Jan 22, 2014, 3:27 pm
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)
Jan 15, 2015, 3:31 pm
#3091
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cali
Posts: 36
Definitely a case by case thing. Go in, try to do a full $950 load and see if they need manager override.
In my experience most stores require manager override on anything over $500 regardless of store type or what you're buying unless you do it at a customer service desk. However, most managers never even bat an eye when I make large purchases. In fact most managers even override what is supposed to be their store policy daily limit for me.
I guess I just have a friendly face. Or more likely I just live in a very MS friendly (or MS ignorant) area.
In my experience most stores require manager override on anything over $500 regardless of store type or what you're buying unless you do it at a customer service desk. However, most managers never even bat an eye when I make large purchases. In fact most managers even override what is supposed to be their store policy daily limit for me.
I guess I just have a friendly face. Or more likely I just live in a very MS friendly (or MS ignorant) area.
Jan 16, 2015, 8:14 am
#3092
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: UA, CO, Delta, AA, BA, Hilton, Starwood, Marriott
Posts: 211
My real question is...if I load with ReloadIt will my account actually immediately be shutdown or was she just bluffing and trying to scare me? I wanted to hear from people who got similar threats and continued to load anyway. Did you really get shudown immediately like they threatened or it took a few months further?
Jan 17, 2015, 5:19 pm
#3093
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 42
My real question is...if I load with ReloadIt will my account actually immediately be shutdown or was she just bluffing and trying to scare me? I wanted to hear from people who got similar threats and continued to load anyway. Did you really get shudown immediately like they threatened or it took a few months further?
Jan 17, 2015, 5:55 pm
#3094
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 166
Got account restored
My card was "blocked" yesterday. Can anyone with the following scenario tell me what I am in for?
1. have had the card for about a year
2. Got warned about Walmart "cashback" and money laundering about 7 months ago.
3. Since then I use it for small transactions and then to pay Citi cards or Bill pay at KMart. I load about 5-6K per month.
4. Card was denied at the store a few days ago
5. I called the T-Mobile number and as soon as I punched in the DC number, it transferred me to a representative
6. The guy on the phone "double checked" things a few times and then said there is a "temporary hold" on my account.
7. He said that I should get a call in 1-2 days from "a different department"
8. I called back again later and got the same sort of information.
This is very different from what happened 7 months ago, where the representative on the phone was quick to tell me the account was blocked for fraud/risk and proceeded to tell me what to do next (email docs to the fraud email).
I am hopeful that I am not banned, but kind of scared.
1. have had the card for about a year
2. Got warned about Walmart "cashback" and money laundering about 7 months ago.
3. Since then I use it for small transactions and then to pay Citi cards or Bill pay at KMart. I load about 5-6K per month.
4. Card was denied at the store a few days ago
5. I called the T-Mobile number and as soon as I punched in the DC number, it transferred me to a representative
6. The guy on the phone "double checked" things a few times and then said there is a "temporary hold" on my account.
7. He said that I should get a call in 1-2 days from "a different department"
8. I called back again later and got the same sort of information.
This is very different from what happened 7 months ago, where the representative on the phone was quick to tell me the account was blocked for fraud/risk and proceeded to tell me what to do next (email docs to the fraud email).
I am hopeful that I am not banned, but kind of scared.
I finally got the call from the Risk Department and my account has been restored. This will have been my second warning. The guy knew what was up. He even said for me to stop all this "point earning" activity. But he let me off the hook. Not sure why. I do put $1-2 on the card almost every day when I am in stores buying GCs or at Walmart. So maybe the fact that I had 100s of tiny transactions among the $2K transactions was my savior?
He did not ask any questions. Just told me to stop and warned me of possible shutdown.
Jan 17, 2015, 8:58 pm
#3095
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 427
I finally got the call from the Risk Department and my account has been restored. This will have been my second warning. The guy knew what was up. He even said for me to stop all this "point earning" activity. But he let me off the hook. Not sure why. I do put $1-2 on the card almost every day when I am in stores buying GCs or at Walmart. So maybe the fact that I had 100s of tiny transactions among the $2K transactions was my savior?
He did not ask any questions. Just told me to stop and warned me of possible shutdown.
He did not ask any questions. Just told me to stop and warned me of possible shutdown.
Jan 17, 2015, 10:27 pm
#3097
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
Jan 17, 2015, 10:38 pm
#3098
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
Exactly, makes me want to straight up ask what the f**k their problem is. If they get normal spending like their intended consumer, and some MO purchases on top of that, whats the loss to them?
Jan 18, 2015, 7:14 am
#3101
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 404
Jan 18, 2015, 10:05 am
#3104
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 197
I got this card a few months ago and since I have access to a grocery store that allows me to buy RL with CC, I started to use it recently. I have been using RL to load my Serve account through the RL website.
I have spent quite a bit of time reading this thread and it seems like the main triggers of shutdown are using TMO BP and WM MO. I have a business account at a local bank and I am wondering if its possible for me to mail a check to my business account (using BP) for deposit. Anyone has any experience doing that? Also, anyone shutdown for getting MO consistently from places other than WM?
Another trigger seems to be doing large volume. Anyone got shutdown doing 1-2k/mo?
I have spent quite a bit of time reading this thread and it seems like the main triggers of shutdown are using TMO BP and WM MO. I have a business account at a local bank and I am wondering if its possible for me to mail a check to my business account (using BP) for deposit. Anyone has any experience doing that? Also, anyone shutdown for getting MO consistently from places other than WM?
Another trigger seems to be doing large volume. Anyone got shutdown doing 1-2k/mo?
Jan 18, 2015, 6:05 pm
#3105
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: California
Posts: 264
I'm guessing the few dollars in swipe fees isn't what affects their decision to shut down a card, but rather that they're concerned about money laundering; maybe the government threatened millions of dollars in fees, jail time for the CEO, etc. if they don't show an effort to stop "suspicious" transactions.