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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 May 3, 2013, 7:43 pm
  #541  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: California
Posts: 146
Originally Posted by lowimpact
Were you paying off a US Bank Club Carlson personal or business card? I've already run into issues using my CC business card to buy gift cards on cardpool and it throws the same "incorrect zipcode" nonsense. If this is affecting merchants as well maybe this is something we can find a way to straighten out via US Bank?
It was a personal card. I didn't input a zipcode. Just did a search for US Bank and chose the credit card option. The money has posted to my US Bank account.
miko2a is offline  
Old May 3, 2013, 9:56 pm
  #542  
akp
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Flyover Territory
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 687
Originally Posted by Explore
I was quite surprised to see my first Bluebird check, which was for $3,000, pre-approved in just 2 hours without any phone call from Bluebird. This zeroed out my BB balance.

Now to reload via more Walmart visits (on my bike, to avoid fuel costs and get exercise).
I've now written four checks above the $2000 limit. All were pre-approved within hours without a phone call.

So far, the system works great.
akp is offline  
Old May 4, 2013, 2:07 am
  #543  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
Any VR location along Garden State Pwy?

My last churn caused me to use WP and other paid methods for meeting the spend for the first time ever! That was a very disturbing experience, so I've decided I have to dive into the BB game and actually get out of the Bean Desert AKA NYC in search of greener pastures. With WF closing the store, and Amex for Target not working for me, I just don't feel like I have a choice if I want to stay in the game. I'm going to Atlantic City in a couple of days to gamble away whatever money I've still got, so I would truly appreciate if any of you kind people could PM me about a place/places along the way where I could get lucky (you know what I mean). Thanks.
mnscout is offline  
Old May 4, 2013, 12:12 pm
  #544  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,777
Can You Load Most Debit Cards to BB About 12-15 Hours After Purchase?

The T&C on some cards (e.g. Vanilla Prepaid) says you have to wait 24 hours, which can be a nuisance. How about loading anytime the next calendar day? Anyone had an issue?
Explore is offline  
Old May 4, 2013, 12:17 pm
  #545  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
Originally Posted by Explore
The T&C on some cards (e.g. Vanilla Prepaid) says you have to wait 24 hours, which can be a nuisance. How about loading anytime the next calendar day? Anyone had an issue?
Worked for me yesterday. Less than 1 hour from purchase.
Bender464 is offline  
Old May 4, 2013, 12:25 pm
  #546  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,777
Originally Posted by Bender464
Worked for me yesterday. Less than 1 hour from purchase.
Thanks for the super-fast answer. FT members score again!
Explore is offline  
Old May 4, 2013, 2:49 pm
  #547  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 65
1k BB deposit x2 ...

I check the thread but could not find anything regarding the kiosk and depositing 1k twice, on two different accounts. I did it twice and the second time, the kiosk calls over an WM assistant manager. They assistant manager was really nice and said I had to do the 1k deposit at a register. Today, I did 2, $990 deposits without a problem. (All were from Visa cards from GCM).

Has anyone had this experience too?
cfbrown is offline  
Old May 4, 2013, 6:51 pm
  #548  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3
Paying Credit Card Balance through Bluebird with Reward Debit Card

Hello everyone! I have a Chase Freedom reward credit card and I just got the BOFA Alaska Airlines debit card. I also just obtained a Bluebirds account. My plan is to load up my Bluebirds account with my BOFA Alaska debit card and pay my credit card balance in full through Bluebirds. Will I receive points on my debit card for doing this?

I don't want to bother with buying prepaid debit cards. I've searched this to death and was only able to find this website saying it is possible, but would appreciate some confirmation: http://millionmilesecrets.com/2012/1...rd/#more-19250
whereami22 is offline  
Old May 5, 2013, 1:21 am
  #549  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7
how do we send from my serve to my wives bluebird account

paying bills is good for bluebird
umangdoshi is offline  
Old May 5, 2013, 9:11 am
  #550  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 801
Originally Posted by Explore
The T&C on some cards (e.g. Vanilla Prepaid) says you have to wait 24 hours, which can be a nuisance. How about loading anytime the next calendar day? Anyone had an issue?
Are you talking about unloading Vanilla Reloads, or loading My Vanilla Prepaid Visa? Many people load the Vanilla Prepaid Reload cards and unload them from their smartphone minutes later in the parking lot and I can't recall a reported issue of having to wait 24 hours.
WhateverDude is offline  
Old May 5, 2013, 3:34 pm
  #551  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis CC, Continental Onepass
Posts: 451
Originally Posted by cfbrown
I check the thread but could not find anything regarding the kiosk and depositing 1k twice, on two different accounts. I did it twice and the second time, the kiosk calls over an WM assistant manager. They assistant manager was really nice and said I had to do the 1k deposit at a register. Today, I did 2, $990 deposits without a problem. (All were from Visa cards from GCM).

Has anyone had this experience too?
I had a some what similar experience. I had four $500 gift cards (GCM) to load to two different Bluebird accounts. I loaded the first one just fine with two of the gift cards. When I got to the second gift card on the second Bluebird account, the kiosks calls over an assistant manager. She let the transaction go through, but said your total transactions must be less than $2000 at the kiosk. The Bluebirds had different names so they must have a way of tracking, maybe by address.
sanctified50 is offline  
Old May 6, 2013, 6:40 am
  #552  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Originally Posted by sanctified50
I had a some what similar experience. I had four $500 gift cards (GCM) to load to two different Bluebird accounts. I loaded the first one just fine with two of the gift cards. When I got to the second gift card on the second Bluebird account, the kiosks calls over an assistant manager. She let the transaction go through, but said your total transactions must be less than $2000 at the kiosk. The Bluebirds had different names so they must have a way of tracking, maybe by address.
You have TWO different Bluebird accounts? How is this possible given that you must provide your SSN to open a BB account? Or is the second account your spouse's?
DCBob is offline  
Old May 6, 2013, 1:36 pm
  #553  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
BB refuses to allow my son who lives with me and is over 18 to have an account.
Bender464 is offline  
Old May 6, 2013, 1:37 pm
  #554  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by Bender464
BB refuses to allow my son who lives with me and is over 18 to have an account.
Did he have a Serve account?
Stoughton is offline  
Old May 6, 2013, 1:40 pm
  #555  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
Originally Posted by Stoughton
Did he have a Serve account?
No Serve, but same name as myself. I suspect that is their problem. This is not his first bank account either..
Bender464 is offline  


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