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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 Aug 7, 2014, 11:43 am
  #2431  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 293
Originally Posted by thehawk75
You can do a lot more than $2999.99...all up to the cashier (and he/she who holds the override key).
Agreed, but I recently had two, out of the blue, start to enforce the limit. But, unlike CVS, no swipe of a DL . . .
BigDawgFT is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 12:44 pm
  #2432  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Hilton, Hyatt, Priority, SPG - AA, Hawaiian Airline, United, US Airline
Posts: 608
I already have 1 card. Can I apply for the second card?
happy9zz is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 1:10 pm
  #2433  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
Originally Posted by happy9zz
I already have 1 card. Can I apply for the second card?
Yes, but if one gets banned they both will.
heyeaglefn is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 3:19 pm
  #2434  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
I had strange experience buying RLs from giant today. I found one RL (old version, gray background blue letters) and tried to buy it. The cashier was not able to scan the bar code. The register kept saying item is not in the system. I know giant only has the old version RLs and when those run out they probably won't sell the new RL (giant not listed on RL website as a partner anymore). But is it possible the change has already happened although the old stock has not been depleted?
I bought 2 days ago and had no problem. All of a sudden today it stopped working. Anyone have similar experience?
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Old Aug 7, 2014, 3:29 pm
  #2435  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
Originally Posted by Pecan Pie
I had strange experience buying RLs from giant today. I found one RL (old version, gray background blue letters) and tried to buy it. The cashier was not able to scan the bar code. The register kept saying item is not in the system. I know giant only has the old version RLs and when those run out they probably won't sell the new RL (giant not listed on RL website as a partner anymore). But is it possible the change has already happened although the old stock has not been depleted?
I bought 2 days ago and had no problem. All of a sudden today it stopped working. Anyone have similar experience?
There are two different Giant chains, is this Giant located in PA, or the other Giant?
heyeaglefn is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 3:50 pm
  #2436  
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Location: ILG/PHL
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Originally Posted by Pecan Pie
I had strange experience buying RLs from giant today. I found one RL (old version, gray background blue letters) and tried to buy it. The cashier was not able to scan the bar code. The register kept saying item is not in the system. I know giant only has the old version RLs and when those run out they probably won't sell the new RL (giant not listed on RL website as a partner anymore). But is it possible the change has already happened although the old stock has not been depleted?
I bought 2 days ago and had no problem. All of a sudden today it stopped working. Anyone have similar experience?
Last time I bought any at Giant was last Thursday since the only Giant around that still sells them is way out of my way.

Last edited by payeco; Aug 7, 2014 at 8:29 pm
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Old Aug 7, 2014, 6:18 pm
  #2437  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by heyeaglefn
There are two different Giant chains, is this Giant located in PA, or the other Giant?
MD. It's the same chain as PA.
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 6:21 pm
  #2438  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
deleted

Last edited by Pecan Pie; Aug 8, 2014 at 11:29 am
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 6:31 pm
  #2439  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 721
Some of my stores have the 40-950 ones and the (basically same, colorful) 20-500 ones also. But one store just has the 20-500 ones. I keep meaning to buy one of those, but ask the cashier to try 950 for the amount to load.
zceuxbhjutf is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 8:41 pm
  #2440  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 85
how to prevent being shut down

I read from another forum:
Q: Will T-Mobile shut down my account if I do this?
A: T-Mobile may shut down your account if you do this, there are several reports of this happening. Most people that have been shut down have been putting at least $5,000 per month in spend through their account.

So, to prevent being shut down by t-mobile, one should not load more than $5000 per month.
Is there any other matters that I have to be careful?
ziwei is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 8:51 pm
  #2441  
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Originally Posted by ziwei
I read from another forum:
Q: Will T-Mobile shut down my account if I do this?
A: T-Mobile may shut down your account if you do this, there are several reports of this happening. Most people that have been shut down have been putting at least $5,000 per month in spend through their account.

So, to prevent being shut down by t-mobile, one should not load more than $5000 per month.
Is there any other matters that I have to be careful?
$5000 has frequently been mentioned in this thread as a safe threshold to stay under.
payeco is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 9:14 pm
  #2442  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by payeco
$5000 has frequently been mentioned in this thread as a safe threshold to stay under.
besides the $5000 threshold, another factor to lead being shut down, as I read through this forum, is the simple pattern of reloadit --> billpay, which will cause their attention and lead to shut down sooner or later.

so it is better to use the debit card for some real purchases to mix with BPs
ziwei is offline  
Old Aug 7, 2014, 9:20 pm
  #2443  
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
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Posts: 1,075
Originally Posted by ziwei
besides the $5000 threshold, another factor to lead being shut down, as I read through this forum, is the simple pattern of reloadit --> billpay, which will cause their attention and lead to shut down sooner or later.

so it is better to use the debit card for some real purchases to mix with BPs
I'd qualify that statement as don't use the BP that's built in to your accounts online service. Doing BP at WM and KM seems to be safe if you spread them out a couple weeks apart.
payeco is offline  
Old Aug 8, 2014, 7:31 am
  #2444  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 149
I've been using my T-Mo card for regular spend since I don't have a card that does ~5% for all purchases.

I'm also using its BP service. So if I ever run into any issues i'll throw the datapoint out. Except I also am loading way less than 5k to mine since it's a real ..... to get reloadits compared to any of the other options I have.
workaccounttoday is offline  
Old Aug 8, 2014, 9:25 am
  #2445  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by payeco
I'd qualify that statement as don't use the BP that's built in to your accounts online service. Doing BP at WM and KM seems to be safe if you spread them out a couple weeks apart.
Thank you. BP @ WM and KM is very new to me, and I need to do more research.

How about linking the debit card to serve or AP? every month load to AP several times, or use AP for some amount. Is this safe in terms of preventing shutdown?

Last edited by ziwei; Aug 8, 2014 at 9:34 am
ziwei is offline  


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