Has anyone checked to see if the GCs are still available post Dec 31? I assume they are not but don't feel like venturing out in the snow. FWIW, I did over 10K over 45 days and did not get flagged or shut down by AAA or MetaBank - never did more than 1500 at a time.

I called AAA earlier today and they told me the cards are still available in my area but with a fee of $3.

Unfortunately with a fee, if you are banned, it still will not work

Just another data point. I did two $1k (2 x $500) purchases (four cards total) while the free gift card deal was going one. Just purchased a $500 last week with a $3 fee no problem.

Just a data point for everyone, if interested. During the xmas season, I had purchased $10k ($3k, $2k, $3k, $2k) of GC's from AAA (S NJ). Purchased additional 2k in Feb (at $2.50 per $500, was a very nice opportunity to save on fees vs. VR's and diversify spend to meet AA Exec 10k spend).

Upon trying to buy more in March, was told that "Metabank would like to talk to you, we've been instructed we can't sell you more". So, I of course played dumb and said I'd gladly call.

To date (this was a few weeks ago), I have NOT called (Rule #1). That said, would any of the more experienced people here recommend calling? Any upside to placing the call? Even if no upside for me (doubt ban will be lifted), any information that could be obtained from a call that might be helpful to the community? Open to suggestions or comments (public comments or PMs).

Don't call. Post 139 and a few above were callers trying to make friends with Metabank on all our behalf LOL and it backfired. Now the caller wants to keep newbies away from the MS forum. The truth is stranger than fiction.

Thanks for the reference and saving me time.

If anyone is interested, I was given a name and phone number, which I won't post publicly. PM if wanted for whatever reason.

It's been 4 months since I was banned. Has anyone who got blocked by MetaBank for AAA gift cards ever been able to go back and buy cards again? With the potential demise of beans as soon as tomorrow, I'm trying to scout out new strategies.

Fee-free cards are back at AAA. If you haven't been banned around Christmas time, you have from today until June 30 to pick them up.

Has anyone successfully purchased after previously being banned? It seems like that ought to fall out of their records eventually.

Also, is the ban for the entire AAA account (i.e. me and mrs jiff), or just me? Mrs jiff would be happy to stroll into AAA to pick up some cards for me to liquidate as she's seen experienced several luxury trips and is now aware of why I partake in some of these shennanigans...

Can you provide source reference, support, further information? Thanks.

Possible MS?: AAA - no processing fee giftcards - Nov / Dec
 

Just Amex again? What region if you don't mind sharing

There is a full-page ad in the AAA magazine, referencing graduation time. This is in line with what was said earlier in this thread - that the no-fee cards are offered twice per year around graduation and Christmas.

As with the previous offer, it is region-specific, so your best bet is to swing by and see if they are offering fee-free cards. Even calling shouldn't be an issue - this is not a mistake of some kind.

Any idea what constitutes being banned?

I bought around $17.5k of these (I think) in November then when I went to buy more they swiped my card and told me that the limit was $10k per the message on the computer.

I still had unused gift cards which I was able to liquidate no problem, but I understand that some people here had to call Metabank to get reimbursed because they were being deactivated.

I guess I'll just have to visit AAA and find out myself...But if anybody who got the 'over the limit' message last year is able to buy them this year please report back.