Jan 22, 2014, 3:27 pm
Last edit by: XP1
Warning: The T-M website contains an apparent Bill Pay function. Attempting to use it to pay credit card bills, or probably any significant $ amount bills of any sort, will get your account frozen. Ditto large scale ATM or MO withdrawals. The one method of unloading likely to keep you under the radar is small scale WM BP. Also likely to get you shut down, according to consensus reports, is running much more than $5K a month thru your account. You ignore this advice at your own risk.
SUMMARY
1. FAQ's
2. Free to use for TMo customers.
3. Issued by Bancorp
4. Load at T-mobile store (Registers are HARD CODED not to accept anything other than cash.)
5. or Reloadit, (find a grocery store that sold reloadit cards with a cc)
List Stores hard coded for cash or Credit Card accepted
T-Mobile (cash only)
Home Depot (cash only, hard coded)
Harris Teeter - Bought with CC on 2/16/14, hard coded denied CC on 5 APR 2014
Winn-Dixie - Hard coded for cash (debit may work, untested) as of Oct-2015
Meijer (Cash/Debit including VGC)
Giant Eagle/GetGo (Cash, Debit including VGC )
Safeways/Vons/Pavilions in California - most only Cash
Food Lion - Manager override now required. Many stores cash or bank debit only, but registers are not hard coded.
Save-A-Lot: Hard coded cash only
BigY: At least some stores have gone cash only as of 1/8
Acme in PA: Hard-coded cash only (Source)
Note on ReloadIt Cards
These come in two main flavors, up to $500, and up to $950 (there are ones that go up to $50, too). Both are $3.95 load fee. The older grey cards, have CASH ONLY on them. Even if the cash register is coded to accept it, many cashiers will be hesitant to even try, or get shut down by manager.
The maximum value reload will be $2,500.00. There is no maximum number of times you may value reload your Card Account per day; however, the maximum dollar amount of value reloads you may make to your Card Account in one day is $2,500.00. We will accept direct deposits larger than $2,500.00, but any direct deposit value reloaded to your Card Account will count against the $2,500.00 daily limit.
Value Reload Fee: Each time you value reload $300.00 or more to your Card Account in a single transaction, you will receive a credit for any fee you paid. If you are a T-Mobile Wireless Customer and value reload your Card Account at a participating T-Mobile Wireless location, you will receive a refund at the register (and will pay no fee for your value reload). If you value reload your Card Account for $300.00 or more via another method, we will issue a credit to your Card Account in the amount of the fee you paid.
In practice, a ReloadIt >= $300 loaded via the safe will receive credit for the fee. However, the terms formally state "Please note: Value reloads made from Reloadit Packs that have been placed in the Program Manager’s Reloadit `Safe' are not eligible for any fee credit." so this is not guaranteed.
The Limits:
Daily limit: $2500 during a rolling 24 hour period
Monthly limit: ?
Annual Limit: ?
Max Bill Pay (per transaction): = $5000 (tested March 6th, can do 'at least' a second for the same amount to the same payee momment later).
Daily ATM limit: $500 (rolling 24 hr rather than calendar day)
Total monthly bill pay limit: ?
The maximum value of your Card Account is restricted to $10,000.00
T-Mobile Prepaid Customer Service Email: [email protected]
If you need to escalate to the FDIC, Bancorp's registered FDIC# is 35444.
If you want to try to open an FDIC complaint or investigation you can send one in electronically at
http://www2.fdic.gov/IDASP/DIRSInfoRequest.asp
Alternative FDIC link to file complaint
https://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp
FAQ
SUMMARY
1. FAQ's
2. Free to use for TMo customers.
3. Issued by Bancorp
4. Load at T-mobile store (Registers are HARD CODED not to accept anything other than cash.)
5. or Reloadit, (find a grocery store that sold reloadit cards with a cc)
List Stores hard coded for cash or Credit Card accepted
T-Mobile (cash only)
Home Depot (cash only, hard coded)
Harris Teeter - Bought with CC on 2/16/14, hard coded denied CC on 5 APR 2014
Winn-Dixie - Hard coded for cash (debit may work, untested) as of Oct-2015
Meijer (Cash/Debit including VGC)
Giant Eagle/GetGo (Cash, Debit including VGC )
Safeways/Vons/Pavilions in California - most only Cash
Food Lion - Manager override now required. Many stores cash or bank debit only, but registers are not hard coded.
Save-A-Lot: Hard coded cash only
BigY: At least some stores have gone cash only as of 1/8
Acme in PA: Hard-coded cash only (Source)
Note on ReloadIt Cards
These come in two main flavors, up to $500, and up to $950 (there are ones that go up to $50, too). Both are $3.95 load fee. The older grey cards, have CASH ONLY on them. Even if the cash register is coded to accept it, many cashiers will be hesitant to even try, or get shut down by manager.
The maximum value reload will be $2,500.00. There is no maximum number of times you may value reload your Card Account per day; however, the maximum dollar amount of value reloads you may make to your Card Account in one day is $2,500.00. We will accept direct deposits larger than $2,500.00, but any direct deposit value reloaded to your Card Account will count against the $2,500.00 daily limit.
Value Reload Fee: Each time you value reload $300.00 or more to your Card Account in a single transaction, you will receive a credit for any fee you paid. If you are a T-Mobile Wireless Customer and value reload your Card Account at a participating T-Mobile Wireless location, you will receive a refund at the register (and will pay no fee for your value reload). If you value reload your Card Account for $300.00 or more via another method, we will issue a credit to your Card Account in the amount of the fee you paid.
In practice, a ReloadIt >= $300 loaded via the safe will receive credit for the fee. However, the terms formally state "Please note: Value reloads made from Reloadit Packs that have been placed in the Program Manager’s Reloadit `Safe' are not eligible for any fee credit." so this is not guaranteed.
The Limits:
Daily limit: $2500 during a rolling 24 hour period
Monthly limit: ?
Annual Limit: ?
Max Bill Pay (per transaction): = $5000 (tested March 6th, can do 'at least' a second for the same amount to the same payee momment later).
Daily ATM limit: $500 (rolling 24 hr rather than calendar day)
Total monthly bill pay limit: ?
The maximum value of your Card Account is restricted to $10,000.00
T-Mobile Prepaid Customer Service Email: [email protected]
If you need to escalate to the FDIC, Bancorp's registered FDIC# is 35444.
If you want to try to open an FDIC complaint or investigation you can send one in electronically at
http://www2.fdic.gov/IDASP/DIRSInfoRequest.asp
Alternative FDIC link to file complaint
https://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp
FAQ
- My fee did not get refunded. Has there been a policy change? ReloadIt Fees are processed overnight and could take 24 hours after you reload the card. As of 9/2015, ReloadIt cards added to the safe prior to loading on T-Mobile will still get the $3.95 refunded.
- What is a safe transaction amount? There is no definite safe or unsafe amount. However, starting the last week of Jul 2015, people have been reporting the account frozen after transactions larger than $1K.
- Can I use the BP Feature? It works well for some people. Many have reported getting shutdown after using it. A few have reported having the payments lost. Like all MS activity, use at your own risk.
- Should I mix in some regular spending to make it look like this is my primary card? If it makes you feel better, go for it. However people who do this still get shutdown.
- I can't log in. Did I get shutdown? Possibly. But more likely the website is having technical issues. Call in, o try to make a swipe purchase and test it out.
- If I pay my taxes with this card, will I get shutdown? Large purchase raise red flags. Taxes are no different and there are reports of people being shut down for doing this.
- What is a T-Mobile wireless customer? A qualifying T-Mobile wireless customer can be either a postpaid or prepaid customer. Source: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24790705-post3703.html
T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)
Jun 29, 2014, 7:35 am
#2176
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Who said WM MO is a no-no? T-mo BP and returns with mismatched amounts are no-nos but I would not consider WM BP or WM MO to be no-nos if done in moderation.
Obviously if you are doing $2K WM BP/MO every 3-5 days then its not a WM BP/MO issue but rather that you are just too suspicious ringing up $10-15K/month that they block you for potential fraud. It is not because of WM BP or MO. You can do that at any other store with multiple $2K retail purchases and Tmobile risk dept will block you. A bunch of $2K WM BP and MO transactions are obviously going to get their attention. Mix up the amounts even though it might cost you $0.70 more to get another MO since you buy a smaller MO amount and it should help take you off the radar.
Obviously if you are doing $2K WM BP/MO every 3-5 days then its not a WM BP/MO issue but rather that you are just too suspicious ringing up $10-15K/month that they block you for potential fraud. It is not because of WM BP or MO. You can do that at any other store with multiple $2K retail purchases and Tmobile risk dept will block you. A bunch of $2K WM BP and MO transactions are obviously going to get their attention. Mix up the amounts even though it might cost you $0.70 more to get another MO since you buy a smaller MO amount and it should help take you off the radar.
Jun 29, 2014, 1:12 pm
#2177
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
So if I'm going to do $X at WM, you think it's better to have more transactions, at a lessor $ value, than fewer transactions @2K? Do we have actual data points for this? The same for "$10-15K/month". It was suggested a short while back that the limit was probably 15K a month. Do we have data points to suggest that the danger zone begins at 10K? BTW, my primary interest is WMBP rather than MOs.
Jun 29, 2014, 2:04 pm
#2178
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
Please allow us to explain why the account was restricted, there were several cash loads followed by what appear to be cash back transactions at Walmart. This type of activity could be conducive of money laundering which we are obligated to monitor for. The card is intended for everyday consumer use and is not intended for this purpose. I have received your documentation and will remove the block. It is our practice to monitor for load and cash activity and if this type of activity continues your account will be permanently closed.
Jun 29, 2014, 2:13 pm
#2179
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
I respectfully disagree. From post 2151:
It appears there is an at least slight chance they are monitoring cash-back transactions (MO, BP, BB load would fall in this category) -- it is unclear though wether they monitor all merchants or just Walmart and also unclear if Walmart sends something similar to level III to Bancorp, so I personally keep Tmobile away from Walmart to avoid any issues.
It appears there is an at least slight chance they are monitoring cash-back transactions (MO, BP, BB load would fall in this category) -- it is unclear though wether they monitor all merchants or just Walmart and also unclear if Walmart sends something similar to level III to Bancorp, so I personally keep Tmobile away from Walmart to avoid any issues.
Try unloading $20K/month at a grocery store for MOs and then come back to me and see if you are not just as capable of being blocked. Its naive to think its just WM. But hey if ppl add that to the wiki....fine with me. That way it takes less attention from WM. If you are doing only like $2.5K/month like I am at WM, then I doubt its going to matter which store you unload it.
Btw re-read the quote again below and tell me if this statement doesn't imply BB/Serve loading. I bet the OP who did this was trying to load a bunch of $500 transactions over several BB/Serve cards that triggered the block. Just like any credit card if you do like 4-6 transactions of the same amount with the same card in a short period of time you will be flagged for fraud. WM BP or MO is not considered a cash load.
Please allow us to explain why the account was restricted, there were several cash loads followed by what appear to be cash back transactions at Walmart.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Jun 29, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Jun 29, 2014, 2:27 pm
#2180
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 47
Going strong since Jan. Keep loading at or less than $5K/month. ALL BP and cash back at Walmart or Sams. about 2/3 t-mobile BP, 1/3 cash back transactions. I follow the bluebird guidelines for all BB, GoBank, Tmobile, etc... Never been blocked on any.
Jun 29, 2014, 3:57 pm
#2181
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
Your only doing 5k a month. Were you expecting them to crack down hard on you?
Jun 29, 2014, 4:01 pm
#2182
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
I am hoping that the limit is at least $10-15K/month but I haven't done that much to test that limit.
Jun 30, 2014, 12:38 am
#2183
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
I respectfully disagree. From post 2151:
It appears there is an at least slight chance they are monitoring cash-back transactions (MO, BP, BB load would fall in this category) -- it is unclear though wether they monitor all merchants or just Walmart and also unclear if Walmart sends something similar to level III to Bancorp, so I personally keep Tmobile away from Walmart to avoid any issues.
It appears there is an at least slight chance they are monitoring cash-back transactions (MO, BP, BB load would fall in this category) -- it is unclear though wether they monitor all merchants or just Walmart and also unclear if Walmart sends something similar to level III to Bancorp, so I personally keep Tmobile away from Walmart to avoid any issues.
Jun 30, 2014, 8:09 am
#2184
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 47
Jun 30, 2014, 8:23 am
#2185
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
Except this game won't last that long. T-mobile has to be losing lots of money. So either A. reloadits dry up in your area B. t-mobile starts closing most everyone. C. both
Jun 30, 2014, 8:52 am
#2186
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 47
That's why you diversify. People have been saying this since Jan but I'm still getting my free points/miles...
Jun 30, 2014, 9:12 am
#2187
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
Jun 30, 2014, 9:35 am
#2189
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 47
I do utilize other opportunities. Once again diversify. I'm fortunate to live in a big city with endless Reloadits available (at least for now). Tmobile is just another way for me to supplement additional spend. For free... If it ends, oh well. I move on to other avenues in my pipeline.