Jan 22, 2014, 3:27 pm
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
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
T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)
Mar 12, 2014, 10:47 pm
#1006
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
I don't see why one has to let Blackhawk run the conversation and answer their questions. I would go on the offensive and tell them that I don't need to do business with a company that puts holds on my accounts and ask them to cancel the account and refund me my money. Unfortunately it costs $5.95 for them to cut you a check:
"In the event that your Card Account is cancelled, closed, or terminated for any reason and you have registered your Card with your personal information, you may request the unused balance to be returned to you via a check to the mailing address we have in our records."
"In the event that your Card Account is cancelled, closed, or terminated for any reason and you have registered your Card with your personal information, you may request the unused balance to be returned to you via a check to the mailing address we have in our records."
Kind of insulting.
Nothing that they specified in their T&C.
I am not Putin, I did not invade Crimea, they have no freaking right to lock my money.
Mar 13, 2014, 1:42 am
#1007
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Data Point:
Seems they have stopped their games where you can load while your account is locked.
Found out the easy way, another of my accounts has been locked when I tried to load. "Prepaid card blocked" message instead of "your balance is $xxx.xx". Indeed my account was locked when I checked. Luckily, it didn't let me load anything.
Test at your own risk, I'd hate to see people adding money to a locked account.
Seems they have stopped their games where you can load while your account is locked.
Found out the easy way, another of my accounts has been locked when I tried to load. "Prepaid card blocked" message instead of "your balance is $xxx.xx". Indeed my account was locked when I checked. Luckily, it didn't let me load anything.
Test at your own risk, I'd hate to see people adding money to a locked account.
Mar 13, 2014, 6:52 am
#1008
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Data Point:
Seems they have stopped their games where you can load while your account is locked.
Found out the easy way, another of my accounts has been locked when I tried to load. "Prepaid card blocked" message instead of "your balance is $xxx.xx". Indeed my account was locked when I checked. Luckily, it didn't let me load anything.
Test at your own risk, I'd hate to see people adding money to a locked account.
Seems they have stopped their games where you can load while your account is locked.
Found out the easy way, another of my accounts has been locked when I tried to load. "Prepaid card blocked" message instead of "your balance is $xxx.xx". Indeed my account was locked when I checked. Luckily, it didn't let me load anything.
Test at your own risk, I'd hate to see people adding money to a locked account.
Called rlit cs and they loaded m rlit w/o problem. So..are you sure it was your T-mo card and not your rlit?
Mar 13, 2014, 9:58 am
#1009
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Delta P, SPG G, Marriott S, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,007
Actually, they can. It is all in the t&c.
In cases where they suspect fraud, or money laundering, they can hold it to investigate.
In all reality, we have absolutely no right to complain as we are taking advantage of their system. They kindly let us get away with it as long as we can.
When they ask you to stop, stop. Or slow it down.
They don't have to do business with anyone. You cost them money, remember. =)
Last I checked, and forgive me, I am not native to the states... but the constitution did not cover manufactured spending or taking advantage of someone's business.
In cases where they suspect fraud, or money laundering, they can hold it to investigate.
In all reality, we have absolutely no right to complain as we are taking advantage of their system. They kindly let us get away with it as long as we can.
When they ask you to stop, stop. Or slow it down.
They don't have to do business with anyone. You cost them money, remember. =)
Last I checked, and forgive me, I am not native to the states... but the constitution did not cover manufactured spending or taking advantage of someone's business.
Mar 13, 2014, 10:27 am
#1010
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 84
Below is the way to find out if your account has been blocked by risk department:
Dial 866-306-9636, follow the prompts all the way to last 4 of phone number
If you get to card balance, account is still working fine
If you get invalid message and after second time entering the the information, it will transfer to CS for blocked account
Luckily I did this before loading more money and had near zero balance on account
Dial 866-306-9636, follow the prompts all the way to last 4 of phone number
If you get to card balance, account is still working fine
If you get invalid message and after second time entering the the information, it will transfer to CS for blocked account
Luckily I did this before loading more money and had near zero balance on account
Mar 13, 2014, 10:40 am
#1011
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 41
Data Point:
Seems they have stopped their games where you can load while your account is locked.
Found out the easy way, another of my accounts has been locked when I tried to load. "Prepaid card blocked" message instead of "your balance is $xxx.xx". Indeed my account was locked when I checked. Luckily, it didn't let me load anything.
Test at your own risk, I'd hate to see people adding money to a locked account.
Seems they have stopped their games where you can load while your account is locked.
Found out the easy way, another of my accounts has been locked when I tried to load. "Prepaid card blocked" message instead of "your balance is $xxx.xx". Indeed my account was locked when I checked. Luckily, it didn't let me load anything.
Test at your own risk, I'd hate to see people adding money to a locked account.
When I had a couple NetSpend accounts, I would regularly get all sorts of weird messages from ReloadIt site when I was exceeding the loading limits (but none related to exceeding loading limits).
Mar 13, 2014, 11:18 am
#1012
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Actually, they can. It is all in the t&c.
In cases where they suspect fraud, or money laundering, they can hold it to investigate.
In all reality, we have absolutely no right to complain as we are taking advantage of their system. They kindly let us get away with it as long as we can.
When they ask you to stop, stop. Or slow it down.
They don't have to do business with anyone. You cost them money, remember. =)
Last I checked, and forgive me, I am not native to the states... but the constitution did not cover manufactured spending or taking advantage of someone's business.
In cases where they suspect fraud, or money laundering, they can hold it to investigate.
In all reality, we have absolutely no right to complain as we are taking advantage of their system. They kindly let us get away with it as long as we can.
When they ask you to stop, stop. Or slow it down.
They don't have to do business with anyone. You cost them money, remember. =)
Last I checked, and forgive me, I am not native to the states... but the constitution did not cover manufactured spending or taking advantage of someone's business.
And everything that is not forbidden is permitted, unlike the situation in some other countries /without being specific/
As of taking advantage of someone's business, don't get me started, OK?
Mar 13, 2014, 11:30 am
#1013
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 108
I've pushed about 5K through this in the last month and a half, all BP'd out, never reloaded more than $480 in one go, and always loaded every few days. Haven't been shut down, maybe I will, I don't care. I still have other fee free avenues, which are a tad bit easier too. While I do think pushing 10-20K through this every month is excessive, in the MS game, everyone should invest as much they are comfortable with. Who am I to judge? But the same people doing 10-20K in a month should also realize that it makes them (and probably in time, everyone) more susceptible to being shut down, and then not blame the company for it. In a way, they (the companies) are trying to protect their interests/liabilities too.
Mar 13, 2014, 2:36 pm
#1015
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 162
T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)
I got a call for paypower visa today. Called back and it sent direct to risk dept. I don't have a paypower card. Guessing this is what it's about. I'll try and unload via pin debit and see what I get.
Mar 13, 2014, 2:38 pm
#1016
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,519
Below is the way to find out if your account has been blocked by risk department:
Dial 866-306-9636, follow the prompts all the way to last 4 of phone number
If you get to card balance, account is still working fine
If you get invalid message and after second time entering the the information, it will transfer to CS for blocked account
Luckily I did this before loading more money and had near zero balance on account
Dial 866-306-9636, follow the prompts all the way to last 4 of phone number
If you get to card balance, account is still working fine
If you get invalid message and after second time entering the the information, it will transfer to CS for blocked account
Luckily I did this before loading more money and had near zero balance on account
Mar 13, 2014, 2:48 pm
#1017
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,519
Its a vicious cycle. A new avenue gets reported, people go nuts over it, bloggers pick up and draw circles and arrows, more people go even more nuts over it thus pissing off the first "people" who went nuts over it, reports of shutdowns, and then we get to finally -> people blaming other people who are "overdoing it".
I've pushed about 5K through this in the last month and a half, all BP'd out, never reloaded more than $480 in one go, and always loaded every few days. Haven't been shut down, maybe I will, I don't care. I still have other fee free avenues, which are a tad bit easier too. While I do think pushing 10-20K through this every month is excessive, in the MS game, everyone should invest as much they are comfortable with. Who am I to judge? But the same people doing 10-20K in a month should also realize that it makes them (and probably in time, everyone) more susceptible to being shut down, and then not blame the company for it. In a way, they (the companies) are trying to protect their interests/liabilities too.
I've pushed about 5K through this in the last month and a half, all BP'd out, never reloaded more than $480 in one go, and always loaded every few days. Haven't been shut down, maybe I will, I don't care. I still have other fee free avenues, which are a tad bit easier too. While I do think pushing 10-20K through this every month is excessive, in the MS game, everyone should invest as much they are comfortable with. Who am I to judge? But the same people doing 10-20K in a month should also realize that it makes them (and probably in time, everyone) more susceptible to being shut down, and then not blame the company for it. In a way, they (the companies) are trying to protect their interests/liabilities too.
Mar 13, 2014, 3:07 pm
#1018
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Yea, don't bother calling them unless you want to be put on hold for hours and then be sent to a full voicemail box that forces you to hang up.