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T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)

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Old Jan 22, 2014, 3:27 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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
  • 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
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T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)

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Old Feb 3, 2014, 11:19 am
  #211  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 670
Originally Posted by mooper
Sfwy nearby had the old version of the cards, which are clearly marked "cash only". Waiting for these new versions to arrive.

Sorry. Image is blurry. But if you look closely, says "cash only" at upper-right.

EDIT: My wife took this pic. Upon closer inspection, now I'm seeing some other (different) Reloadits above the main ones she photographed. Are they the new ones? Only the bottom is visible. Can go back and check again.
No, neither of these are the new ones.

I had cc success with the new one yesterday at a grocery store.
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 12:50 pm
  #212  
 
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Originally Posted by sk8uno
No, neither of these are the new ones.

I had cc success with the new one yesterday at a grocery store.
Thanks. Do you know how the cut off ones at the top (with the red corner "read more inside") differ from the prominent ones shown below? Are they newer/older versions, different products (and if so, how do they differ), or what?
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 12:57 pm
  #213  
 
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Originally Posted by mooper
Thanks. Do you know how the cut off ones at the top (with the red corner "read more inside") differ from the prominent ones shown below? Are they newer/older versions, different products (and if so, how do they differ), or what?
Those are PayPower cards
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 1:00 pm
  #214  
 
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Originally Posted by pier11
Those are PayPower cards
The ones at the top? I see PayPower on the ones on the bottom, and ReLoadit on both. Or is PayPower the network they're both a part of? Sorry for my ignorance.
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 1:06 pm
  #215  
 
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Originally Posted by mooper
The ones at the top? I see PayPower on the ones on the bottom, and ReLoadit on both. Or is PayPower the network they're both a part of? Sorry for my ignorance.
/nice mode on /

Paypower, Account Now, Netspend - are prepaid reloadable cards. A la Bluebird.
ReloadIt is the reload pack for them. (That's why it has PayPower logo among others, meaning it can be applied to that prepaid reloadable card.)

Paypower card is in turn has ReloadIt logo on it, signifying it can be reloaded by it.
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 1:16 pm
  #216  
 
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missing part
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 1:30 pm
  #217  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
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I found two gas stations allowing to use a CC to buy these. Unlimited supply.

Unfortunately, $100 is the max denomination they have
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 3:55 pm
  #218  
 
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Originally Posted by pier11
/nice mode on /

Paypower, Account Now, Netspend - are prepaid reloadable cards. A la Bluebird.
Thanks, got it now. Familiar with the other two, but not PP. I wouldn't have minded nice-mode off!
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 5:17 pm
  #219  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by mooper
Thx. None of those here, but have Sfwy, so gonna check that out tomorrow.






Tried my local sfwy, no luck.
was told that anything with PayPower on requires cash-only. They had
ReloadIT cards up to $950 which did not have "Cash Only" anywhere on the card, but they refused to even try to load it with cc.
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2014, 6:17 pm
  #220  
 
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Originally Posted by MaineCoon
Tried my local sfwy, no luck.
was told that anything with PayPower on requires cash-only. They had
ReloadIT cards up to $950 which did not have "Cash Only" anywhere on the card, but they refused to even try to load it with cc.
Darn. And since they didn't have the "cash only", I'm guessing those are the newer type spotted by others.
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Old Feb 3, 2014, 8:32 pm
  #221  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by mooper
Darn. And since they didn't have the "cash only", I'm guessing those are the newer type spotted by others.
Believe me, I am as much disappointed as you are.

However, it is not the only sfwy in the area.

This one is the most convenient though.

They have tried to figure it out for no less than 5 minutes.

Guess what, there will be a different manager tomorrow
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2014, 9:12 pm
  #222  
 
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Originally Posted by MaineCoon
Believe me, I am as much disappointed as you are.
It looked like this, correct?

mooper is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2014, 10:43 pm
  #223  
 
Join Date: May 2004
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Posts: 7,676
Originally Posted by lad2
Originally Posted by cowboyguy
My Reloadit Story:

So after learning above that an FTer was able to get the new reloadit card on a CC, I decided to go to the local grocery store. Before going there, I called the store and asked the CSR if I'm allowed to use a CC to buy reloadit. <snip>
You just don't listen do you?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22202720-post82.html


Apparently, for certain someone, listening to sound & time-tested advices is an impossible skill to master:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...y-cc-debt.html
lin821 is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2014, 11:16 pm
  #224  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
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I would just try that same store again tomorrow, different cashier.

There are two hurdles...

1. Can the cash register actually do The sale?
2. Will the cashier let you?

You have to find out if you can do number one. That matters most, as we don't have the ability to recode registers.

People are just people.

The same store I bought the first time, I was not able to the second time... It was the cashier, not the register.

Today I picked up and loaded two more at a different location of same chain.

A friend of mind has been hitting this hard and had more luck. For me my locations just have very few of these cards around.

Bill pay is very quick though.
maksimfa is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2014, 11:19 pm
  #225  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 670
Originally Posted by mooper
It looked like this, correct?

That colorful little guy is the one I was able to buy at the grocery store on cc.
sk8uno is offline  


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