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

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

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Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:22 am
  #2686  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: 5280/8150
Programs: Flying and sleeping
Posts: 341
Originally Posted by Bean
Just received this email from BB:
And I get it over five minutes later? What am I, a second class Bluebirder?
djrez4 is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:24 am
  #2687  
Accor Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
Got this two minutes ago. I must be a third class.

So now we can load VGC from St/OM/OD without going to Walmart? But website says that there is a $100 daily and $1000 monthly limit.
TOMFORD is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:29 am
  #2688  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 71
I got this email too and first thing I did was come here LOL

You never have to go to Walmart to add VanillaReloads (VRs) since it's done online to begin with...

VGC/Chase Giftcards (if you still have some)/MCGC can now be loaded via debit online with no fees? I was just clicking around and see that it asks for ADDRESS - what do i put there?

And the website still says $100 daily limit, $1000 monthly cap, so for a $5k max bluebird load, it will save me ONE trip to Walmart.



So what do i put if i link a ChaseGC/VGC for address under the debit card option on bluebird?
stimulus is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:39 am
  #2689  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 112
Originally Posted by stimulus
I got this email too and first thing I did was come here LOL

You never have to go to Walmart to add VanillaReloads (VRs) since it's done online to begin with...

VGC/Chase Giftcards (if you still have some)/MCGC can now be loaded via debit online with no fees? I was just clicking around and see that it asks for ADDRESS - what do i put there?

And the website still says $100 daily limit, $1000 monthly cap, so for a $5k max bluebird load, it will save me ONE trip to Walmart.



So what do i put if i link a ChaseGC/VGC for address under the debit card option on bluebird?
I read as you can do the $100 daily/ $1.000 monthly online debit card load in addition to the VR loads for a total of $6,000 a month.
Barry2013 is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:39 am
  #2690  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Lifetime Platinum, MR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 249
Not only we can load $5k per account in Ice Cream we can also load $1k in GC's per month. The birdie is getting sweeter all the time!
kenme1 is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:42 am
  #2691  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Ann Arbor
Programs: Delta GM, Hilton
Posts: 192
The daily limit for online debit loading seems to still be $100 though. It would take you 10 days to load $1000 whereas it just takes one trip to walmart to do a swipe reload for $1000
nep301 is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:48 am
  #2692  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 71
You are right, it's potential $6,000 a month

Originally Posted by Barry2013
I read as you can do the $100 daily/ $1.000 monthly online debit card load in addition to the VR loads for a total of $6,000 a month.

Can someone tell me what to put under ADDRESS in debitcard option?
stimulus is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 7:55 am
  #2693  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 186
Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks.

Great for those of us who don't gave a Wal Mart nearby
aresay is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 8:08 am
  #2694  
Accor Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
So now I can buy 30x $200 VGC from Staples and load them all in BB every month?

$1000 in $200 VGC online, and $5000 in $200 VGC at WM?
TOMFORD is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 8:08 am
  #2695  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 26
Eventually, Serve requested that I send in copies of my account statements for the last 10 debit cards that I had had linked to the account. At the time, my records were not that great, so I was stuck. Do you think that something like that will be in the works potentially as well and to tread lightly?
adamant628 is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 8:11 am
  #2696  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 254
Just tried to load a Chase GC via the app and BB said it was a credit card.
johndunn2 is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 8:18 am
  #2697  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: Cards with lots of logos on them
Posts: 591
If I add funds via my Alaska Air debit card issued by Bank of America, how does that show up on the BofA side? A purchase or transfer or cash advance?
bthobe is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 8:26 am
  #2698  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 202
I just added a $100 VGC from giftcardmall to my BB with no issues.

What is nice is you can set it for recurring deposits so it will drain your $500 GC in 5 days for you. Nice touch BB, nice touch!
Rick471 is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 8:28 am
  #2699  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Originally Posted by bthobe
If I add funds via my Alaska Air debit card issued by Bank of America, how does that show up on the BofA side? A purchase or transfer or cash advance?
should be a purchase. right now it looks like it, showing as pending

ma91pmh is offline  
Old Oct 4, 2013, 8:50 am
  #2700  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 71
Originally Posted by Rick471
I just added a $100 VGC from giftcardmall to my BB with no issues.

What is nice is you can set it for recurring deposits so it will drain your $500 GC in 5 days for you. Nice touch BB, nice touch!
What did you put under address? Your mailing/home address?
stimulus is offline  


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