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 6, 2016, 2:23 pm
#4171
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 80
Two questions:
1) My wife and I both have accounts at different addresses (I use home, she uses work.) She would like to add me as a secondary card on her account using the home address so I can liquidate her account more easily. The system let me do it -but has anyone had issues.
2) We are going to change to a T-mobile family plan on one new master account. It'll require new SIMs which then get have the numbers transferred. Anyone have difficult getting the $3.95 fees back after that? I imagine it should be fine, since the phone numbers stay the same eventually.
1) My wife and I both have accounts at different addresses (I use home, she uses work.) She would like to add me as a secondary card on her account using the home address so I can liquidate her account more easily. The system let me do it -but has anyone had issues.
2) We are going to change to a T-mobile family plan on one new master account. It'll require new SIMs which then get have the numbers transferred. Anyone have difficult getting the $3.95 fees back after that? I imagine it should be fine, since the phone numbers stay the same eventually.
Jan 6, 2016, 3:28 pm
#4172
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 827
Two questions:
1) My wife and I both have accounts at different addresses (I use home, she uses work.) She would like to add me as a secondary card on her account using the home address so I can liquidate her account more easily. The system let me do it -but has anyone had issues.
2) We are going to change to a T-mobile family plan on one new master account. It'll require new SIMs which then get have the numbers transferred. Anyone have difficult getting the $3.95 fees back after that? I imagine it should be fine, since the phone numbers stay the same eventually.
1) My wife and I both have accounts at different addresses (I use home, she uses work.) She would like to add me as a secondary card on her account using the home address so I can liquidate her account more easily. The system let me do it -but has anyone had issues.
2) We are going to change to a T-mobile family plan on one new master account. It'll require new SIMs which then get have the numbers transferred. Anyone have difficult getting the $3.95 fees back after that? I imagine it should be fine, since the phone numbers stay the same eventually.
You only need a T-Mobile account to avoid the monthly fee, and only if you load less than the required minimum each month.
Jan 7, 2016, 10:18 am
#4173
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 80
Ah right. Anyway, confirmed with a rep via email that it's connected to the phone number, nothing else. As long as the phone number stays active on T-mobile it doesn't matter what plan or account it's associated with.
Still wondering about authorized users - my first question.
Jan 12, 2016, 10:19 am
#4174
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 15
I got a T-Mobile card today in-store, and they had trouble since they haven't sold one in a while and couldn't figure out why it was giving them an error (turns out I had to load $20 minimum plus $4 activation fee, instead of loading $16 + $4 activation to make it $20, which was an option). While they were trying to figure it out, the lady mentioned that they're going to discontinue carrying them in stores. I asked if I could still use them, and she said she's not 100% sure, but I should be able to. Is this news to anyone? I'm really hoping we can still use the card when they stop carrying it, or I'm back to VGC and MOs 
Jan 12, 2016, 11:29 am
#4175
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 160
I got a T-Mobile card today in-store, and they had trouble since they haven't sold one in a while and couldn't figure out why it was giving them an error (turns out I had to load $20 minimum plus $4 activation fee, instead of loading $16 + $4 activation to make it $20, which was an option). While they were trying to figure it out, the lady mentioned that they're going to discontinue carrying them in stores. I asked if I could still use them, and she said she's not 100% sure, but I should be able to. Is this news to anyone? I'm really hoping we can still use the card when they stop carrying it, or I'm back to VGC and MOs
Jan 12, 2016, 12:02 pm
#4176
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 15
I'm not a T-mobile customer, so that's why I had to pay an activation fee. But that's not the issue. It seems that the card will be discontinued on February 1 according to the associate
Jan 12, 2016, 12:31 pm
#4179
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
I haven't heard of them pulling it, but I wouldn't be too surprised if they did considering that it's not a very well known service.
Jan 12, 2016, 1:39 pm
#4180
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 15
Huh, I've never seen them in grocery stores, but good to know! Hope it sticks around though :\
Jan 12, 2016, 5:09 pm
#4181
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 287
Jan 13, 2016, 1:23 pm
#4182
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 287
i got shut down today, and was told i was purchasing money orders at walmart. i have not purchased a money order at walmart at all, however i was doing a couple billpays. the agent specifically called out two purchases of the same value 999.90 and said sir i see two purchases for the exact same price are you sure you arent purchasing money orders.
time to move to another account
time to move to another account
Jan 14, 2016, 8:05 am
#4183
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,784
i got shut down today, and was told i was purchasing money orders at walmart. i have not purchased a money order at walmart at all, however i was doing a couple billpays. the agent specifically called out two purchases of the same value 999.90 and said sir i see two purchases for the exact same price are you sure you arent purchasing money orders.
time to move to another account
time to move to another account
Jan 14, 2016, 9:20 am
#4185
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 287
After the freeze on my account last month, they opened it and said don't use billpay. I went to walmart and did billpays for the following:
999.90
999.90
500.20
19.75
826.75
826.75
826.75
39.50
the agent said sir you are buying money orders with these and we have decided to no longer do business with you.
i argued with him for a bit saying i've never purchased a MO ever, and what would I do with one anyway. he said then why are all your transactions the same amount, i said because if i go over 1k then walmart requires my drivers license and SSN to prevent fraud. he said well sorry sir there is nothing else i can do because your account is now closed.
999.90
999.90
500.20
19.75
826.75
826.75
826.75
39.50
the agent said sir you are buying money orders with these and we have decided to no longer do business with you.
i argued with him for a bit saying i've never purchased a MO ever, and what would I do with one anyway. he said then why are all your transactions the same amount, i said because if i go over 1k then walmart requires my drivers license and SSN to prevent fraud. he said well sorry sir there is nothing else i can do because your account is now closed.