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 $1K.
- Can I use the BP Feature? It works well for some people. Many have reported getting shutdown after using it. A few have reported having the payments lost. Like all MS activity, use at your own risk.
- Should I mix in some regular spending to make it look like this is my primary card? If it makes you feel better, go for it. However people who do this still get shutdown.
- I can't log in. Did I get shutdown? Possibly. But more likely the website is having technical issues. Call in, o try to make a swipe purchase and test it out.
- If I pay my taxes with this card, will I get shutdown? Large purchase raise red flags. Taxes are no different and there are reports of people being shut down for doing this.
- What is a T-Mobile wireless customer? A qualifying T-Mobile wireless customer can be either a postpaid or prepaid customer. Source: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24790705-post3703.html
T-Mobile Visa Prepaid - Bluebird Competitor for MS! (May not load w/CC)
Mar 14, 2014, 8:53 am
#1036
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 583
Cheers
Mar 14, 2014, 3:54 pm
#1037
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Just finished with 4 more places only 1 was arepeat location.
Last one had only 2 cashiers open took the older woman, then a 3rd opened looked like he was the mgr so when he asked me if I was with the person in front of me I said yes. There were 2 people with baskets full to the top, so the cashier (younger guy) told me to come over to him, turns out he was the mgr
too late hand him the card he looks it over read it and mumbles something about I guess they aren't ca$h only any longer, swipe my CC and off I go
so Im 14/14 with 13 different locations, beginning to wonder if all the ca$h only posts were to keep people from trying to get them.
Last one had only 2 cashiers open took the older woman, then a 3rd opened looked like he was the mgr so when he asked me if I was with the person in front of me I said yes. There were 2 people with baskets full to the top, so the cashier (younger guy) told me to come over to him, turns out he was the mgr
too late hand him the card he looks it over read it and mumbles something about I guess they aren't ca$h only any longer, swipe my CC and off I go so Im 14/14 with 13 different locations, beginning to wonder if all the ca$h only posts were to keep people from trying to get them.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:13 pm
#1038
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Angels
Posts: 196
security hold; re: account activity: lots of load/ large unload; what for?; buying loads w/CC or Cash?; card intended use --> not to be used as pass though/point boosting --> designed to be used for everyday transactions; continued use could lead to card termination.
Hold Released. Immedaite debit card payment to CC to liquidate.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:20 pm
#1039
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 322
It seems to be dependent largely on region. I've successfully bought most of my Reloadits from 2 Safeways in my area with 2 others enforcing the 'cash only' policy. Meanwhile, while I was on vacation all 3 locations that I visited shot me down.
Last edited by flyertalkingallday; Mar 14, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Mar 14, 2014, 4:30 pm
#1040
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Just got off the phone with them. Pretty painless. First CSR told me I had to wait to get a call back; requested a transfer to "second level" department. After some hemming and hawing she did it. Here are my notes from the risk dept. guy, pretty consistent with what has been reported already:
security hold; re: account activity: lots of load/ large unload; what for?; buying loads w/CC or Cash?; card intended use --> not to be used as pass though/point boosting --> designed to be used for everyday transactions; continued use could lead to card termination.
Hold Released. Immedaite debit card payment to CC to liquidate.
security hold; re: account activity: lots of load/ large unload; what for?; buying loads w/CC or Cash?; card intended use --> not to be used as pass though/point boosting --> designed to be used for everyday transactions; continued use could lead to card termination.
Hold Released. Immedaite debit card payment to CC to liquidate.
Oh well, take my $1500 back and wait and see and think about some sort of behavioral pattern.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:32 pm
#1041
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Just finished with 4 more places only 1 was arepeat location.
Last one had only 2 cashiers open took the older woman, then a 3rd opened looked like he was the mgr so when he asked me if I was with the person in front of me I said yes. There were 2 people with baskets full to the top, so the cashier (younger guy) told me to come over to him, turns out he was the mgr too late hand him the card he looks it over read it and mumbles something about I guess they aren't ca$h only any longer, swipe my CC and off I go
so Im 14/14 with 13 different locations, beginning to wonder if all the ca$h only posts were to keep people from trying to get them.
Last one had only 2 cashiers open took the older woman, then a 3rd opened looked like he was the mgr so when he asked me if I was with the person in front of me I said yes. There were 2 people with baskets full to the top, so the cashier (younger guy) told me to come over to him, turns out he was the mgr
too late hand him the card he looks it over read it and mumbles something about I guess they aren't ca$h only any longer, swipe my CC and off I go so Im 14/14 with 13 different locations, beginning to wonder if all the ca$h only posts were to keep people from trying to get them.
Where are you located?
Mar 14, 2014, 4:42 pm
#1042
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,518
I think he is from the So Cal LA area. I don't think there is any need to keep a running count of locations as if no one believes him. The point is that Safeway/VONS don't have the reloadits hard coded so anyone who claims they got turned down means that the cashier turned them down. Also So Cal VONS all have the new version of the Reloadit which are the white kind that clearly don't state CASH Only. Of course that makes buying ReloadIts easier when there is not a warning sign that says so. I am from the So Cal LA area too so I can vouch for this.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:54 pm
#1043
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
I think he is from the So Cal LA area. I don't think there is any need to keep a running count of locations as if no one believes him. The point is that Safeway/VONS don't have the reloadits hard coded so anyone who claims they got turned down means that the cashier turned them down. Also So Cal VONS all have the new version of the Reloadit which are the white kind that clearly don't state CASH Only. Of course that makes buying ReloadIts easier when there is not a warning sign that says so. I am from the So Cal LA area too so I can vouch for this.
Just yesterday bought rlit successfully, and then my wife tried to do the same and the same cashier had her doubts so she asked around, someone called the manager.ka-boom..bye-bye friendly store.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:56 pm
#1044
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,518
Like I said, those stores go off like the landmines. I have just ONE case among my many purchases when the cashier had his doubts, went to the manager and was told it was ok. So far I had about 60 successful purchases and plenty of responses: "those cards are cash-only" from the cashiers and even worse, managers would step in and tell all the cashiers rlits were cash-only.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:59 pm
#1045
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 81
we have the new Rlits in WA. There is an "internal memo" about the new Rlits can be sold only on cash it seems.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:59 pm
#1046
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
The fact that new cards don't say "cash only" does not change the equation.
Mar 14, 2014, 5:02 pm
#1047
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 293
Mar 14, 2014, 5:09 pm
#1048
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
. It is pretty clear that it was intentional. Reloadit.com was falling way behind in sales, who would buy them for cash except the drug dealers?So they came out with the new and improved cards.
Bottom line, those sales for cc are highly unprofitable for the stores. Even if they are charged just 1% by Visa/MC/Amex, it eats away everything they get from Netspend Corp.
Mar 14, 2014, 5:23 pm
#1049
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,518
. Either way yes just because it doesn't say "cash only" does not change the equation that stores can enforce cash only. Oh well just gotta deal with it...Sheesh.
Mar 14, 2014, 5:25 pm
#1050
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,518
ROFL....yeah sure it was. Oh these cashiers!! In all the Vons I saw in So Cal and Nor Cal had the new ReloadIt cards.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Mar 14, 2014 at 5:38 pm