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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, 9:55 am
  #46  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 510
Originally Posted by skitch23
I saw the reloadit packs at Safeway this morning. $20-950 + $3.95 fee. I didn't look that close but I didn't see anything about not being able to use a CC... only mentioned that it would not earn fuel points.
I don't have Safeway here. I see there's a lot of discussion about Safeway on FT. It's just a grocery store right? I mean as far as I'm able to buy prepaid cards and other MS stuff in a local grocery store, there's no need for Safeway, right?

If you're able to get reloadit packs at Safeway and you're able to load this tmobile card with it, this is still a pretty good deal. Even though we would not be able to load VR, VGC and other stuff, but we may have another 10k of grocery store liquidation here.

Last edited by cowboyguy; Jan 22, 2014 at 10:21 am
cowboyguy is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:16 am
  #47  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! $0 fees to reload w/CC!

for those wondering about credit checks, the mobile money app says no credit check is required.
skitch23 is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:38 am
  #48  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UR, SPG, HHonors Gold
Posts: 65
Can you use the T-Mobile prepaid card to reload Bluebird?

The reason I ask is because Vanilla Reloads charge a fee, while T-Mobile prepaid card doesn't charge fees to load in store, and I want to keep the ability to write checks so I can pay my rent.

Also, does anyone know if reloading the T-Mobile card counts as "cellphone service" for the Chase Ink Plus/Bold category bonus? That would be AWESOME.
Locke42 is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:42 am
  #49  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
I am a pre-paid T-mobile customer (no contract) and I was able to enroll after I provided my phone number. I am hoping I qualify for the no monthly fee offer.
michael_v is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:42 am
  #50  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
How about Giant Eagle? I do find the reloadit card sold at my area. But I am not sure whether is cash only.Maybe we can use Old Blue Cash or Blue Cash Prefered if cc is allowed.
ericliujian is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:46 am
  #51  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
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. 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.
I wonder what "Program Manager’s Reloadit Safe" is...
michael_v is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:48 am
  #52  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.0% of the amount of the Foreign Transaction.
Dieuwer is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:51 am
  #53  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
Originally Posted by Locke42
Can you use the T-Mobile prepaid card to reload Bluebird?

The reason I ask is because Vanilla Reloads charge a fee, while T-Mobile prepaid card doesn't charge fees to load in store, and I want to keep the ability to write checks so I can pay my rent.

Also, does anyone know if reloading the T-Mobile card counts as "cellphone service" for the Chase Ink Plus/Bold category bonus? That would be AWESOME.
I think yes since we could set pin for the card.
ericliujian is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 10:57 am
  #54  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 369
Originally Posted by ericliujian
How about Giant Eagle? I do find the reloadit card sold at my area. But I am not sure whether is cash only.Maybe we can use Old Blue Cash or Blue Cash Prefered if cc is allowed.
The Reloadit Pack FAQ specifically says cash only. If I had to guess the registers would be hardwired to reject cc's.
jjangoo is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 11:20 am
  #55  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Delta P, SPG G, Marriott S, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,007
We are sol. Just went to tmobile store.

Cash only on card and register hard coded to take cash only, even though cashier was OK with plastic.
maksimfa is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 11:34 am
  #56  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Since I am w/T-Mo, I am going to try it. Should be free for me.
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 11:34 am
  #57  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ATL F-Terminal
Programs: Hilton C, Marriott Pt, Delta Pt
Posts: 249
Originally Posted by cuebert
The cheapest T-Mo service option is buying a 1 year / 1000 minute prepaid SIM card for $100.
No need for that unless you're planning to load less than $500/mo.

The monthly is "[w]aived for cardholders who load $500 or more on the Card during the preceding monthly billing cycle."

For more info on their fees, see post #11 of this thread.

If this product doesn't pan out, I will simply close the account within the first month.
flyertalk77 is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 11:37 am
  #58  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Delta P, SPG G, Marriott S, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,007
Originally Posted by MaineCoon
Since I am w/T-Mo, I am going to try it. Should be free for me.
Yes, that was the first question they asked if i was a customer. I am, business and personal.

Cash only on load. Register hard coded.
maksimfa is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 11:46 am
  #59  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by maksimfa
Yes, that was the first question they asked if i was a customer. I am, business and personal.

Cash only on load. Register hard coded.
In-store, right?

Maybe we'll find better ways to load it. Otherwise it is quite useless. Oh well, doesn't take too much space in the drawer.
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2014, 11:48 am
  #60  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SEA
Posts: 40
Checked with my contact at T-Mobile .. they say its cash only .
kd1000 is offline  


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