Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Credit, Debit and Prepaid Card Programs > Manufactured Spending
Reload this Page >

Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2013-2014)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Apr 3, 2013, 11:44 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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:
  • 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.
Print Wikipost

Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2013-2014)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 31, 2013, 8:53 pm
  #2311  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
Originally Posted by midnightinharlem
Do you pay credit card bills generally from Bluebird? I usually only drain my account for rent and misc. bills (doctor's, etc.). I need to accumulate bigger bills...
Yes, you should pay off your CC bills with BB rather then let it sit.
heyeaglefn is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2013, 10:50 pm
  #2312  
Moderator: Travel Buzz
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
Originally Posted by heyeaglefn
Yes, you should pay off your CC bills with BB rather then let it sit.
My BB's sit with full bellies most of the time. Amex gets to use my funds and I only pay bills with it that will be easy to sort out at tax time. Like, for instance, taxes. I never pay my CC bills with my BB, but that's just me.

I think you run more of a risk of scrutiny with load-empty, load-empty closed, short loop cycles than sloooww... load, spend it down here and there, reload, spend a bit more.

I could be dead wrong, but if I were a financial institution, I'd rather like the use of interest free funds for as long as someone is willing to leave them with me. MS is far easier if you can float funds to keep your banks happy.
StartinSanDiego is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2013, 11:21 pm
  #2313  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
Originally Posted by StartinSanDiego
My BB's sit with full bellies most of the time. Amex gets to use my funds and I only pay bills with it that will be easy to sort out at tax time. Like, for instance, taxes. I never pay my CC bills with my BB, but that's just me.

I think you run more of a risk of scrutiny with load-empty, load-empty closed, short loop cycles than sloooww... load, spend it down here and there, reload, spend a bit more.

I could be dead wrong, but if I were a financial institution, I'd rather like the use of interest free funds for as long as someone is willing to leave them with me. MS is far easier if you can float funds to keep your banks happy.
Eh... To each their own. I pay off credit cards cause I am a poor basted that can't float that much money.
ricohitman is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2013, 6:46 am
  #2314  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Gold, US Silver, Starwood Gold, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 331
Do people throw in an additional step? I go Chase, Citi, or Amex to BB via VR, and try not to pay the CC issuer after using their card.
midnightinharlem is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2013, 10:17 am
  #2315  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I pay my CCs with BB. I pay Amex too. I've never had any problems. It's the way that GB should be.
TheDapperDon is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2013, 12:47 pm
  #2316  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
IHG Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Originally Posted by TheDapperDon
I pay my CCs with BB. I pay Amex too. I've never had any problems. It's the way that GB should be.
Don't have a problem paying my Amex cards with BB either
FlightNurse is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 9:58 am
  #2317  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8
Free BlueBird Checks til end of year

I haven't received my BlueBird card yet, but I called and inquired about the checks. Here is what the customer service rep told me:
  • An initial order of checks is free til end of 2013
  • You can order up to 100 checks initially
  • You can write up to $100K in checks per year (provided you have that money in your account)

Here is my plan:
  1. Purchase Chase gift cards as long as they continue to be sold without the fee, using my Chase Mileage Plus Explorer Card
  2. Load Chase gift cards on to Blue Bird
  3. Write BlueBird checks to myself and deposit them into my Chase checking account.
  4. Write BlueBird checks to pay my rent monthly
PaulaSS is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 11:51 am
  #2318  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Traveling some where hopefully
Programs: AS, AA Gold, and Hilton
Posts: 1,954
Originally Posted by heyeaglefn
Yes, you should pay off your CC bills with BB rather then let it sit.
I do but not any Chase CC's that I buy GC's with. lol have plenty of others Citi, Amex. Usually only try to carry a small balance.

Last edited by jjmiller69; Sep 2, 2013 at 3:40 pm
jjmiller69 is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 12:16 pm
  #2319  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
I wonder why my billpay accounts get deleted in random? Its irritating the accounts that I do not use often hangs on but the one I use periodically disappears from the list....
prasha11 is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 12:24 pm
  #2320  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Originally Posted by PaulaSS
I haven't received my BlueBird card yet, but I called and inquired about the checks. Here is what the customer service rep told me:
  • An initial order of checks is free til end of 2013
  • You can order up to 100 checks initially
  • You can write up to $100K in checks per year (provided you have that money in your account)

Here is my plan:
  1. Purchase Chase gift cards as long as they continue to be sold without the fee, using my Chase Mileage Plus Explorer Card
  2. Load Chase gift cards on to Blue Bird
  3. Write BlueBird checks to myself and deposit them into my Chase checking account.
  4. Write BlueBird checks to pay my rent monthly
instead of writing checks to yourself simply withdraw to your checking account....These checks with autho # is weird, my landlord refused to accept it. I have decided not to use these checks ever.....99 checks will be shredded and recycled waste.
prasha11 is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 12:36 pm
  #2321  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by prasha11
instead of writing checks to yourself simply withdraw to your checking account....These checks with autho # is weird, my landlord refused to accept it. I have decided not to use these checks ever.....99 checks will be shredded and recycled waste.
Thanks.

So are you saying that I can link my Chase checking account to BlueBird and transfer money from BlueBird directly into the Chase checking account?
PaulaSS is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 5:14 pm
  #2322  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
Originally Posted by PaulaSS
Thanks.

So are you saying that I can link my Chase checking account to BlueBird and transfer money from BlueBird directly into the Chase checking account?
You can do that if you want to do that.
vagrants is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 5:19 pm
  #2323  
Accor Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
Can you deposit $200 VGC via the droid BB app to your account, or do you have to physically swipe the card at WM?
TOMFORD is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 5:57 pm
  #2324  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton-Gold
Posts: 706
Originally Posted by agp423
Can you deposit $200 VGC via the droid BB app to your account, or do you have to physically swipe the card at WM?
You can load with a VGC but will cost 2$/100, total 4$

Refer to this link for FAQ's: https://www.bluebird.com/faqs?linkna...ees-and-limits
concordian is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2013, 8:34 pm
  #2325  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 149
Sorry for the newb question, so please keep the flame to a minimum...

I only MFC spend exactly $2K a month, should I stick to BB or switch to GB?

Everyone says how great GB is but their billpay system is so clunky to me. I guess the only advantage is the $2500 daily load limit? I only unload via billpay for student loans, so i don't need cash back (GB), or to write checks (BB).

Am I missing something from GB?
FWIW I go to Walmart once a week for usual shopping anyway...
Stiga9 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.