May 27, 2015, 12:00 am
Last edit by: iflyjetz
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 discussion. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread.
For information on switching from BB to Serve, see the Serve thread wiki.
Bluebird Load Limits:
The cash load limit for a temp card is $1,500 total.
*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.
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 discussion. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread.
For information on switching from BB to Serve, see the Serve thread wiki.
Bluebird Load Limits:
- Cash loading via VR or WM load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
- Cash loading up to $1999.99/day at Walmart registers (tested by PedroNY in Post #525 and showed to not be enforced. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1501215-bluebird-prepaid-debit-now-fdic-insurance-paper-checks-2015-a-35.html#post25611848 )
- 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
The cash load limit for a temp card is $1,500 total.
*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.
Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2015)
Feb 3, 2015, 8:17 am
#76
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
Been using BB for about 2 years with acceptable results. However, I now have a huge issue with them and their customer service is basically non-existent. I wrote a preauthorized check for property taxes and they didn't honor it. Suspect there was some kind of processing or data input glitch. The problem is they are still showing the check as authorized but not presented. I spent 2 hours with (Indian) customer service yesterday and all they could repeat is that a check cannot be returned as NSF as claimed by the county. Which I know is the way it's SUPPOSED to process, but it did happen as per the notice.
Does anyone have a verified complaint address? Attempts to get information about a supervisor's direct number or an address just left me on hold for 20 minutes without anyone returning to the call (multiple attempts).
Does anyone have a verified complaint address? Attempts to get information about a supervisor's direct number or an address just left me on hold for 20 minutes without anyone returning to the call (multiple attempts).
Feb 3, 2015, 4:36 pm
#77
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,938
Been using BB for about 2 years with acceptable results. However, I now have a huge issue with them and their customer service is basically non-existent. I wrote a preauthorized check for property taxes and they didn't honor it. Suspect there was some kind of processing or data input glitch. The problem is they are still showing the check as authorized but not presented. I spent 2 hours with (Indian) customer service yesterday and all they could repeat is that a check cannot be returned as NSF as claimed by the county. Which I know is the way it's SUPPOSED to process, but it did happen as per the notice.
Does anyone have a verified complaint address? Attempts to get information about a supervisor's direct number or an address just left me on hold for 20 minutes without anyone returning to the call (multiple attempts).
Does anyone have a verified complaint address? Attempts to get information about a supervisor's direct number or an address just left me on hold for 20 minutes without anyone returning to the call (multiple attempts).
Feb 3, 2015, 4:42 pm
#78
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
Thanks I'll do that, but I definitely want to complain. First, my taxes paid after Jan. 31 are late and accrue interest, there is the NSF fee from taxing authority, and the deplorable level of customer service and rote quoting from a text that I had to endure for 2 hours yesterday. They need to admit it IS possible for a valid check to be denied by their system and provide a real solution for the rare instances when it happens.
BTW, the taxing authority requires cashiers check only, so there's that fee as well that I'm incurring.
BTW, the taxing authority requires cashiers check only, so there's that fee as well that I'm incurring.
Feb 4, 2015, 7:27 am
#79
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Thanks I'll do that, but I definitely want to complain. First, my taxes paid after Jan. 31 are late and accrue interest, there is the NSF fee from taxing authority, and the deplorable level of customer service and rote quoting from a text that I had to endure for 2 hours yesterday. They need to admit it IS possible for a valid check to be denied by their system and provide a real solution for the rare instances when it happens.
BTW, the taxing authority requires cashiers check only, so there's that fee as well that I'm incurring.
BTW, the taxing authority requires cashiers check only, so there's that fee as well that I'm incurring.
Feb 4, 2015, 7:35 am
#80
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
Sorry, but I hadn't read in FT any time previously of this type of error. Besides, the whole purpose of MS is to generate spend and why wouldn't you make large payments out of BB rather than writing a personal check? I realize the risks I take with all of my activities. I just want to hold AmEx accountable for a system failure.
Feb 4, 2015, 7:36 am
#81
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
On a related note, BB site has been running very slow the last couple of days and all attempts on my 2 accounts to pay bills results in "please enter a valid account number" for long-standing payees that easily accepted payments in January. Anyone else encountering this problem?
Feb 4, 2015, 7:50 am
#82
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
On a related note, BB site has been running very slow the last couple of days and all attempts on my 2 accounts to pay bills results in "please enter a valid account number" for long-standing payees that easily accepted payments in January. Anyone else encountering this problem?
Feb 4, 2015, 8:09 am
#83
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
Thanks Mamibear. That did the trick. Also, just for grins I had tried paying bills using phone ap and it didn't have the problems my online account had when accessed through either IE or Foxfire. Go figure.
Feb 4, 2015, 8:56 am
#84
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Sorry, but I hadn't read in FT any time previously of this type of error. Besides, the whole purpose of MS is to generate spend and why wouldn't you make large payments out of BB rather than writing a personal check? I realize the risks I take with all of my activities. I just want to hold AmEx accountable for a system failure.
Feb 4, 2015, 10:38 am
#85
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,938
Okay, another liquidation question. I've got 2 checks that have been pre-approved for $50 and $33. The $50 one is still in my possession so I could cancel it. The $33 isn't. Since the funds have already been deleted from my BB account (which is showing a 0 balance), can I let these checks continue on their way to payment or do those need to clear before I can cancel account to open RB?
Feb 4, 2015, 10:43 am
#86
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA
Posts: 312
I had terrible customer service with BB once, so I immediately went to Twitter and asked AMEX for help. Ended up working with a great AMEX rep to resolve my problem.
Feb 4, 2015, 11:53 am
#87
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Okay, another liquidation question. I've got 2 checks that have been pre-approved for $50 and $33. The $50 one is still in my possession so I could cancel it. The $33 isn't. Since the funds have already been deleted from my BB account (which is showing a 0 balance), can I let these checks continue on their way to payment or do those need to clear before I can cancel account to open RB?
Feb 4, 2015, 7:49 pm
#88
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,938
Feb 9, 2015, 3:26 pm
#89
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 65
I just tried to cancel my Bluebird account with this link:
https://secure.bluebird.com/Profile/CloseAccount
It kept redirecting me to my transaction history. I transferred the remaining balance to another account already. Did they change the way you cancel bluebird cards? Does anyone have a new link?
https://secure.bluebird.com/Profile/CloseAccount
It kept redirecting me to my transaction history. I transferred the remaining balance to another account already. Did they change the way you cancel bluebird cards? Does anyone have a new link?
Feb 10, 2015, 9:42 am
#90
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
BB Accounts Locked
Interesting turn of events... background - I control about 6 BB's for family members. Haven't had an issue for the past 2-3 years, fully loading all every month and draining funds every month (BP to CC or back to me).
In the past week, 2 of the accounts got locked by BB. Need to send in docs on one, second just happened this morning (with no explanation other than "your account has been locked please call us". or something similar
First locked account has $5k in it. Second $0.
I believe I can ATM the 5k out, is that correct even though it's locked? Can someone verify if they know? Yes, I know I can and need to get the D/L of the user to have the account unlocked to use going forward.
Anyone have thoughts as to why this may happen? I'll probably start using incognito more often, and not 'overlap' different bb account loads during the same WM run.....
In the past week, 2 of the accounts got locked by BB. Need to send in docs on one, second just happened this morning (with no explanation other than "your account has been locked please call us". or something similar
First locked account has $5k in it. Second $0.
I believe I can ATM the 5k out, is that correct even though it's locked? Can someone verify if they know? Yes, I know I can and need to get the D/L of the user to have the account unlocked to use going forward.
Anyone have thoughts as to why this may happen? I'll probably start using incognito more often, and not 'overlap' different bb account loads during the same WM run.....