Last edit by: deker0
This thread is a continuation of the 2016 Serve master thread located at Amex Serve (2016) [Many shutdowns starting Jan 8, 2016]
5/21/2019 another round of Serve and Bluebird shutdowns.
On January 8, 2016, most Serve cards that were being used for MS were closed by Amex due to "unusual activity". Recurring waves of shutdowns have continued.
There are three version of Serve cards, Blue, Green and Grey. The fees and specifics are listed here:
https://www.serve.com/help/?intlink=us-serve-marketing-home-customer2-incomm2018-freezecardlearnmore&anchor=lost-or-stolen-1
The best Serve version for MS purpose is the "Green" version. It can be loaded at CVS, Rite Aid, DG (cash only) and Walmart, FD stores (cash and debit). There is no loading fee, but there is a $6.95 monthly fee that can't be waived. You could avoid the monthly fee by keeping $0 balance prior to month end statement closing. But this may cause account shut-down. As of end of 2020, there have been changes at the loading side (FD, WM). Not all GCs are accepted. Trial and report back to forum.
As of April 16, 2015 regular Serve cards will only accept American Express network cards for online credit card loads.
Softcard Serve accounts are apparently grandfathered in the old system and continue to work as before, being able to load Mastercard, Visa, and Discover (see below).
For additional information on using prepaid debit cards, see PIN available now for Visa/MC prepaid debit cards.
You cannot make an ACH pull from Serve. The direct deposit account and routing numbers are for deposits only.
https://www.serve.com/#/add-cash
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Loads at 7-11 and CVS are cash only. Debit cards are NOT allowed.
Loads at Walmart have been confirmed with debit cards. Self checkout does not work for loading Serve. Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of prepaid debit 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, then discreetly use your prepaid card when asked to swipe. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC (Walmart Money Center) again to load.
Debit loading at Family Dollar appears to be limited to $500 per day per store total (not per person or per account). Whoever gets there first gets the load for the day. Troubleshooting loading problems at FD
Loads at Dollar General - Appears to no longer be working with any brand of VCG.
Regular Serve
Softcard Serve
Softcard has shutdown and there is no longer any way to apply for this version.
You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $8k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.
Temp Serve
You can only load a maximum of $500/day, $1000/month on a temporary card. Once you get your permanent card, then you can load more. The initial $500 when you purchase the temp card doesn't count against the $5,000/month load limit.
OneVip Card: (Mucho gracias, AndrewTheMan)
This card is essentially just like the regular, fee-free, "old" serve. You may reload this card up to $2,500/day; $1,000/transaction at Walmart (not impacted by Blue Bird daily limit change). Have not tested FD or anywhere else. KATE takes this no problems..
You can use this to load the FIDO AMEX up to 1k a month.
Amex stopped taking applications for OneVip at the end of 2017. Cards acquired before then still work.
Limits for online debit card and credit card loads reset at 9 PM PST/12 AM EST
Online Credit Card Loads
Only one card can be linked at a time.
For online CC/DC loads, the name on the Serve account is supposed to match the name of the primary or joint cardholder. So using someone else's CC/DB card to load a Serve account is not allowed.
A few report no problems loading with an AU card in the Serve account holder's name. Increase your chances by making sure the AUs social security number is on file with the Credit Card.
When adding a new card you will usually need to call Serve Account security (1-800-555-4318) for verification of the new card on the second load try. This verification usually requires uploading of a photo of your ID and the credit card. You may pre-emptively avoid the error by going to the above website, logging in, and uploading a scan of a photo ID and the card you are trying to add. You may call back to expedite approval. One person with a Serve/Softcard account reported being sent to the main Serve number for this process.
https://www.serve.com/help/#add-money-5
Regular Serve Credit Card Loading
Regular Serve can only load from American Express network cards. In addition to those issued directly by American Express, this includes the following:
Softcard Serve Credit Card Loading
If you are fortunate enough to be grandfathered into a Softcard Serve Account, you can also load other credit cards beside American Express cards. Softcard Serve is not available to new applicants anymore so you'll need to get one of the other Serve options if you don't already have one. In general, Mastercard and American Express cards post as purchases. Visa cards transact as a cash advance and, therefore, require available CA limit; although most cards post as a purchase.
Treated as purchase, earns cashback/points/miles:
Posts as a cash advance: The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card and has no cash advance ability.
A few report being unable to add the Chase IHG MC.
Online Debit Card Loads
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. While initial transactions may work, your account will eventually be flagged.
Switching to Serve
Helpful instruction post, latest. Thanks raeneye.
Also see this thread: Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
Switching from BB to Serve
Switching from Redbird is presumably similar. See the RedCard thread for more information.
The number to call to approve your registration after closing Bluebird: Serve Account security 1-800-555-4318
Loading with debit card at Walmart register
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.
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.
Using Serve
For online bill pay
For bank transfers
Under Settings --> Funding & Transfers --> Bank & Cards --> U.S. Bank Account, you can add your bank info and transfer funds from your Serve card directly to your bank. The bank account must be verified, either by the standard "deposit 2 small sums into your account, such as $0.23 & $0.42" method, or doing an "instant verification" by actually logging into your bank account while still logged into Serve.
===
People with an apartment address can find helpful information quoted in post #7
5/21/2019 another round of Serve and Bluebird shutdowns.
On January 8, 2016, most Serve cards that were being used for MS were closed by Amex due to "unusual activity". Recurring waves of shutdowns have continued.
There are three version of Serve cards, Blue, Green and Grey. The fees and specifics are listed here:
https://www.serve.com/help/?intlink=us-serve-marketing-home-customer2-incomm2018-freezecardlearnmore&anchor=lost-or-stolen-1
The best Serve version for MS purpose is the "Green" version. It can be loaded at CVS, Rite Aid, DG (cash only) and Walmart, FD stores (cash and debit). There is no loading fee, but there is a $6.95 monthly fee that can't be waived. You could avoid the monthly fee by keeping $0 balance prior to month end statement closing. But this may cause account shut-down. As of end of 2020, there have been changes at the loading side (FD, WM). Not all GCs are accepted. Trial and report back to forum.
As of April 16, 2015 regular Serve cards will only accept American Express network cards for online credit card loads.
Softcard Serve accounts are apparently grandfathered in the old system and continue to work as before, being able to load Mastercard, Visa, and Discover (see below).
For additional information on using prepaid debit cards, see PIN available now for Visa/MC prepaid debit cards.
You cannot make an ACH pull from Serve. The direct deposit account and routing numbers are for deposits only.
https://www.serve.com/#/add-cash
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Loads at 7-11 and CVS are cash only. Debit cards are NOT allowed.
Loads at Walmart have been confirmed with debit cards. Self checkout does not work for loading Serve. Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of prepaid debit 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, then discreetly use your prepaid card when asked to swipe. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC (Walmart Money Center) again to load.
Debit loading at Family Dollar appears to be limited to $500 per day per store total (not per person or per account). Whoever gets there first gets the load for the day. Troubleshooting loading problems at FD
Loads at Dollar General - Appears to no longer be working with any brand of VCG.
Regular Serve
- Serve loading via VR/MP (Vanilla Reload/Moneypak) or WM/FD load: $2,500 per card per day; $5,000 total per calendar month each card; $10,000 total each calendar month all Serve cards combined
- Online Debit Card Load - $200/day and $1,000/month
- Online Credit Card Load (AmEx only) - $200/day and $1,000/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Online Credit Card Load (AmEx only) - $200/day and $1,000/month
Softcard Serve
Softcard has shutdown and there is no longer any way to apply for this version.
- Serve loading via VR/MP (Vanilla Reload/Moneypak) or WM/FD load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
- Online Debit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
- Online Credit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Online Credit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
- Online Debit Card Load - $500/day and $1,500/month
You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $8k/month to a single Serve account for miles/points earning purposes, but beware that you're also subject to a $10,000/month add money limit which also includes check deposits, ACH transfers, and Serve transfers.
Temp Serve
You can only load a maximum of $500/day, $1000/month on a temporary card. Once you get your permanent card, then you can load more. The initial $500 when you purchase the temp card doesn't count against the $5,000/month load limit.
OneVip Card: (Mucho gracias, AndrewTheMan)
This card is essentially just like the regular, fee-free, "old" serve. You may reload this card up to $2,500/day; $1,000/transaction at Walmart (not impacted by Blue Bird daily limit change). Have not tested FD or anywhere else. KATE takes this no problems..
You can use this to load the FIDO AMEX up to 1k a month.
Amex stopped taking applications for OneVip at the end of 2017. Cards acquired before then still work.
Limits for online debit card and credit card loads reset at 9 PM PST/12 AM EST
Online Credit Card Loads
Only one card can be linked at a time.
For online CC/DC loads, the name on the Serve account is supposed to match the name of the primary or joint cardholder. So using someone else's CC/DB card to load a Serve account is not allowed.
A few report no problems loading with an AU card in the Serve account holder's name. Increase your chances by making sure the AUs social security number is on file with the Credit Card.
When adding a new card you will usually need to call Serve Account security (1-800-555-4318) for verification of the new card on the second load try. This verification usually requires uploading of a photo of your ID and the credit card. You may pre-emptively avoid the error by going to the above website, logging in, and uploading a scan of a photo ID and the card you are trying to add. You may call back to expedite approval. One person with a Serve/Softcard account reported being sent to the main Serve number for this process.
https://www.serve.com/help/#add-money-5
Regular Serve Credit Card Loading
Regular Serve can only load from American Express network cards. In addition to those issued directly by American Express, this includes the following:
- AAA Rewards AmEx
- Alitalia AmEx
- Bank of America Accelerated Rewards AmEx
- Bank of Hawaii AmEx Card with MyBankoh Rewards
- Bloomingdale's AmEx
- Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select AmEx
- Citi Dividend AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
- Citi Thank You Preferred AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
- Dillard's AmEx
- FNBO AmEx
- FNBO Graphite AmEx
- FNBO Platinum AmEx
- Macy's AmEx
- Penfed Premium Travel Rewards AmEx
- SavingStar AmEx
- Travelocity AmEx
- US Bank Flexperks AmEx
- USAA Cash Rewards/Rewards Plus AmEx
- Wells Fargo Propel World/365 AmEx
- USAA Cash Rewards/Rewards Plus AmEx
- US Bank Flexperks AmEx
- Travelocity AmEx
- SavingStar AmEx
- Penfed Premium Travel Rewards AmEx
- Macy's AmEx
- FNBO Platinum AmEx
- FNBO Graphite AmEx
- FNBO AmEx
- Dillard's AmEx
- Citi Thank You Preferred AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
- Citi Dividend AmEx (not obtainable unless specifically requested)
- Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select AmEx
- Bloomingdale's AmEx
- Bank of Hawaii AmEx Card with MyBankoh Rewards
- Bank of America Accelerated Rewards AmEx
- Alitalia AmEx
Softcard Serve Credit Card Loading
If you are fortunate enough to be grandfathered into a Softcard Serve Account, you can also load other credit cards beside American Express cards. Softcard Serve is not available to new applicants anymore so you'll need to get one of the other Serve options if you don't already have one. In general, Mastercard and American Express cards post as purchases. Visa cards transact as a cash advance and, therefore, require available CA limit; although most cards post as a purchase.
Treated as purchase, earns cashback/points/miles:
- Bank of America (FIA) (MasterCard, American Express)
- Barclaycard (Mastercard, Visa)
- Capital One (Mastercard, Visa)
- Chase (MasterCard, Visa)
- Citi (MasterCard, American Express)
- Discover
- Wells Fargo Propel (American Express)
- Discover
- Citi (MasterCard, American Express)
- Chase (MasterCard, Visa)
- Capital One (Mastercard, Visa)
- Barclaycard (Mastercard, Visa)
- American Express issued (Counts toward minimum spend -- see post #434) but does not earn points. Example: For the Delta Amex card, Serve counts towards min spend DL miles sign-up bonus, but that spend and subsequent trials of spend on Serve will not earn points. Don't do it, man!
Posts as a cash advance: The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card and has no cash advance ability.
A few report being unable to add the Chase IHG MC.
Online Debit Card Loads
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. While initial transactions may work, your account will eventually be flagged.
Switching to Serve
Helpful instruction post, latest. Thanks raeneye.
Also see this thread: Switching from Serve to BlueBird - 31 day wait???
Switching from BB to Serve
- Login to BB account, bring account balance to Zero, (By Bill Pay, Send money, etc..)
- Call BB, tell them that you want to open a serve account and close your current BB account. after they check everything they will say something like: "Your account will be permanently closed after 31 days, you can reopen it within 31 day if you change your mind, and you can apply for your new Serve account now, just make sure use the exact same register info from BB."
- at this point BB is closed. next morning, goto CVS and get a temporary Serve card (only with cash), load $500, ($2.95 waived, Yeah!!)
- get back home, register temporary Serve online, First error: "phone number already registered, please try a different number" could be the my BB's ghost account still showing up on their system, could be my info is not match my BB's registration? i'm not really sure at this point. What I did is keep the same number but change from Cell phone to home phone. and registration went through
- after the register and login, second error: "We're still processing your application. Please check your email for an update"
- I have see people on the thread reported waiting for weeks for the same message, So, I pickup the phone and called them, ask them to speed up the process.
- CSR, told me that my account went to "account security protection department" transfer me to them.
- at account security protection department, they told me need to call back on my phone number which I registered to verify.
- after the call back of verification, CSR told me that my new Serve account is active now, email address verification will be send with in 5 minutes, permanent card will be received within 7-10 days.
- CSR also told me the I can load and spend on the temporary card, but not bill pay.
- after the call back of verification, CSR told me that my new Serve account is active now, email address verification will be send with in 5 minutes, permanent card will be received within 7-10 days.
- at account security protection department, they told me need to call back on my phone number which I registered to verify.
- CSR, told me that my account went to "account security protection department" transfer me to them.
- I have see people on the thread reported waiting for weeks for the same message, So, I pickup the phone and called them, ask them to speed up the process.
- after the register and login, second error: "We're still processing your application. Please check your email for an update"
- get back home, register temporary Serve online, First error: "phone number already registered, please try a different number" could be the my BB's ghost account still showing up on their system, could be my info is not match my BB's registration? i'm not really sure at this point. What I did is keep the same number but change from Cell phone to home phone. and registration went through
- at this point BB is closed. next morning, goto CVS and get a temporary Serve card (only with cash), load $500, ($2.95 waived, Yeah!!)
- Call BB, tell them that you want to open a serve account and close your current BB account. after they check everything they will say something like: "Your account will be permanently closed after 31 days, you can reopen it within 31 day if you change your mind, and you can apply for your new Serve account now, just make sure use the exact same register info from BB."
Switching from Redbird is presumably similar. See the RedCard thread for more information.
The number to call to approve your registration after closing Bluebird: Serve Account security 1-800-555-4318
Loading with debit card at Walmart register
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.
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.
- The terminal will ask the WM employee if you are loading in multiples of $2000. Advise them to enter "no."
- 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.
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.
Using Serve
For online bill pay
- You can pay the credit card that you used to buy VRs/GCs
- 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
- 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.
For bank transfers
Under Settings --> Funding & Transfers --> Bank & Cards --> U.S. Bank Account, you can add your bank info and transfer funds from your Serve card directly to your bank. The bank account must be verified, either by the standard "deposit 2 small sums into your account, such as $0.23 & $0.42" method, or doing an "instant verification" by actually logging into your bank account while still logged into Serve.
===
People with an apartment address can find helpful information quoted in post #7
Amex Serve master thread (2017-2023)
#1216
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
but she told me the price before I even swiped my card, so it was not because of the vanila gc. I got the blue serve btw,
Edit: Nvm, I figured out why I got charged... because I got the blue meh
I thought I was applying for the One VIP which I found out it died a long time. So now my question is: Do you think it's worth paying for the Green Card's monthly fee with a low MS each month (around $2500)
#1217
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
Will cancel this blue and get the green card instead (with a monthly fee, but no reload fee)
#1218
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 595
The fee is waived if there is no balance in the account at the time the fee is applied. That's one way around it. I usually leave a balance in it about every 4-5 months or so, so they get a fee once in a while. So far so good.
#1219
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 12
Please let me know how to proceed or what to change. Hopefully this will be some good DP's on what, if anything, survives shutdown. I now have 4 serve cards. 1 is activated and being used & abused. 1 is activated but not used. And 2 are sitting in the drawer, not activated.
#1220
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
Do you know if I can load green Serve with Wells Fargo Propel (not world) without setting the CA limit to 0? I've been messaging WF to set the limit several times, but no reply from them for like over a month already. I don't want to call either because of the current situation.
Last edited by sa_cheerio; Apr 30, 2020 at 7:22 pm
#1221
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 206
Could I load serve with my aspiration debit card, satisfying the 1000 spend requirement?
#1223
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: RDU
Posts: 51
When did Serve loading with vgc at DG stopped working?
And so does that mean FD & WM are the only remaining places that work vgc loading now? got a vanilla vgc so that means WM is no go right?
And so does that mean FD & WM are the only remaining places that work vgc loading now? got a vanilla vgc so that means WM is no go right?
#1225
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: RDU
Posts: 51
Tried today at DG and it was declined, something like tendered not allowed. even the top wiki says its not working anymore but idk this until after i got home. But FD worked after 2nd attempt, 1st attempt loading 500 was declined too but my guess is it could be the 500/day limit rule as 2nd time tried loading 200 worked. so now i still got 300 left on vgc
Also how do I pay Chase Freedom with serve? when trying to add payee the option to add didnt work [.Sorry, it looks like the account number or the zip code you entered is incorrect (you may need to enter a 5 or 9 digit zip code number Please try again.]
used chase commercial card as option and entered the card number as acct# and used the return slip zip code from bill but not working
#1226
Tried today at DG and it was declined, something like tendered not allowed. even the top wiki says its not working anymore but idk this until after i got home. But FD worked after 2nd attempt, 1st attempt loading 500 was declined too but my guess is it could be the 500/day limit rule as 2nd time tried loading 200 worked. so now i still got 300 left on vgc
Also how do I pay Chase Freedom with serve? when trying to add payee the option to add didnt work [.Sorry, it looks like the account number or the zip code you entered is incorrect (you may need to enter a 5 or 9 digit zip code number Please try again.]
used chase commercial card as option and entered the card number as acct# and used the return slip zip code from bill but not working
Also how do I pay Chase Freedom with serve? when trying to add payee the option to add didnt work [.Sorry, it looks like the account number or the zip code you entered is incorrect (you may need to enter a 5 or 9 digit zip code number Please try again.]
used chase commercial card as option and entered the card number as acct# and used the return slip zip code from bill but not working
For Chase bill pay, you'll need to set it as Chase Manhattan. You can try to use the long zip code. Serve and BlueBird has the same setup.
#1227
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
Also tried cards that has not been added to serve 1
#1228
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: RDU
Posts: 51
couple DPs from this wk's MS thread on churning subreddit about issues adding/paying Payees/cards, might need to resort to withdraw ATM for a while til its fixed
#1229
I just got my 2nd green serve and tried the bill pay today. To my surprise, when I added the credit cards, it said the same error about zip code. I tried 5 digit and/or 9 digit from my billing statement, none of them worked. Is it because I added the same cards (tried Discover, Chase, and Citi from my 1st serve) or maybe something's going on here?
Also tried cards that has not been added to serve 1
Also tried cards that has not been added to serve 1
#1230
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
That's so weird, I tried every day the past week and had no success of adding Bill pay. Does using the ATM to withdraw money get flagged with Serve?