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)
Feb 19, 2023, 4:39 pm
#1891
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 47
I've loaded some money to BB recently and looking to avoid shutdown. instead of transferring to bank, can I start making small withdrawals (<$100) at ATMs and then depositing them in my bank account ?
I can link my bank acct to BB, but I'm a little scared that this is the way people start getting shutdown (they were immediately transferring money out). I'm not a heavy user, I have less than $1k the BB acct.
If I link bank acct, would small random amount transfers fare better ?
I can link my bank acct to BB, but I'm a little scared that this is the way people start getting shutdown (they were immediately transferring money out). I'm not a heavy user, I have less than $1k the BB acct.
If I link bank acct, would small random amount transfers fare better ?
Feb 20, 2023, 7:59 am
#1892
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,445
I've loaded some money to BB recently and looking to avoid shutdown. instead of transferring to bank, can I start making small withdrawals (<$100) at ATMs and then depositing them in my bank account ?
I can link my bank acct to BB, but I'm a little scared that this is the way people start getting shutdown (they were immediately transferring money out). I'm not a heavy user, I have less than $1k the BB acct.
If I link bank acct, would small random amount transfers fare better ?
I can link my bank acct to BB, but I'm a little scared that this is the way people start getting shutdown (they were immediately transferring money out). I'm not a heavy user, I have less than $1k the BB acct.
If I link bank acct, would small random amount transfers fare better ?
How many of those people would use an ATM to withdraw small amounts of money. I would wager that would be most of them.
How many of these people would have a second bank account where they would be transferring money. i would wager not many.
Who would the Rats look at? A customer performing small ATM withdrawals or one doing routine ACH withdrawals of recently deposited funds to a personal account at another banking institution?
Just remember that banning from BB appears at this time to be a lifetime event. Your choice
Feb 20, 2023, 9:35 am
#1893
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 108
I've loaded some money to BB recently and looking to avoid shutdown. instead of transferring to bank, can I start making small withdrawals (<$100) at ATMs and then depositing them in my bank account ?
I can link my bank acct to BB, but I'm a little scared that this is the way people start getting shutdown (they were immediately transferring money out). I'm not a heavy user, I have less than $1k the BB acct.
If I link bank acct, would small random amount transfers fare better ?
I can link my bank acct to BB, but I'm a little scared that this is the way people start getting shutdown (they were immediately transferring money out). I'm not a heavy user, I have less than $1k the BB acct.
If I link bank acct, would small random amount transfers fare better ?
In general, have a clear plan of how the money will be used before loading the card. Avoid withdrawals, bank transfers, person payment, etc.
Feb 24, 2023, 5:59 pm
#1894
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 828
For those of us who are shut down by serve, is there anyone successful in buying the serve card in a store and then activating it as opposed to trying to sign online?
Feb 24, 2023, 6:36 pm
#1895
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,445
There are no DPs because there is no success no matter what method you use, but, as always, give it a try if you wish and be that DP
Mar 16, 2023, 10:10 am
#1896
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 108
I paid my mortgage via AmBB Bill Pay service. I have been doing this for last 2 yrs and it has worked well. My last payment hasn't been received by the bank. 40+ days now. How long should I wait b4 reaching out to AmBB for the possibly lost payment in the mail? Is the check valid for 90 or 120 days? It hasn't been cashed so just assuming lost in the mail. Can I ask them to simply put a stop payment and resend a new check? Any other suggestions? Thanks
Last edited by kpe; Mar 16, 2023 at 10:18 am
Mar 16, 2023, 10:49 am
#1897
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 405
I paid my mortgage via AmBB Bill Pay service. I have been doing this for last 2 yrs and it has worked well. My last payment hasn't been received by the bank. 40+ days now. How long should I wait b4 reaching out to AmBB for the possibly lost payment in the mail? Is the check valid for 90 or 120 days? It hasn't been cashed so just assuming lost in the mail. Can I ask them to simply put a stop payment and resend a new check? Any other suggestions? Thanks
Mar 16, 2023, 11:33 am
#1899
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 405
Thanks for the information. I saw the routing and account number; therefore, assuming I could use it to pay bills. Guessing visaBB will be the main one to use to pay bills.
Mar 16, 2023, 11:34 am
#1900
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 41
Any DPs on successfully doing a mobile deposit of MO to either Amex or Visa BB account through the app? I'm hesitant to be the DP myself as I don't want to risk an auto shutdown
Mar 16, 2023, 5:14 pm
#1901
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,445
To me this means that it probably has been tried and failed but unreported. I do not think that attempting a single MO deposit will cause any harm to your BB account, especially if it is declined.
Mar 20, 2023, 1:08 pm
#1902
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 2
I went today to wallmart with yellow gifrcard from office depo and this is second card that i got error code 56.
idk what is happening but seems i can't load it to bluebird.
idk what is happening but seems i can't load it to bluebird.
Mar 20, 2023, 1:25 pm
#1904
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 71
If you failed at MC try regular cashier next.
Mar 20, 2023, 3:05 pm
#1905
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,445
At a cashier, you should be able to deposit all $200 into the BB account with a single swipe.