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)
Jun 4, 2013, 5:47 am
#916
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
No, I'm not missing YOUR point. I understand it only too well. But you are missing MY point - which is increasing the chances of being shutdown from obvious points laundering. It may take awhile but it will happen, just as it did to the Citicard holders who bragged that it would never happen to them. But it did happen! I'm avoiding that and am still getting the same $5,000 equivalent per month of points and/or miles that you are getting - no difference there. And I can still write a "simple check" like you do, only it's on BB and not on a local bank. But I stand less of a chance of a lifetime shutdown by Amex, a company I still plan to use down the road.
Jun 4, 2013, 6:04 am
#917
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
You guys are really missing the point.
Take one BB account and load it with 5K.
Situation 1 - You Bill pay your CC the full 5K and earn 5K in points. (Assume a 1x card)
Situation 2 - You Bill pay your mortgage, car, and other things you cant pay for with CC for a total of 5K. You STILL earn 5K in points.
Its exactly the same each way.
Take one BB account and load it with 5K.
Situation 1 - You Bill pay your CC the full 5K and earn 5K in points. (Assume a 1x card)
Situation 2 - You Bill pay your mortgage, car, and other things you cant pay for with CC for a total of 5K. You STILL earn 5K in points.
Its exactly the same each way.
Jun 4, 2013, 9:59 am
#919
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
...I am really starting to understand why so many will immediately jump on people who ask very simple questions that can easily be answered with a simple search or putting in the effort to actually learn by reading the thread (even just the last 3 pages or so since the same things come up OVER AND OVER). It happens WAY too often.
Re-inventing the wheel is foolish and wastes time. The point of this site is for people to help each other find ways to travel more cheaply. I'm willing to do so, and so are others here.
Jun 4, 2013, 10:01 am
#920
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
These simple questions can MORE easily be answered by people who know the answer and are willing to give it without an irrational requirement that the questioner go through the same rite-of-passage they did. You needn't be involved at all.
Re-inventing the wheel is foolish and wastes time.
Re-inventing the wheel is foolish and wastes time.
Jun 4, 2013, 11:27 am
#922
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
Jun 4, 2013, 12:31 pm
#924
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: DL DM Hub Captive, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, PC Plat, and other stuff.
Posts: 904
Jun 4, 2013, 1:39 pm
#925
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 76
I have a general Question about BB/VR/Vanilla Game. I work in NYC live in JC. There is not walmart within 1/2Hr.. This means I am out of BB Game right ? Anyone who lives in NYC and in BB Game care to PM ? Online load limits/cost are ridiculoous
Jun 4, 2013, 1:42 pm
#926
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Citi closed people's accounts who were misusing their Thank You bonus spends. CC companies know what we are doing, they allow it to happen, however, when someone goes and abuses the system, then you will have problems. Just like what happened with OD and VR's.... This hobby can cause problems, it's called greed. No one knows where the magic line is from use to abuse. Each month each of us push's a little harder to see what we can get away with it. I wish the CC companies would send a warning when we crossed that line, so we can retreat a little but continue to have fun.
Jun 4, 2013, 1:45 pm
#927
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Citi closed people's accounts who were misusing their Thank You bonus spends. CC companies know what we are doing, they allow it to happen, however, when someone goes and abuses the system, then you will have problems. Just like what happened with OD and VR's.... This hobby can cause problems, it's called greed. No one knows where the magic line is from use to abuse. Each month each of us push's a little harder to see what we can get away with it. I wish the CC companies would send a warning when we crossed that line, so we can retreat a little but continue to have fun.
Jun 4, 2013, 1:50 pm
#928
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Well, I timed myself yesterday, I loaded 3x$500 cards and it took me all of 3.5 minutes... So from the time I purchase the GCs, change the PIN's and load the cards took all of 20 minutes, the grocery store in which I buy the GCs are across the street from the WM I load my BB card. The longest time is changing the PINs. I only do 3 at a time, and the reason why I buy them at this grocery store is I get fuel points when I buy the GCs and allows me to take a $1/gallon up to 35 gallons of gas.
Jun 4, 2013, 1:53 pm
#929
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
Citi closed people's accounts who were misusing their Thank You bonus spends. CC companies know what we are doing, they allow it to happen, however, when someone goes and abuses the system, then you will have problems. Just like what happened with OD and VR's.... This hobby can cause problems, it's called greed. No one knows where the magic line is from use to abuse. Each month each of us push's a little harder to see what we can get away with it. I wish the CC companies would send a warning when we crossed that line, so we can retreat a little but continue to have fun.
Jun 4, 2013, 2:07 pm
#930
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Greed? No. We are using a system that was designed poorly and has loopholes. All companies would have to do is put a spend cap on category bonuses and we are all done with raking in points. We would have to search for the next best thing i.e. GW. Amex capped the grocery store purchases on the preferred card because of this. That's all you have to do to play the end game. Stop whining.
I have 3 CVS, and 2 wallgreens with in a 7 miles radius of me, and I go there and buy VRs, never more then 1K at a time.. I just don't want to draw attention to what I'm doing. I'd rather take 12 months to get my million points then 3 weeks....