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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 11:44 am
  #1  
ibleed0range
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Debating the merits of using BB checks
MODERATOR NOTE: This discussion started in the general thread about signing up for the Citi AA Exec card, where it was completely off-topic.

Originally Posted by chener
Good points, and I may consider what you suggest and what others have been doing. To answer your question, mortgage/auto payments + some other upcoming large expenses that normally would be paid by check.
Another one that pays the mortgage and auto loan.

Your not getting ahead by doing this. You have to buy giftcards on your credit card which you are responsible to pay. Your just trading one bill for another. Bluebird will not shut you down if you solely pay credit card bills with every single penny in your account. Don't come back when your mortgage payment doesn't get applied correctly or on time. I'm not saying this happens often but it has happened. If you really want to pay your mortgage use Evolve.
Last edited by MDtR-Chicago; Jul 10, 2014 at 9:32 am
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 11:53 am
  #2  
bribro
 
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Originally Posted by ibleed0range
Another one that pays the mortgage and auto loan.

Your not getting ahead by doing this. You have to buy giftcards on your credit card which you are responsible to pay. Your just trading one bill for another. Bluebird will not shut you down if you solely pay credit card bills with every single penny in your account. Don't come back when your mortgage payment doesn't get applied correctly or on time. I'm not saying this happens often but it has happened. If you really want to pay your mortgage use Evolve.
+1. Not sure why anyone would pay anything other than a CC with BB/Serve. Other than paranoia perhaps.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 12:03 pm
  #3  
chener
 
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Originally Posted by ibleed0range
Another one that pays the mortgage and auto loan.

Your not getting ahead by doing this. You have to buy giftcards on your credit card which you are responsible to pay. Your just trading one bill for another. Bluebird will not shut you down if you solely pay credit card bills with every single penny in your account. Don't come back when your mortgage payment doesn't get applied correctly or on time. I'm not saying this happens often but it has happened. If you really want to pay your mortgage use Evolve.
Not sure if I follow your criticism about bill pay- granted, I'm not just paying mortgages and auto loans. Yes it's one bill for another but it's a viable and hassle-free way to liquidate those GCs with no more steps than what you suggest. Never once have I had a problem in the past 12+ months with Serve or BB, so not sure where your beef comes from. If anything, Evolve seems to be the questionable avenue of choice - eg, limited max on payments (split payments no go for many mortgage banks) and limited payee list (Evolve doesn't even support BoA auto loans- pathetic).

But I get your point about maximizing spend by paying CCs.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 12:05 pm
  #4  
Lumpylump76
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Originally Posted by bribro
+1. Not sure why anyone would pay anything other than a CC with BB/Serve. Other than paranoia perhaps.
Evolve's small list of payees. Serve allows you to enter your Payee's information, while Evolve doesn't.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 12:07 pm
  #5  
chener
 
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Originally Posted by bribro
+1. Not sure why anyone would pay anything other than a CC with BB/Serve. Other than paranoia perhaps.
Yes, I think there is hint of paranoia in my strategy.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 12:10 pm
  #6  
chener
 
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Originally Posted by Lumpylump76
Evolve's small list of payees. Serve allows you to enter your Payee's information, while Evolve doesn't.
Yes, folks seem to forget that you can pay anyone with the BB/Serve customized payees and checks- the contractor, the auto mechanic, the gardener, the piano teacher, you name it. Nothing wrong with accomplishing the same thing with normal spend.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 12:38 pm
  #7  
bribro
 
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Originally Posted by chener
Yes, folks seem to forget that you can pay anyone with the BB/Serve customized payees and checks- the contractor, the auto mechanic, the gardener, the piano teacher, you name it. Nothing wrong with accomplishing the same thing with normal spend.
It accomplishes the same thing, but with the risks that come associated with the mailing of physical checks (in the case of unregistered Serve payees). Until there is a single report of BB/Serve taking issue with Bill Pay to credit cards, that is the most logical choice for MS. CC>GC>BB/S>CC and repeat. Easy to do, and easy on the accounting.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 1:03 pm
  #8  
knn9413a
 
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Originally Posted by ibleed0range
Another one that pays the mortgage and auto loan.

Your not getting ahead by doing this. You have to buy giftcards on your credit card which you are responsible to pay. Your just trading one bill for another. Bluebird will not shut you down if you solely pay credit card bills with every single penny in your account. Don't come back when your mortgage payment doesn't get applied correctly or on time. I'm not saying this happens often but it has happened. If you really want to pay your mortgage use Evolve.
Can't you have a direct debit from your BB account instead of your regular checking account for your mortgage? That way you can still load up your BB and use it if required.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 1:30 pm
  #9  
chener
 
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Originally Posted by bribro
It accomplishes the same thing, but with the risks that come associated with the mailing of physical checks (in the case of unregistered Serve payees). Until there is a single report of BB/Serve taking issue with Bill Pay to credit cards, that is the most logical choice for MS. CC>GC>BB/S>CC and repeat. Easy to do, and easy on the accounting.
By your logic, it is just as if not more risky to continue churning CC bills at a high rate, which could potentially shut down the golden goose for all of us. Obviously, normal bill pay has lesser exposure to the risk of audit. BTW, my method is just as easy to do and makes no difference in my accounting. In fact, in the case of BB, I actually enjoy the fact that I have to pre-authorize checks so that I don't have to manually track any large uncleared checks that my spouse writes. AND I can pay off CCs as necessary.
Last edited by chener; Jul 9, 2014 at 1:45 pm
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 2:14 pm
  #10  
ibleed0range
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Originally Posted by knn9413a
Can't you have a direct debit from your BB account instead of your regular checking account for your mortgage? That way you can still load up your BB and use it if required.
There is no reason to use your bluebird for anything. Why don't you have a direct debit from your regular checking account and use your credit cards if required.
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 2:17 pm
  #11  
ibleed0range
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Originally Posted by chener
By your logic, it is just as if not more risky to continue churning CC bills at a high rate, which could potentially shut down the golden goose for all of us. Obviously, normal bill pay has lesser exposure to the risk of audit. BTW, my method is just as easy to do and makes no difference in my accounting. In fact, in the case of BB, I actually enjoy the fact that I have to pre-authorize checks so that I don't have to manually track any large uncleared checks that my spouse writes. AND I can pay off CCs as necessary.
Theres way more of us then there are paranoids. If bluebird wants to shut down ship they will. Makes no difference if you pay your mortgage every month. If they don't want you paying cc they will take the option away entirely. Why would you have any large uncleared checks anyway, who even uses checks anymore?
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 2:47 pm
  #12  
chener
 
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Originally Posted by ibleed0range
Theres way more of us then there are paranoids. If bluebird wants to shut down ship they will. Makes no difference if you pay your mortgage every month. If they don't want you paying cc they will take the option away entirely.
I don't disagree with you at all - I was merely countering bribro's assertion that bill pay should not be done because it is inherently more risky.

Why would you have any large uncleared checks anyway, who even uses checks anymore?
Wow, you must live in a different world than I and millions of people in the U.S. do. I guess you've never paid a general contractor to do renovations (done that > 100K worth), hired a local plumber / mechanic / landscaper, paid kid's tuition, or paid for piano/ballet/tennis lessons ?????

In fact, I'm writing a check ($1400) to my auto body shop guy next Wednesday because he doesn't take credit cards.

In short - let me guess - you're under 30.
Last edited by chener; Jul 9, 2014 at 3:04 pm
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 5:37 pm
  #13  
kwbtraveler
 
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Originally Posted by ibleed0range
Theres way more of us then there are paranoids. If bluebird wants to shut down ship they will. Makes no difference if you pay your mortgage every month. If they don't want you paying cc they will take the option away entirely. Why would you have any large uncleared checks anyway, who even uses checks anymore?
Well, I still use an occasional BB check to pay estimated state & federal taxes, and property taxes. Hey, the checks were free!
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 5:37 pm
  #14  
bribro
 
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Originally Posted by chener
I don't disagree with you at all - I was merely countering bribro's assertion that bill pay should not be done because it is inherently more risky.
I think you missed my point, but you're obviously content with doing things the way you're doing them, so more power to you. ^
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Old Jul 9, 2014 | 10:47 pm
  #15  
chener
 
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Originally Posted by bribro
I think you missed my point, but you're obviously content with doing things the way you're doing them, so more power to you. ^
actually, didn't miss your point at all. I get completely what you are saying. just disagree with your arguments against bill pay.
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