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 26, 2016, 6:45 pm
#4203
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,677
I'm in the same boat with those of you - Safeway/Vons that no longer carry the $500 VGCs. I've been buying them in this Safeway for over 3 years. Now nothing. Small denominations only. I did notice that up at the service desk they have $500 T-Mobiles and Reloadits. But the packs say "cash only." The horror stories that I'm hearing about Reloadits - I think I'll pass...
I asked a cashier what happened to all the $500 VG cards and she said blah, blah, blah, FRAUD, blah, blah, blah. The usual "fraud" thing. I did hear that a bunch of Safeways were bought out by Alberson's (and this is one of them) but they aren't going to change the name. So I don't know whether or not to believe the fraud saga or if it was new management that caused this change.
Guess there is always that office supply store...
I asked a cashier what happened to all the $500 VG cards and she said blah, blah, blah, FRAUD, blah, blah, blah. The usual "fraud" thing. I did hear that a bunch of Safeways were bought out by Alberson's (and this is one of them) but they aren't going to change the name. So I don't know whether or not to believe the fraud saga or if it was new management that caused this change.
Guess there is always that office supply store...
Jan 26, 2016, 9:24 pm
#4205
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 415
Jan 26, 2016, 9:29 pm
#4206
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 827
Jan 27, 2016, 4:29 pm
#4209
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 39
Jan 28, 2016, 10:43 am
#4210
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 64
Tmo product newbie question
I am a tmo customer, so I signed up for this product years ago, but I never actually used it due to all the frozen account stories that I've read, just stuck to bb. i still have the card (never activated) how are people safely liquidating this card?
I am a tmo customer, so I signed up for this product years ago, but I never actually used it due to all the frozen account stories that I've read, just stuck to bb. i still have the card (never activated) how are people safely liquidating this card?
Jan 28, 2016, 12:27 pm
#4211
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: PetCo Pals Rewards
Posts: 531
Tmo product newbie question
I am a tmo customer, so I signed up for this product years ago, but I never actually used it due to all the frozen account stories that I've read, just stuck to bb. i still have the card (never activated) how are people safely liquidating this card?
I am a tmo customer, so I signed up for this product years ago, but I never actually used it due to all the frozen account stories that I've read, just stuck to bb. i still have the card (never activated) how are people safely liquidating this card?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26013214-post4182.html
Jan 28, 2016, 4:11 pm
#4212
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Does anyone know or have thoughts on this:
Have a store (#1) in my area that accepts cc for reloadits but usually runs out of stock quickly and doesn’t always refill. Another store (#2, same chain) always has them, in stock but 2 of the 3 CSR seem to have major problems/attitudes with GC’s and have always rejected even trying to run them (was told don’t accept, but caught another csr who tried and it worked fine).
My question is: are there any issues with taking the cards from store #2 and walking in to store #1 and loading them? I can see the moral argument for both sides (“stealing” vs “they are worthless, and you are ultimately paying for them”. Does anyone have any experience or horror stories with this?
Have a store (#1) in my area that accepts cc for reloadits but usually runs out of stock quickly and doesn’t always refill. Another store (#2, same chain) always has them, in stock but 2 of the 3 CSR seem to have major problems/attitudes with GC’s and have always rejected even trying to run them (was told don’t accept, but caught another csr who tried and it worked fine).
My question is: are there any issues with taking the cards from store #2 and walking in to store #1 and loading them? I can see the moral argument for both sides (“stealing” vs “they are worthless, and you are ultimately paying for them”. Does anyone have any experience or horror stories with this?
Jan 28, 2016, 4:52 pm
#4213
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 827
Does anyone know or have thoughts on this:
Have a store (#1) in my area that accepts cc for reloadits but usually runs out of stock quickly and doesn’t always refill. Another store (#2, same chain) always has them, in stock but 2 of the 3 CSR seem to have major problems/attitudes with GC’s and have always rejected even trying to run them (was told don’t accept, but caught another csr who tried and it worked fine).
My question is: are there any issues with taking the cards from store #2 and walking in to store #1 and loading them? I can see the moral argument for both sides (“stealing” vs “they are worthless, and you are ultimately paying for them”. Does anyone have any experience or horror stories with this?
Have a store (#1) in my area that accepts cc for reloadits but usually runs out of stock quickly and doesn’t always refill. Another store (#2, same chain) always has them, in stock but 2 of the 3 CSR seem to have major problems/attitudes with GC’s and have always rejected even trying to run them (was told don’t accept, but caught another csr who tried and it worked fine).
My question is: are there any issues with taking the cards from store #2 and walking in to store #1 and loading them? I can see the moral argument for both sides (“stealing” vs “they are worthless, and you are ultimately paying for them”. Does anyone have any experience or horror stories with this?
Some of my local stores will shift gift cards around amongst one another by themselves for exactly the same reason - the cash/debit only store never sells any, and the other store always runs out.
I spoke to the manager about it and they were fine with it as long as an employee of the other store picks it up themselves. YMMV
Jan 28, 2016, 5:22 pm
#4214
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Ask the manager at store 1. You may have to convince an employee/manager from store 2 to pick them up for you.
Some of my local stores will shift gift cards around amongst one another by themselves for exactly the same reason - the cash/debit only store never sells any, and the other store always runs out.
I spoke to the manager about it and they were fine with it as long as an employee of the other store picks it up themselves. YMMV
Some of my local stores will shift gift cards around amongst one another by themselves for exactly the same reason - the cash/debit only store never sells any, and the other store always runs out.
I spoke to the manager about it and they were fine with it as long as an employee of the other store picks it up themselves. YMMV
I know it's more of a grey area walking out with a few inactivated ones, but that is more the approach I'm debating. Is there any reason to think there is any kind of sequence or batch number that will flag the purchase, such that they know it came from another store?
Jan 28, 2016, 9:27 pm
#4215
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 427
I think that would be unethical, but forget that for a moment. You would be concealing inventory of that store and walking out with it. They could technically hold you for shoplifting even though the cards are not usable. As hostile as they are, think about what would happen if you were caught.