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.
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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)
Jan 17, 2016, 12:02 pm
#151
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 827
Closing the account requires effort with no perceivable payoff, so no, I will not be closing mine.
Jan 17, 2016, 12:06 pm
#152
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
The only possible payoff (which is far from certain) is if there is a date from which they will allow you to open another card (e.g. 30 days from closing). I closed my accounts for this reason, as keeping them open didn't seem to have an upside either. I don't really expect to gain anything, but the effort was pretty minimal.
Jan 17, 2016, 12:17 pm
#153
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
The only possible payoff (which is far from certain) is if there is a date from which they will allow you to open another card (e.g. 30 days from closing). I closed my accounts for this reason, as keeping them open didn't seem to have an upside either. I don't really expect to gain anything, but the effort was pretty minimal.
In the mean time, I will keep my BB open mainly because I will be spending down to the last $1 to $2 and then there will be nothing to spend that remaining sum on. So it will sit. And Amex will have to maintain the account, which will cost them money. Until they can legally escheat the money to the state. By that time I will not care. The state can have the dollar.
It will be worth it to me.
Jan 17, 2016, 12:18 pm
#154
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 827
I highly doubt that they will be letting anyone labeled with the moniker "unusual account activity" open another account 30 days or 30 weeks after closing the original. However, I will keep my eyes open in case I am wrong. And if I am, I will close my account.
In the mean time, I will keep my BB open mainly because I will be spending down to the last $1 to $2 and then there will be nothing to spend that remaining sum on. So it will sit. And Amex will have to maintain the account, which will cost them money. Until they can legally escheat the money to the state. By that time I will not care. The state can have the dollar.
It will be worth it to me.
In the mean time, I will keep my BB open mainly because I will be spending down to the last $1 to $2 and then there will be nothing to spend that remaining sum on. So it will sit. And Amex will have to maintain the account, which will cost them money. Until they can legally escheat the money to the state. By that time I will not care. The state can have the dollar.
It will be worth it to me.
Jan 18, 2016, 3:05 am
#155
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 148
I still have some money in my Serve VIP account. I will transfer $10 a month to keep from getting the monthly fee. Maybe they will lift the ban in the future.
Jan 18, 2016, 7:34 am
#156
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
What's the point of being vindictive? If I had a customer that was unprofitable, I'd dump them too. All things considered, they handled this with a fairly light touch. They could have hit most of us much harder if they chose to do so.
Jan 18, 2016, 8:35 am
#157
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 827
Jan 18, 2016, 8:47 am
#158
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
They will charge the monthly fees, deplete your account and then close it for you.
Jan 18, 2016, 8:52 am
#160
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: AZ
Posts: 250
Yeah, they could have hired PayPal to handle the shutdowns.
Jan 19, 2016, 12:51 am
#162
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
Bluebird(2016) [Many closures on Jan 8]
Anyone see or hear of any reports on social media or personal finance sites about people being shut down on Bluebird and having no idea what MS is.
Curious if any of the products targeted customers were hurt by the recent news.
Curious if any of the products targeted customers were hurt by the recent news.
Jan 19, 2016, 12:07 pm
#165
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 42
Have there been any additional shutdowns after the 1/8 purge? I have one still open and am going to continue my usual activities until they stop allowing deposits.