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 27, 2019, 9:25 pm
#736
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
can we send $ from BB to green Serve or vice versa? Thx
May 28, 2019, 6:09 am
#737
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
So I am shocked, shocked I tell you!!
Since others were getting in, I decided to try again (several months after my last failed attempt) and lo and behold, the elephant forgot
At least I think he did.
I will wait until I get my card in a week, and see if I can load it. I will probably do a $20 cash load just to be safe.
Until I get the card, load it and actually use it for something, I will remain a skeptic. Time will tell..
Since others were getting in, I decided to try again (several months after my last failed attempt) and lo and behold, the elephant forgot
At least I think he did.
I will wait until I get my card in a week, and see if I can load it. I will probably do a $20 cash load just to be safe.
Until I get the card, load it and actually use it for something, I will remain a skeptic. Time will tell..
May 28, 2019, 7:49 am
#738
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
So I am shocked, shocked I tell you!!
Since others were getting in, I decided to try again (several months after my last failed attempt) and lo and behold, the elephant forgot
At least I think he did.
I will wait until I get my card in a week, and see if I can load it. I will probably do a $20 cash load just to be safe.
Until I get the card, load it and actually use it for something, I will remain a skeptic. Time will tell..
Since others were getting in, I decided to try again (several months after my last failed attempt) and lo and behold, the elephant forgot
At least I think he did.
I will wait until I get my card in a week, and see if I can load it. I will probably do a $20 cash load just to be safe.
Until I get the card, load it and actually use it for something, I will remain a skeptic. Time will tell..
at least passed the 1st hurdle; will try mine again to see
May 28, 2019, 1:55 pm
#739
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Northeastern United States
Posts: 597
Permanent Card arrived today. Activated the card and did 3x$500 VGC loaded at FDs in my area and was able to Bill Pay the money out later in the day. ^
May 28, 2019, 7:35 pm
#740
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,516
Did anybody try to load BB in WMT up to limit?
BB website states that load limit at WMT is $1,999.99/day. I tried $1999.00 today, splitting in 4 cards. Everything was going well, but after 4th swipe CSR showed me her monitor that states - payment declined, cancel everything. Cards were OK, so it is not a problem. Then I tried load $500, twice - it worked. I didn't try more, since the line was growing.
So, if anybody was successfull with loading BB using multiple cards per load, please report.
Thanks.
BB website states that load limit at WMT is $1,999.99/day. I tried $1999.00 today, splitting in 4 cards. Everything was going well, but after 4th swipe CSR showed me her monitor that states - payment declined, cancel everything. Cards were OK, so it is not a problem. Then I tried load $500, twice - it worked. I didn't try more, since the line was growing.
So, if anybody was successfull with loading BB using multiple cards per load, please report.
Thanks.
May 29, 2019, 1:40 pm
#742
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
May 29, 2019, 7:07 pm
#744
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,674
Did anybody try to load BB in WMT up to limit?
BB website states that load limit at WMT is $1,999.99/day. I tried $1999.00 today, splitting in 4 cards. Everything was going well, but after 4th swipe CSR showed me her monitor that states - payment declined, cancel everything. Cards were OK, so it is not a problem. Then I tried load $500, twice - it worked. I didn't try more, since the line was growing.
So, if anybody was successfull with loading BB using multiple cards per load, please report.
Thanks.
BB website states that load limit at WMT is $1,999.99/day. I tried $1999.00 today, splitting in 4 cards. Everything was going well, but after 4th swipe CSR showed me her monitor that states - payment declined, cancel everything. Cards were OK, so it is not a problem. Then I tried load $500, twice - it worked. I didn't try more, since the line was growing.
So, if anybody was successfull with loading BB using multiple cards per load, please report.
Thanks.
Last edited by ChrisFlyer66; May 29, 2019 at 9:24 pm Reason: clarification
Jun 3, 2019, 11:14 pm
#746
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
After the last round of shutdowns, I get two previously activated, but in-active BB cards. I can (up to today) load the cards with bank debit cards. But the two previous attempts to load at store failed. I just wonder if anyone has any experience to share.
I had the same situation with Serve cards and the spare cards work just fine, both bank DC and GC loadings.
I can try again at store. But it takes more time...
I had the same situation with Serve cards and the spare cards work just fine, both bank DC and GC loadings.
I can try again at store. But it takes more time...
Jun 4, 2019, 6:22 am
#747
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
After the last round of shutdowns, I get two previously activated, but in-active BB cards. I can (up to today) load the cards with bank debit cards. But the two previous attempts to load at store failed. I just wonder if anyone has any experience to share.
I had the same situation with Serve cards and the spare cards work just fine, both bank DC and GC loadings.
I can try again at store. But it takes more time...
I had the same situation with Serve cards and the spare cards work just fine, both bank DC and GC loadings.
I can try again at store. But it takes more time...
Jun 4, 2019, 11:29 am
#749
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
not quite sure of answers to a friend who just started; he just received 3 cards but wants to use only 1 & keep the rest inactive. should he activate all 3 now, or only the 1 planned for use? if 1 potentially gets shut down for loading, the other 2 may still work, correct?
mine was shut down a long while ago, so i may not have accurate answer. Thx
mine was shut down a long while ago, so i may not have accurate answer. Thx
Jun 4, 2019, 6:34 pm
#750
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 319
Wait on activating until he’s ready to use and burn.