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Serve - Another Paypal/Amazon payments (2015)

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Old Jan 10, 2015, 8:55 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: ericdabbs
The previous megathread is here.

Read the wiki before posting a question.
It's a literacy test that's easy to pass.


As of April 16, 2015 regular Serve cards will only accept American Express network cards for online credit card loads.
Softcard Serve accounts are apparently grandfathered in the old system and continue to work as before, being able to load Mastercard, Visa, and Discover (see below).


Serve loads count towards minimum spend on AmEx-issued cards, including SPG.

This is the Serve thread. Post questions or information concerning other topics in the appropriate threads elsewhere in this forum.

For additional information on using prepaid debit cards, see PIN available now for Visa/MC prepaid debit cards.


You cannot make an ACH pull from Serve. The direct deposit account and routing numbers are for deposits only.

https://www.serve.com/#/add-cash

If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.


Loads at 7-11 and CVS are cash only. Debit cards are NOT allowed.

Loads at Walmart have been confirmed with debit cards. Self checkout does not work for loading Serve. Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of prepaid debit cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked, then discreetly use your prepaid card when asked to swipe. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC (Walmart Money Center) again to load.

Debit loading at Family Dollar appears to be limited to $500 per day per store total (not per person or per account). Whoever gets there first gets the load for the day. Troubleshooting loading problems at FD

Regular Serve
  • Serve loading via VR/MP or WM/FD load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
  • Online Debit Card Load - $200/day and $1,000/month [B]
  • Online Credit Card Load (AmEx only) - $200/day and $1,000/month
  • Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
  • Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
  • ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month

You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $7k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.

Softcard Serve
Softcard has shutdown and there is no longer any way to apply for this version.
  • Serve loading via VR/MP or WM/FD load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
  • Online Debit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
  • Online Credit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
  • Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
  • Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
  • ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month

You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $8k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.

Temp Serve
You can only load a maximum of $500/day, $1000/month on a temporary card. Once you get your permanent card, then you can load more. The initial $500 when you purchase the temp card doesn't count against the $5,000/month load limit.

OneVip Card: (Mucho gracias, AndrewTheMan)
This card is essentially just like the regular, fee-free, "old" serve. You may reload this card up to $2,500/day; $1,000/transaction at Walmart (not impacted by Blue Bird daily limit change). Have not tested FD or anywhere else. KATE takes this no problems..
You can use this to load the FIDO AMEX up to 1k a month.

Limits for online debit card and credit card loads reset at 9 PM PST/12 AM EST

Online Credit Card Loads
Only one card can be linked at a time.

For online CC/DC loads, the name on the Serve account is supposed to match the name of the primary or joint cardholder. So using someone else's CC/DB card to load a Serve account is not allowed.

A few report no problems loading with an AU card in the Serve account holder's name. Increase your chances by making sure the AUs social security number is on file with the Credit Card.

When adding a new card you will usually need to call Serve Account security (1-800-555-4318) for verification of the new card on the second load try. This verification usually requires uploading of a photo of your ID and the credit card. You may pre-emptively avoid the error by going to the above website, logging in, and uploading a scan of a photo ID and the card you are trying to add. You may call back to expedite approval. One person with a Serve/Softcard account reported being sent to the main Serve number for this process.

https://www.serve.com/help/#add-money-5

Regular Serve Credit Card Loading

Regular Serve can only load from American Express network cards. In addition to those issued directly by American Express, this includes the following:
  • AAA Rewards AmEx
  • Alitalia AmEx
  • Bank of America Accelerated Rewards AmEx
  • Bank of America Asiana Airlines AmEx
  • Bank of Hawaii AmEx Card with MyBankoh Rewards
  • Bloomingdale's AmEx
  • Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select AmEx
  • Citi Dividend AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
  • Citi Thank You Preferred AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
  • Dillard's AmEx
  • FNBO AmEx
  • FNBO Graphite AmEx
  • FNBO Platinum AmEx
  • Macy's AmEx
  • Penfed Premium Travel Rewards AmEx
  • SavingStar AmEx
  • Travelocity AmEx
  • US Bank Flexperks AmEx
  • USAA Cash Rewards/Rewards Plus AmEx
  • Wells Fargo Propel World/365 AmEx

Softcard Serve Credit Card Loading

If you are fortunate enough to be grandfathered into a Softcard Serve Account, you can also load other credit cards beside American Express cards. Softcard Serve is not available to new applicants anymore so you'll need to get one of the other Serve options if you don't already have one. In general, Mastercard and American Express cards post as purchases. Visa cards transact as a cash advance and, therefore, require available CA limit; although most cards post as a purchase.

Treated as purchase, earns cashback/points/miles:
  • Bank of America (FIA) (MasterCard, American Express)
  • Barclaycard (Mastercard, Visa)
  • Capital One (Mastercard, Visa)
  • Chase (MasterCard, Visa)
  • Citi (MasterCard, American Express)
  • Discover
  • Wells Fargo (American Express)

Treated as purchase, but doesn't earn points/miles:
  • American Express issued (Counts toward minimum spend -- see post #434) but does not earn points. Example: For the Delta Amex card, Serve counts towards min spend DL miles sign-up bonus, but that spend and subsequent trials of spend on Serve will not earn points. Don't do it, man!

Posts as a cash advance:
The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card and has no cash advance ability.

A few report being unable to add the Chase IHG MC.

Online Debit Card Loads
For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. While initial transactions may work, your account will eventually be flagged.

Switching to Serve
Helpful instruction post, latest. Thanks raeneye.

Also see this thread: Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???

Switching from BB to Serve
  1. Login to BB account, bring account balance to Zero, (By Bill Pay, Send money, etc..)
  2. Call BB, tell them that you want to open a serve account and close your current BB account. after they check everything they will say something like: "Your account will be permanently closed after 31 days, you can reopen it within 31 day if you change your mind, and you can apply for your new Serve account now, just make sure use the exact same register info from BB."
  3. at this point BB is closed. next morning, goto CVS and get a temporary Serve card (only with cash), load $500, ($2.95 waived, Yeah!!)
  4. get back home, register temporary Serve online, First error: "phone number already registered, please try a different number" could be the my BB's ghost account still showing up on their system, could be my info is not match my BB's registration? i'm not really sure at this point. What I did is keep the same number but change from Cell phone to home phone. and registration went through
  5. after the register and login, second error: "We're still processing your application. Please check your email for an update"
  6. I have see people on the thread reported waiting for weeks for the same message, So, I pickup the phone and called them, ask them to speed up the process.
  7. CSR, told me that my account went to "account security protection department" transfer me to them.
  8. at account security protection department, they told me need to call back on my phone number which I registered to verify.
  9. after the call back of verification, CSR told me that my new Serve account is active now, email address verification will be send with in 5 minutes, permanent card will be received within 7-10 days.
  10. CSR also told me the I can load and spend on the temporary card, but not bill pay.

Switching from Redbird is presumably similar. See the RedCard thread for more information.

The number to call to approve your registration after closing Bluebird: Serve Account security 1-800-555-4318

Loading with debit card at Walmart register
Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.

Training a WM cashier:
  • If the WM cashier doesn't know how to load the card, advise them to enter "70" then press "action code".
  • If you are using a temp card that doesn't have your name on it, you can swipe the card from your side of the terminal. The WM rep never has to touch any of your cards. The screen will say "enter account." That is your prompt to slide the card.
  • The terminal will ask the WM employee if you are loading in multiples of $2000. Advise them to enter "no."
  • Avoid saying gift card. Always refer to your card as a debit card.

Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.

DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.

TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered.

HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.

Using Serve
For online bill pay
  • You can pay the credit card that you used to buy VRs/GCs
  • Error 1302 means that you have 1 pending payment the same amount as the one you just submitted. For example, 1000 bill pay to sapphire preferred from Friday and then on Saturday you submit another bill pay for 1000 to sapphire preferred, you will get this error.
  • Tip: if using online bill pay to the same place multiple times, vary your amounts by $0.01 to make it easier to track since your confirmation number does not match the tracking number on your credit card statement

For bank transfers
Under Settings --> Funding & Transfers --> Bank & Cards --> U.S. Bank Account, you can add your bank info and transfer funds from your Serve card directly to your bank. The bank account must be verified, either by the standard "deposit 2 small sums into your account, such as $0.23 & $0.42" method, or doing an "instant verification" by actually logging into your bank account while still logged into Serve.
===

People with an apartment address can find helpful information quoted in post #7
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Serve - Another Paypal/Amazon payments (2015)

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Old Jan 18, 2015, 1:06 pm
  #211  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 252
Has anyone tried loading the Citi Simplicity Mastercard specifically? I know the wiki says all Citi Mastercard's are ok without a CA but I just wanted to make sure...
knowledgeispower is offline  
Old Jan 18, 2015, 1:20 pm
  #212  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Asia Miles
Posts: 69
Originally Posted by knowledgeispower
Has anyone tried loading the Citi Simplicity Mastercard specifically? I know the wiki says all Citi Mastercard's are ok without a CA but I just wanted to make sure...
Any Citi MasterCard IS fine because the merchant category for MasterCard (not Visa) is "POI Funding Transactions (excluding MC moneysend)", which is not considered as cash advance by Citi. But why do you want to load with the Simplicity? It's not a reward earning card after all.
PlyrStar93 is offline  
Old Jan 18, 2015, 7:02 pm
  #213  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, IHG Spire, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 308
Will it count for minimum spend on Amex Business Gold?
anime333 is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 1:04 pm
  #214  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sky
Posts: 240
Does anyone know if the TD Bank Aeroplan VISA would be treated as a purchase or cash advance?
mrkenneth is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 2:45 pm
  #215  
HGF
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 226
Originally Posted by PlyrStar93
3636 N Broadway?

From the phenomenon, it seemed like someone else loaded close to $2k before you, and you got caught by the velocity limit. But how did you figure out the "limit" could be $200? Did you try smaller amounts with successful loads?
I kept trying lower and lower loads until it started working.
HGF is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 3:18 pm
  #216  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Asia Miles
Posts: 69
Originally Posted by HGF
I kept trying lower and lower loads until it started working.
Very interesting. I never knew you could cancel and get back and try another load when it asked for manager approval. What I thought was the machine got locked and nothing could be done without an employee coming to unlock it.
PlyrStar93 is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 8:50 pm
  #217  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 203
For anyone curious about the Softcard tap to pay promotion that gave $10 Amazon gift cards for every 5 taps… Although there was a limit of 5 cards and 3 gift cards per card, I tried 6 cards.

I did 30 separate 7˘ Softcard transactions thrice (at three different Home Depot locations) on 12/30/2014, a total of $6.30. On 1/19/2015, I received 2 separate Amazon codes: $60 and $90. I never contacted support. I love Softcard!
christof is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 8:56 pm
  #218  
HGF
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 226
Originally Posted by PlyrStar93
Very interesting. I never knew you could cancel and get back and try another load when it asked for manager approval. What I thought was the machine got locked and nothing could be done without an employee coming to unlock it.
I clicked the red cancel button the pin pad and it brought me back to the home screen.
HGF is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 11:12 pm
  #219  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
I have one problem loading serve at walmart kate. After I swipt my serve card, enter the amount. It always says: Invalid card swipe. I tried walmart money card option, BB option. At first I thought it may because of my serve card. I already requested a new card. The same problem. Usually 60% failed just because of the invalid card swipe. Maybe there is something wrong with the kate. The CS or the regular check out line are both fine. But I really do not want to load too many time at one time. Kate is my favourate. Any suggestion?
ericliujian is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 11:33 pm
  #220  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
Originally Posted by ericliujian
I have one problem loading serve at walmart kate. After I swipt my serve card, enter the amount. It always says: Invalid card swipe. I tried walmart money card option, BB option. At first I thought it may because of my serve card. I already requested a new card. The same problem. Usually 60% failed just because of the invalid card swipe. Maybe there is something wrong with the kate. The CS or the regular check out line are both fine. But I really do not want to load too many time at one time. Kate is my favourate. Any suggestion?
Did you ever think that it could be the Kate card reader is faulty? It could work sometimes but not all the time. Obviously you replaced your card and that didn't fix the issue and you were able to load just fine at CS and regular checkout line.
ericdabbs is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2015, 11:35 pm
  #221  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: Asia Miles
Posts: 69
Originally Posted by HGF
I clicked the red cancel button the pin pad and it brought me back to the home screen.
Thanks for the tip. Should I ever encounter the manager approval thing I will try this. I will check the Kates nearby later to see if they have such limits. Last three days I could load way more than $200 at a time at one Kate, just 1 or 2 loads will take care of a 500 vgc. But I will go to another location and see if it works out.

Originally Posted by ericliujian
I have one problem loading serve at walmart kate. After I swipt my serve card, enter the amount. It always says: Invalid card swipe. I tried walmart money card option, BB option. At first I thought it may because of my serve card. I already requested a new card. The same problem. Usually 60% failed just because of the invalid card swipe. Maybe there is something wrong with the kate. The CS or the regular check out line are both fine. But I really do not want to load too many time at one time. Kate is my favourate. Any suggestion?
Might be you didn't position the card well, and didn't swipe the card smoothly. I have had such experiences at Kate and other POS terminals (at other stores - card read error) with my cards. Swiping again generally will work. However, it could be because of the terminal having problems reading the mag stripe.
PlyrStar93 is offline  
Old Jan 20, 2015, 8:00 am
  #222  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
Did you ever think that it could be the Kate card reader is faulty? It could work sometimes but not all the time. Obviously you replaced your card and that didn't fix the issue and you were able to load just fine at CS and regular checkout line.
Yes, I think it may be the kate's card reader. But one strange thing is that the gobank card never have the issue. It is fine everytime. So I am really confused.
ericliujian is offline  
Old Jan 20, 2015, 8:30 am
  #223  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 29
Originally Posted by ericliujian
I have one problem loading serve at walmart kate. After I swipt my serve card, enter the amount. It always says: Invalid card swipe. I tried walmart money card option, BB option. At first I thought it may because of my serve card. I already requested a new card. The same problem. Usually 60% failed just because of the invalid card swipe. Maybe there is something wrong with the kate. The CS or the regular check out line are both fine. But I really do not want to load too many time at one time. Kate is my favourate. Any suggestion?
I've run into this problem a few times this month, and I think the problem is with the speed at which I enter the amount. If I'm trying to load $200 and quickly enter the amount I'll get the invalid card message. If I enter the amount a little slower then it goes through without a problem. It's literally like a second difference in the speed. Kind of odd.
DeathChurch is offline  
Old Jan 20, 2015, 11:19 am
  #224  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 48
Originally Posted by christof
For anyone curious about the Softcard tap to pay promotion that gave $10 Amazon gift cards for every 5 taps… Although there was a limit of 5 cards and 3 gift cards per card, I tried 6 cards.

I did 30 separate 7˘ Softcard transactions thrice (at three different Home Depot locations) on 12/30/2014, a total of $6.30. On 1/19/2015, I received 2 separate Amazon codes: $60 and $90. I never contacted support. I love Softcard!

Check your math: 15 uses per card = $30; 6 cards * $30 = $180

$30 * 5 cards [max] = $150 ($60+ $90).


So you are saying that all your uses were on 12/30/14 and you already received your Amazon Gift cards? I'm still waiting for my balance payout from Nov/Dec spends.
Bryant Leeds is offline  
Old Jan 20, 2015, 1:38 pm
  #225  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JRF
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,784
Anyone get this offer in their e-mail?

Why wait up to 21 days or longer for your refund check to arrive in the mail? From shopping to bill paying, think of all the ways you’ll be able to use your refund if you get it fast as a Direct Deposit to your American Express Serve® Account.

As a valued customer, you’ve been selected to receive a $20 Account credit after your 2014 federal tax refund is added to your American Express Serve Account using Direct Deposit.*

When it’s time to file your taxes, use your Serve Account and Routing numbers to have your refund automatically added to your Account as a one-time Direct Deposit. It’s fast, FREE and easy!

*To receive the $20 statement credit from American Express Serve you must (i) file your 2014 federal tax return by April 15, 2015 and elect to receive your refund on your American Express Serve Account by Direct Deposit, and (ii) receive your refund by May 31, 2015. A qualifying Direct Deposit is an electronic deposit of a 2014 1040 income tax refund directly into your American Express Serve Account. In the case of a joint tax return, the first name and social security number associated with the refund must match the name and social security number on the American Express Serve Account receiving the Direct Deposit. No more than two (2) tax refunds may be added to an American Express Serve Account via Direct Deposit per calendar year. The following do not qualify for the promotion: refund anticipation loans or other similar providers/products, or transfers or load into your American Express Serve Account from any funding source other than a Direct Deposit of a refund received directly from the government. American Express Serve is not responsible for income tax return or refund processing or direct deposit requests that are not honored or otherwise erroneously processed by the Internal Revenue Service, United States Treasury or their agents. Statement credit will be posted to your American Express Serve Account within thirty (30) days of satisfying the above requirements. Limit one (1) $10 credit per American Express Serve Account. Subaccount holders are not eligible to earn a credit. Offer subject to change or cancellation at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer(s). Offer valid only for the primary recipient of this email and shall be void if transferred or fowarded.
msp3 is offline  


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