Jan 7, 2016, 8:18 am
Last edit by: RedSun
This is the 2016 and onwards Bluebird thread.
The original discussion. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread. The previous 2015 megathread.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read the wiki before posting a question.
The most recent huge wave of shutdowns occurred in May 2019.
Most accounts used for MS were shut down on Jan 8, 2016. Another wave of shutdowns occurred on March 4, 2016. Using Bluebird for MS is very likely to lead to account closure. There is no clear pattern as to how to avoid the account shut-downs. Some of the dormant accounts were not shut down.
Check your BB load limits BEFORE asking in this thread about "tender not allowed" or any other errors.
Bluebird website. There's no need to buy a Bluebird kit in-store; sign-up free on the website.
For information on switching from BB to Serve, see the Serve thread wiki.
Bluebird Load Limits:
The cash load limit for a temp card is $1,500 total.
*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. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt. If blocked, call Account Protection Services at 1-800-660-2454 to clear it (9am-8pm EST, Mon-Fri).
The day currently resets around midnight Eastern/11pm Central/10pm Mountain/9pm Pacific.
For online bill pay
Loading with debit card at Walmart
Self checkout does not work for loading.
Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of gift 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. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC again to load with gift cards.
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.
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html for additional information on using prepaid debit cards.
Training a WM cashier:
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.
The original discussion. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread. The previous 2015 megathread.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read the wiki before posting a question.
The most recent huge wave of shutdowns occurred in May 2019.
Most accounts used for MS were shut down on Jan 8, 2016. Another wave of shutdowns occurred on March 4, 2016. Using Bluebird for MS is very likely to lead to account closure. There is no clear pattern as to how to avoid the account shut-downs. Some of the dormant accounts were not shut down.
Check your BB load limits BEFORE asking in this thread about "tender not allowed" or any other errors.
Bluebird website. There's no need to buy a Bluebird kit in-store; sign-up free on the website.
For information on switching from BB to Serve, see the Serve thread wiki.
Bluebird Load Limits:
- Cash loading: $2,500 ($1,999.99 at Walmart) per card per day; $9,000 per day all BB cards combined; $5,000 total per calendar month each card; $10,000 calendar month and $100,000 per year all BB cards combined for each SSN.
- Direct Deposit: $100,000 per year
- Online Debit Card Load* - $200/day and $1,000/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Mobile Check Capture by Ingo® Money - $5,000/day and $10,000/month
- ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
The cash load limit for a temp card is $1,500 total.
*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. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt. If blocked, call Account Protection Services at 1-800-660-2454 to clear it (9am-8pm EST, Mon-Fri).
The day currently resets around midnight Eastern/11pm Central/10pm Mountain/9pm Pacific.
For online bill pay
- You can pay the credit card that you used to buy reloads
- 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
Loading with debit card at Walmart
Self checkout does not work for loading.
Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of gift 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. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC again to load with gift cards.
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.
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html for additional information on using prepaid debit cards.
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.
Bluebird master thread (2016 onwards)
Jul 1, 2021, 6:05 am
#1501
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,433
Thanks for replying, The issue is with my Bluebird Virtual Card. It won't work suddenly for online payments.
Good to know that I can spend my money even my Account gets to freeze, However, this is not the case with mine. I haven't got any message from BB saying Your account is freeze.
I will wait a couple of days to see if the issue is fixed. tbh I'm really shy to call CS as it gives me anxiety. Can you tell me what details they ask when you call so that I can prepare an outline of what to say to them?
Good to know that I can spend my money even my Account gets to freeze, However, this is not the case with mine. I haven't got any message from BB saying Your account is freeze.
I will wait a couple of days to see if the issue is fixed. tbh I'm really shy to call CS as it gives me anxiety. Can you tell me what details they ask when you call so that I can prepare an outline of what to say to them?
See this link for the information about it.
You should be getting or have gotten an actual BB card within 7-10 days of opening your account. Once you get your actual card and activate it, the virtual card becomes inactive.
So, just wait for your physical card and you should be able to use it as permitted by BB. That should include loading it from outside sources, which may or may not include Payonear (which I have no experience with
)
Jul 1, 2021, 8:27 am
#1502
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,433
Loaded at MC 4x$500 USB visas this morning.
Yesterday I loaded visa BB at Customer Service 2x$500 simon visa. I fully expected the 1st simon visa to fail @ CS and had a real debit card at the ready. When it went through I loaded another $500 to BB visa with the same simon visa. Tried $1000 this morning with the USB visas...apparently that is more than the single transaction load limit for the BB visa so had to separate into 2x$500 transaction which worked fine.
Yesterday I loaded visa BB at Customer Service 2x$500 simon visa. I fully expected the 1st simon visa to fail @ CS and had a real debit card at the ready. When it went through I loaded another $500 to BB visa with the same simon visa. Tried $1000 this morning with the USB visas...apparently that is more than the single transaction load limit for the BB visa so had to separate into 2x$500 transaction which worked fine.
I decided to see if I could purchase a $999 MO with a $1000 SGC and was shooed away with a 56 error code denial.
Bottom line....no dice
Jul 1, 2021, 8:55 am
#1503
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
I think card loads are being treated differently.
Jul 1, 2021, 10:06 am
#1504
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
did u have to swipe more than once? and swiped up or down? thx
Jul 1, 2021, 11:49 am
#1505
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,433
Loading at the cashier is not an issue.
My last attempt to load a BB Visa card at the MC/CS was a bust but that was more than 1 month ago.
Maybe things have changed. I will have to try it next week at the CS/MC when it is time to reload my cards. (I was kind of hoping that "other" things had changed but nope)
My last attempt to load a BB Visa card at the MC/CS was a bust but that was more than 1 month ago.
Maybe things have changed. I will have to try it next week at the CS/MC when it is time to reload my cards. (I was kind of hoping that "other" things had changed but nope
)
Jul 1, 2021, 10:24 pm
#1506
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
I need to add one DP for these cards. I knew i could load them at a regular register so i loaded $500 at a regular register with a $1k simon visa first then walked over to CS. That's when i got brave cause i knew i had a good cashier. I swiped up with the same card i used at the regular register right before that. Not sure if it matters but maybe the regular register did something?? Who knows..... I'll have more simon visas tomorrow from orders to test.
Jul 2, 2021, 4:04 pm
#1507
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
I swiped up maybe this was just a fluke?
I need to add one DP for these cards. I knew i could load them at a regular register so i loaded $500 at a regular register with a $1k simon visa first then walked over to CS. That's when i got brave cause i knew i had a good cashier. I swiped up with the same card i used at the regular register right before that. Not sure if it matters but maybe the regular register did something?? Who knows..... I'll have more simon visas tomorrow from orders to test.
I need to add one DP for these cards. I knew i could load them at a regular register so i loaded $500 at a regular register with a $1k simon visa first then walked over to CS. That's when i got brave cause i knew i had a good cashier. I swiped up with the same card i used at the regular register right before that. Not sure if it matters but maybe the regular register did something?? Who knows..... I'll have more simon visas tomorrow from orders to test.
so, off to a grocery store to buy MOs, where this cashier stopped me after just swiping the SM card & asked that it's a gc; showed it then asked her 'what made u think it's a gc?' her reply was ' bc you swiped, all gc doesn't come with a chip'; smiled at her & said 'not true, not all bank DCs come with a chip'; finished swiping to complete the purch then left
Last edited by danhouston; Jul 3, 2021 at 7:07 am
Jul 4, 2021, 1:16 am
#1508
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 4
Quick update: I tried to load my BB at MC with the same exact USB VGC again and they all worked, no error. No idea what went wrong, maybe the registers weren't working well then.
Jul 6, 2021, 3:51 pm
#1509
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
Anybody having issues with Metas? Register rejected a $10 meta load, but had no issues taking a $500 USB.
Jul 7, 2021, 1:39 pm
#1510
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 198
Has anyone tried loading Amex BB in non Walmart locations (CVS,711,etc) for a fee using MCGC/VGC?.
Jul 9, 2021, 5:57 am
#1512
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 198
Originally Posted by RedSun;[url=tel:33388853
33388853[/url]]You should be able to load BB at Dollar General for a fee. Max $500 each load. Vanilla GC and VGC should work. Do not remember about MCGC.
Jul 9, 2021, 7:22 pm
#1513
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,433
I have a terrible feeling that WM has corrected the exception that was present with loading at certain locations.
I will test this next week at a second WM where I have not had issues loading these cards previously.
I have not seen any other DPs other than the above.
Jul 9, 2021, 9:16 pm
#1514
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
Tried loading both my Amex BB and my Go Bank card at the register with a SMVGC $1000 type and both failed with 01 error code.
I have a terrible feeling that WM has corrected the exception that was present with loading at certain locations.
I will test this next week at a second WM where I have not had issues loading these cards previously.
I have not seen any other DPs other than the above.
I have a terrible feeling that WM has corrected the exception that was present with loading at certain locations.
I will test this next week at a second WM where I have not had issues loading these cards previously.
I have not seen any other DPs other than the above.
Jul 10, 2021, 5:34 am
#1515
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,433
Yes, with error code 01. Previously had no problems loading at the cashier.
The store has undergone a huge renovation with almost all of the checkout lanes now self service (50 ss lanes, 2 actual cashiers).
I am going to another working store next week and try again. No renovation at the next one. Will report back. (fingers crossed).
The store has undergone a huge renovation with almost all of the checkout lanes now self service (50 ss lanes, 2 actual cashiers).
I am going to another working store next week and try again. No renovation at the next one. Will report back. (fingers crossed).