Old Jan 5, 2017, 4:03 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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
  • 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
You can combine the three methods above and load a total of $7k/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.

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

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

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)
Treated as purchase, but doesn't earn points/miles:
  • 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
  1. 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.

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.

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

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



Print Wikipost

Amex Serve master thread (2017-2023)

Old Mar 4, 2018, 11:00 am
  #316  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Originally Posted by SusanC23
I have three OneVIP Serve accounts and three separate online logins. Due to poor record keeping, I do not know which log in is for which card. Is there anyway to figure it out (besides loading each one with a different amount of $)?
Login online and download a statement, and the card number will be at the top right of the statement.
SusanC23 likes this.
Superorb is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:42 pm
  #317  
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 523
Originally Posted by SusanC23
I have three OneVIP Serve accounts and three separate online logins. Due to poor record keeping, I do not know which log in is for which card. Is there anyway to figure it out (besides loading each one with a different amount of $)?
Originally Posted by Superorb
Login online and download a statement, and the card number will be at the top right of the statement.
After you do that, write your user ID in the signature space on the card
FrankMS is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2018, 8:50 am
  #318  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 233
Has anyone who got shut down been able to get back in? I tried but never was able to
EL3V3N is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2018, 9:03 am
  #319  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Can you do multiple swipes per load at Dollar General stores? Have a stack of OD $200 GCs to liquidate.

Anyone found a place to do free loads that accept gebits besides DG/WM?
Superorb is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2018, 11:53 pm
  #320  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: New Jersey
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL, AC, CX, BA, AGR, IHG, HH, CC, UR, MR, TY
Posts: 121
Originally Posted by Superorb
Can you do multiple swipes per load at Dollar General stores? Have a stack of OD $200 GCs to liquidate.

Anyone found a place to do free loads that accept gebits besides DG/WM?
I've done 2 x $500 at one DG before. Probably could've done the next 3 but don't like to push it beyond 1 usually.
gamzarme is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2018, 12:05 pm
  #321  
Used to be bulldoggolfer05
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Săo Paulo, BR/Miami Beach, FL/NYC/DXB
Programs: HGP DMD, HHonors DMD, SPG PLT, MR PLT
Posts: 2,295
Apologies if this has been answered already, but the SoftCard version used to allow Credit Card loads from non American Express cards. Has this been changed? I keep getting an error message when trying to attach a card to my profile.
NDDomer86 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2018, 2:32 pm
  #322  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
Originally Posted by NDDomer86
Apologies if this has been answered already, but the SoftCard version used to allow Credit Card loads from non American Express cards. Has this been changed? I keep getting an error message when trying to attach a card to my profile.
Most, if not all ,of those who had the Softcard AXP have been shutdown back in Jan 2016. If you are one of the lucky survivors, it may still work like a regular Serve card but the perks like online loading with any MC, V, Disc CC up to $1500 per month was probably canceled in 2016. Try and see if you can still load your card at WM up to $2500 per day/ $5K per calendar month.
Mamibear is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2018, 3:39 pm
  #323  
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
Originally Posted by NDDomer86
Apologies if this has been answered already, but the SoftCard version used to allow Credit Card loads from non American Express cards. Has this been changed? I keep getting an error message when trying to attach a card to my profile.
According to the WIKI, Softcard still takes non-Amex, but I have no idea how old that information is. As Mamiber said, most of Softcard has been shut down, so it wouldn't surprise me if you could still use cards already in SoftCard, but aren't allowed to add new cards even to an already existing account. What's the actual error message?
Klemhuzzah is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2018, 5:11 pm
  #324  
Used to be bulldoggolfer05
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Săo Paulo, BR/Miami Beach, FL/NYC/DXB
Programs: HGP DMD, HHonors DMD, SPG PLT, MR PLT
Posts: 2,295
Originally Posted by Klemhuzzah
According to the WIKI, Softcard still takes non-Amex, but I have no idea how old that information is. As Mamiber said, most of Softcard has been shut down, so it wouldn't surprise me if you could still use cards already in SoftCard, but aren't allowed to add new cards even to an already existing account. What's the actual error message?
I could load from non-American Express credit cards just fine until about a week ago, but I don't recall receiving any correspondence regarding a change in terms.

Every time I attempt to add a CC I get the following error message which is the standard message when adding a card fails: "Due to technical difficulties we are unable to process your request at the moment. Please try again at a later time. We apologize for the inconvenience."
NDDomer86 is offline  
Old Mar 27, 2018, 9:10 pm
  #325  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: United, Hyatt, AA, Southwest, Aeroplan
Posts: 43
Help liquidating temporary Serve card

I'm pretty new to MS (and points in general), but I'm trying to learn as fast as I can by reading the forums. Unfortunately, in my learning, I think I made a mistake with Serve cards after having not done enough reading on them.

Since the temporary cards have no fees when bought at CVS, I was treating them as gift cards and liquidating them after I bought the temporary cards with my credit cards. In the past couple weeks, I bought about 7 cards, I think I've been shut down (see below). I was able to liquidate 6 cards (either though bank transfer or through ATM withdraws, I closed each account after having done so,so I guess that's why I was able to do more than 5). In any case, I've still got this 7th card and I'm not sure how to liquidate it (other than, I guess, spending it on stuff, or maybe other gift cards). I'll try calling Serve again tomorrow morning, but they were pretty unhelpful the last couple times (blaming it on the "computer" and "the system"); they even went so far as to tell me to try in Internet Explorer (which basically makes dirt look young). Any ideas as to what I can do with this thing are appreciated. I also suppose I could ask a relative to sign up with it and then liquidate it fast, but I'm not sure if they're keeping tabs on this particular card now, as they keep asking me for verification (Driver's license) when I provided different details.

Shutdown notice? (remove space before the .com):
imgur. com/a/yUEB3
audifanatic2510 is offline  
Old Mar 27, 2018, 9:13 pm
  #326  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: United, Hyatt, AA, Southwest, Aeroplan
Posts: 43
Originally Posted by SideShowBob
Tried applying for a serve for my son (18 years old). He has good credit (~725) although only through authorized user cards. Rejected by serve, "Unfortunately we cannot approve you". Tried again from a PC (first was from a phone) thinking maybe it didn't like the address, but same error. Both emails have a card number (last four digits in them) so any chance this is some temporary issue on the amex side? Afraid to try using my name/SSN as I already have and don't want to get blocked by them.
I'm having a similar issue (see previous post) but I think it's for too many accounts and/or suspicious activity (I'm a newb at this)
audifanatic2510 is offline  
Old Apr 2, 2018, 11:51 am
  #327  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 615
Dipping my tow in the serve waters to start. Just got a serve card but one question I have is that I keep reading references to people keeping mutilple serve accounts. Is it advisable to space out these new account apps a certain amount? Ge them all at once? etc
gumercindo is offline  
Old Apr 5, 2018, 4:08 pm
  #328  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: New Jersey
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL, AC, CX, BA, AGR, IHG, HH, CC, UR, MR, TY
Posts: 121
In NYC area it is hard as heck to load Serves at DG or FD. Like 50% have started checking cards (debits/GCs), Serve (VIP for me), and DL (!) to make sure the name matches and (I presume) it doesn't mention GC on the debit. So the only way I've been able to proceed is with cards that look like normal debits and have my name, and use the GC # on the magstrip. Then, like 50% of the stores 'lost' the barcode card so I let them scan mine ... (then the machine is broken or they 'can't' load via debit). Good luck out there, maybe you can develop a good rapport with your nearest cashier and load x 5. I just do 1 per store.
gamzarme is offline  
Old Apr 5, 2018, 6:46 pm
  #329  
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 165
Originally Posted by SideShowBob
Will add just this week I was able to sign up my son for a bluebird (Walmart version of Serve). I was then also able to sign myself up and my wife. We were all unable to sign up previously. Have not tempted fate enough yet to try another serve signup but likely will soon. So you may just need to wait until whatever block they have on you expires -- mine was about 2 months.
Originally Posted by audifanatic2510
I'm having a similar issue (see previous post) but I think it's for too many accounts and/or suspicious activity (I'm a newb at this)

Will add just this week I was able to sign up my son for a bluebird (Walmart version of Serve). I was then also able to sign myself up and my wife. We were all unable to sign up previously. Have not tempted fate enough yet to try another serve signup but likely will soon. So you may just need to wait until whatever block they have on you expires -- mine was about 2 months.
SideShowBob is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2018, 4:26 pm
  #330  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 45
What happens if you get shutdown and you still have money in the account?
Ryn996 is offline  

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