7trk

Hello folks,

On 7/30/16, I visited a Walmart to load my Bluebird when the rep at the money center, quite knowledgable in the practice of manufacturing spending and using Bluebird to pay merchants that don't accept CC, informed me that the end of loading with Visa GCs is coming. Apparently Walmart had sent a memo out covering manufacturing spending and fraud, and the intent of doing their part by working on a fix to not allow Visa GC to load Bluebird. I does not seems there is a date yet, but the fact that coorporate sent a letter is a warning sign that the end is coming. I did not see the letter personally, but the way the details were explained to me it sounded very real.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has more information on this. Thanks!

kenme1

It was always only a matter of time before WM put an end to it. Hit it hard and fast!

pharmawalk

Is this bluebird specific?

Mamibear

This.

One AM told me this back in 2014 and it's been so long and up to now, they have not stopped the loading of BBs with VGCs.

I'm not saying this won't ever happen so if there's something to learn from this is for those whose only route to drain is through loading VGCs at WM, do NOT hoard VGCs in amounts you can't float to keep you out of CC debts.

7trk

Honestly, I do not know if there are other services included in the communication she referenced.

beachmiles

Let's hope this doesn't affect MO.

DiMAn0684

Surprised WM decided to do something about BB now; Most folks who MSed had their BBs shut down 6+ month ago...hopefully MOs are not being targeted.

sbft77

I doubt Walmart really cares about MS. But they're in a war with Visa over fees, and maybe they're looking for any way to hurt Visa.

pharmawalk

Chime cards can no longer be reloaded at WM with VGC. Whether it is temporary to today (it worked fine within the last week - tried two different WM since OP) or coincidental (or not), its not working. Other loadable VISA still work. All other usual means work fine.

Edit: It was an odd rejection with the Chime card too - said approved on my end and then the tiniest receipt came out (smaller than the normal small ones if something gets screwed up). Said declined - call authorizer. One of the WM i went to today had the old terminals and one had the new terminals. On the new terminals, the cashier couldn't even swipe Chime on her side, while on the old terminal they still could. Also, the cashier said WM had been rolling out lots of updates for the registers over last couple of days. I don't think this is a VISA-specific thing as another reloadable VISA worked perfectly once the Chime was rejected twice.

diseased

Agreed. Doesn't make sense to me.

krazykanuck

That's my only concern here since I lost my Serve account in the first wave of shutdowns.

Hbax

Between the double-tap on the BBs and removal of so many KATES, I didn't think there were all that many still loading VGCs to BBs anyway.

Hbax

They have been feudin' for a while now.

trueblue84

What about loading VGCs to GoBank cards?

DaveInLA

If GC don't work for Serve/BB, I suspect it'll affect MO as well. It's the same system, isn't it?