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)
Sep 8, 2021, 9:41 pm
#1591
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
I would just advise against too many large grocery store purchases though. I try to use Kroger or places that sell other stuff (home goods) so there's a chance that it's understandable. But even with varying amounts, multiple >$1K purchases at grocers is pretty suspect.
Another thing they look for is going end-to-end on the deposits/debits. So even with varying amounts on the debits, they look at the totality of money in/money out in a cycle.
-b.
Another thing they look for is going end-to-end on the deposits/debits. So even with varying amounts on the debits, they look at the totality of money in/money out in a cycle.
-b.
Sep 13, 2021, 9:39 am
#1593
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
If you are loading new BB visa max load at a given time is $500. I've tried $800, $700 and $1k. None of them went through until I did $500 load to BB visa.
Sep 13, 2021, 10:25 am
#1594
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
if amex bb, the acct may hit its loading cap/limit; if visa's, the single limit is $500 as indicated by rico's reply
Sep 15, 2021, 10:40 am
#1596
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 9
Just got a new BB Visa and was wondering what type of cards work with 500 in one swipe. My only options around me are Meta Visa and Master from Staples and Giant which are limited to 99 per swipe. I am trying to stick with purchasing from 'Office Supply' stores to get the 5x UR and Giant to get 3x gas pts.
Sep 30, 2021, 12:20 pm
#1597
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 63
Loaded a BB Visa yesterday with a $200 VGC. Checked account online, the funds are available, but details on the transaction say the status is still "Pending". Any idea how long it will stay pending?
Sep 30, 2021, 3:53 pm
#1598
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
Just got a new BB Visa and was wondering what type of cards work with 500 in one swipe. My only options around me are Meta Visa and Master from Staples and Giant which are limited to 99 per swipe. I am trying to stick with purchasing from 'Office Supply' stores to get the 5x UR and Giant to get 3x gas pts.
Both Staples and OM cards are Metas, so unless you can load at a cashier, you are basically limited to $99/swipe. If multiple $99 deposits aren't a huge hunk of cheese to the Amex rats, nothing is
I have no idea what Giant sells since there are none where I reside, but if they are also Metas, you have the same problem.
Just remember that Amex does not let it's victims out of purgatory once they are relegated there, so care is necessary in dealing with BB
Sep 30, 2021, 6:41 pm
#1599
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 63
I am not certain that you have much in the way of options.
Both Staples and OM cards are Metas, so unless you can load at a cashier, you are basically limited to $99/swipe. If multiple $99 deposits aren't a huge hunk of cheese to the Amex rats, nothing is
I have no idea what Giant sells since there are none where I reside, but if they are also Metas, you have the same problem.
Just remember that Amex does not let it's victims out of purgatory once they are relegated there, so care is necessary in dealing with BB
Both Staples and OM cards are Metas, so unless you can load at a cashier, you are basically limited to $99/swipe. If multiple $99 deposits aren't a huge hunk of cheese to the Amex rats, nothing is
I have no idea what Giant sells since there are none where I reside, but if they are also Metas, you have the same problem.
Just remember that Amex does not let it's victims out of purgatory once they are relegated there, so care is necessary in dealing with BB
Oct 1, 2021, 5:35 am
#1601
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
OP says they have a BB Visa. AMEX sold Bluebird, Serve, etc. to InComm in 2017 https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amex-...-agc-means-us/
Amex sells off prepaid business – sort of
my bolding
"American Express is selling its prepaid card technology to prepaid card firm InComm Holdings for an undisclosed amount in a deal that's expected to close in early 2018, according to Bloomberg.
The deal, which covers Amex’s Serve and Bluebird prepaid offerings, as well as gift cards, B2B rewards, tax disbursements, and reloadable cards, follows Amex’s move away from prepaid when it shut down segments of the business last year.
This is a win-win for Amex, because it allows it to reap the gains of prepaid cards without facing the costs.
Amex will remain the network and issuer for transactions on these cards. InComm will handle balances for the card, maintaining what people keep on file and subtracting funds upon purchase, according to Bloomberg, as well as managing all distribution and customer service. But Amex is still handling the payment rails, which means it will likely profit from interchange fees and other spending-associated revenues."
What this means is that the rats are still playfully romping around, and chewing wherever they please.
I know that I was banned in 2016, was able to sneak back for 1 card in in 2019, probably when the InComm shift was happening, and again unable to sign up for anything since.
If the theoretical 7 year ban rule applies, I should be good to go sometime in 2022. Until then, my one BB account is closely husbanded, to say the least
Oct 1, 2021, 7:38 am
#1602
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 9
I usually load my Metas at the MC. I tried 100 at the cashier a few months ago with no luck. Have you had any success swiping Metas >99 at the cashier?
Oct 1, 2021, 8:38 am
#1603
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
Oct 1, 2021, 9:53 am
#1604
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 41
What's the status of loading either BB Amex or Visa with the Vanillas that Safeway/Albertsons has now? My store hasn't quite stocked them yet so I can't try it out myself