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 12, 2017, 4:50 am
#526
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 4
I've read the thread, but didn't see an answer to my question:
Can you have more than one BB?
I see lots of reports of multiple Serve accounts, even multiple One VIP Serve accounts. But I don't see anything about BB. Help?
Can you have more than one BB?
I see lots of reports of multiple Serve accounts, even multiple One VIP Serve accounts. But I don't see anything about BB. Help?
Apr 13, 2017, 2:08 pm
#527
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 519
I was shot down for deposit in Jan 2016. My account is still open and my debit card expired in Jan 17 but they never sent me new card? Am I not getting a new card?
Apr 13, 2017, 4:07 pm
#528
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
If there's still balance on your card, check if you can still take it out via atm or buy something at the store and if you can't, time to call am3x and request for a check for your remaining balance.
Apr 13, 2017, 8:05 pm
#529
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: NY
Programs: MR, UR, UA
Posts: 180
why do you need a new card when you CANNOT load it online or in-store(s)
If there's still balance on your card, check if you can still take it out via atm or buy something at the store and if you can't, time to call am3x and request for a check for your remaining balance.
If there's still balance on your card, check if you can still take it out via atm or buy something at the store and if you can't, time to call am3x and request for a check for your remaining balance.
Can't say for others but I myself know where they're coming from..
Apr 13, 2017, 9:44 pm
#530
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4
MY BB is tied to an old address and I would rather not update my address unless I really have to.
Apr 19, 2017, 1:37 pm
#532
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 9
Anybody used simon gift cards to load bluebird recently at walmart?
Apr 19, 2017, 1:54 pm
#533
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy platinum
Posts: 89
Just received an email from amex telling me I haven't use my account in 12 months and if not used by may 19th they will be closing it. Called but they had no knowledge of ever closing my account originally. Unbelievable....
"For the security and convenience of our customers, we regularly monitor activity on all accounts. As part of this regular review, we recently noticed that your American Express Bluebird® Account has not been used in the past 12 months and has a zero ($0) balance. Due to this inactivity, we plan to close your Account on May 19th, 2017 unless funds are added to your Account on or before that date. If you recently added funds to your Account, please disregard this email.
Add funds to your Account
If you would like to keep your Account open, please add funds onto your Account on or before May 19th, 2017. You can add money to your account with your debit card and free cash reloads at virtually any Walmart® checkout register.
Thanks,
The American Express Bluebird® Team"
Did anyone else get this and try to load again?
"For the security and convenience of our customers, we regularly monitor activity on all accounts. As part of this regular review, we recently noticed that your American Express Bluebird® Account has not been used in the past 12 months and has a zero ($0) balance. Due to this inactivity, we plan to close your Account on May 19th, 2017 unless funds are added to your Account on or before that date. If you recently added funds to your Account, please disregard this email.
Add funds to your Account
If you would like to keep your Account open, please add funds onto your Account on or before May 19th, 2017. You can add money to your account with your debit card and free cash reloads at virtually any Walmart® checkout register.
Thanks,
The American Express Bluebird® Team"
Did anyone else get this and try to load again?
Apr 19, 2017, 2:08 pm
#534
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 685
Just received an email from amex telling me I haven't use my account in 12 months and if not used by may 19th they will be closing it. Called but they had no knowledge of ever closing my account originally. Unbelievable....
"For the security and convenience of our customers, we regularly monitor activity on all accounts. As part of this regular review, we recently noticed that your American Express Bluebird® Account has not been used in the past 12 months and has a zero ($0) balance. Due to this inactivity, we plan to close your Account on May 19th, 2017 unless funds are added to your Account on or before that date. If you recently added funds to your Account, please disregard this email.
Add funds to your Account
If you would like to keep your Account open, please add funds onto your Account on or before May 19th, 2017. You can add money to your account with your debit card and free cash reloads at virtually any Walmart® checkout register.
Thanks,
The American Express Bluebird® Team"
Did anyone else get this and try to load again?
"For the security and convenience of our customers, we regularly monitor activity on all accounts. As part of this regular review, we recently noticed that your American Express Bluebird® Account has not been used in the past 12 months and has a zero ($0) balance. Due to this inactivity, we plan to close your Account on May 19th, 2017 unless funds are added to your Account on or before that date. If you recently added funds to your Account, please disregard this email.
Add funds to your Account
If you would like to keep your Account open, please add funds onto your Account on or before May 19th, 2017. You can add money to your account with your debit card and free cash reloads at virtually any Walmart® checkout register.
Thanks,
The American Express Bluebird® Team"
Did anyone else get this and try to load again?
Apr 19, 2017, 2:17 pm
#535
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
I tried an on-line direct bank deposit a month ago to no avail. I then closed the account.
I wonder if anyone has recently succeeded in reopening a BB account (without being misleading on ID) after the initial shutdown more than a year ago?
Apr 19, 2017, 2:36 pm
#536
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 685
I did keep my BB open after the initial shutdown with the intention of seeing whether the ban would thaw after nearly a year.
I tried an on-line direct bank deposit a month ago to no avail. I then closed the account.
I wonder if anyone has recently succeeded in reopening a BB account (without being misleading on ID) after the initial shutdown more than a year ago?
I tried an on-line direct bank deposit a month ago to no avail. I then closed the account.
I wonder if anyone has recently succeeded in reopening a BB account (without being misleading on ID) after the initial shutdown more than a year ago?
Apr 19, 2017, 7:31 pm
#537
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy platinum
Posts: 89
thanks for info. Probably not worth thinking about it anymore. Amex do what you will....
Apr 19, 2017, 9:52 pm
#538
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 9
I had a bluebird account but never used it. Will it still work for simon gift card loads at walmart?
Apr 21, 2017, 10:56 am
#540
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 10
ok to load GC to BB?
I had a BB card that i used to do MS with back in 2015. But i have stopped MS now. My BB was never sht down. I have around 1k left in my BB back from the days. I use it to write checks to pay HOA. But haven't loaded any money in 2 years. If i try to load a gc via wm register, will i get shut down? Anyone tried this recently?