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T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)

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 Managers 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)

Old Feb 28, 2014, 12:41 pm
  #676  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: None
Posts: 135
I always stay under 500 for the 2 said reasons - avoid manager (who may have read memo's) and keep the line moving, I hate to be that guy.

450-495 has been my denomination range as the fee gets refunded anyway. It is not worth the attention for going to 950 unless they stop refunding the fee.
BADELAYS is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 12:46 pm
  #677  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Heaven
Posts: 552
well, in my case I usually am "that guy"

Last edited by coolblues; Feb 28, 2014 at 12:53 pm
coolblues is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 1:53 pm
  #678  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Somewhere in the air
Posts: 69
I got my fees back day after $300+ load. Now, how do I go about paying off my Chase or other cards?
noonflyer is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 2:07 pm
  #679  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Heaven
Posts: 552
Originally Posted by noonflyer
I got my fees back day after $300+ load. Now, how do I go about paying off my Chase or other cards?
Add the payees address and card details. Send off a test payment to begin with
coolblues is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 8:04 pm
  #680  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 322
How long does it usually take before the fee is refunded?
flyertalkingallday is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 8:51 pm
  #681  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by flyertalkingallday
How long does it usually take before the fee is refunded?
24 hours.
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 8:51 pm
  #682  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Originally Posted by flyertalkingallday
How long does it usually take before the fee is refunded?
A day.
skitch23 is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 9:42 pm
  #683  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 215
Can't Add a Payee

Twice in the past week, I've received this error message "Error occurred processing request," when trying to add a payee to my t-mobile Visa account. (Both were different payees.) Other than loading a $300 Reloadit, several weeks ago, there's been no activity on my card.
When I called their customer service after the first unsuccessful attempt, they said they said it was an IT problem and would have to write-up a ticket. I've tried a variety of browsers, and it's still no go. Any insight or advice would be appreciated.
rabatt is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2014, 10:48 pm
  #684  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by rabatt
Twice in the past week, I've received this error message "Error occurred processing request," when trying to add a payee to my t-mobile Visa account. (Both were different payees.) Other than loading a $300 Reloadit, several weeks ago, there's been no activity on my card.
When I called their customer service after the first unsuccessful attempt, they said they said it was an IT problem and would have to write-up a ticket. I've tried a variety of browsers, and it's still no go. Any insight or advice would be appreciated.
use the app on your phone, it will work.
HefeSD is offline  
Old Mar 1, 2014, 12:21 am
  #685  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: Delta PM | US PP | Hilton Gold
Posts: 288
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
I just got back from the store and purchased another old version on CC. Stater Bros here in cali is NOT hard coded.... I have better luck with the younger girls working the night shift. :-)
john doe iii is offline  
Old Mar 1, 2014, 8:38 am
  #686  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 91
Originally Posted by john doe iii
I have better luck with the younger girls working the night shift. :-)
This! ^
PolarPlunge is offline  
Old Mar 1, 2014, 1:30 pm
  #687  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 174
Originally Posted by john doe iii
I have better luck with the younger girls working the night shift. :-)
So true for many things.
fletch512 is offline  
Old Mar 1, 2014, 5:39 pm
  #688  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by fletch512
So true for many things.



Seriously speaking, I'd try to avoid middle/old aged career cashiers, both boys and girls. I walk near the counters and select my partner in crime.
Mostly it works, although not always.
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Mar 1, 2014, 6:36 pm
  #689  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 215
Payees

deleted

Last edited by rabatt; Oct 15, 2022 at 9:04 pm
rabatt is offline  
Old Mar 1, 2014, 6:39 pm
  #690  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: Delta PM | US PP | Hilton Gold
Posts: 288
Originally Posted by MaineCoon



Seriously speaking, I'd try to avoid middle/old aged career cashiers, both boys and girls. I walk near the counters and select my partner in crime.
Mostly it works, although not always.
I go a little overboard. I keep the receipt which gives me the cashiers name and make sure they are working before I go. LOL
john doe iii is offline  

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