BB and S do not limit your access to spend on the card (in general) after a shut down. They stop your ability to load the card. So to see if you have been beheaded, simply try to load your S card in the usual (or unusual if you so choose ;)) way, and if you can't, then you have been beheaded. However, to confirm that the sentence has been carried through, try loading on-line.

If you are still able to load, then maybe the glitch was in the ATM network. Wait a day or two and see if your card's ATM access has reincarnated.

Whatever, please let us know the outcome of your investigation since it does help us track the rats.

It never hurts to try and apply on-line. However, I wish that Amex would us know after inputting a SSN that we don't qualify, rather than unfortunately making us go through the whole application process before being declined.
However, on-line is the fastest way to find out if you can get the card, or if you are just another headless torso.

While I have read of a few instances where Amex reincarnated the Headless Horseman, that has in general been the rare exception rather than the rule. :(

Ya, I suppose I could just apply and see what happens. The thing is I don't live that close to WMs, they're rare in central Los Angeles so getting out to them is a weekend affair. Not completely a PITA but I have to plan things around that drive.

During those Red Bird days and Target it was fun visiting the many locations available. It was a sad day when my 4 cards were shut down.

Thanks for the reply. Looks like it was false alarm, both ATM and on-line loads work again so hopefully I can keep this going for another while. It's small potatoes but relatively little work.

Any recent reports on whether reloading counts as spend for a regular Amex Platinum?

Hi, I've read several pages, but have a few questions. I'm feeling ready to jump into using Serve. I've had this account for quite some time, but I've never used it. My card is blue with a silver border. Does that mean it will cost me a fee to reload it a DG? Is that my only option for loading this account? I don't have a rewards earning debit card and I don't have an Amex not issued by Amex so neither of those routes seem worth taking at the moment. I've read a lot lately and I want to make sure I'm keeping all of it straight. Thanks!

No benefits at all to load with any AmEx CCs issued by AmEx.

I would like to qualify this statement.

At the present time, if an award is paid by Amex, you will not garner any benefit by purchasing GCs using your Amex card since they can track this and disqualify it. OTOH, if you are qualifying for an award given by the merchant (for example, Hilton Honors awards) then your purchases will qualify. So using your Amex Hilton card will get you Hilton points and status.

I will qualify this by noting that not all merchants participate. I have read that DL will not give out Skypesos for GC purchases using their Amex card (but I am not certain of this "fact"). So as with all things MS, YMMV ;)

You totally mis-understood the question here.

The person was asking:
Any recent reports on whether reloading counts as spend for a regular Amex Platinum?

There is no merchant here. You can load Serve with AmEx Hilton CC. But you won't receive any Hilton points. Nor this qualify for any welcome bonus spending. So there is no point of loading with any CCs issued by AmEx.

But some banks issue AmEx cards. They are in the Wiki above. You do receive some reward points by loading the Serve with them.

if i get 2 serves and 1 bb does that mean i can load $20k ($10K split on 2 serves) and $10k on bb per month?

Thanks for clearing that up for me.
However, doesn't an action such as loading S or BB with a credit card count as a cash advance (with all the subsequent fees and interest charges)?

No. Read Wiki.

Hello,
Just starting up on this bandwagon. I have read the Wiki and skimmed through all the comments as best as I can. The target is to use it for MS, but nothing crazy - maybe $500-$1k/month to meet minimums in combination with organic spends.
Quick questions
1) Green Serve since it allows loading VGCs? Avoid fees by keeping balance 0 at statement close?
2) Buy VGCs on the card that needs the spend and load to serve at WM, FD, GD. I know Staples had a no fee VGC week but thats too late for me. Any other way to avoid VGC fee?
3) Best practices for taking money out of serve? Bill pay and ATMs? or Bank withdrawal?

Thanks

You can get away with it to have a $0 before statement closing several times. But it is very bad taste and AmEx has all reasons to shut you down. If you get benefits from it, better pay it up. Can you make up the $4.95 fee?