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)
May 5, 2023, 5:01 pm
#1981
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 184
what are $ limit above which you should not attempt to load in one transection form GC? are there different limits for different GC?
I have asked same question in Serve thread as well.
I have asked same question in Serve thread as well.
May 6, 2023, 4:36 pm
#1982
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 519
Once a while I load visa GC to my AmexBB at WM to satisfy spending requirements of new credit card but a few years back my other family member’s AmexBB card was restricted for a new load. I was able to send money from my account to the other account until last year but now I can’t. Someone mentioned in this thread there is Visa BB also, how can I open and request visa account. Would that be new login? Would I be able to load new money to a new visa BB account?
May 6, 2023, 8:04 pm
#1983
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,692
Once a while I load visa GC to my AmexBB at WM to satisfy spending requirements of new credit card but a few years back my other family member’s AmexBB card was restricted for a new load. I was able to send money from my account to the other account until last year but now I can’t. Someone mentioned in this thread there is Visa BB also, how can I open and request visa account. Would that be new login? Would I be able to load new money to a new visa BB account?
May 7, 2023, 5:50 pm
#1984
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Bluebird AMEX vs VISA
Prepaid AMEX BB and Bluebird Bank accounts from Pathward, that issues debit VISA cards -- are both marketed from the same website. I don't think there's enough clarity on the differences between the two. Can Pathward accounts be funded by prepaid cards?
More broadly, are Pathward accounts useful for MS?
More broadly, are Pathward accounts useful for MS?
May 9, 2023, 10:45 am
#1985
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 108
I wonder if there are different steps or different order of steps (depending on the cashier) for loading AmBB at Wally? All transactions (3 of them) had error code 1 twice and the 3rd attempt was successful. This was at a regular terminal. The friendly was cashier was on vacation. Yesterday, the friendly cashier came back and I did 5 transactions (200 to AmBB using Staples MB VGC per transaction) and no errors at all. What gives? Just finicky POS system? Or something else? Thx
May 10, 2023, 1:59 pm
#1987
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 10
So, I'm new to this whole churning game, and I made my first couple of attempts to load my BB at WM. I tried to do it at the register, since I was too cowardly to do it at the MC where I might find a knowledgeable cashier that would call me out. It's sort of pathetic how nervous I was, and I kept hearing "Bad boys bad boys, whatcha gonna do" running through my head. Lol. So, none of the three cashiers I tried actually had a clue how to do it, and they just either pointed me to the MC or shrugged and gave up. I guess I need to brush up on how to train them to do it confidently, or get braver and go to the MC. I was trying to use a VGC I bought from Staples when they had no activation. Any words of advice, other than to grow a backbone?
May 10, 2023, 10:19 pm
#1988
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 68
So, I'm new to this whole churning game, and I made my first couple of attempts to load my BB at WM. I tried to do it at the register, since I was too cowardly to do it at the MC where I might find a knowledgeable cashier that would call me out. It's sort of pathetic how nervous I was, and I kept hearing "Bad boys bad boys, whatcha gonna do" running through my head. Lol. So, none of the three cashiers I tried actually had a clue how to do it, and they just either pointed me to the MC or shrugged and gave up. I guess I need to brush up on how to train them to do it confidently, or get braver and go to the MC. I was trying to use a VGC I bought from Staples when they had no activation. Any words of advice, other than to grow a backbone?
May 12, 2023, 8:46 am
#1989
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 10
Your Staples VGC is only going to load for $99 or less at the MC. Would be beneficial to load at regular register for full amount, but like you, I also have difficulty finding cashiers that will load for me. I always use the MC, unless the line is crazy then I’ll give a cashier a try. It’s really hit or miss, at least at my stores. Once you have your first successful load you’ll feel much better. IME the vast majority of MC employees just don’t care. If you’re nice, and your transaction is easy they are typically indifferent. In the past 4 years I’ve only been asked to show my card 2x at the same store, and I quickly learned that Walmart was a no go. You’ll find that some employees are happy to help you because your transaction is easy, and you’re not going to yell at them.
May 12, 2023, 10:24 am
#1990
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 84
Thanks for the encouragement! I tried again yesterday at the register, but he was clueless and even when I tried to coach him on the process, he pointed me to the MC, which had a tremendous line I wasn't willing to wait in. Since my biggest goal with BB is to be able to pay my bills like HOA, mortgage, and other things I use bill pay with (and then maybe rack up spend once I get the process down), I think I may just go with a bigger card that I could load $500 at the MC and be done with it. Any particular type to avoid? I've combed through this thread and Reddit, but it's a bit overwhelming. I've seen Green Dot cards I could load up to $500 with a $1.95 activation. Do those work? I'd gladly pay that fee to be able to do this less times than it will take to do $99 each swipe at the MC.
May 12, 2023, 10:41 am
#1991
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 405
Thanks for the encouragement! I tried again yesterday at the register, but he was clueless and even when I tried to coach him on the process, he pointed me to the MC, which had a tremendous line I wasn't willing to wait in. Since my biggest goal with BB is to be able to pay my bills like HOA, mortgage, and other things I use bill pay with (and then maybe rack up spend once I get the process down), I think I may just go with a bigger card that I could load $500 at the MC and be done with it. Any particular type to avoid? I've combed through this thread and Reddit, but it's a bit overwhelming. I've seen Green Dot cards I could load up to $500 with a $1.95 activation. Do those work? I'd gladly pay that fee to be able to do this less times than it will take to do $99 each swipe at the MC.
May 12, 2023, 1:51 pm
#1992
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
One Walmart I visited yesterday already displays the new price list with the $3.74 charge for loading. BB was not mentioned, so it's possible that that Discover loads will cost the same. That location also refused to load Discover with a prepaid / gebit.
May 14, 2023, 11:17 am
#1994
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 108
I bought an Air Canada ticket from their US website using AmBB. The amount pending is 3.5% higher than the price of the ticket? Is there any foreign transaction fee? Or AmBB just charges a bit more for an airline ticket upfront and then when the transaction is posted, it posts the correct amount? Thanks
May 15, 2023, 8:30 am
#1995
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 10
Thanks to everyone for the help! After a few more failed attempts at the MC, because I had somehow managed not to activate my BB even after trying online, I was able to load both a $500 vanni and $99 from a OD VGC. Since BB free reloads are dying at WM, I've also ordered a Serve so I can switch to that soon, and will try some local FD to see if I can load anything to BB there.