVPG 75k, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 554
The only correlation I can see between our two accounts is she used an authorized user card from one of my credit cards to purchase the gift cards at Vons. Besides that I'm coming up with nothing.
*Edit*She does have an authorized user card but the card for both myself and her is actually attached to an address out of state. That address isn't associated with either of our GB accounts.
Jun 30, 2013, 8:02 am
#891
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
I guess how they verify 'identities' is important...and how far. That seems like a suspect. Not only she's AU, but out of state address. Is this how all of your CCs set up or this one only?
Last edited by vagrants; Jun 30, 2013 at 8:09 am
Jun 30, 2013, 8:25 am
#892
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: SPG Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 223
A hypothetical question: Based on the evidence to date, if one had a large amount of GCs to liquidate, would there be any reason NOT to load the max ($2.5K) daily until the inevitable shutdown occurs? What would be the point of hanging on to this card?
Jun 30, 2013, 8:27 am
#893
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 809
I have been asking myself this same question. Still unsure.
Jun 30, 2013, 8:34 am
#894
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sweet Home Chicago
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 646
This. I'm willing to bet that all they really want is DD customers and/or MP loaders. Debit swipes, regardless of whether they are GCs don't fit into their business model. They'll probably allow them in order to be competitive, but more than one or two debit swipes a month and you're costing them money. Very, very shady.
Jun 30, 2013, 8:38 am
#895
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
This. I'm willing to bet that all they really want is DD customers and/or MP loaders. Debit swipes, regardless of whether they are GCs don't fit into their business model. They'll probably allow them in order to be competitive, but more than one or two debit swipes a month and you're costing them money. Very, very shady.
By the way, thanks for the 90 day probation info, PainCorp.
TheChallenger: GoBank is the only product from GreenDot you guys used, correct?
Last edited by vagrants; Jun 30, 2013 at 8:48 am
Jun 30, 2013, 8:49 am
#896
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SDF
Programs: UA, HH
Posts: 692
I was thinking the same way. Seriously thinking going full blast once next shipment of Chase cards arrives.
Jun 30, 2013, 8:51 am
#897
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Western US
Programs: WN CP, WN A-List Preferred, AS MVPG 75k, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 554
I plan on calling on her account at least, but she's asleep right now so it might be a couple hours.
Jun 30, 2013, 8:54 am
#898
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
It depends upon how you want to play the game. Quick gratification (like a sign-up bonus) or long-term milking (like dealing with Chase Freedom). And, it's too early to say long-term milking is impossible. And, for now, quick gratification is the best choice since we don't know the probable causes of shutdowns.
Jun 30, 2013, 8:56 am
#899
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Western US
Programs: WN CP, WN A-List Preferred, AS MVPG 75k, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 554
Correct. I've steered clear of them so far because of the reputation, I only tried this one because I thought things would be different. I've never so much as bought even a MP. Same for her.
