GTK. I wasn't advocating buying VGCs at all, as that would increase the cost significantly. Just thinking if the only goal is min spend, it would be far easier to do that via Square (using the card itself) than to drive 100 miles to a store.

I signed up for one of the new Serve cards and was charged $3.74 to load $500. Should I switch my card to the green one for no-fee loading?

Yes.

you have to remember that if you swipe your CC or someone in your HH with a different name but same address, this will also be flagged. I've read many were shutdown and told via emails they were swiping their own CCs which goes against their T&C.

If one has friends/families they can swipe their CCs on each other's Square accounts, maybe...just maybe they won't easily catch that.

Thanks. Didn't realize it violated their ToS, though that makes sense. I wasn't trying to advocate something against their rules; it just seemed logical and unlikely to trigger and major concerns of only being done for $1-$3k min spend over three months.

do you like to pay the monthly maintenance fee? unless you're a resident of NY,TX or VT or you're fine with paying maintenance fee, then go ahead and switch to green S.

if you'd rather not pay fees, register for OneVIP online.

OneVIP question: has anyone withdrawn at a regular ATM at Walmart? The Walmart by me says there is an operator charge of $1.50. Is this something that generally gets waived or stuck paying it? I will use a regular bank account if that is a hard charge based on the ATM operator. There is nothing in the wiki about the OneVIP ATM charges. The OneVIP sight appears to say there may be operator charges and I am wanting to determine if the fee is likely to be waived or not.

On the serve website there is a link of their fee free ATMs

I want to say there are something like 24k. Is walmart on the list?

Folks, as promised, I wanted to share my data point regarding whether Serve still counts towards min spend in light of some recent posts.

Was approved for AMEX Card in early October. Did 5 loads at Serve totaling $1,000, no other spend, and the points have posted. And this is an AMEX AMEX card that posts MR.

IINM, WM Kates have the MoneyPass stickers and it is free to w/d Serve/BB/other prepaids at MoneyPass. I did a trial w/d from Serve one time but saw the message that x.xx fee (can't remember exact fee) was being charged so I cancelled transaction. I just do all my atm w/d at nearby USB atms for free.

Chelski, smarter people than I can answer you re ATM (mamibear)

I will add I thought I remembered seeing data points that frequent ATM WD are frowned upon.

Use the Serve ATM locator. Some WMTs (the ones with Kate) do qualify, but others do not. Many typically find it easier to use a participating credit union ATM with higher withdrawal limits (so you don't have to do multiple transactions to get to $750).

Thanks al for your responses. It appears MoneyPass (Kate's) are ok but other basic ATMs at WM may have an operator charge.

I was only looking to withdraw because I need to get some cash and was already in WM so I figured I'd make it easy but saw the fee and cancelled. I usually just pay CCs or billpay misc items such as HOA/fees.

New terms for Serve-Softcard accounts effective 1/6/16
 

Hello xxxxxxx,

We are writing to let you know about the following changes we are making to your American Express Serve Softcard Account:

New Monthly Fee & Fee Waiver
Starting on January 6, 2016, there will be a $4.95 Monthly Fee for your American Express Serve Softcard Account. This fee will be waived if you Direct Deposit money onto your Account during a monthly statement period.

Early Direct Deposit
Early Direct Deposit is now available for your American Express Serve Softcard Account. Early Direct Deposit allows you to get your paycheck or government benefits up to 2 days before payday1.

Click here to access your American Express Serve Softcard Account. If you have any questions, our Customer Care team is here to assist you 24/7.


Thank you,

The American Express Serve Team xxxxxxxx

:( the only thing constant is change.

We know the Serve load would count for meeting spend requirement to earn INITIAL sign up bonus.

So far there is no success report on Serve load would earn SPEND Points, or meet Spend Threshold (OBC) or qualified for earning EQMs (DL Plat).

So Exactly what you earned? If it is sign up bonus, that is not a news. If it is for spending bonus, then it is something new. Kindly give some clarification so your post would provide real information?

Is the max $2,500 for loads a month at walmart kiosks with $1,000 max a day with the oneVIP?

Max per transaction is $1000.

Max per day is $2500.

Max per month is $5000.

This applies to both kiosks and cashiers.

So for those transitioning from Target's Red Card, basically the SAME THING

you can't split the transaction though using KATE, correct?

can you split the transaction thru a cashier though?

No splitting at the kiosk.

You can use up to four card swipes at a cashier. That includes the Serve card itself. That means you can do three debit cards at once.

Time is your enemy at Kate so you don't want to do anything that would speed the process up.

as mentioned, you can split tender using up to 3 DCs max. tell cashier full amount you want to load. let's say $500. they key in this amount, you press yes to confirm before you start swiping your DCs. Before swiping first card, tell them how much on DC#1, say $250, they key in this amount before you swipe your DC, enter PIN, no CB, Approved. tell cashier how much on DC#2, say $200, they key it in again before you swipe DC#2, wait till Approved flashes and the remaining balance of $50 will be paid by DC#3. Approved. Receipt prints for $500 load with amounts from each DC recorded separately so you can track what amount was taken from which DC.

Thank you. I was able to change the funding card :)

Happy you're out of touch with recent happenings. Several people, across various sites, have reported that their serve loads were NOT counting towards initial min spend. In fact, the terms listed under AMEX CC do state that the reloading of a prepaid card will NOT count towards meeting initial spend. So when people post that their SERVE loads are NOT earning initial spend sign up bonuses, it makes sense.

I'm telling you and others, that in my case the SERVE loads DID count for my initial spend bonus. Make sense?

All Walgreen ATMs machines (navy federal) are fee free. the screen says you will be charged but it's waived. I withdraw money every month no issues at all

Where is there a report of it not qualifying for minimum spend?

Which card, though? It wasn't clear from your post...

Green Card, hence why I said AMEX AMEX

I saw plenty of posts at Reddit from users claiming that their SERVE loads were not counting towards initial spend bonus.

Gotcha. Wasn't aware that's what it referred to.

All of the in house AMEX cards Green, Gold, Premier, Plat, Blue Cash, EDP, etc. are AMEX AMEX. Something like Fidelity AMEX would be non Amex Amex.

Oh OK that I understand. What cards were at issue in other cases? I only recall one from this board...maybe a delta card or something?

Sorry for newb question.

Been researching MS for a while in preparation for trying it out. Have a OneVIP on the way. Plan to buy GC and load at FD for the most part. Maybe KATE if I know I will be near one (none near where I live).

My question is about online loading. Know that online loads are for for amex only that they do not necessarily count towards min spend but might.

What about amex gifts cards? Can they be loaded online?

NO

in case you will ask what about in-store? NO

Thanks for your response. I have some debit cards that will show a fee but the bank/CU clearly states they will be waived at certain locations. I will have to try Walgreens sometime. I wonder if the 7-11s would work the same way that NF lists.

Thanks.

Didn't figure they would be, that would just be too easy...

AMEX AMEX were in question. Non-AMEX AMEX have never been in doubt and many still earn spend points as well.

Not that many, and it looks to have been limited to maybe a brief period in September.

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/co...gger/?sort=new

Yes, this is great news :-) I found my new redbird

I got the same thing. Look is Serve is a little strict now.