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 29, 2022, 10:21 am
#1818
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,443
Sep 29, 2022, 1:39 pm
#1820
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 108
On $200 VGC from Staples, I would have debit not available error code 01 quite often. On this $500 VVGC, no errors so far.
Oct 7, 2022, 1:39 pm
#1821
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 198
Bought $500 VVGC with bin 40975810 and tried to load at WM today (CS) and it just went to process straight as credit and declined. Cancel trick also no go. Did something change recently?.
Edit: Just noticed that the card is issued by Pathward. Never heard of it before.
Edit: Just noticed that the card is issued by Pathward. Never heard of it before.
Oct 8, 2022, 6:26 am
#1822
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,443
I suspect that something gets fouled up in the transmission of data and the bank rejects it.
Probably why WM is replacing their hardware.
Oct 8, 2022, 9:02 am
#1823
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 198
WM can be wonky with its machines. Yesterday I loaded a AmexBB with a Staples $200 card and it required three attempts to get it to work. The first two times I got a #1 reject code. However, the cashier and I know each other and have had this happen before and the third time was the charm.
I suspect that something gets fouled up in the transmission of data and the bank rejects it.
Probably why WM is replacing their hardware.
I suspect that something gets fouled up in the transmission of data and the bank rejects it.
Probably why WM is replacing their hardware.
Oct 11, 2022, 12:53 am
#1824
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 47
in general, do VGCs work lot more smoother than MCGCs (issued by MetaBank) for BBAm loads ? I had tried BBAm load of a $200 Staples MCGC issued by MetaBank at WM a few weeks back and didn't work at 3 WMs.
Oct 13, 2022, 6:10 am
#1825
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
WM can be wonky with its machines. Yesterday I loaded a AmexBB with a Staples $200 card and it required three attempts to get it to work. The first two times I got a #1 reject code. However, the cashier and I know each other and have had this happen before and the third time was the charm.
I suspect that something gets fouled up in the transmission of data and the bank rejects it.
Probably why WM is replacing their hardware.
I suspect that something gets fouled up in the transmission of data and the bank rejects it.
Probably why WM is replacing their hardware.
I think its tech related. My theory is the Staples VGC have a banned BIN (at the MC) so there are extra checks to run before it allows the BB load at the normal checkout. If this times out before the card is cleared, you get the error. Usually it will work on second attempt but sometimes you can go 3x or even 4x before it clears.
I eventually gave up on this route as my WM has mostly moved to self-checkout so there are always +10min lines at the remaining manned checkout. Just not worth it especially when there is no guarantee of success, CSR says go to MC or else get the errors. Some CSR start to freak out especially if you get to 3x swipes
Nov 7, 2022, 10:41 am
#1826
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 3
New to BB. Loaded $100 (for testing purposes) of variable VGC from Lidl (MB, 43588085 BIN) at Wally electronics department. Would appreciate here or a DM about how to pay off Amex BCP with it. Tried Paypal BP, but no dice. Also worried about shutdown with pulling from ATM. Any info would be appreciated.
Nov 8, 2022, 9:43 am
#1827
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 55
New to BB. Loaded $100 (for testing purposes) of variable VGC from Lidl (MB, 43588085 BIN) at Wally electronics department. Would appreciate here or a DM about how to pay off Amex BCP with it. Tried Paypal BP, but no dice. Also worried about shutdown with pulling from ATM. Any info would be appreciated.
Nov 8, 2022, 10:06 am
#1828
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 3
Thats what it is looking like. Any idea on limits to stay under the radar? I'm trying to mix in organic spend with some low value atm withdrawals and keep the volume going through low-ish and diverse. Cheers!
Nov 10, 2022, 8:43 am
#1829
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 1
Any update on this? I am in the same boat with >$5,000 in pending ACH transactions. Mine are only 4 days old though, but still unusual.
Nov 12, 2022, 5:44 am
#1830
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 1
2nd bb
How does one go about getting a 2nd or even 3rd BB? How many can you have? The load limit is 5k per month per BB and 10k overall right? So would it be better to have multiple and load small amounts per month or max out two. Two get a second BB can, can I do it online? Or do I have to get a card in store for a fee and add it to my existing BB account?