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)
Apr 19, 2016, 7:54 am
#436
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Hm. My BB card was suspended a week ago, then today I got an email titled "REMINDER: Don't forget to reload your Bluebird® Account. "
Did anyone get the same email?
It doesn't matter. Tried loading with my debit card, and it failed.
Gosh, AMEX, get your act together. I got excited for no reason. LOL
Did anyone get the same email?
It doesn't matter. Tried loading with my debit card, and it failed.
Gosh, AMEX, get your act together. I got excited for no reason. LOL
Are the accounts actually closed or limited to cash load only (under banked)?
If the accounts are closed for the under banked too, the reason of closures may be because AmEx is forced to close by regulators?
Apr 19, 2016, 9:01 am
#437
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Rapid reload on Kate looked like it was only going to accept cash or check and charge a fee but when I tried it with my BB card anyway, it just errored out with the same message that selecting BB or walmart money card.
So that doesn't work with Kate, but I suppose someone could try rapid reload on the self checkout. I have my doubts that you could use a debit card for payment and I'm done loading for a while so I'll leave it others to investigate further if they want.
So that doesn't work with Kate, but I suppose someone could try rapid reload on the self checkout. I have my doubts that you could use a debit card for payment and I'm done loading for a while so I'll leave it others to investigate further if they want.
Apr 19, 2016, 9:40 am
#438
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I've tried several times at different WMs, different states, to make a conclusion that loading any prepaid card at SCO does NOT work. the only thing that works at SCO is loading and re-loading WM GCs.
Apr 20, 2016, 7:41 am
#439
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
having both BB & Serve accts open, anyone knows Amex won't allow to send $ to and request $ from another account?
Apr 20, 2016, 7:52 am
#440
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
it's really up to you, weigh it carefully for maximum use of your accounts while they're open rather than tip toeing and still get shutdown. everything is fine until one day, you get the dreaded email. decision is yours.
Apr 20, 2016, 9:09 am
#441
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
after the shutdowns that started in January, that was fine. but from then on, when a lot of accounts were shutdown for "unusual" activities, (terms were vague) it's been a guessing game. there were those who just let money sit in their accounts and still got shutdown, it's really hard to guess what am3x find "unusual" kwim?
it's really up to you, weigh it carefully for maximum use of your accounts while they're open rather than tip toeing and still get shutdown. everything is fine until one day, you get the dreaded email. decision is yours.
it's really up to you, weigh it carefully for maximum use of your accounts while they're open rather than tip toeing and still get shutdown. everything is fine until one day, you get the dreaded email. decision is yours.
Apr 21, 2016, 10:43 am
#442
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
Savings Catcher
Havent been checking this thread much since I was shut down in the first wave.
For those who still occasionally shop at Walmart in spite of no BB access, the ability to deposit and redeem Savings Catcher dollars is not affected by the freezing of your account. For that reason, I've left one of our two accounts open with a tiny cash balance.
For those who still occasionally shop at Walmart in spite of no BB access, the ability to deposit and redeem Savings Catcher dollars is not affected by the freezing of your account. For that reason, I've left one of our two accounts open with a tiny cash balance.
Apr 21, 2016, 9:40 pm
#443
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Havent been checking this thread much since I was shut down in the first wave.
For those who still occasionally shop at Walmart in spite of no BB access, the ability to deposit and redeem Savings Catcher dollars is not affected by the freezing of your account. For that reason, I've left one of our two accounts open with a tiny cash balance.
For those who still occasionally shop at Walmart in spite of no BB access, the ability to deposit and redeem Savings Catcher dollars is not affected by the freezing of your account. For that reason, I've left one of our two accounts open with a tiny cash balance.
Apr 22, 2016, 2:48 pm
#444
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 30
Anyone have any idea what this is yet?
Apr 23, 2016, 9:05 am
#445
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 97
I've been getting this error too for just over a month now at 3 different WM locations with MCEs. I haven't gotten the dreaded account closure/no more loading emails though. I even called Amex and asked if there was an issue with my account, and they said it was fine.
Anyone have any idea what this is yet?
Anyone have any idea what this is yet?
Apr 23, 2016, 2:51 pm
#446
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 422
I just got my BB yesterday and tried today to load and after entering the amount to load it basically just times out. (at KATE) and says something about needing more information blah blah. Is this what is happening to others? I didn't try at a cashier, I just loaded what I needed to my Serve and was on my way today. Will try cashier next time.
Not sure if the problem will get fixed or not
Apr 23, 2016, 6:59 pm
#447
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 97
I am assuming it works at the money center as well? Most of the cashiers here make you go to that instead of learning how to do it themselves
Apr 23, 2016, 7:09 pm
#448
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 422
Works fine at money center -- I've only done it there (haven't bothered with regular cashiers)
Apr 25, 2016, 5:09 pm
#449
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 146
Tried loading my bluebird today with $500 and $200 vgc's but got "Debit Not Approved Call Authorizer". I have not loaded this card since Janurary so I am definitely not over the 5k/mo load limit.
Any suggestions? Have not received a shutdown email.
Any suggestions? Have not received a shutdown email.
Apr 25, 2016, 5:25 pm
#450
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,433
You don't have to receive a shutdown email to be shutdown. Many have not received that email and none the less found themselves shut down and received the exact same message when trying to load BB with a VGC. It's shutdown.