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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 Jan 22, 2014, 1:30 am
  #16  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 369
Originally Posted by RamboAroundTheWorld
Dammit, was just coming to post this. I was all excited for something that the community can quickly ruin.
No worries. I'm sure the bowtie will soon see to that.
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Old Jan 22, 2014, 1:33 am
  #17  
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 632
Originally Posted by jjangoo
No worries. I'm sure the bowtie will soon see to that.
Indeed. The based god works in mysterious ways.
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Old Jan 22, 2014, 1:33 am
  #18  
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 632
Q: After you complete the signup, did anyone else get a notice of how long it would take the card to get to you? Or just the page with the close button at the bottom.
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Old Jan 22, 2014, 1:36 am
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 721
Originally Posted by maksimfa
Question is, how will they let us reload it at the tmobile stores.
Fee free doesn't necessarily mean fee free with CC, I guess.
zceuxbhjutf is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 2:13 am
  #20  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 369
Max balance is 10k. I can live with that.

I'm reading through the cardholder agreement and there's no language in there implying reload options via cc at the T-Mobile store. This is pure speculation. And correct me if I'm wrong but Reloadit Packs can only ever be purchased with cash, right?

This could all be just a colossal waste of time, folks.
jjangoo is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 2:27 am
  #21  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
The reload pack reloadit card is cash only. No use.
ericliujian is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 4:34 am
  #22  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: UA, DL, AA, ANA
Posts: 226
Originally Posted by ericliujian
The reload pack reloadit card is cash only. No use.
This has been my experience.
vinyalwhl is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 5:20 am
  #23  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 204
The T-Mobile® Visa® Prepaid Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The Bancorp Bank; Member FDIC. Distributed and serviced by Blackhawk Network California, Inc.

Sigh...
turnpike13 is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 5:26 am
  #24  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 202
From the card agreement...Looks like it may only work if you can load via cc at a T-Mobile retail store. I'm going to wait and see.

Loading your Card Account

You may add funds to your Card Account, called “value loading,” when you purchase your Card. The minimum amount of the initial value load is $20.00. The maximum amount of the initial value load is $500.00. After you successfully register your Card Account (including identity verification), you may value reload your Card Account at any time.


You may value reload your Card Account (i) by transferring money to your Card Account from a “REloadit™ Pack,” issued by Blackhawk Network California, Inc.; (ii) via cash using the Visa ReadyLink network at selected retailers; (iii) via direct deposit from your employer or payer (See “Direct Deposits to your Card Account,” below; (iv) by using the T-Mobile Visa Prepaid Card app to load money from check(s) made out to you to your Card Account using your mobile device (See “Remote Check Deposit,” below) or (v) by such other methods as we may offer you from time to time. For a complete list of reload networks and locations, visit my.t-mobile.com/moneyservices/How-It-Works or call (866) 306-9636. If you value reload by transferring money to your

Card Account from a REloadit Pack, there is no set minimum or maximum value reload amount; however, there are minimum and maximum amounts that may be loaded onto a REloadit Pack for transfer to your Card Account (load values can range from a minimum of $20.00 to a maximum of $950.00, but these amounts may vary by REloadit Pack and by retailer). If you value reload with cash using the Visa ReadyLink network, the minimum value reload will be $20.00, and the maximum value reload will be $950.00; however, individual retailers may set higher minimums and/or lower maximums. If you value reload via direct deposit, there is no set minimum or maximum amount. If you value reload via Remote Check Deposit, there is no set minimum value reload amount; however, 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. You may find reload locations and instructions by visiting my.t-mobile.com/moneyservices/How-It-Works or calling (866) 306-9636
Rick471 is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 6:11 am
  #25  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 801
Interesting.
WhateverDude is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 6:52 am
  #26  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: Delta silver, HH silver, IHG platinum, SPG gold, AMEX platinum
Posts: 400
Originally Posted by vinyalwhl
This has been my experience.
fyi. I used to be able to buy reloadit's at 2 grocery store chains w/ CC(even though the cards had "cash only" on them..however more recently it has become must more harder.

Last edited by stealph; Jan 22, 2014 at 6:52 am Reason: typo
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Old Jan 22, 2014, 7:18 am
  #27  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 457
Deleted.

Last edited by MsArbi; Oct 29, 2014 at 11:21 pm
MsArbi is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 7:26 am
  #28  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Originally Posted by RamboAroundTheWorld
Q: After you complete the signup, did anyone else get a notice of how long it would take the card to get to you? Or just the page with the close button at the bottom.
On my registration confirmation email it said 7-10 business days.
skitch23 is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 7:32 am
  #29  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
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Looks promising I wonder if it's worth it? Most likely we will not get 5X from this even if CC are accepted for reloads. Most T-mobile retail store purchases come up as wireless equipment sales not services therefore not earning the 5X bonus.. What do you guys think, any testers? I'm a happy tmo customer btw but would have totally missed this!! Thanks for posting
rgAAFT is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 7:33 am
  #30  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 164
if this pans out, there's enough profit in this to either 1) open a cheap line of service with t-mobile and sock-drawer the phone; or 2) actually switch over to them, especially if they're still offering to pay ETFs.
busymike is offline  


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