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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 Feb 25, 2014, 11:57 am
  #616  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
This is going to get killed by T-Mobile before it gets killed in the stores.
heyeaglefn is online now  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 12:42 pm
  #617  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Seems like game over. Two friendliest stores told me "cash only" today.

It was nice while it lasted.
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 12:42 pm
  #618  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 670
Originally Posted by hobo916
I have been buying these regularly at a store near me using a CC, and a couple of days ago I was denied. Manager indicated that they had been audited and were told in a memo that they can only sell these for cash. Need to find another place now.
Originally Posted by BADELAYS
I hope the stores don't shift to cash only on this. This is a great opportunity at net zero cost.
I've been successfully buying these on CC at my neighborhood Pavilions until recently. The past two times I've tried, however, I've been told cash only by two different managers.
sk8uno is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 1:49 pm
  #619  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Sounds like this is dying!
hitman1420 is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 2:52 pm
  #620  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 721
If the registers work, it's not dying IMO. Charm helps LOL.

Concepts like plausible deniability, and time degradation, too, I think.
zceuxbhjutf is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 3:07 pm
  #621  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: None
Posts: 135
Originally Posted by zceuxbhjutf
If the registers work, it's not dying IMO. Charm helps LOL.

Concepts like plausible deniability, and time degradation, too, I think.
Not completely true, becomes tougher and some day soon they will catch-up.
As you may already know - audits happen, memo's come out, employees get pulled-up. Not pretty any more other than the few chances where you can get past and buy a few here and there.
BADELAYS is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 4:12 pm
  #622  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Heaven
Posts: 552
no !!! pls don't die... love my free points
coolblues is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 6:00 pm
  #623  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 583
Originally Posted by MaineCoon
Seems like game over. Two friendliest stores told me "cash only" today.

It was nice while it lasted.
Definitely YMMV situation.

I bought two today at 2 different Vons, including one that only had the old gray 'cash only' ones. I've only ever gotten rejected when I tried for $950, so far so good under $500.

FWIW, I am definitely picking up more groceries at Vons, I just wish their organic produce was cheaper


Cheers
CrownRoyalForever is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 6:54 pm
  #624  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 126
no, please don't die. I have not even gotten chance to purchase any RI card with CC in any stores. I actually hoping the new version come to NE area soon.
zgrzfg is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 6:57 pm
  #625  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Posts: 287
Got one an hour ago no problem with CC at Safeway
finite7777 is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 6:58 pm
  #626  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: CO, BA, UA, AA, PC, HH, MARRIOT, HYATT, MR, STARWOOD
Posts: 287
Originally Posted by member7777
If you are buying Reloadits at Safeway, I noticed that regular giftcards (Shell, Arco, Starbucks, Amazon etc.) are getting 4x Fuel Points instead of 2x...up to $1/gallon gas discount at Safeway gas for up to 25 gallons each fill up for $250 in GC purchases...just a thought...the Reloadits get no fuel points
Just seeing my gas get pumped at $2.65/gallon got me a little teary eyed
Just wanted to update it is a legit offer in store, did not see the expiration date of 4x
finite7777 is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 7:02 pm
  #627  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CT
Posts: 50
Got three today at the same store, with manager keying in. Anyone know if the bill pay service runs faster than the 5 days that the website states. Doing bill pay on my credit cards.
Rossir is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 8:48 pm
  #628  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: JFK
Programs: *$ Gold :)
Posts: 1,061
Originally Posted by Rossir
Got three today at the same store, with manager keying in. Anyone know if the bill pay service runs faster than the 5 days that the website states. Doing bill pay on my credit cards.
faster IME
pier11 is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 9:11 pm
  #629  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Heaven
Posts: 552
Originally Posted by Rossir
Got three today at the same store, with manager keying in. Anyone know if the bill pay service runs faster than the 5 days that the website states. Doing bill pay on my credit cards.
first payment is slow and after that it's blazing fast.... I paid my barclays earlier today and the payment posted by evening.
coolblues is offline  
Old Feb 25, 2014, 9:18 pm
  #630  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CT
Posts: 50
Thanks, guys! I got thrown by having to enter postal mailing addresses. I didn't even know the addresses for my cards - so used to ACH and online payments.
Rossir is offline  


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