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)
May 17, 2013, 5:53 pm
#691
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: ONT/LAX
Programs: IHG Plat
Posts: 496
First of all, the IRS never sees your check. The check goes to a post office lock box owned by a bank and the bank processes the check automatically (under a contract with the IRS). No way will anyone at the bank ever look at your check (except for the amount). And a machine probably reads the amount, too.
May 17, 2013, 10:20 pm
#692
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 374
Not really... a $500 VR costs $3.95 = about 0.8% up front, so you're only netting 1.2% - less if you're loading in smaller amounts or from GCs that have a higher fee.
May 18, 2013, 5:18 pm
#694
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 33
-WT
May 18, 2013, 5:39 pm
#695
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
+1. If you don't live near a Walmart, you have to pay a $2 fee to load a $100 debit (gift) card on BB. And the maximum is $100 a day. The nearest Walmart from where I live is more than 9 miles away, and you have to drive there in heavily congested traffic. On the other hand, I am 2 blocks from CVS and go there regularly anyway. Time = money. So, for me, it's VR all the way! The 0.8 cent cost per dollar is more than offset by the value of Starpoints OR the value of making the minimum spend for a CC promotion. YMMV.
May 18, 2013, 8:01 pm
#696
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
I took 2 Chase $500 GCs to WM today, but the machine only accepted the first one. I'm not over any limits and I haven't deposited for several days. I tried a $175 Chase GC and then the $500 card again but neither worked. I'll try tomorrow and see what happens.
There were hand-written signs on all the WM self check-outs saying "No Gift Cards". I tried anyway, but it did not accept my Chase GC. The card also did not work at my grocer's self-checkout. Not a good sign.
Edited: I checked online and the suspect card has "Purchase with PIN (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" and then "Reversal Advice (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" two times, and all lines are crossed out. Not helpful, but at least the value is still there.
There were hand-written signs on all the WM self check-outs saying "No Gift Cards". I tried anyway, but it did not accept my Chase GC. The card also did not work at my grocer's self-checkout. Not a good sign.
Edited: I checked online and the suspect card has "Purchase with PIN (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" and then "Reversal Advice (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" two times, and all lines are crossed out. Not helpful, but at least the value is still there.
Last edited by PaulMSN; May 18, 2013 at 8:12 pm
May 19, 2013, 8:47 am
#697
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I took 2 Chase $500 GCs to WM today, but the machine only accepted the first one. I'm not over any limits and I haven't deposited for several days. I tried a $175 Chase GC and then the $500 card again but neither worked. I'll try tomorrow and see what happens.
There were hand-written signs on all the WM self check-outs saying "No Gift Cards". I tried anyway, but it did not accept my Chase GC. The card also did not work at my grocer's self-checkout. Not a good sign.
Edited: I checked online and the suspect card has "Purchase with PIN (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" and then "Reversal Advice (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" two times, and all lines are crossed out. Not helpful, but at least the value is still there.
There were hand-written signs on all the WM self check-outs saying "No Gift Cards". I tried anyway, but it did not accept my Chase GC. The card also did not work at my grocer's self-checkout. Not a good sign.
Edited: I checked online and the suspect card has "Purchase with PIN (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" and then "Reversal Advice (EFD) - WAL WAL-MART STORE <blah blah>" two times, and all lines are crossed out. Not helpful, but at least the value is still there.
I don't know how companies can say no GC if they are supposed to be accepted anywhere Visa is accepted. I almost wonder if there has been fraud with GCs there as well. I would try a machine if they have one near customer service.
Last edited by TheDapperDon; May 19, 2013 at 9:06 am Reason: additional thoughts
May 19, 2013, 12:13 pm
#698
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 374
Yes - but my point is that if you pay a 0.8% fee to load a card at 2x and then use it at Sam's, you aren't "effectually [sic] getting 2X on my purchases" - you're getting a 2X-0.8% return.
May 19, 2013, 1:40 pm
#699
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
I took 2 Chase $500 GCs to WM today, but the machine only accepted the first one. I'm not over any limits and I haven't deposited for several days. I tried a $175 Chase GC and then the $500 card again but neither worked. I'll try tomorrow and see what happens.
There were hand-written signs on all the WM self check-outs saying "No Gift Cards". I tried anyway, but it did not accept my Chase GC. The card also did not work at my grocer's self-checkout. Not a good sign.
There were hand-written signs on all the WM self check-outs saying "No Gift Cards". I tried anyway, but it did not accept my Chase GC. The card also did not work at my grocer's self-checkout. Not a good sign.
Maybe ask a cashier or manager?Exactly my thought.
May 19, 2013, 7:32 pm
#700
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: CA
Programs: BA, AA, United
Posts: 429
I loaded 3 BB cards yesterday w/o any issues
US National bank Mastercard (which I had issues in the past), Chase gift cards and Vanilla gift card for $3K w/o any issues.
Maybe the problem that you are having is temporary (in the 2nd week of May, I had issues loading Chase gift cards, US Bank mastercard etc for a few days), try it again in a few days and most likely it will work.
US National bank Mastercard (which I had issues in the past), Chase gift cards and Vanilla gift card for $3K w/o any issues.
Maybe the problem that you are having is temporary (in the 2nd week of May, I had issues loading Chase gift cards, US Bank mastercard etc for a few days), try it again in a few days and most likely it will work.
May 19, 2013, 7:40 pm
#701
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
When Citi 5% promotion ends the demand for VR will reduce significantly? then GCs will be cheaper than VRs? what if you are trying to meet the min. spend?
May 19, 2013, 8:36 pm
#702
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 672
I now have a photo of a VR prepaid card on my phone and show it to one of the cashiers at CVS whenever I can't find them in the gift card/prepaid card racks. Half the time, the cashier knows where they are and they are NOT on the rack. The rest of the time, they are either sold out or are not carried by that store ("we've never carried those at our store"). YMMV.
May 20, 2013, 2:28 pm
#703
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CLL
Programs: MS Plat, AOR ninja
Posts: 2,177
Question re: bluebird checks.
Are payees REQUIRED to confirm the authorization code in order to cash? Or is it just an option?
thanks for any info!
Are payees REQUIRED to confirm the authorization code in order to cash? Or is it just an option?
thanks for any info!
May 20, 2013, 2:35 pm
#704
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 79
Just an option. I think BB checks are more secure than personal checks since it allows the payee to verify that it's not a hot check. It's sort of like a cashiers check.
May 20, 2013, 3:12 pm
#705
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
Actually, it's exactly like a certified check (not a cashier's check) because it is written on a personal check and guaranteed by the bank. The only difference is that you have to call BB if you need to verify that the pre-authorization code is not phony.