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
Jul 18, 2013, 11:15 am
#1111
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 194
I emailed Customer Service about what was going on and this is the reply I got:
I'm sorry that your account is being closed. Unfortunately the decision is final. Here is the reason for your account closure:
To deter fraud and money laundering activities, we closely monitor accounts for activity that's inconsistent with how customers use checking accounts. We do our best to look out for our Members and wouldn't close accounts of any customers using GoBank normally. You've been depositing money and moving it out of the account with little-to-no spending activity (e.g., making purchases with your GoBank debit card). That is inconsistent with regular use and want to give you notice: we've closed your account.
We wish we didn't have to do this, but we just can't allow this activity to continue. It is a red flag for fraud and money laundering.
Jul 18, 2013, 11:40 am
#1112
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 417
So, they are saying that this product has 0 value for this community and it is just a matter of time before everyone's account will be shutdown.
Jul 18, 2013, 11:51 am
#1114
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Murica
Posts: 344
I'm sorry that your account is being closed. Unfortunately the decision is final. Here is the reason for your account closure:
To deter fraud and money laundering activities, we closely monitor accounts for activity that's inconsistent with how customers use checking accounts. We do our best to look out for our Members and wouldn't close accounts of any customers using GoBank normally. You've been depositing money and moving it out of the account with little-to-no spending activity (e.g., making purchases with your GoBank debit card). That is inconsistent with regular use and want to give you notice: we've closed your account.
We wish we didn't have to do this, but we just can't allow this activity to continue. It is a red flag for fraud and money laundering.
To deter fraud and money laundering activities, we closely monitor accounts for activity that's inconsistent with how customers use checking accounts. We do our best to look out for our Members and wouldn't close accounts of any customers using GoBank normally. You've been depositing money and moving it out of the account with little-to-no spending activity (e.g., making purchases with your GoBank debit card). That is inconsistent with regular use and want to give you notice: we've closed your account.
We wish we didn't have to do this, but we just can't allow this activity to continue. It is a red flag for fraud and money laundering.
I received the same email, word for word.
Jul 18, 2013, 12:55 pm
#1115
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: JFK
Programs: *$ Gold :)
Posts: 1,061
MOs may be a way to go. At least 50% of unload...
Better from some grocery store, not WM (likely a well known route).
Some cashbacks with small purchases at grocery store might help a little...
Jul 18, 2013, 9:33 pm
#1116
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 367
To deter fraud and money laundering activities, we closely monitor accounts for activity that's inconsistent with how customers use checking accounts. We do our best to look out for our Members and wouldn't close accounts of any customers using GoBank normally. You've been depositing money and moving it out of the account with little-to-no spending activity (e.g., making purchases with your GoBank debit card). That is inconsistent with regular use and want to give you notice: we've closed your account.
That is the whole purpose of a checking account..put money in and the pay bills with it. I can't tell you the last time I used my chase checking debit card for a purchase....that's what credit cards are for.
Jul 18, 2013, 9:39 pm
#1117
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
Yeah it sucks that they don't allow it. But oh well what can u do, they can do whatever they want, it's their property =(
Jul 18, 2013, 9:51 pm
#1118
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 939
They should just come out and say it... If you dont swipe we dont get paid. Period.
Jul 18, 2013, 10:16 pm
#1119
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 367
I'm thinking about setting up about $100 of my paycheck to go DD to my account.
I'm also considering leaving about $2000 or so in my wife's account permanently.
I would think that someone doing DD shows that they aren't fraudsters.
Also, if I leave money in my wife's, aren't they earning off that? I think banks make as much holding onto your money then they do from a swipe fee or three a month...
I'm also considering leaving about $2000 or so in my wife's account permanently.
I would think that someone doing DD shows that they aren't fraudsters.
Also, if I leave money in my wife's, aren't they earning off that? I think banks make as much holding onto your money then they do from a swipe fee or three a month...
Jul 18, 2013, 10:34 pm
#1120
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 939
Dunno man. People with good credit and a lot of options just don't seem to be of any interest to Green Dot. That's why they ban you from all their products.
Of course having DD plus a little everyday spend is better than not having it but if you are planning on funneling 5 figures through the cards billpay service rather than allowing them to collect the fees off of your swipe then you just aren't the customer for them. $100 DD isn't going to give them pause about closing accounts. Neither is holding $$$ in the vault. They can't go wild with that money and buy into risk/lucrative investments so the rate of returns they will be able to get off of your vault savings is nothing. Its just a marketing gimmick.
Of course having DD plus a little everyday spend is better than not having it but if you are planning on funneling 5 figures through the cards billpay service rather than allowing them to collect the fees off of your swipe then you just aren't the customer for them. $100 DD isn't going to give them pause about closing accounts. Neither is holding $$$ in the vault. They can't go wild with that money and buy into risk/lucrative investments so the rate of returns they will be able to get off of your vault savings is nothing. Its just a marketing gimmick.
Jul 18, 2013, 10:48 pm
#1121
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7
Gobank by Greendot - online banking with debit card
Just got my Gb card, and tried to load 2 $200 gift card with pin at the walmart register. The master gift card bought from staples works fine. however, when I continued to load the metallic vanilla gift card, it failed. tried several times, still not work. i checked the transaction online, it seems even the successful loading by the master gift card is caregorized as ' credit'. have anyone the same experience?
Jul 18, 2013, 11:22 pm
#1122
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), AA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Plat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat.
Posts: 655
Just got my Gb card, and tried to load 2 $200 gift card with pin at the walmart register. The master gift card bought from staples works fine. however, when I continued to load the metallic vanilla gift card, it failed. tried several times, still not work. i checked the transaction online, it seems even the successful loading by the master gift card is caregorized as ' credit'. have anyone the same experience?
I assume you did it with a cashier or CSR at Money Center?
Jul 19, 2013, 1:30 am
#1123
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 194
Is there any point in trying to fight with them over reopening it? Or trying to open a new account?
Jul 19, 2013, 2:00 am
#1124
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
This at least lets me know that I need to make some debit purchases on my GoBank. I better hop to it since I have only made one ever.
Jul 19, 2013, 2:07 am
#1125
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
I don't think you would get it again. Try opening a new one from a friend/family and use their SSN (with their permission of course). That'll be the easiest way to continue.