Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Credit, Debit and Prepaid Card Programs > Manufactured Spending
Reload this Page >

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

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
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
Print Wikipost

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

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 5, 2014, 9:22 am
  #751  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
I use Opera for both my accounts and everything works like a charm.
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 9:28 am
  #752  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 721
Originally Posted by AFAM-DFW
They refund your reload fee if you load $400 or more (i think) at once
Right, but they're doing that for me (and everybody) anyway. I'm not a tmo customer.
zceuxbhjutf is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 9:29 am
  #753  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 825
Originally Posted by exarkun
For those of you that are t-mobile customers, did you receive any texts, phone calls, or have anything appear on your t-mobile wireless bill identifying that you signed up for the t-mobile prepaid or that you have a card?
Anyone have any information on this?
exarkun is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 9:57 am
  #754  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 156
Originally Posted by Johnnycomeslater
I use app and safari.
Looks like shutdown for me. I could not login safari on windows and app from android. I don't have iphone
tech2011 is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 9:58 am
  #755  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 69
Originally Posted by exarkun
Anyone have any information on this?
That is just sketchy as hell.
AdamAlias is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 10:13 am
  #756  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 53
While trying to add Amex as a payee online, I kept getting:

The information you entered does not match our records. Please try again.

I double/triple-checked the information I entered and it appeared to be correct. T-Mobile doesn't have an option to lookup payee so I am not sure how they go about verifying my information. I tried to go the mobile app route, but the mobile app only accepts phone number as a signin. Since I don't have t-mobile as my carrier that was the end of going out the mobile app.

Does anyone have a problem with adding Amex as a payee from a website? And how did you resolve it?

*Searched the thread again and found Mobile Money by T-Mobile by Blackhawk*
tommyhtown is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 10:22 am
  #757  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
Originally Posted by tommyhtown
While trying to add Amex as a payee online, I kept getting:

The information you entered does not match our records. Please try again.

I double/triple-checked the information I entered and it appeared to be correct. T-Mobile doesn't have an option to lookup payee so I am not sure how they go about verifying my information. I tried to go the mobile app route, but the mobile app only accepts phone number as a signin. Since I don't have t-mobile as my carrier that was the end of going out the mobile app.

Does anyone have a problem with adding Amex as a payee from a website? And how did you resolve it?

*Searched the thread again and found Mobile Money by T-Mobile by Blackhawk*
What information are you typing in for Payee Name? The payee name for Amex is "American Express". Also to verify your information, you should ALWAYS be referencing the information on your statement.

If you do e-paper statements, log into your account and download last month's statement and the section where it tells you how to pay will provide you the Payee Name, Address, phone number, etc.
ericdabbs is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 10:41 am
  #758  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 53
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
What information are you typing in for Payee Name? The payee name for Amex is "American Express". Also to verify your information, you should ALWAYS be referencing the information on your statement.

If you do e-paper statements, log into your account and download last month's statement and the section where it tells you how to pay will provide you the Payee Name, Address, phone number, etc.
Thank you for the reminder. I did reference my statement and use 'American Express' as a payee's name. I don't think that's a problem unless I fat-fingered the information somehow.

Now, I don't know the reason that caused the website to give me the error when I was trying to add 'American Express' as payee. However, it seemed to be resolved. What happened was that I found the mobile app from Apple app store and proceeded to log in from my phone. I went to 'Manage Payee' and saw 'American Express' as one of my payees on the mobile app. I then went back to my the website and saw 'American Express' as a payee as well.

Not sure what happened exactly but I just did 2-day bill pay via the website.
tommyhtown is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 11:48 am
  #759  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Just called in. Seems they're having tech difficulties across the board. The reps cannot even pull won't account info. Any calls into their system will just lead to a rep telling your they cannot pull up your info.

Hopefully it's just weird stuff going on with their system and everything will be better soon. Shhh... It's gonna be allllllllright.
hitman1420 is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 3:38 pm
  #760  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 50
Called again and found that my account was blocked by the Bancorp bank...It's like they need some sort of info faxed for identity verification purposes before they can remove the block. I will follow them up and see how it goes.
leebryant is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 4:16 pm
  #761  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
Originally Posted by tommyhtown
Thank you for the reminder. I did reference my statement and use 'American Express' as a payee's name. I don't think that's a problem unless I fat-fingered the information somehow.

Now, I don't know the reason that caused the website to give me the error when I was trying to add 'American Express' as payee. However, it seemed to be resolved. What happened was that I found the mobile app from Apple app store and proceeded to log in from my phone. I went to 'Manage Payee' and saw 'American Express' as one of my payees on the mobile app. I then went back to my the website and saw 'American Express' as a payee as well.

Not sure what happened exactly but I just did 2-day bill pay via the website.
I did a test transaction of $10 to Amex 2 days ago and it went through just fine. Less than 24 hour turnaround and it was paid.
ericdabbs is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 5:37 pm
  #762  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 156
There is definitely some system issues at T-Mobile. The T-mobile store next to my work was closed. There is a poster stating that it will be closed till tomorrow evening. I brought my T-Mobile card in that store, That could be reason, I am not able to access my account.
tech2011 is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2014, 11:51 pm
  #763  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 21
"He can reload with credit card"

I went first time to a Safeway in a city called Foster City today. The Reloadit rack had a very tell-tale pattern. The $500 cards were plentiful, and there was only one $950 card left. I read that to indicate there's rampant maxing out of Reloadit cards there. It's a 80k/yr median income neighborhood, so it's definitely not the underbanked who are hording the higher value Reloadit cards.

I went to self-checkout with the last $950 Reloadit card. I preemptively asked the self-checkout cashier if it's ok to purchase the Reloadit card with a credit card, because it was the end of the day, and I really didn't want to whip out credit card after he ok's the transaction and then to get shot down.

Cashier scrutinized the Reloadit card, decided and told me that it's no problem. Just then, a supervisor walked by, so he asked the supe.

Supe said, "Cards are cash only. He can reload it credit card." Story ends here.

I was reeling but without the motivation to protest that I was getting a reload and not a prepaid card. Now that I've had a few hours to replay the exchange in my head, I'm only getting more confused over what the supe really meant.
saru is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2014, 12:11 am
  #764  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
Originally Posted by AFAM-DFW
They refund your reload fee if you load $400 or more (i think) at once
Its $300 or more not $400.
ericdabbs is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2014, 12:14 am
  #765  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Bay Area & NYC Metro
Posts: 4
There are issues with tmobile now. It wouldnt let me use bill pay, kept saying "Technical Error. Please contact customer service." So I treid from the mobile app and everything worked.

Also saru, the manager said you can't buy the ACTUAL DEBIT CARD with a credit card (Right under the price it says 'Cash Only' in the upper right hand corner)
ReloadIt packs are fine with CC

Last edited by tcook052; Mar 6, 2014 at 6:53 am
dbanger is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.