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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 27, 2014, 6:43 am
  #661  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Originally Posted by craz
the T-Mobile DC just came out in late Jan and the ReloadIt cards were just redone to a $20-950 , so till late Jan the cards always said Ca$h Only and "for months" you were able to buy the old ones using a CC?
1. Just because something says cash only doesnt mean people were not able to buy it with a CC.....

2. Just because the TMobile card didnt come out until January does not mean people werent buying reloadits for other reasons....

I dont know the OP's particular situation but your mindset is very narrow here.

That being said, I checked all the stores near me that might carry reloadits and absolutely none to be found on the racks. /sigh. Looks like my winn dixies dont carry them.
hamokmonky is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 7:04 am
  #662  
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Posts: 24,153
Originally Posted by hamokmonky
1. Just because something says cash only doesnt mean people were not able to buy it with a CC.....

2. Just because the TMobile card didnt come out until January does not mean people werent buying reloadits for other reasons....

I dont know the OP's particular situation but your mindset is very narrow here.

That being said, I checked all the stores near me that might carry reloadits and absolutely none to be found on the racks. /sigh. Looks like my winn dixies dont carry them.
1- give your WD alittle time, I think since Blackhawk is Cali based they rolled out the new cards in Cali 1st.

2- I did think that maybe the other poster purchased the cards to load a different card before the TM came out, but a bunch of folks said the old ones was always ca$h only , so I thought no one had been successful in getting them with a CC, since I didnt recall any post saying thusly. No different then how the ice creams can be used to load many different cards
craz is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 7:11 am
  #663  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
Has anyone tried to pay Citi CC for this, sent a small test payment over a week ago and nothing so far? Amex and Discover and Chase were very fast.
heyeaglefn is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 7:14 am
  #664  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Originally Posted by craz
1- give your WD alittle time, I think since Blackhawk is Cali based they rolled out the new cards in Cali 1st.

2- I did think that maybe the other poster purchased the cards to load a different card before the TM came out, but a bunch of folks said the old ones was always ca$h only , so I thought no one had been successful in getting them with a CC, since I didnt recall any post saying thusly. No different then how the ice creams can be used to load many different cards
Yea, its not about finding the new cards, they dont have the old cards either....

Also, yes, people had success buying cash only version at stores. Unless its hard coded its YMMV if the cashier is knowledgeable enough to know what they are doing. Just like CVS where some stores/cashiers tell you cash only for VRs even though its not.... except that this one has cash only written on it, so its pretty hard to argue with that
hamokmonky is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 8:43 am
  #665  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Originally Posted by heyeaglefn
Has anyone tried to pay Citi CC for this, sent a small test payment over a week ago and nothing so far? Amex and Discover and Chase were very fast.
I haven't tried Citi... my payment to Barclays on Monday hasn't posted yet, but the one I sent yesterday has
skitch23 is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 8:48 am
  #666  
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Originally Posted by heyeaglefn
Has anyone tried to pay Citi CC for this, sent a small test payment over a week ago and nothing so far? Amex and Discover and Chase were very fast.
just sent a not so small payment to Citi, after going thru all the steps got a message "Your card has insufficient funds for this transaction.For assisatnce please call....." called up and was told it went thru and although it said it would take 5 days, it already was sent to Citi.

Was explained the 5 days is Step 2 where it can take up to 5 days for them to process the payment for sending it, and not the amount of time it takes for the person/company to get it. But mine was processsed immediately and was sent out to Citi Now to wait to see how long it takes Citi to post it and see what date they use for having received the payment
craz is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 12:38 pm
  #667  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Citi took ~5 days for me.
hitman1420 is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 9:18 pm
  #668  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
getting worse.

the friendly store #3 told me "cash only". And they know me already. "we did tell you it is cash only, it is OUR STORE POLICY".
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 10:09 pm
  #669  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 437
Anyone know if the white reloadit pack with the "netSpend" logo on it will work with this?

It looks exactly like the unbranded white reloadit pack, minus the netSpend logo.

Oh, and the limit on it is $20-$500.
vinhboy is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 10:16 pm
  #670  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 207
It will work. I have used it several times.
cyclotron is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2014, 10:17 pm
  #671  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 207
Originally Posted by vinhboy
Anyone know if the white reloadit pack with the "netSpend" logo on it will work with this?

It looks exactly like the unbranded white reloadit pack, minus the netSpend logo.

Oh, and the limit on it is $20-$500.
It will work. I have used it several times.
cyclotron is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 11:54 am
  #672  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Posts: 608
Will you buy over 500$ for each time or below 500$? I always buy over 500$ because I can do 950$ in 1 time visit. It is very convenient and I love it.

However, after a while I feel that if I try over 500$, I need an overide from manager. The cashier calls her manager for overide, and sometimes I need to wait around 3 minutes for a manager comes to the front. In addition, people who are behind me are still waiting for me, and I just stand there for waiting a manager to come. So I think that we should get below 500$ if we dont want to get attention from managers.
happy9zz is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 12:19 pm
  #673  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by happy9zz
Will you buy over 500$ for each time or below 500$? I always buy over 500$ because I can do 950$ in 1 time visit. It is very convenient and I love it.

However, after a while I feel that if I try over 500$, I need an overide from manager. The cashier calls her manager for overide, and sometimes I need to wait around 3 minutes for a manager comes to the front. In addition, people who are behind me are still waiting for me, and I just stand there for waiting a manager to come. So I think that we should get below 500$ if we dont want to get attention from managers.
$495 is a good number. Sometimes I do $475 or even $450. No need to bother the managers. They should be as far away from us as possible
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 12:24 pm
  #674  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: DFW
Posts: 478
Originally Posted by MaineCoon
$495 is a good number. Sometimes I do $475 or even $450. No need to bother the managers. They should be as far away from us as possible
Checked out a $495 one yesterday. The cashier was puzzled and asked me why people always bought this odd amount of giftcard
spgbus is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 12:37 pm
  #675  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by spgbus
Checked out a $495 one yesterday. The cashier was puzzled and asked me why people always bought this odd amount of giftcard
Exactly. $450 or $475 don't give them any ideas.

Sometimes they ask me why am I buying those. I usually tell them that my subcontractors prefer those cards to cash.
MaineCoon is offline  


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