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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 Dec 1, 2014, 10:15 am
  #2836  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Originally Posted by tuscanyx
Went to my regular Vons in so. cal after a 2 week vacation. Register had problem putting $ on reload it. Bought some vgc instead but my cashier was told by another that they are not supposed to sell any more of visa/master/amex gcs any more with credit cards. What has the world come to? Will go back tomorrow n try to buy more with a manager to verify.
I have a local Vons where everyone on one shift "knows" you can't buy RLs with a cc. And everyone on a different shift just rings them up with no problem. And a third shift where the manager is fine with them selling them to me, but the cashiers bring out a memo that says "cash only", and refuse to sell them to me, despite what the manager says.

It's pretty crazy, but you just have to go with the flow.
Brugge is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2014, 11:57 am
  #2837  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
Yep.

Just yesterday I went to one of my long-time stores where I buy RLDTs and the cashier said she needed to get approval first. The (new) store manager came over and said "cash only". I explained I had been purchasing them for an extended period of time, and the cashier even spoke-up and said that I was a long-time customer and showed her my [loyalty] card. No go. The manager pointed to the card where it says 'Cash Only'.

I momentarily considered explaining they've already rolled-out a new redesigned card and it no longer has 'Cash Only' on it, but when you get someone with an arbitrary,capricious, and uninformed attitude, it's best to just move on. Luckily, I have no problem at the two other area branches of the store.
Hbax is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2014, 12:06 pm
  #2838  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 102
Does anyone know where I can get these in the MASS or NH area. I tried Shaws, S&S, Hannaford and HESS gas stations with no luck. According to the store locator on the site, all these locations should have them but they don't.
thehustla is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2014, 12:09 pm
  #2839  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
Originally Posted by thehustla
Does anyone know where I can get these in the MASS or NH area. I tried Shaws, S&S, Hannaford and HESS gas stations with no luck. According to the store locator on the site, all these locations should have them but they don't.
If you're talking about ReLoadit packs I have had the same issues you have in both Connecticut and Long Island. Store locator shows a bunch of places in the area that supposedly sell them yet none of said stores actually ever have them.
Ritley572 is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2014, 12:17 pm
  #2840  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 119
My very reliable Safeway shut me down last week, the asst manager said they were cash only. I may try another time when she is off shift, but I'm not optimistic.
Brewer20 is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2014, 12:43 pm
  #2841  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
Originally Posted by thehustla
Does anyone know where I can get these in the MASS or NH area. I tried Shaws, S&S, Hannaford and HESS gas stations with no luck. According to the store locator on the site, all these locations should have them but they don't.
Originally Posted by Ritley572
If you're talking about ReLoadit packs I have had the same issues you have in both Connecticut and Long Island. Store locator shows a bunch of places in the area that supposedly sell them yet none of said stores actually ever have them.
The store locator is correct, but most of these places never reorder Reloadits once they run out.
commdiver is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2014, 2:04 pm
  #2842  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 102
Originally Posted by commdiver
The store locator is correct, but most of these places never reorder Reloadits once they run out.
Wonder if I can ask them to order some? Any experience with it?
thehustla is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2014, 11:53 pm
  #2843  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Angels
Posts: 196
Originally Posted by thehawk75
There seems to be a problem with the ReloadIts at Vons/Pavillions for the past week.

My very 'friendly' stores [. . .] have been unable to get these to scan -- can't even get to the point where they are prompted to enter the amount.
Originally Posted by jasonvr
Went to a second Vons in my area and they had problems with RLs as well. Got further than the first one though. They could actually enter an amount, then they are prompted for the override. They scan that an another message pops up that says "Check key sequence". No one there had any idea what that meant. Tried both the 500 and 950 variety. Even tried loading 499 onto one of the 500s to see if it was a max load issue, but no - same behavior
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
. . . Tried to buy one at a Pavillions this afternoon and the cashier had some scan error on the new Reloadit cards. Is this part of the new POS system update or just the batch of cards were bad? Seems like others are having the same issue.
I have had a similar issue at a local Pavilions with a friendly - and very confused - cashier. Card does not seem to scan at all on his side of things.

This location recently switched to the new POS system. Like the previous posters, unknown whether the scanning issue is tied to that or something else.


Originally Posted by Brewer20
My very reliable Safeway shut me down last week, the asst manager said they were cash only. I may try another time when she is off shift, but I'm not optimistic.
A reliable clerk at Safeway recently took out a laminated card that had RL's on it an as example of "cash only" purchases (although it was a picture of the old/grey RLs).
dedkends is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2014, 5:53 am
  #2844  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
Originally Posted by thehustla
Wonder if I can ask them to order some? Any experience with it?
I have not tried it. Around here, the grocery stores never reordered them until recently. All of a sudden, Reloadits went from scarce to bountiful.
commdiver is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2014, 6:22 am
  #2845  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 193
Originally Posted by commdiver
I have not tried it. Around here, the grocery stores never reordered them until recently. All of a sudden, Reloadits went from scarce to bountiful.
It's been glorious hasn't it. So much less driving around.
Peridot83 is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2014, 10:58 am
  #2846  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
Originally Posted by Peridot83
It's been glorious hasn't it. So much less driving around.
Hah, yup ^
commdiver is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2014, 11:24 am
  #2847  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 102
It's been about a month last time I checked at some locations. I'll check again today.
thehustla is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2014, 5:18 pm
  #2848  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 342
Originally Posted by commdiver
I have not tried it. Around here, the grocery stores never reordered them until recently. All of a sudden, Reloadits went from scarce to bountiful.
Stock is replenished on a schedule not when inventory merits. Around here it's quarterly. Not very intuitive but we are talking about Blackhawk.
sybloc is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2014, 6:53 pm
  #2849  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 102
So I made the trip and surprisingly found a bunch of them at a gas station. They must've received an order recently.
Unfortunately, the cashier started to do the transaction and as soon as I told her I wanted to load 500, she replied back with "You know it's cash only right". I told her I've paid for it with CC before but she did not buy it.

Any luck with anyone buying these at gas stations? Is it YMMV?
thehustla is offline  
Old Dec 3, 2014, 6:22 am
  #2850  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Originally Posted by thehustla
So I made the trip and surprisingly found a bunch of them at a gas station. They must've received an order recently.
Unfortunately, the cashier started to do the transaction and as soon as I told her I wanted to load 500, she replied back with "You know it's cash only right". I told her I've paid for it with CC before but she did not buy it.

Any luck with anyone buying these at gas stations? Is it YMMV?
Anything at gas stations is hugely YMMV. Infact, anything MS related is YMMV....
hamokmonky is offline  


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