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Serve - Another Paypal/Amazon payments (2015)

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)

Old Jul 8, 2015, 8:47 am
  #1711  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: America!
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist Caesars Wyndham Diamond, MGM Gold
Posts: 248
I had to remove my Citi card linked to my soft card serve account... I am trying to add my discover credit card and I keep getting the following error...

"Due to technical difficulties we are unable to process your request at the moment. Please try again at a later time. We apologize for the inconvenience."

I called customer service and spoke to someone at technical support and he tried to manually add it.. And he says that the system is giving a error message that only Amex is allowed (which is not true for soft card serve I guess).. Any suggestions on what to do? Account has no issues and he is kind of clueless as well after I explained that it shows all (visa, mc, disc, amex) logos in the link CC page.. HUCA?
sowhatwegetdrunk is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2015, 11:02 am
  #1712  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 644
Does anybody know if 5K cash load limit per month on serve is a hard limit or if I can load 5k cash and use some of it and then load the difference back on the card with cash within the same month?
Stivelio is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2015, 11:46 am
  #1713  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Lifetime Platinum, MR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 249
Originally Posted by Ranjeetv
Does anybody know if 5K cash load limit per month on serve is a hard limit or if I can load 5k cash and use some of it and then load the difference back on the card with cash within the same month?

$5k month max via cash or DC (GC)
kenme1 is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2015, 3:15 pm
  #1714  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 72
Noob question here after reading the wiki......so only AMEX network cards earn points/miles when using it to load a serve account?

Cards issued directly from AMEX do not earn points/miles, but the serve loads count towards minimum spend?

I'm trying to figure out a way to earn points/miles when paying my car lease every month, if anyone can clarify this for me, or have any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks in advance.
mtrsprt56 is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2015, 3:28 pm
  #1715  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 66
What is the web address for uploading card verification info? And if adding a new card to (Soft)Serve what is best info to send to "head off" a phone in verification? Scan of Credit card and DL only?
MisterEdF is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2015, 3:45 pm
  #1716  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Lifetime Platinum, MR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 249
Originally Posted by mtrsprt56
Noob question here after reading the wiki......so only AMEX network cards earn points/miles when using it to load a serve account?

Cards issued directly from AMEX do not earn points/miles, but the serve loads count towards minimum spend?

I'm trying to figure out a way to earn points/miles when paying my car lease every month, if anyone can clarify this for me, or have any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks in advance.
Load Serve with CG you purchase then pay car lease through Serve.
kenme1 is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2015, 4:32 pm
  #1717  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 72
Originally Posted by kenme1
Load Serve with CG you purchase then pay car lease through Serve.
Do you mean GC? From the wiki I thought you can't load serve with a GC because the account gets flagged? Or are you suggesting I purchase an AMEX GC which can be used to load serve and not get flagged?
mtrsprt56 is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 3:34 am
  #1718  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 51
Originally Posted by sowhatwegetdrunk
I had to remove my Citi card linked to my soft card serve account... I am trying to add my discover credit card and I keep getting the following error...

"Due to technical difficulties we are unable to process your request at the moment. Please try again at a later time. We apologize for the inconvenience."

I called customer service and spoke to someone at technical support and he tried to manually add it.. And he says that the system is giving a error message that only Amex is allowed (which is not true for soft card serve I guess).. Any suggestions on what to do? Account has no issues and he is kind of clueless as well after I explained that it shows all (visa, mc, disc, amex) logos in the link CC page.. HUCA?
I've been getting the same message since yesterday:
"Technical Difficulties
Due to technical difficulties we are unable to process your request at the moment. Please try again.
We apologize for the inconvenience."

It comes up when I try to Add Money after I click the Review button on three different accounts. Have tried different browsers and the app version, but the same message appears.

I am also getting this message:
"Please enter a valid transaction amount (ex. $XX.XX)."
whenever I click the Review button on the Send Money option.
(and yes, I am entering a valid amount!)

Slightly worrying that I can't seem to do anything within any of our accounts at the moment - is it related to the various glitches that affected NYSE and United Airlines yesterday, I wonder?
dickieducker is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 3:42 am
  #1719  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 51
Oh, and I am getting:
"Please enter a payment amount of $1.00 or more.
Please enter a valid payment amount (ex $XX.XX)."
if I press Review when try to pay a bill.

So I can't even access my money that way.

Maybe I shouldn't have changed my profile to an address in Greece...


(that last bit was a joke, in case some bright spark suggests that this might be the solution to the problem...)
dickieducker is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 3:59 am
  #1720  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: EWR-SEA-IAD
Programs: UA 1P MM, AS MVP G*, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 977
Finally happy to have a steady source of $500 visa GCs to use for MS. Fees are $3.95 but that's cheaper than most (and easier than Amex GCs), and when I swipe at WM it asks me straight for the PIN. no having to quickly press change payment buttons for me anymore! Yah! Plus my name is embossed on each, now they can't give me hassle over that either...

Not trying to brag, just happy finally to have a (hopefully) stable source here in WA.
HGHUA is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 8:13 am
  #1721  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: AA PLT, AS 75K, DL DM, HY Globalist, HH Diamond, MC/RZ/SW Platinum, AB/UA Silver, WN CP
Posts: 1,122
Originally Posted by HGHUA
Finally happy to have a steady source of $500 visa GCs to use for MS. Fees are $3.95 but that's cheaper than most (and easier than Amex GCs), and when I swipe at WM it asks me straight for the PIN. no having to quickly press change payment buttons for me anymore! Yah! Plus my name is embossed on each, now they can't give me hassle over that either...

Not trying to brag, just happy finally to have a (hopefully) stable source here in WA.
Excellent! Do they also sell through the mail?
Carl is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 8:59 am
  #1722  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,782
Originally Posted by dickieducker
Oh, and I am getting:
"Please enter a payment amount of $1.00 or more.
Please enter a valid payment amount (ex $XX.XX)."
if I press Review when try to pay a bill.

So I can't even access my money that way.

Maybe I shouldn't have changed my profile to an address in Greece...


(that last bit was a joke, in case some bright spark suggests that this might be the solution to the problem...)
I was just able to successfully add $500 with my linked non-Amex credit card to my softserve. I linked this card last week. I also did a test bill payment just now without issue.
lkar is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 9:27 am
  #1723  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 66
Originally Posted by HGHUA
Finally happy to have a steady source of $500 visa GCs to use for MS. Fees are $3.95 but that's cheaper than most (and easier than Amex GCs), and when I swipe at WM it asks me straight for the PIN. no having to quickly press change payment buttons for me anymore! Yah! Plus my name is embossed on each, now they can't give me hassle over that either...

Not trying to brag, just happy finally to have a (hopefully) stable source here in WA.
Originally Posted by Carl
Excellent! Do they also sell through the mail?
Doesn't Giftcardmall.com do that? VGC with embossed name & pin?
MisterEdF is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 9:46 am
  #1724  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: AA PLT, AS 75K, DL DM, HY Globalist, HH Diamond, MC/RZ/SW Platinum, AB/UA Silver, WN CP
Posts: 1,122
Originally Posted by MisterEdF
Doesn't Giftcardmall.com do that? VGC with embossed name & pin?
Thanks for the reference! Very good to know about that option in the event stores (as opposed to individual workers) start refusing generic cards altogether. These are pretty pricey at $5.95 ea, but that may not be a bad deal for folks without easy access to $3.95 ones. Per the FAQ, they do not offer embossed cards, but they are printed with the desired recipient's name (the printing is just flat, whatever that's called, so the cards can only be swiped).

EDIT: just looked at the site again and realized these are $250 max. Definitely a terrible deal.

Last edited by Carl; Jul 9, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Carl is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2015, 1:57 pm
  #1725  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 321
Didn't see this in the wiki - can I buy a Temp Serve card with CC and if so where? If not, can I use a GC (DC) and where? If "no" to both of these, do I just sign up online and then do the reload thing?
DVDBob is offline  

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