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 28, 2013, 7:12 pm
#796
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 939
I dont know.... When you can do a billpay or paper check to virtually anyone...
May 28, 2013, 8:06 pm
#797
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
I had two thoughts on the limit change.
First, linked bank accounts seem to have caused more headaches than anything. Some users, myself included, have had accounts temporarily locked over this. One just wonders what nefarious things "non-FTers" were doing with bank transfers.
Second, this does show BB is paying attention. This is not a good thing IMHO but not surprising. I'm not sure if the change is cost driven, fraud driven, etc. but is does show the whole program is subject to change.
First, linked bank accounts seem to have caused more headaches than anything. Some users, myself included, have had accounts temporarily locked over this. One just wonders what nefarious things "non-FTers" were doing with bank transfers.
Second, this does show BB is paying attention. This is not a good thing IMHO but not surprising. I'm not sure if the change is cost driven, fraud driven, etc. but is does show the whole program is subject to change.
May 28, 2013, 8:14 pm
#798
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 939
There's definately something to it. You see how B&M banks lock you out of your accounts for linking these prepaid accounts with their checking/savings? And now BB is cutting the transfer bandwidth to a fraction of what it was. This is a sign of massive fraud IMO. They certainly wont admit it on their own but when both parties take such extraordinary measures that means someone is screwing the pooch.
Hopefully those crooks wont cast their eye on our churn avenues or that will go the same way as the linked bank accont thing.
Hopefully those crooks wont cast their eye on our churn avenues or that will go the same way as the linked bank accont thing.
May 29, 2013, 12:59 am
#799
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
May 29, 2013, 9:09 am
#800
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
What's the less risky way to retrieve the roughly $5K in my BB account? I'm in an unusually tight cash position this month and need to liquidate what's in there. I could send Citi a BB payment for $5K of my $8K credit card bill (over $5K of which is from VRs purchased at CVS) or I could try to link a bank account and transfer money out of BB to the bank account, and then pay the Citi card off in the usual fashion.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
May 29, 2013, 9:11 am
#801
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,179
What's the less risky way to retrieve the roughly $5K in my BB account? I'm in an unusually tight cash position this month and need to liquidate what's in there. I could send Citi a BB payment for $5K of my $8K credit card bill (over $5K of which is from VRs purchased at CVS) or I could try to link a bank account and transfer money out of BB to the bank account, and then pay the Citi card off in the usual fashion.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Just send $5K to Citi...no need to worry.
May 29, 2013, 9:36 am
#802
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
What's the less risky way to retrieve the roughly $5K in my BB account? I'm in an unusually tight cash position this month and need to liquidate what's in there. I could send Citi a BB payment for $5K of my $8K credit card bill (over $5K of which is from VRs purchased at CVS) or I could try to link a bank account and transfer money out of BB to the bank account, and then pay the Citi card off in the usual fashion.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
May 29, 2013, 1:25 pm
#803
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 182
What's the less risky way to retrieve the roughly $5K in my BB account? I'm in an unusually tight cash position this month and need to liquidate what's in there. I could send Citi a BB payment for $5K of my $8K credit card bill (over $5K of which is from VRs purchased at CVS) or I could try to link a bank account and transfer money out of BB to the bank account, and then pay the Citi card off in the usual fashion.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Neither option seems ideal -- it could raise a red flag with Citi to pay part of the credit card bill this way after the VR purchases and it could annoy BB if I transfer $5K out to my bank account once I get it linked. Maybe I'm paranoid and shouldn't worry about either option.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
May 29, 2013, 1:34 pm
#805
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold, AS MVP Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, US
Posts: 956
May 30, 2013, 7:58 am
#809
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 350
I'm fortunate to have VRs available in my area and being able to to pay for them using credit card. However, the system will not take my Sapphire card... all other cards work. What could be the issue?
May 30, 2013, 8:20 am
#810
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta GM, SPG Gold
Posts: 161