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 Jul 30, 2019, 5:29 pm
  #961  
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Talking

Originally Posted by RedSun
If you get no clue to the subject, better keep it quiet or learn something. Pls do not try to side-track it.

Most of the Serve cards charge monthly fees. The fees have increased recently. I guess you do not know that fact and only know the cards without fees....
theres only one serve you need and you dont need to pay any monthly fees or load fees. Maybe you should stick to the beginner MS thread 👹
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 6:26 pm
  #962  
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Originally Posted by beast7276

there’s only one serve you need and you don’t need to pay any monthly fees or load fees. Maybe you should stick to the beginner MS thread ��

Which AmEx Serve card has no monthly fee and no load fees? All of us would like to know.

Who is the beginner? I updated a lot of the AmEx Serve Wiki. Please read it and read it thoroughly. Good luck.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 10:04 pm
  #963  
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Originally Posted by RedSun
Which AmEx Serve card has no monthly fee and no load fees? All of us would like to know.

Who is the beginner? I updated a lot of the AmEx Serve Wiki. Please read it and read it thoroughly. Good luck.
That, my friend, is why you'll always be a noob. The answers to your question are in this thread as plain as day. It's too bad the folks with that info didn't update "your" wiki!
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 10:21 pm
  #964  
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Originally Posted by beast7276
That, my friend, is why you'll always be a noob. The answers to your question are in this thread as plain as day. It's too bad the folks with that info didn't update "your" wiki!
Sure you da noob. Quite interesting beast. Enjoy your day roaming.
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Old Jul 31, 2019, 9:35 pm
  #965  
 
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When loading at WM, what’s the best strategy if I want to do the $2.5k limit in one day?
The wiki says to say “no” if the cashier asks about loads over $2k. So just do one transaction for $1.5k and another for $1k? And if so, is it best to go to different locations for the two transactions?
I’ve only been doing one $1k load per day so far, but I want to ramp it up some while minimizing the needed amount of trips into WM.
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Old Aug 1, 2019, 6:23 am
  #966  
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Originally Posted by DBFL
When loading at WM, whats the best strategy if I want to do the $2.5k limit in one day?
The wiki says to say no if the cashier asks about loads over $2k. So just do one transaction for $1.5k and another for $1k? And if so, is it best to go to different locations for the two transactions?
Ive only been doing one $1k load per day so far, but I want to ramp it up some while minimizing the needed amount of trips into WM.
If you want to do higher amount, do money orders. You in luck to do $1k loading at a time. Most of them will deny you anything more than $500. Some even won't do $500 loading.

The Wiki is still excellent source for it.
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Old Aug 1, 2019, 9:16 am
  #967  
 
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Originally Posted by RedSun
If you want to do higher amount, do money orders. You in luck to do $1k loading at a time. Most of them will deny you anything more than $500. Some even won't do $500 loading.

The Wiki is still excellent source for it.
That doesnt answer my question at all. And MO defeats the purpose of using Serve.
Also, Ive had them ask to see the card Im using when getting a single $1k MO. Not once has there been a question when loading that amount onto Serve. And theyve been asking for a DL for any MO over $500 recently, but not for Serve. So Serve is a much faster transaction.
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Old Aug 1, 2019, 9:29 am
  #968  
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Originally Posted by DBFL

That doesnt answer my question at all. And MO defeats the purpose of using Serve.
Also, Ive had them ask to see the card Im using when getting a single $1k MO. Not once has there been a question when loading that amount onto Serve. And theyve been asking for a DL for any MO over $500 recently, but not for Serve. So Serve is a much faster transaction.
I already answered your question. If you want to burn your location for you and all the MSers, then go ahead and try to load $1.5k. If this is so easy, this thread won't be this quiet.

Also read the horror story of someone trying to get $$ back from a failed load. Quite some WM people are not well trained and experienced. If you try to do the complicated multiple swipes and got in trouble, it is very hard work to get your $$ back.

Good luck and report back.
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Old Aug 1, 2019, 11:45 am
  #969  
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Originally Posted by DBFL

That doesnt answer my question at all. And MO defeats the purpose of using Serve.
Also, Ive had them ask to see the card Im using when getting a single $1k MO. Not once has there been a question when loading that amount onto Serve. And theyve been asking for a DL for any MO over $500 recently, but not for Serve. So Serve is a much faster transaction.
Not that you need someone to tell you this, but the best advice anyone can give you is to not read anything RedSun types.

The limits are as stated - 2.5k/day. You can load 1.5k/1k at WM within the rules. Each store is it's own entity so you have to figure out whether they'll be ok with it. Plenty do it with no issue and plenty can't do it because of store specific/CSR specific policies.

Either way - your serve is going to be canned in the next round of bans - enjoy it while you can.
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Old Aug 1, 2019, 3:26 pm
  #970  
 
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Originally Posted by beast7276
Not that you need someone to tell you this, but the best advice anyone can give you is to not read anything RedSun types.

The limits are as stated - 2.5k/day. You can load 1.5k/1k at WM within the rules. Each store is it's own entity so you have to figure out whether they'll be ok with it. Plenty do it with no issue and plenty can't do it because of store specific/CSR specific policies.

Either way - your serve is going to be canned in the next round of bans - enjoy it while you can.
Thanks. And yeah, Im aware that I shouldnt listen to him.

Im sure Ill get shut down during the next wave of Serve shutdowns. And it appears that it can happen whether you do small amounts of MS or large. So if Im going to get shutdown anyway, why not get the most of it while I can?

I was basically looking for input as to what WM will allow. I dont want to burn a good liquidation spot trying to find out what the limits are. So since it can vary by store or region, I know I can at least do $1k loads at the stores Ive been going to. The NM stores have been very easy to deal with here, so I have plenty of options. Maybe next time I get a chatty CSR I can find out what they will allow.
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Old Aug 1, 2019, 3:49 pm
  #971  
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Originally Posted by DBFL

Thanks. And yeah, I’m aware that I shouldn’t listen to him.

I’m sure I’ll get shut down during the next wave of Serve shutdowns. And it appears that it can happen whether you do small amounts of MS or large. So if I’m going to get shutdown anyway, why not get the most of it while I can?

I was basically looking for input as to what WM will allow. I don’t want to burn a good liquidation spot trying to find out what the limits are. So since it can vary by store or region, I know I can at least do $1k loads at the stores I’ve been going to. The NM stores have been very easy to deal with here, so I have plenty of options. Maybe next time I get a chatty CSR I can find out what they will allow.
How to spell out LOL?

We all enjoy while we can. If you are aggressive or listen to the B, you'll just die (burnt or get shut-down) sooner. Others can still live and laugh when that time comes.
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Old Aug 2, 2019, 10:10 pm
  #972  
 
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Cannot get another serve account??

i currently have 2 serve accounts. Called the CSR and he said I have 3 more spots. I recently cancelled 3 because I got the blue instead of green. Every time I apply it says unable to approve you. CSR says maybe clear browser or maybe I entered my data wrong (I didnt). My CS is over 800 and I have already been approved for the 2 other recently. Anybody ever seen this? Is buying a serve card in the store a way around this? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
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Old Aug 3, 2019, 5:14 am
  #973  
 
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Originally Posted by Johnny Moore
i currently have 2 serve accounts. Called the CSR and he said I have 3 more spots. I recently cancelled 3 because I got the blue instead of green. Every time I apply it says unable to approve you. CSR says maybe clear browser or maybe I entered my data wrong (I didnt). My CS is over 800 and I have already been approved for the 2 other recently. Anybody ever seen this? Is buying a serve card in the store a way around this? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
1. Buying in the store will not get around a ban. You will not be able to register the card. It will just be a waste of your money.
2. I never thought that you may be coming up against a cookie or cache problem. I would try to clear all cookies or else use a anonymous setting on your browser to see if you can get around the ban. (I routinely use a VPN)

I was banned by BB in the first shut down but recently got a single BB card (finally). However, I cannot get any other cards, either BB or Serve. I just thought that this was due to my prior shut down.
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Old Aug 3, 2019, 6:52 am
  #974  
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Originally Posted by Johnny Moore
i currently have 2 serve accounts. Called the CSR and he said I have 3 more spots. I recently cancelled 3 because I got the blue instead of green. Every time I apply it says unable to approve you. CSR says maybe clear browser or maybe I entered my data wrong (I didnt). My CS is over 800 and I have already been approved for the 2 other recently. Anybody ever seen this? Is buying a serve card in the store a way around this? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
It takes at least a couple of months for the system to flush out you recently closed accounts. So they still occupy the slots. Just wait.
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Old Aug 3, 2019, 11:12 am
  #975  
 
Join Date: May 2017
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I've been doing only exclusively GCC and GCM loads at WM. I assume VGC issued by US Bank are OK to load too? With PIN, straight forward and no needed to cancel anything?
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