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)
Mar 30, 2023, 8:52 am
#1921
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
Has anyone seen whether this is going to affect Serve loading at WM as well?
Mar 30, 2023, 9:05 am
#1922
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 405
Wonder if "debit reload" is treated as cash or not? Will have wait until 7/1 to see.
Mar 30, 2023, 9:31 am
#1923
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 41
So, I load at FD, but to date the only card I could load at FD was my Serve card. When I tried to load a BBVisa card, I got charged a fee.
The loading method is that they have to swipe on their cash register a specific barcode for Serve and then you swipe your card in the credit card reader. This is how they determine whether you are charged for a load or not.
This will not affect me at all since I dwell in the really really rural Midwest where FDs are considered a grocery store
There were some disturbing DPs out there that said that FD or DG stores limited the number of absolute loads a store could do in a day.........like one!!
So it will be interesting to see if those DPs are actually real. Will have to wait and see
The loading method is that they have to swipe on their cash register a specific barcode for Serve and then you swipe your card in the credit card reader. This is how they determine whether you are charged for a load or not.
This will not affect me at all since I dwell in the really really rural Midwest where FDs are considered a grocery store
There were some disturbing DPs out there that said that FD or DG stores limited the number of absolute loads a store could do in a day.........like one!!
So it will be interesting to see if those DPs are actually real. Will have to wait and see
Mar 30, 2023, 9:59 am
#1924
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 483
Yes, prior to today one had to pay a loading fee. This apparently will change today, and you will be able to load BB fee free at FD. I presume that both varieties of BB will be fee free but we will need DPs to confirm that.
Has anyone seen whether this is going to affect Serve loading at WM as well?
Has anyone seen whether this is going to affect Serve loading at WM as well?
Mar 30, 2023, 10:17 am
#1925
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 66
Any DP's on multi swipe at FD for BB? No problem with serve
Mar 30, 2023, 11:28 am
#1926
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
FD's are not WMs. Usually the staff is more stable, the store much smaller so it is harder to avoid the recalcitrant cashier, and there are lots of DPs out there of the staff controlling the amount of business one can do with them.
I suspect that if you are doing an occasional load of $200-500 then there will be no issue. However, multiple visits with multiple loads or swipes may be looked on askance by staff. Will just have to wait and see how all this plays out.
However, definitely a negative for using BB as an MSing device especially if one were using it heavily.
I suspect that if you are doing an occasional load of $200-500 then there will be no issue. However, multiple visits with multiple loads or swipes may be looked on askance by staff. Will just have to wait and see how all this plays out.
However, definitely a negative for using BB as an MSing device especially if one were using it heavily.
Mar 30, 2023, 11:30 am
#1927
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
But you're right, nothing mentioned about Serve..........yet
:
Mar 30, 2023, 11:43 am
#1928
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 66
$500 no problem with Bluebird at FD. Tried a 3rd location and was told they can't take debit for a while because someone scammed them out of $2k....who knows
Mar 30, 2023, 1:02 pm
#1930
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
Mar 30, 2023, 3:43 pm
#1931
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 41
Just got the same email for my Amex BB so looks like both versions are affected
Mar 30, 2023, 3:47 pm
#1932
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 405
Just did a test run at one of the FD close to work. The cashier straight out asking for cash. Guessing that specific location is a no go.
Mar 30, 2023, 5:05 pm
#1933
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
That's going to be the problem with FD. Single cashiers who basically will control how much you can do and with what as well.
It is obvious that one can burn a FD quite easily by either doing too much, being too creepy or just rubbing the almost always elderly female cashier (at leasst in my neck of the woods) the wrong way.
This is far different and worse than WM, IMO.
Mar 30, 2023, 5:19 pm
#1934
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 405
Yup
That's going to be the problem with FD. Single cashiers who basically will control how much you can do and with what as well.
It is obvious that one can burn a FD quite easily by either doing too much, being too creepy or just rubbing the almost always elderly female cashier (at leasst in my neck of the woods) the wrong way.
This is far different and worse than WM, IMO.
That's going to be the problem with FD. Single cashiers who basically will control how much you can do and with what as well.
It is obvious that one can burn a FD quite easily by either doing too much, being too creepy or just rubbing the almost always elderly female cashier (at leasst in my neck of the woods) the wrong way.
This is far different and worse than WM, IMO.
Mar 30, 2023, 5:29 pm
#1935
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JRF
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,784
You can load with 4 swipes including the first Bluebird swipe, up to $1999 per transaction. The real question is how on earth are you still getting Simon 1k cards to work even at cashier?