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)
Jul 18, 2019, 9:42 pm
#796
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Last month had notice "you’ll no longer be able to add money to your Account" but allows me set up the direct payment
Jul 19, 2019, 10:28 am
#797
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
So you can specify payments as you noted until you run out of money.
Jul 19, 2019, 2:10 pm
#798
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Just getting started with MS and got my BB card in the mail yesterday, activated, and went to WM and had no issues depositing $500 via a GC at a normal register. Cashier didn't ask to see anything. Next I intend to try a split transaction to see if it gets any more scrutiny.
I was wondering though.....do you think the shutdowns are related to the pattern of deposits or withdrawals? IOW, should I vary my load amounts ($315, $480, $975, etc)? I just figured if I'm always only loading $500, $1,000, or $1,500 at a time it might seem strange.
I do also intend to deposit a few small checks that I get routinely. As for using the money, I plan to withdraw some as cash (random amounts, no greater than $300-400 at a time) but most will go to bill pay for utilities and to pay credit cards. I'll also have a few small (<$5) organic purchases on there every month as well. How does all of this sound? Overkill or no?
I was wondering though.....do you think the shutdowns are related to the pattern of deposits or withdrawals? IOW, should I vary my load amounts ($315, $480, $975, etc)? I just figured if I'm always only loading $500, $1,000, or $1,500 at a time it might seem strange.
I do also intend to deposit a few small checks that I get routinely. As for using the money, I plan to withdraw some as cash (random amounts, no greater than $300-400 at a time) but most will go to bill pay for utilities and to pay credit cards. I'll also have a few small (<$5) organic purchases on there every month as well. How does all of this sound? Overkill or no?
Last edited by nolamatt; Jul 19, 2019 at 2:15 pm
Jul 20, 2019, 7:27 am
#799
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Oh! I meant allows me to set up the "direct deposit"
Jul 22, 2019, 7:33 am
#800
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 202
Just getting started with MS and got my BB card in the mail yesterday, activated, and went to WM and had no issues depositing $500 via a GC at a normal register. Cashier didn't ask to see anything. Next I intend to try a split transaction to see if it gets any more scrutiny.
I was wondering though.....do you think the shutdowns are related to the pattern of deposits or withdrawals? IOW, should I vary my load amounts ($315, $480, $975, etc)? I just figured if I'm always only loading $500, $1,000, or $1,500 at a time it might seem strange.
I do also intend to deposit a few small checks that I get routinely. As for using the money, I plan to withdraw some as cash (random amounts, no greater than $300-400 at a time) but most will go to bill pay for utilities and to pay credit cards. I'll also have a few small (<$5) organic purchases on there every month as well. How does all of this sound? Overkill or no?
I was wondering though.....do you think the shutdowns are related to the pattern of deposits or withdrawals? IOW, should I vary my load amounts ($315, $480, $975, etc)? I just figured if I'm always only loading $500, $1,000, or $1,500 at a time it might seem strange.
I do also intend to deposit a few small checks that I get routinely. As for using the money, I plan to withdraw some as cash (random amounts, no greater than $300-400 at a time) but most will go to bill pay for utilities and to pay credit cards. I'll also have a few small (<$5) organic purchases on there every month as well. How does all of this sound? Overkill or no?
IMO, I think it's overkill, but it's up to you. I'm not a big fan of the split payment.
Jul 22, 2019, 10:30 am
#801
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 239
If I get a BB or Serve card and it gets shut down, will this have any affect on my regular AmEx card account? In other words, does the BB or Serve have any affect on your credit history?
Jul 22, 2019, 10:49 am
#802
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: none
Posts: 106
Not at all per my knowledge.
Jul 24, 2019, 8:58 pm
#803
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 3
How does one sign up for multiple BB / S? Since you need to create usernames and use your SSN? Different usernames each time?
Jul 31, 2019, 1:58 pm
#804
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Just a quick DP, went to a different local WM today (for the first time since starting MS) since it is closest to my office, waited at the shortest cashier line, and when it was my turn I stated I wanted to load money onto my BB from debit. She asked how much and I said $500, only to be told I would have to go to the Customer Service counter to do so. I asked why, was there some sort of limit at cash registers? She said yes it was limited to $100. The line to customer service was about 20 people deep and I was on my lunch break so I just bounced out of there.
I'll stop my my usual WM on the way home to try again there, but hadn't heard of this limitation until now. Hopefully it's just that one WM and if so I'll simply avoid it.
I'll stop my my usual WM on the way home to try again there, but hadn't heard of this limitation until now. Hopefully it's just that one WM and if so I'll simply avoid it.
Jul 31, 2019, 2:12 pm
#805
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Nothing really new. Some would not do any amount and some may call police if you do too much....
Jul 31, 2019, 2:13 pm
#806
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 75
Just a quick DP, went to a different local WM today (for the first time since starting MS) since it is closest to my office, waited at the shortest cashier line, and when it was my turn I stated I wanted to load money onto my BB from debit. She asked how much and I said $500, only to be told I would have to go to the Customer Service counter to do so. I asked why, was there some sort of limit at cash registers? She said yes it was limited to $100. The line to customer service was about 20 people deep and I was on my lunch break so I just bounced out of there.
I'll stop my my usual WM on the way home to try again there, but hadn't heard of this limitation until now. Hopefully it's just that one WM and if so I'll simply avoid it.
I'll stop my my usual WM on the way home to try again there, but hadn't heard of this limitation until now. Hopefully it's just that one WM and if so I'll simply avoid it.
Jul 31, 2019, 3:44 pm
#807
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
so far, able to go to any cashiers @ my local WMNMs, except for the 1 or 2 registers that can't do a loading; at SCs, I have to do at MC or CS
Aug 1, 2019, 9:07 am
#808
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 202
Just a quick DP, went to a different local WM today (for the first time since starting MS) since it is closest to my office, waited at the shortest cashier line, and when it was my turn I stated I wanted to load money onto my BB from debit. She asked how much and I said $500, only to be told I would have to go to the Customer Service counter to do so. I asked why, was there some sort of limit at cash registers? She said yes it was limited to $100. The line to customer service was about 20 people deep and I was on my lunch break so I just bounced out of there.
I'll stop my my usual WM on the way home to try again there, but hadn't heard of this limitation until now. Hopefully it's just that one WM and if so I'll simply avoid it.
I'll stop my my usual WM on the way home to try again there, but hadn't heard of this limitation until now. Hopefully it's just that one WM and if so I'll simply avoid it.
Next time, buy a pack a gum or candy bar and say, hey can I load my BB while I'm here? Chances are they will do it then.
Aug 1, 2019, 10:55 am
#809
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
As others have pointed out, it's YMMV. I've been told the same by a cashier at my local store, then I go in a week later, different cashier and they load it for me at the regular cashier line. I've even had customer service tell me to go to money center.
Next time, buy a pack a gum or candy bar and say, hey can I load my BB while I'm here? Chances are they will do it then.
Next time, buy a pack a gum or candy bar and say, hey can I load my BB while I'm here? Chances are they will do it then.
However, I never do more than 1 swipe and I don't get harassed for doing it.
i will admit that my BB is pretty worthless for MS activity, but it is still alive (but on 4 liters of O2
)
Aug 5, 2019, 10:25 am
#810
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 202
I only do 1 swipe too. I do multiple swipes at MC or CS. Some WM near me don't have a MC stand alone.