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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 Mar 11, 2016, 11:01 am
  #4246  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA XPlat
Posts: 103
I know there are issues with purchases over $1,000 made with the card, but could a larger purchase be split into two $500 purchases? or Could over $1,000 in purchases be made in a day (with multiple smaller transactions)?
BeckhamsTears is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2016, 12:52 pm
  #4247  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Southwest, SPG, IHG
Posts: 82
I tried calling several T-mobile stores today (in Chicago) - all of them said they've stopped carrying it. One of them mentioned I might get it in a non-corporate store (franchise) - does anyone know if there are grocery stores in Chicago that carry it? I just want to buy the debit card with cash, and then use RLs to load it...but it seems they've discontinued the product? Thanks a lot!
shan23 is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2016, 7:16 am
  #4248  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 595
I made a CC payment on Wednesday and it still has not posted as of today. It usually does not take this long
mrstraveler is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2016, 8:15 am
  #4249  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
A couple of my T-mobile accounts just got negative $5 balances for not loading in the past month, due to many of my ReloadIt options going away. Anyone know if they will keep growing that negative balance? With possible changes coming to these cards, I don't really want to cancel the accounts in case somehow ReloadIts become easy for me to attain again.
glocklt4 is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2016, 10:26 am
  #4250  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
Originally Posted by glocklt4
A couple of my T-mobile accounts just got negative $5 balances for not loading in the past month, due to many of my ReloadIt options going away. Anyone know if they will keep growing that negative balance? With possible changes coming to these cards, I don't really want to cancel the accounts in case somehow ReloadIts become easy for me to attain again.
The negative balance shouldn't keep growing. From what I have read and in my experience they just tack you once for the -$5 since you did not have a negative balance yet. So you should be good and if Rlits do come back in some way the $5 cost to hold onto it might be worth it although I am not hopeful.
ericdabbs is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2016, 10:37 am
  #4251  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
The negative balance shouldn't keep growing. From what I have read and in my experience they just tack you once for the -$5 since you did not have a negative balance yet. So you should be good and if Rlits do come back in some way the $5 cost to hold onto it might be worth it although I am not hopeful.
Thanks. I'll report back in 30ish days if for some reason it goes further negative. Agree about keeping the cards if it costs me $5 each, just in case.
glocklt4 is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2016, 9:01 pm
  #4252  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DFW
Programs: AA, UA, SPG, BA, HH
Posts: 122
it seems that tmobilemoneyservices does not offer new application anymore. can we still buy the temp card at grocery store and request a permanent card later?
Thanks
facehu is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2016, 9:35 pm
  #4253  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 393
Originally Posted by BeckhamsTears
I know there are issues with purchases over $1,000 made with the card, but could a larger purchase be split into two $500 purchases? or Could over $1,000 in purchases be made in a day (with multiple smaller transactions)?
IME, yes.
donuteric is offline  
Old Mar 16, 2016, 11:50 am
  #4254  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 378
Got shutdown today with about $700 sitting in my account. This should be fun.
Frindle is offline  
Old Mar 16, 2016, 11:52 am
  #4255  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Originally Posted by Frindle
Got shutdown today with about $700 sitting in my account. This should be fun.
Can you please post some stats of your usage?
glocklt4 is offline  
Old Mar 16, 2016, 12:36 pm
  #4256  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 287
Originally Posted by Frindle
Got shutdown today with about $700 sitting in my account. This should be fun.
first time shut down? call them and they will unlock it. second time? call them, send a pic of your drivers license and debit card to their email, and they will cut you a check and you'll have it in 10 days.
isriam is offline  
Old Mar 16, 2016, 11:30 pm
  #4257  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: AS, UA, IHG, HH,
Posts: 171
Originally Posted by isriam
first time shut down? call them and they will unlock it. second time? call them, send a pic of your drivers license and debit card to their email, and they will cut you a check and you'll have it in 10 days.
^
BoeingOrNotGoing is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 5:42 pm
  #4258  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 595
Visited T-mobile store for service related issue today and noticed that the cards were no longer available at the register. When asked the rep said that they stopped selling the cards as of yesterday because they are discontinuing the product altogether. Fact or fiction?
mrstraveler is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 5:45 pm
  #4259  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Southwest, SPG, IHG
Posts: 82
Originally Posted by mrstraveler
Visited T-mobile store for service related issue today and noticed that the cards were no longer available at the register. When asked the rep said that they stopped selling the cards as of yesterday because they are discontinuing the product altogether. Fact or fiction?
Which store was this, if you don't mind? I know for a fact they were pulled from ALL corporate stores in Chicago as early as last week, but some other stores in midwest were still selling it.
shan23 is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 6:33 pm
  #4260  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 595
Originally Posted by shan23
Which store was this, if you don't mind? I know for a fact they were pulled from ALL corporate stores in Chicago as early as last week, but some other stores in midwest were still selling it.
This is in the Tri-State area maybe its a YMMV thing
mrstraveler is offline  


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