Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
May 22, 2013, 6:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: CVG, AMS, BKK
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 185
Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
I'm joining this game a little late but figured better late than never. Anyhow, I drove out to my local Walmart yesterday to purchase a BlueBird card.
I loaded money onto the account and went to the website to register. After completing registration, I was told that I could not have a BlueBird account as I already had a Serve account. Ok, strange, but I figured I would just close my Serve account. Easier said than done. I logged into Serve and couldn't close it, so I called the 1800 number. They told me to call back the next day because their servers were updating. It started to feel like I was getting the run around.
I called back today and was able to close my Serve account. Excited, I logged onto BlueBird to register my new account. Oops, I can't have a BlueBird account because I 'still' have a Serve account. I called the number and waited on hold for half an hour. The CS rep alerted me that I would need to wait 31 days because although my Serve account was closed, it wasn't fully closed for 31 days. Now I'll call back on June 23rd, and probably be told that I need to wait 31 business days or 31 weeks or 31 lunar cycles.
Is anyone else getting the run around when trying to set up their BlueBird account? If Amex's customer service for their charge and credit cards mirrored this experience, I would ditch the bank altogether.
Frustrated!
I loaded money onto the account and went to the website to register. After completing registration, I was told that I could not have a BlueBird account as I already had a Serve account. Ok, strange, but I figured I would just close my Serve account. Easier said than done. I logged into Serve and couldn't close it, so I called the 1800 number. They told me to call back the next day because their servers were updating. It started to feel like I was getting the run around.
I called back today and was able to close my Serve account. Excited, I logged onto BlueBird to register my new account. Oops, I can't have a BlueBird account because I 'still' have a Serve account. I called the number and waited on hold for half an hour. The CS rep alerted me that I would need to wait 31 days because although my Serve account was closed, it wasn't fully closed for 31 days. Now I'll call back on June 23rd, and probably be told that I need to wait 31 business days or 31 weeks or 31 lunar cycles.
Is anyone else getting the run around when trying to set up their BlueBird account? If Amex's customer service for their charge and credit cards mirrored this experience, I would ditch the bank altogether.
Frustrated!
May 22, 2013, 7:28 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHL, maybe EWR
Programs: Plat IHG, Marriott Rewards Silver, CSP, Ink Bold, USDM, *Wood Gold, AA, Club Carl
Posts: 285
It was instantaneous for me about 5 months ago.
I closed my Server via the online function for it and got the confirming email within a few minutes and then opening the BB with no problems.
I did try to open BB the day before and it threw an error.
I closed my Server via the online function for it and got the confirming email within a few minutes and then opening the BB with no problems.
I did try to open BB the day before and it threw an error.
Last edited by vodkashine; May 22, 2013 at 7:30 am Reason: Additional data points
May 22, 2013, 7:36 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: CVG, AMS, BKK
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 185
I guess that's just my luck then. Unless I'm the exception, it seems like they've made it much more difficult to transition over. Has anyone done this recently?
May 23, 2013, 8:58 am
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington State
Programs: UA, Starwood, AAdvantage, Alaska, BAEC, Marriott, Hawaiian, Hilton HHonors
Posts: 255
Let me throw this into the mix. I had my Serve account closed by AMEX when my roommate added his credit
card into my Serve account and paid the rent. Somehow Serve found out and told me this was a violation and
close the account. I've talked to many different CS reps and the fraud department to try and work something
out but still no go. One or two told me to wait 60 -90 days and try again but I am still locked out.
The last rep I spoke with in the fraud department said perhaps after a year I could attempt to register again but he
had no idea if I'd be approved. I really only want a Bluebird card but since they are tied into Serve that application
was also denied because I have a Serve account albeit a closed account.
Round and round with no way out.
card into my Serve account and paid the rent. Somehow Serve found out and told me this was a violation and
close the account. I've talked to many different CS reps and the fraud department to try and work something
out but still no go. One or two told me to wait 60 -90 days and try again but I am still locked out.
The last rep I spoke with in the fraud department said perhaps after a year I could attempt to register again but he
had no idea if I'd be approved. I really only want a Bluebird card but since they are tied into Serve that application
was also denied because I have a Serve account albeit a closed account.
Round and round with no way out.
May 23, 2013, 2:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
However for my husband he has to call Serve so they can close the account permanently. Then told him to wait 1 day before applying for bluebird. Now we both have our BB cards.
May 23, 2013, 11:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 218
I just cancelled Serve online and applied BB immediately without issue. Did same thing for my wife but it didn't go through for my dad. They told me that they did not receive the BB application (I wouldn't trust them on this as I received many verification emails from them) and asked me to re-apply BB for my dad and everything was smooth again.
May 24, 2013, 5:43 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: CVG, AMS, BKK
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 185
I just cancelled Serve online and applied BB immediately without issue. Did same thing for my wife but it didn't go through for my dad. They told me that they did not receive the BB application (I wouldn't trust them on this as I received many verification emails from them) and asked me to re-apply BB for my dad and everything was smooth again.
Jul 21, 2013, 11:53 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: RDU
Programs: AA, SWA
Posts: 13
Update?
DutchRyan,
Did you end up having to wait the full 31 days? I cancelled my Serve acct (which I never used) on 7/16 & haven't been able to open a BB account yet. I spoke with a CSR, who said that I had to wait 31 days. FWIW, I used the exact same name, address, email, etc for both applications. I know the system is picky about that.
Did you end up having to wait the full 31 days? I cancelled my Serve acct (which I never used) on 7/16 & haven't been able to open a BB account yet. I spoke with a CSR, who said that I had to wait 31 days. FWIW, I used the exact same name, address, email, etc for both applications. I know the system is picky about that.
I'm joining this game a little late but figured better late than never. Anyhow, I drove out to my local Walmart yesterday to purchase a BlueBird card.
I loaded money onto the account and went to the website to register. After completing registration, I was told that I could not have a BlueBird account as I already had a Serve account. Ok, strange, but I figured I would just close my Serve account. Easier said than done. I logged into Serve and couldn't close it, so I called the 1800 number. They told me to call back the next day because their servers were updating. It started to feel like I was getting the run around.
I called back today and was able to close my Serve account. Excited, I logged onto BlueBird to register my new account. Oops, I can't have a BlueBird account because I 'still' have a Serve account. I called the number and waited on hold for half an hour. The CS rep alerted me that I would need to wait 31 days because although my Serve account was closed, it wasn't fully closed for 31 days. Now I'll call back on June 23rd, and probably be told that I need to wait 31 business days or 31 weeks or 31 lunar cycles.
Is anyone else getting the run around when trying to set up their BlueBird account? If Amex's customer service for their charge and credit cards mirrored this experience, I would ditch the bank altogether.
Frustrated!
I loaded money onto the account and went to the website to register. After completing registration, I was told that I could not have a BlueBird account as I already had a Serve account. Ok, strange, but I figured I would just close my Serve account. Easier said than done. I logged into Serve and couldn't close it, so I called the 1800 number. They told me to call back the next day because their servers were updating. It started to feel like I was getting the run around.
I called back today and was able to close my Serve account. Excited, I logged onto BlueBird to register my new account. Oops, I can't have a BlueBird account because I 'still' have a Serve account. I called the number and waited on hold for half an hour. The CS rep alerted me that I would need to wait 31 days because although my Serve account was closed, it wasn't fully closed for 31 days. Now I'll call back on June 23rd, and probably be told that I need to wait 31 business days or 31 weeks or 31 lunar cycles.
Is anyone else getting the run around when trying to set up their BlueBird account? If Amex's customer service for their charge and credit cards mirrored this experience, I would ditch the bank altogether.
Frustrated!
Jul 22, 2013, 11:52 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 173
Let me throw this into the mix. I had my Serve account closed by AMEX when my roommate added his credit
card into my Serve account and paid the rent. Somehow Serve found out and told me this was a violation and
close the account. I've talked to many different CS reps and the fraud department to try and work something
out but still no go. One or two told me to wait 60 -90 days and try again but I am still locked out.
The last rep I spoke with in the fraud department said perhaps after a year I could attempt to register again but he
had no idea if I'd be approved. I really only want a Bluebird card but since they are tied into Serve that application
was also denied because I have a Serve account albeit a closed account.
Round and round with no way out.
card into my Serve account and paid the rent. Somehow Serve found out and told me this was a violation and
close the account. I've talked to many different CS reps and the fraud department to try and work something
out but still no go. One or two told me to wait 60 -90 days and try again but I am still locked out.
The last rep I spoke with in the fraud department said perhaps after a year I could attempt to register again but he
had no idea if I'd be approved. I really only want a Bluebird card but since they are tied into Serve that application
was also denied because I have a Serve account albeit a closed account.
Round and round with no way out.
Jul 31, 2013, 7:55 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: RDU
Programs: AA, SWA
Posts: 13
Data Point
I closed my Serve account on 7/16/13 & was finally able to open a BB account on 7/30/13. I got a message that my email address was already in use, but it let me continue with the application & I got a verification email. I'm glad I didn't have to wait the full month because I want to order those free checks before Aug 13!
Jul 31, 2013, 8:40 am
#14
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
I closed my Serve account on 7/16/13 & was finally able to open a BB account on 7/30/13. I got a message that my email address was already in use, but it let me continue with the application & I got a verification email. I'm glad I didn't have to wait the full month because I want to order those free checks before Aug 13!