Why not just wait till May 1 and do the usual... feed the bird?

Because that would mean I would have to float $5K for 1 month. Just trying to see if there were easy ways to dump it sooner.

Second question: How long does it take to get a refund check?

Having done the refund with Incomm on the HIGC last year, it is a very painful process. Plus, since you have to give them a lot of personal info, i worry a bit about being on their black list if something goes wrong, or if you ever have to deal with them again on a problem with one of their products.

They at a minimum will drag their heels for weeks under the guise that they want to make sure you're not a fraudster stealing someone else's card, etc.

I can tell you on the rare chance you get a check approved in only a few weeks, you might as well wait a few days until May to feed your bird.

If you've maxed out BB, use My Vanilla Debit (MVD). There may be some obvious reason why no one's mentioned it, but it seems like a pretty useful alternative/supplement.

You're allowed up to 3 accounts per person. Each account has a 2500/d max of bean reloads onto them. There is a monthly limit per account (I think) but I dont remember what it is. Buy MVDs at the store (or order online for free--which will have your name printed on it), load beans onto MVD, and use that debit card to buy a money order. You can load MVD over the phone when you set it up, or online via the VR website.

Obviously don't abuse it for ton of MS on each card, but it's a nice way to spread out your MS over BB and 3 MVD accounts.

Not that it matters anymore.

At a minimum, even if they shut you down after the first day, sounds like an easy way to liquidate 7.5k of beans though, right? If new beans are kaput, then sounds like a viable option with no downside.

I want to look for a prepaid debit that will allow BP online. Would much rather just dump the VR funds to pay off a CC. Any suggestions?

Yes, but beware the MVD $3,000 daily POS transaction limit. Still, they will just put you in spenddown mode with no worries.

Thanks. I should have been more clear. I was assuming 3 cards x 2500 load on one day. Assuming the spenddown is going to be applied to one card at a time.

Personally, I've never been able to do $3k in one shot. I usually am stuck doing $2498.00 for whatever reason.

Just don't be afraid to have the teller try other amounts. It's as easy as saying, "Sorry I'm not sure about their limits." I've never had an issue.

I like the HRB ($.95 per BP up to 2.5k) but it was mentioned you didn't want to keep the card. BP takes two days after submitted, FYI.

I didn't see any negatives for cancelling the card, such as a closing fee. JHP has that one.

So HRB can dump to Amex CC up to $2.5K per $0.95? If so I don't mind coughing up $2 to dump $5K. I just don't know what to do with the card afterwards and how to fund it after VRs are done. Now if it were able to load VGCs onto the HRB and if it has no monthly fee it might be worth keeping. Just trying to get an idea of what options are out there.

It's $2500 max for a teller transaction, $3000 for POS (i.e., you could buy 2 $1k money orders but your third one at Wally could only be $996.40).

I am in the same situation as yourself. I have my 5k for this month but I still have another 5k to unload and would rather not wait until May 1st. No HRB will give me an emerald card by me. Looking for something that I can just load the 5k up and BP to Chase and Citi

Just close the card if you absolutely have no shot at VRs. There's no sign up fee. You'd be literally paying $1.90 to pay your CC's and then closing it for free.