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)
Jan 14, 2021, 7:29 am
#1261
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 54
still haven’t tried the money center yet, I know that cashiers there and don’t want to burn a bridge.
Jan 20, 2021, 7:53 am
#1262
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
$500 usb vgc loading to gobank & BB failed at both WM MC & regular register with code debit not available 51 & 62; last wk, worked fine
any folks is able to load usb vgc so far this wk?
any folks is able to load usb vgc so far this wk?
Last edited by danhouston; Jan 20, 2021 at 8:44 am
Jan 20, 2021, 8:35 am
#1263
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
So seems more terminals get programmed?
Jan 20, 2021, 10:41 am
#1264
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
Will have a USB datapoint later tonight. Need more datapoints. Loaded BB visa with metabank at register at around 915am this morning no problem.
Jan 20, 2021, 11:07 am
#1265
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
I loaded two USB GC at walmart MC through Gobank yesterday morning.
Jan 21, 2021, 2:48 pm
#1267
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 54
$350 meta vgc load at register to BB today. Took 2 swipes. Error code 01 first try. Cashier said BB has been having issues lately ...
Jan 22, 2021, 9:12 am
#1268
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 239
The BB website no longer shows loading limits from a debit card. I know the old limit was $200/day, $1000/month. Does anyone know if it has changed?
Jan 22, 2021, 9:23 am
#1269
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Only debit cards issued from banks can be used with BB/Serve. Gebit card loading most likely would fail. Or it could lead to shutdowns.
Jan 22, 2021, 10:59 am
#1270
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,433
"The aggregate amount of funds that may be added to a Bluebird Account from a Bank Account may not exceed $10,000 per transaction and from a Debit card may not exceed $200 per transaction, $200 per day, and $1,000 per month, subject to the Spend Money limits set forth in Section 18.b."
Assuming that Gebits are treated like debit cards, I would caution one about exceeding the above limits unless the lifespan of your BB card is not important.
Jan 22, 2021, 11:44 am
#1271
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
I wish to point out to you that within the terms of BB is the following (my bolding) just in case one may wonder what titillates rats whiskers and creates shutdown scenarios
"The aggregate amount of funds that may be added to a Bluebird Account from a Bank Account may not exceed $10,000 per transaction and from a Debit card may not exceed $200 per transaction, $200 per day, and $1,000 per month, subject to the Spend Money limits set forth in Section 18.b."
Assuming that Gebits are treated like debit cards, I would caution one about exceeding the above limits unless the lifespan of your BB card is not important.
"The aggregate amount of funds that may be added to a Bluebird Account from a Bank Account may not exceed $10,000 per transaction and from a Debit card may not exceed $200 per transaction, $200 per day, and $1,000 per month, subject to the Spend Money limits set forth in Section 18.b."
Assuming that Gebits are treated like debit cards, I would caution one about exceeding the above limits unless the lifespan of your BB card is not important.
Jan 22, 2021, 12:27 pm
#1272
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I wish to point out to you that within the terms of BB is the following (my bolding) just in case one may wonder what titillates rats whiskers and creates shutdown scenarios
"The aggregate amount of funds that may be added to a Bluebird Account from a Bank Account may not exceed $10,000 per transaction and from a Debit card may not exceed $200 per transaction, $200 per day, and $1,000 per month, subject to the Spend Money limits set forth in Section 18.b."
Assuming that Gebits are treated like debit cards, I would caution one about exceeding the above limits unless the lifespan of your BB card is not important.
"The aggregate amount of funds that may be added to a Bluebird Account from a Bank Account may not exceed $10,000 per transaction and from a Debit card may not exceed $200 per transaction, $200 per day, and $1,000 per month, subject to the Spend Money limits set forth in Section 18.b."
Assuming that Gebits are treated like debit cards, I would caution one about exceeding the above limits unless the lifespan of your BB card is not important.
Loading from bank debit card at WM has no issue, as long as the system allows it. Some stores have some daily limit.
Jan 23, 2021, 12:04 am
#1273
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
I thought I saw some discussions about this last month but I'll be damned if I can find them now... I haven't used bill pay on Bluebird's site since my AMEX BB got yanked quite awhile ago.. Looks totally different now with the MB Visa DC site...
So this new site doesn't allow any ZIP+4 on manually entered payees across the board? I remember copying all payee info exactly as it appeared for bill pay on the old site and never having issues, but earlier today I was getting the error message below until I finally decided to try removing the presort on the ZIP Code..
I'm assuming others have ran into this too?
-b.
So this new site doesn't allow any ZIP+4 on manually entered payees across the board? I remember copying all payee info exactly as it appeared for bill pay on the old site and never having issues, but earlier today I was getting the error message below until I finally decided to try removing the presort on the ZIP Code..
I'm assuming others have ran into this too?
-b.
Jan 28, 2021, 11:47 am
#1274
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3
Just got the Visa version of BB (already had Amex version) and I had trouble trying to load it for the first time at WM. I tried swiping the Visa BB, and the machine said I needed to insert the chip. I did that, but then got an error message saying invalid card or something like that. I know the card has been activated. I never even got to the point of being able to swipe my VGC to load because the system didn't recognize the Visa BB. What has been others' experience with loading the Visa BB, and did you swipe it or insert the chip? I've had no problems with my Amex BB.
Jan 28, 2021, 12:21 pm
#1275
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
Just got the Visa version of BB (already had Amex version) and I had trouble trying to load it for the first time at WM. I tried swiping the Visa BB, and the machine said I needed to insert the chip. I did that, but then got an error message saying invalid card or something like that. I know the card has been activated. I never even got to the point of being able to swipe my VGC to load because the system didn't recognize the Visa BB. What has been others' experience with loading the Visa BB, and did you swipe it or insert the chip? I've had no problems with my Amex BB.