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 5, 2013, 6:47 am
#226
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Flyover Territory
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 687
So far the process is just as described; the money has been deducted from my account during the authorization process. The email confirmation says that I'll receive a phone call within the next 1-2 days to complete the authorization.
Anita
Last edited by akp; Apr 5, 2013 at 6:54 am
Apr 5, 2013, 6:49 am
#227
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NE
Programs: UA PLAT, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 211
I get my bank statements with a photocopy of all the checks I wrote that month, not hard to do. That said, they may not check them ALL, only the ones that are moving lots of $. Surely there are red flags?
Apr 5, 2013, 7:02 am
#228
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
I could tell you approximate addresses for probably 30+ CVS stores in the DC area just off the top of my head. And not a one of them has ever had VRs in stock. Don't expect to waltz into your closest location and pick them up daily, unless you're far out in the suburbs where they seem to be more prevalent.
Apr 5, 2013, 7:47 am
#229
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
Apr 5, 2013, 8:00 am
#230
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: RDU
Posts: 20
I only see this as a small added benefit -- convenience for paying people like, the cleaning lady, from Bluebird.
In terms of writing checks to yourself, I'd already done direct transfers from Bluebird to my bank account (not too large, infrequently) without issue. So what's the difference?
In terms of writing checks to yourself, I'd already done direct transfers from Bluebird to my bank account (not too large, infrequently) without issue. So what's the difference?
Apr 5, 2013, 9:41 am
#231
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
Just wrote a couple of checks the other day for my tax bill. Very happy this is now available. It also makes getting VR credit back into cash much easier, as I can write a check out to a friend/family member, and get cash from there much faster than the previous method (having BB cut a check in the mail).
Apr 5, 2013, 10:42 am
#232
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 177
Just to close this question out - I called BB. Now, I realize what one rep says can be totally different than another, but with that said ...I was told it's not a problem if the payee just deposits the check. The phone call is more for the payee to be confident that the funds exist and when they expire (if they care)....as described below.
IOW, the payee calling to verify the check is not required, according to the single BB rep I just spoke to. Good enough for me!
IOW, the payee calling to verify the check is not required, according to the single BB rep I just spoke to. Good enough for me!
From the Bluebird Help FAQ:
Recipient Confirmation
Anyone accepting a Bluebird Check can call 1-866-289-9588 and follow the prompts to learn whether the check has been pre-authorized. The recipient will also hear the expiration date, which is 180 days from the date the check was pre-authorized. An expired check will not be honored by us; any check that has expired will be declined, even if your account balance is sufficient.
So I agree with the interpretation that this is Can, not Must. If your landlord thinks you're sketchy and wants to make sure the check won't bounce, they can call the number and make sure it's good. But otherwise, if someone just deposits the check, it will process like any other check would.
BTW, I just pre-authorized 4 checks for my fed and state taxes and estimated taxes. Combined they are well over $2000, but none of the individual checks are over $2000. They all went through fine. I'm planning on avoiding checks over $2000 by splitting them up because the extra steps for large checks seem complicated. But if anyone wants to go through it and report back, I'd be interested in hearing if large checks cause any real problems or annoyances.
Recipient Confirmation
Anyone accepting a Bluebird Check can call 1-866-289-9588 and follow the prompts to learn whether the check has been pre-authorized. The recipient will also hear the expiration date, which is 180 days from the date the check was pre-authorized. An expired check will not be honored by us; any check that has expired will be declined, even if your account balance is sufficient.
So I agree with the interpretation that this is Can, not Must. If your landlord thinks you're sketchy and wants to make sure the check won't bounce, they can call the number and make sure it's good. But otherwise, if someone just deposits the check, it will process like any other check would.
BTW, I just pre-authorized 4 checks for my fed and state taxes and estimated taxes. Combined they are well over $2000, but none of the individual checks are over $2000. They all went through fine. I'm planning on avoiding checks over $2000 by splitting them up because the extra steps for large checks seem complicated. But if anyone wants to go through it and report back, I'd be interested in hearing if large checks cause any real problems or annoyances.
Apr 5, 2013, 10:43 am
#233
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
OR even worse,
$X of VR coming in and 90% or more of that going via ONE check.
That would probably ring some bells.
Apr 5, 2013, 10:47 am
#234
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 801
Got my checks yesterday as well.
One small concern though - I understood that the checks needed a pre-authorization before writing. No big deal there. My concern however, is that upon receiving the checks I noticed that it states on there that the payee has to call AMEX and provide the pre-authorization number over the phone. Well, I have a feeling that certain payees will be too lazy (my landlord), too automated (comcast), have other reasons why they won't actually do that. So I'm afraid I'm going to be bouncing checks left and right. Does this "feature" run a risk of making these checks useless, or am I missing something?
One small concern though - I understood that the checks needed a pre-authorization before writing. No big deal there. My concern however, is that upon receiving the checks I noticed that it states on there that the payee has to call AMEX and provide the pre-authorization number over the phone. Well, I have a feeling that certain payees will be too lazy (my landlord), too automated (comcast), have other reasons why they won't actually do that. So I'm afraid I'm going to be bouncing checks left and right. Does this "feature" run a risk of making these checks useless, or am I missing something?
I only see this as a small added benefit -- convenience for paying people like, the cleaning lady, from Bluebird.
In terms of writing checks to yourself, I'd already done direct transfers from Bluebird to my bank account (not too large, infrequently) without issue. So what's the difference?
In terms of writing checks to yourself, I'd already done direct transfers from Bluebird to my bank account (not too large, infrequently) without issue. So what's the difference?
I've been reluctant to pay critical bills (mortgage, fed taxes, etc.) to payees that are not in the electronic payment system at BB due to reported issues of mailed checks arriving late, or never. This allows me to have a check in hand with minimal effort and confirm that I paid. For that, it's way better than the old system.
They're smart. It's a huge financial win for BB, as they have distributed the check writing process to the masses, rather than centralizing that labor in their own facility and offering it for free. If everybody who was asking BB to send paper checks to payees not in the BB autopay system now writes their own checks, BB saves TONS on labor costs.
Apr 5, 2013, 11:02 am
#235
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
Apr 5, 2013, 11:06 am
#236
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
I've been reluctant to pay critical bills (mortgage, fed taxes, etc.) to payees that are not in the electronic payment system at BB due to reported issues of mailed checks arriving late, or never. This allows me to have a check in hand with minimal effort and confirm that I paid. For that, it's way better than the old system.
I've only read of successes...
Apr 5, 2013, 12:17 pm
#238
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Just to close this question out - I called BB. Now, I realize what one rep says can be totally different than another, but with that said ...I was told it's not a problem if the payee just deposits the check. The phone call is more for the payee to be confident that the funds exist and when they expire (if they care)....as described below.
IOW, the payee calling to verify the check is not required, according to the single BB rep I just spoke to. Good enough for me!
IOW, the payee calling to verify the check is not required, according to the single BB rep I just spoke to. Good enough for me!
Apr 5, 2013, 1:57 pm
#239
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Flyover Territory
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 687
I requested authorization for a large ($3000+) check yesterday. I will report back.
So far the process is just as described; the money has been deducted from my account during the authorization process. The email confirmation says that I'll receive a phone call within the next 1-2 days to complete the authorization.
Anita
So far the process is just as described; the money has been deducted from my account during the authorization process. The email confirmation says that I'll receive a phone call within the next 1-2 days to complete the authorization.
Anita
I did not receive a phone call prior to the check being authorized.
Also, I received notification that one of the smaller checks I'd written had cleared.
Anita
Apr 5, 2013, 2:18 pm
#240
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904