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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 Dec 8, 2014, 11:24 pm
  #6931  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by tuphat
Dispute the $70 charge.
I've done that. To AMEX's credit, they credited the disputed amount immediately. I got a "we'll get back to you in 7-10 business days" e-mail...followed immediately by a "we need 45 days to investigate this" e-mail. This should be interesting.
mad cow disease is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2014, 4:58 pm
  #6932  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Southwest A-list & Companion Pass, Enterprise, Hilton, Wyndham, etc
Posts: 225
I just noticed that I can get another 100 free checks for Bluebird. Is this an annual thing? Targeted?
bobunf is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2014, 5:19 pm
  #6933  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA Gold, Delta Gold, Marriot Plat
Posts: 37
Originally Posted by mad cow disease
I've done that. To AMEX's credit, they credited the disputed amount immediately. I got a "we'll get back to you in 7-10 business days" e-mail...followed immediately by a "we need 45 days to investigate this" e-mail. This should be interesting.
Wait, did you load BB with credit cards? If yes, it is cash advance fee.
awkwardflyer is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2014, 7:55 am
  #6934  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
Originally Posted by bobunf
I just noticed that I can get another 100 free checks for Bluebird. Is this an annual thing? Targeted?
Hey thanks! Mine also shows available order for $0.
roneyc is offline  
Old Dec 23, 2014, 10:22 pm
  #6935  
Used to be exsynner
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 49
FYI - American Express CEO Ken Chenault is talking with Charlie Rose about Bluebird tonight.
C.F. Frost is offline  
Old Dec 27, 2014, 6:40 am
  #6936  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
Sorry if this has been asked before, I tried searching and didn't find anything.

Just got my 2nd BB (my wife's) and I read that load limit for temporary card is 1000.

When I load 1000 on it,does the load limit on the permanent card include what I loaded on the temp card? So can I load 5000 on it or just 4000 since I already loaded with 1k on the temp card?
lumangoy is offline  
Old Dec 27, 2014, 7:01 am
  #6937  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,935
Originally Posted by bobunf
I just noticed that I can get another 100 free checks for Bluebird. Is this an annual thing? Targeted?
Originally Posted by roneyc
Hey thanks! Mine also shows available order for $0.
Thanks! Mine showed $0 for 100 checks, too. I don't need any right now but ordered for future use. I would never have looked if it weren't for FT!
Stgermainparis is offline  
Old Dec 28, 2014, 10:27 pm
  #6938  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,500
Originally Posted by lumangoy
Sorry if this has been asked before, I tried searching and didn't find anything.

Just got my 2nd BB (my wife's) and I read that load limit for temporary card is 1000.

When I load 1000 on it,does the load limit on the permanent card include what I loaded oun the temp card? So can I load 5000 on it or just 4000 since I already loaded with 1k on the temp card?
Only the initial $500 load on temp card does not count towards your $5k. Anything more than that will offset ur monthly limit. So in ur case since u loaded $1k on temp card, u can only load $4.5k for the rest of the month.
ericdabbs is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2014, 11:27 am
  #6939  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 224
My local walmart has started training their cashiers to only allow one load per customer (I used to be able to do 3-4 at a time, go to another cashier, etc). They don't limit the dollar amount, just the number of loads.

What's the process for doing a $1000 load using 2x$500 VGCs? Is it similar to Bill Pay, or simpler?
gofarhaveacigar is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2014, 4:32 pm
  #6940  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
walked into my regular WM and was upset that Kate was down.

unloaded 2 VGCs in a checkout late then walked over to another lane to unload the last one. Checkout lady asked if I had multiple load and that she could do split payments! I said I only had one. She mentioned she has seen people loading with Visa Gift cards and I told her that's what I have since she looked like she knew what was going on!

I told her I'd look for her next time!
lumangoy is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2014, 10:08 pm
  #6941  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
Originally Posted by lumangoy
She mentioned she has seen people loading with Visa Gift cards and I told her that's what I have since she looked like she knew what was going on!
Admitting to any employee that you're utilizing GCs can come back to bite you. You likely just pulled the pin on a grenade, you just don't know when it will go off and how close to the kill zone you'll be when it does.
Hbax is offline  


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