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)
#2776
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
because I don't want the $5/month to pile on. Or are you saying they will charge you $5 once and if you don't ever use the card again they won't charge again?
#2777
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Id close it to cover myself
#2778
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Who assess the fee? is it TM, Balckhawk or Banccorp the bank behind the card? Ifa person is leaving MS totally thats 1 thing but if they arent and plan to use any other item from the same company they may be able to see taht you have a neg bal on some accts and deny you the new card, even thou its adifferent branded card
Id close it to cover myself
Id close it to cover myself
#2780
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
RL wouldn't load at Safeway
Went to a local Safeway where the cashiers have been reluctant to sell RLs with cc, but manager approved it. Cashier pulled out a memo from the district someone or other. Said too much fraud on RLs, now cash only. So no go there now. Not GCs, it specifically said RLs.
Next I went to my go to Safeway which is further away. Tried to buy a RL. Cashier was fine with selling it, but couldn't even put in an amount to purchase. Register wouldn't let him do it. Tried several different cards to no avail.
This was before I entered my cc, so it wasn't a fraud alert from my bank. Probably a glitch in the system. Anyone else experience this today?
Next I went to my go to Safeway which is further away. Tried to buy a RL. Cashier was fine with selling it, but couldn't even put in an amount to purchase. Register wouldn't let him do it. Tried several different cards to no avail.
This was before I entered my cc, so it wasn't a fraud alert from my bank. Probably a glitch in the system. Anyone else experience this today?
#2782
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 293
Went to a local Safeway where the cashiers have been reluctant to sell RLs with cc, but manager approved it. Cashier pulled out a memo from the district someone or other. Said too much fraud on RLs, now cash only. So no go there now. Not GCs, it specifically said RLs.
Next I went to my go to Safeway which is further away. Tried to buy a RL. Cashier was fine with selling it, but couldn't even put in an amount to purchase. Register wouldn't let him do it. Tried several different cards to no avail.
This was before I entered my cc, so it wasn't a fraud alert from my bank. Probably a glitch in the system. Anyone else experience this today?
Next I went to my go to Safeway which is further away. Tried to buy a RL. Cashier was fine with selling it, but couldn't even put in an amount to purchase. Register wouldn't let him do it. Tried several different cards to no avail.
This was before I entered my cc, so it wasn't a fraud alert from my bank. Probably a glitch in the system. Anyone else experience this today?
So, if in your case, the cashier was not swiping the override key BEFORE entering the amount of the Reloadit card, it may not work.
#2783
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: AS, UA, IHG, HH,
Posts: 171
Next I went to my go to Safeway which is further away. Tried to buy a RL. Cashier was fine with selling it, but couldn't even put in an amount to purchase. Register wouldn't let him do it. Tried several different cards to no avail.
This was before I entered my cc, so it wasn't a fraud alert from my bank. Probably a glitch in the system. Anyone else experience this today?
#2784
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: LAC
Programs: Regal Crown Club
Posts: 488
So I've been reading into this thread for a while and I'm just confused here.
- Wiki says can be loaded @ Vons with a CC but a ton of posts say no CC. Is the wiki outdated or is it just a very heavy YMMV? Edit: the CC purchase is meant for the RL pack? Well in this case the wiki is quite confusing IMHO
- Many ppl get shut down for using the card then what is it good for? TM billpay no good? WM billpay no good? Serve load no good?
- Tenor is it can't be unloaded easily although it's supposed to be fee free @ in-network ATMs which on the TM site conveniently overlap with abundantly available 7-11 ATMs. $500/day limit should be enough to get some serious cash through this...
- Is it (still) worth getting this card? Saw a lot of posts saying they want to close it because it's no good...
- Wiki says can be loaded @ Vons with a CC but a ton of posts say no CC. Is the wiki outdated or is it just a very heavy YMMV? Edit: the CC purchase is meant for the RL pack? Well in this case the wiki is quite confusing IMHO
- Many ppl get shut down for using the card then what is it good for? TM billpay no good? WM billpay no good? Serve load no good?
- Tenor is it can't be unloaded easily although it's supposed to be fee free @ in-network ATMs which on the TM site conveniently overlap with abundantly available 7-11 ATMs. $500/day limit should be enough to get some serious cash through this...
- Is it (still) worth getting this card? Saw a lot of posts saying they want to close it because it's no good...
Last edited by Julian Brennan; Nov 13, 2014 at 10:48 pm
#2785
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
So I've been reading into this thread for a while and I'm just confused here.
- Wiki says can be loaded @ Vons with a CC but a ton of posts say no CC. Is the wiki outdated or is it just a very heavy YMMV? Edit: the CC purchase is meant for the RL pack? Well in this case the wiki is quite confusing IMHO
- Many ppl get shut down for using the card then what is it good for? TM billpay no good? WM billpay no good? Serve load no good?
- Tenor is it can't be unloaded easily although it's supposed to be fee free @ in-network ATMs which on the TM site conveniently overlap with abundantly available 7-11 ATMs. $500/day limit should be enough to get some serious cash through this...
- Is it (still) worth getting this card? Saw a lot of posts saying they want to close it because it's no good...
- Wiki says can be loaded @ Vons with a CC but a ton of posts say no CC. Is the wiki outdated or is it just a very heavy YMMV? Edit: the CC purchase is meant for the RL pack? Well in this case the wiki is quite confusing IMHO
- Many ppl get shut down for using the card then what is it good for? TM billpay no good? WM billpay no good? Serve load no good?
- Tenor is it can't be unloaded easily although it's supposed to be fee free @ in-network ATMs which on the TM site conveniently overlap with abundantly available 7-11 ATMs. $500/day limit should be enough to get some serious cash through this...
- Is it (still) worth getting this card? Saw a lot of posts saying they want to close it because it's no good...
#2786
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 95
My local store for reloadits just got the new look cards in a day or two ago. Packaging lists $20-$500 load amount for $3.95. When I tried to purchase $400 it prompted the cashier that only $20-$50 could be loaded. I'm worried that may be the new policy which would render my T-Mobile cards useless at this point. Will try another store in the same chain and see if they also have the same computer limitations. The cashiers were baffled and the max $50 prompt was before payment type was known. Anyone else in the Midwest have this issue at the M chain stores?
#2788
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
#2789
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
#2790
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,560
Went to a local Safeway where the cashiers have been reluctant to sell RLs with cc, but manager approved it. Cashier pulled out a memo from the district someone or other. Said too much fraud on RLs, now cash only. So no go there now. Not GCs, it specifically said RLs.
Next I went to my go to Safeway which is further away. Tried to buy a RL. Cashier was fine with selling it, but couldn't even put in an amount to purchase. Register wouldn't let him do it. Tried several different cards to no avail.
This was before I entered my cc, so it wasn't a fraud alert from my bank. Probably a glitch in the system. Anyone else experience this today?
Next I went to my go to Safeway which is further away. Tried to buy a RL. Cashier was fine with selling it, but couldn't even put in an amount to purchase. Register wouldn't let him do it. Tried several different cards to no avail.
This was before I entered my cc, so it wasn't a fraud alert from my bank. Probably a glitch in the system. Anyone else experience this today?
Safeway is in the process of installing new software in its point of sale system. Under the old system, only one swipe of the override key was requrired before the first payment method could be processed. Under the new system, however, it now appears that the amount of the Reloadit card cannot be entered unless the override key is swiped. If a second Reloadit card is purchased on the same transaction, the override key will again need to be swiped before the amount can be entered. If my observations are correct, purchasing less than $500 in Reloadit cards under the new system may no longer avoid the override key. Finally, as before, the override key wil need to be swiped before the first payment can be processed.
So, if in your case, the cashier was not swiping the override key BEFORE entering the amount of the Reloadit card, it may not work.
So, if in your case, the cashier was not swiping the override key BEFORE entering the amount of the Reloadit card, it may not work.
I purchased at this store last weekend