Apr 3, 2013, 11:44 am
Last edit by: markr33
Read the wiki before posting a question.
Check your BB load limits BEFORE asking in this thread about "tender not allowed" or any other errors.
Bluebird website. There's no need to buy a Bluebird kit in-store; sign-up free on the website.
The original FlyerTalk discussion thread is here: Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Bluebird Load Limits:
*For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt. If blocked, call Account Protection Services at 1-800-660-2454 to clear it (9am-8pm EST, Mon-Fri).
The day currently resets around midnight Eastern/11pm Central/10pm Mountain/9pm Pacific.
For online bill pay
Loading with debit card at Walmart
Self checkout does not work for loading.
Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of gift cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC again to load with gift cards.
Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html for additional information on using prepaid debit cards.
Training a WM cashier:
Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered .
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.
UPdate Notice on Sept 15, 2014.
Some minor changes on the ATM limits and fees:
• Out-of-Network ATM Fees:
Beginning October 30, 2014, the fee for withdrawing funds using out-of-network ATMs will increase from $2.00 to $2.50. ATM operator fees may also apply.
• Free In-Network MoneyPass® ATMs:
Effective immediately, all Bluebird Customers can withdraw funds for free when using in-network MoneyPass ATMs. You can find one of the more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs below.
• ATM Withdrawal Limits Increase:
We have increased your daily ATM limit, so you can withdraw up to $750 per day. Your monthly ATM withdrawal limit will remain at $2,000.
-----
•If you use Wal-Mart Savings Catcher, you can earn double rewards by redeeming to your BlueBird account <== Doubling of savings catcher amounts ended sometime in the summer of 2015.
Check your BB load limits BEFORE asking in this thread about "tender not allowed" or any other errors.
Bluebird website. There's no need to buy a Bluebird kit in-store; sign-up free on the website.
The original FlyerTalk discussion thread is here: Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Bluebird Load Limits:
- BB loading via VR or WM load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
- Online Debit Card Load* - $200/day and $1,000/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
*For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt. If blocked, call Account Protection Services at 1-800-660-2454 to clear it (9am-8pm EST, Mon-Fri).
The day currently resets around midnight Eastern/11pm Central/10pm Mountain/9pm Pacific.
For online bill pay
- You can pay the credit card that you used to buy reloads
- Error 1302 means that you have 1 pending payment the same amount as the one you just submitted. For example, 1000 bill pay to sapphire preferred from Friday and then on Saturday you submit another bill pay for 1000 to sapphire preferred, you will get this error.
- Tip: if using online bill pay to the same place multiple times, vary your amounts by $0.01 to make it easier to track since your confirmation number does not match the tracking number on your credit card statement
Loading with debit card at Walmart
Self checkout does not work for loading.
Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of gift cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC again to load with gift cards.
Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html for additional information on using prepaid debit cards.
Training a WM cashier:
- If the WM cashier doesn't know how to load the card, advise them to enter "70" then press "action code".
- If you are using a temp card that doesn't have your name on it, you can swipe the card from your side of the terminal. The WM rep never has to touch any of your cards. The screen will say "enter account." That is your prompt to slide the card.
- The terminal will ask the WM employee if you are loading in multiples of $2000. Advise them to enter "no."
- Avoid saying gift card. Always refer to your card as a debit card.
Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered .
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.
UPdate Notice on Sept 15, 2014.
Some minor changes on the ATM limits and fees:
• Out-of-Network ATM Fees:
Beginning October 30, 2014, the fee for withdrawing funds using out-of-network ATMs will increase from $2.00 to $2.50. ATM operator fees may also apply.
• Free In-Network MoneyPass® ATMs:
Effective immediately, all Bluebird Customers can withdraw funds for free when using in-network MoneyPass ATMs. You can find one of the more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs below.
• ATM Withdrawal Limits Increase:
We have increased your daily ATM limit, so you can withdraw up to $750 per day. Your monthly ATM withdrawal limit will remain at $2,000.
-----
•If you use Wal-Mart Savings Catcher, you can earn double rewards by redeeming to your BlueBird account <== Doubling of savings catcher amounts ended sometime in the summer of 2015.
Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2013-2014)
Apr 1, 2013, 6:43 am
#136
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 53
For users with multiple accounts
Question for users that have multiple accounts.
My girlfriend signed up for a 2nd BB account to let me use. I could probably get my dad and brother too, but for now I'm scaling slowly.
My question is regarding getting money out of other people's accounts - what's the preferred way to do this? Obviously they could use the new check-writing but I would rather do it online.
Is there any issue with setting up YOUR credit card on someone else's account for bill pay? Do they need to be an AU (Auth user) on the CC account?
Sorry if this was already covered - I tried searching the old thread and couldn't come up with a good answer on this one.
My girlfriend signed up for a 2nd BB account to let me use. I could probably get my dad and brother too, but for now I'm scaling slowly.
My question is regarding getting money out of other people's accounts - what's the preferred way to do this? Obviously they could use the new check-writing but I would rather do it online.
Is there any issue with setting up YOUR credit card on someone else's account for bill pay? Do they need to be an AU (Auth user) on the CC account?
Sorry if this was already covered - I tried searching the old thread and couldn't come up with a good answer on this one.
Apr 1, 2013, 8:00 am
#138
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: DL Gold
Posts: 880
Quite an eventful first ever VR purchase for me last night.
CVS clerk didn't bat an eye at the purchase of 2 $500's, nor when I whipped out the Chase Freedom. Only question was if I had a CVS card. Swipe the card; terminal reads "Contact for Authorization". Uh oh! Cashier calls the number; spends about 5 minutes on the phone...gets transferred to Visa..."Yes, the customer is present. Yes, I checked his license." Hands the phone to me; I have to confirm last 4 of SSN and DoB. Phone goes back to cashier for final authorization code. Finally transaction is processed and I'm on my way.
Only thing worrying me now is the pending transaction is showing no merchant information. I've never seen that before. Need this to post as pharmacy obviously for the 5x bonus!
CVS clerk didn't bat an eye at the purchase of 2 $500's, nor when I whipped out the Chase Freedom. Only question was if I had a CVS card. Swipe the card; terminal reads "Contact for Authorization". Uh oh! Cashier calls the number; spends about 5 minutes on the phone...gets transferred to Visa..."Yes, the customer is present. Yes, I checked his license." Hands the phone to me; I have to confirm last 4 of SSN and DoB. Phone goes back to cashier for final authorization code. Finally transaction is processed and I'm on my way.
Only thing worrying me now is the pending transaction is showing no merchant information. I've never seen that before. Need this to post as pharmacy obviously for the 5x bonus!
Apr 1, 2013, 8:22 am
#139
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
Answers in Blue.
Cheers. ^
Question for users that have multiple accounts.
My girlfriend signed up for a 2nd BB account to let me use. I could probably get my dad and brother too, but for now I'm scaling slowly.
My question is regarding getting money out of other people's accounts - what's the preferred way to do this?
You could just transfer money from their accounts to yours up to a monthly limit of $2500. I did this for my mum and dad's accounts into mine, and BB didn't even bat an eyelid.
Obviously they could use the new check-writing but I would rather do it online.
Actually that's a good idea. You could do both. Check-writing is good because BB has no idea WHO the check is being made out too. You pre-authorize it online and make it out to your name.
Is there any issue with setting up YOUR credit card on someone else's account for bill pay?
No problems whatsoever. You can pay ANYBODY's CC account using your BB or someone else's BB to pay off your CC. It's all good.
Do they need to be an AU (Auth user) on the CC account?
Nope. Don't worry about it.
I would advise you to add a nickname for each card so you don't mix them up.
Sorry if this was already covered - I tried searching the old thread and couldn't come up with a good answer on this one.
Hope that answers everything.
The one thing that I would advise you NOT to do is transfer money from your/their BB into a Bank account.
My girlfriend signed up for a 2nd BB account to let me use. I could probably get my dad and brother too, but for now I'm scaling slowly.
My question is regarding getting money out of other people's accounts - what's the preferred way to do this?
You could just transfer money from their accounts to yours up to a monthly limit of $2500. I did this for my mum and dad's accounts into mine, and BB didn't even bat an eyelid.
Obviously they could use the new check-writing but I would rather do it online.
Actually that's a good idea. You could do both. Check-writing is good because BB has no idea WHO the check is being made out too. You pre-authorize it online and make it out to your name.
Is there any issue with setting up YOUR credit card on someone else's account for bill pay?
No problems whatsoever. You can pay ANYBODY's CC account using your BB or someone else's BB to pay off your CC. It's all good.
Do they need to be an AU (Auth user) on the CC account?
Nope. Don't worry about it.
I would advise you to add a nickname for each card so you don't mix them up.
Sorry if this was already covered - I tried searching the old thread and couldn't come up with a good answer on this one.
Hope that answers everything.
The one thing that I would advise you NOT to do is transfer money from your/their BB into a Bank account.
Apr 1, 2013, 10:16 am
#140
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 304
Quite an eventful first ever VR purchase for me last night.
CVS clerk didn't bat an eye at the purchase of 2 $500's, nor when I whipped out the Chase Freedom. Only question was if I had a CVS card. Swipe the card; terminal reads "Contact for Authorization". Uh oh! Cashier calls the number; spends about 5 minutes on the phone...gets transferred to Visa..."Yes, the customer is present. Yes, I checked his license." Hands the phone to me; I have to confirm last 4 of SSN and DoB. Phone goes back to cashier for final authorization code. Finally transaction is processed and I'm on my way.
Only thing worrying me now is the pending transaction is showing no merchant information. I've never seen that before. Need this to post as pharmacy obviously for the 5x bonus!
CVS clerk didn't bat an eye at the purchase of 2 $500's, nor when I whipped out the Chase Freedom. Only question was if I had a CVS card. Swipe the card; terminal reads "Contact for Authorization". Uh oh! Cashier calls the number; spends about 5 minutes on the phone...gets transferred to Visa..."Yes, the customer is present. Yes, I checked his license." Hands the phone to me; I have to confirm last 4 of SSN and DoB. Phone goes back to cashier for final authorization code. Finally transaction is processed and I'm on my way.
Only thing worrying me now is the pending transaction is showing no merchant information. I've never seen that before. Need this to post as pharmacy obviously for the 5x bonus!
Fortunately in my area, the 4 CVS within 5 miles of me are pretty well stocked and never once has my purchase been questioned. Have been asked for a ID a few times and one nice girl even let me buy $2k worth (as two seperate transactions). There has been no mention of a $1k limit either but I'm not really interested in testing that. As mentioned before, there seems to be no clear communication from "corporate" as to what the policy should be.
Last edited by jonnyd13; Apr 1, 2013 at 10:17 am Reason: typo
Apr 1, 2013, 11:56 am
#141
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
Apr 1, 2013, 12:05 pm
#142
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Because almost all (?) of us fund BB with VR. Getting money in from VR and then out into your bank account looks VERY suspicious and will set off every alarm in existence. You will then (most probably) get a call from the Fraud Dept.
On the other hand, there is no way for Bluebird to know who the check was made out to, so you could pre-authorize it online, then make it out to yourself.
Another good reason,I guess, to cut a check would be to pay off accounts that don't accept BB.
On the other hand, there is no way for Bluebird to know who the check was made out to, so you could pre-authorize it online, then make it out to yourself.
Another good reason,I guess, to cut a check would be to pay off accounts that don't accept BB.
I would argue that you run much greater risk immediately paying a cc bill with a VR.
Also, is it true that there is "no way for Bluebird to know who the check was made out to"? This is a serious question - I don't really know enough about what the banks know about the checks that are written from their accounts. Presumably they have some information - they know where they're sending the money.
Apr 1, 2013, 12:11 pm
#143
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: DL Gold
Posts: 880
I'll try another CVS for my next purchase and see what happens.
Apr 1, 2013, 1:16 pm
#144
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
Checks for Federal Taxes?
Has anyone thought about using the new checks to pay your federal income taxes? I owe a few hundred dollars this year. Somehow paying this with BB makes me worried.
Apr 1, 2013, 1:17 pm
#145
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Apr 1, 2013, 6:03 pm
#146
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
No doubt. It was also the 3rd use of the card that day....one other use 200 miles away at another CVS (for "legitimate" products), and ~50 miles away for gas. So there were probably enough red flags raised. Good thing I was at a deserted store at night, with a very cooperative cashier.
I'll try another CVS for my next purchase and see what happens.
I'll try another CVS for my next purchase and see what happens.
Apr 1, 2013, 6:11 pm
#147
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
I'm curious why you say that transferring money to your bank account will "set off every alarm in existence." I send money to my bank account, and have never had a problem. I know other people do the same. I have never heard of one fraud alert for this activity. To be on the safe side, I usually let BB hold the money for about a week, and I don't transfer out the exact value of the reload. I actually think you could come up for a pretty good reason for this - you wanted to deposit to your bank account, you were at CVS and it was easier to buy a VR than go out of your way to the bank.
I would argue that you run much greater risk immediately paying a cc bill with a VR.
Also, is it true that there is "no way for Bluebird to know who the check was made out to"? This is a serious question - I don't really know enough about what the banks know about the checks that are written from their accounts. Presumably they have some information - they know where they're sending the money.
I would argue that you run much greater risk immediately paying a cc bill with a VR.
Also, is it true that there is "no way for Bluebird to know who the check was made out to"? This is a serious question - I don't really know enough about what the banks know about the checks that are written from their accounts. Presumably they have some information - they know where they're sending the money.
I have control over 4 BB accounts. I transferred about $3k from them into my account, because I had to pay off a $6k charge and didn’t want to pay it piece-meal from 3-4 BB accounts.
Anyway, the transfer went off without a hitch.
I paid off 7 CC accounts with no problem whatsoever.
I was left with about $300 in my account and I transferred that into my bank A/C and got a call in a few hours. Thankfully, they didn’t block my account, just wanted to verify if all was good.
They said that they were pleased that I was making good use of my BB account (!!!!!) but they wanted to make sure I was the one who issued the bank transfer.
No questions about the $5k loaded into my account from VR.
No question about about $3k transferred into my account from other BB accounts. But one transfer to my bank and I get “the call”.
Needless to say, I haven’t done that since.
If you were working in the fraud dept, what would be more suspicious to you? The guy who has over $5k coming into his A/C each month FROM VANILLA RELOADS and using that money to pay off bills….OR….the guy who does the same but $2k being withdrawn to his bank account each month?
My take on this is, I’d rather not do ANTHING that would cause my BB account to be shut down…Because later on, it’d be too late.
About the checks…I don’t know either what the banks know or don’t know, but my knowledge is based off what I’ve read, which is- Bluebird checks require pre-authorization, you enter them online before writing the check and then put the authorization number you receive on the front of the check.
So if you made it out to yourself, how would BB know?
And I doubt they are going to pursue EACH check to see where it’s being deposited!
Apr 1, 2013, 6:14 pm
#148
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Southern California
Programs: UA Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 317
I'm going to use BB checks for my Fed and state taxes and estimated taxes. I'm going to photocopy the checks for my records and will log on to the govt' s online system to make sure the check was correctly applied, but I would do the same thing with checks from my regular checking account, too. I am not worried at all.
Apr 1, 2013, 7:34 pm
#149
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
That the check will disappear into the netherworld and my payment will be late. I know you can monitor if the check was received on the IRS end, but my guess is BB will take some time to track it down if lost.
And I just ordered my checks yesterday so I will have a tight window at best.
And I just ordered my checks yesterday so I will have a tight window at best.
Apr 2, 2013, 4:50 am
#150
Formerly known as god_forbids
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: DL Kettle
Posts: 167
People really need to stop hiding VRs. Granted, the deal may have just blown up so much that ~50 VRs sell out after a day but somehow I doubt it. BTW, the cashiers at my local chain-swallowed-by-the-chain-everyone-else-uses seem to know what's up. When I first bought them, I had to tell them everything. Now it's like "oh hi, you want $500 each on these, right? Show me the credit card after you swipe, k?"
One other oddity ... at checkout the assistant supervisor wandered up as the new-ish employee said "I'm so sorry, I've already done $1,000 worth today and there's a limit so I can't ring you up. Please use another register." I was confused but as I started walking away the supervisor was laughing and talking to the girl, so she called me back and rang me up. It was funny that she thought the limit was on the cashier and not the customer
The supervisor thought nothing of it.
One other oddity ... at checkout the assistant supervisor wandered up as the new-ish employee said "I'm so sorry, I've already done $1,000 worth today and there's a limit so I can't ring you up. Please use another register." I was confused but as I started walking away the supervisor was laughing and talking to the girl, so she called me back and rang me up. It was funny that she thought the limit was on the cashier and not the customer
The supervisor thought nothing of it.