Thanks, it's probably the best idea. But before I got to read the updated thread, I ended up converting the BHN card to SS-VGC at a WM. The terminal defaulted to the Credit mode (unlike the grocery stores always ran as Debit), accepted the whole amount ~$460, and I didn't have deal with that BHN anymore. I think it was worth the $5 fee.

I went to a grocery store with the name starting with the letter M and used a USB VGC and a BHN VGC to get 2 money orders. I wanted to test out whether the MO ban at Safeway is a WU issue. Everything went smoothly. I got a $500 MO and another one for $473.

I had a curious situation occur to me over the weekend. I've been at this a long time but this one has me stumped. Wonder if there are any ideas on what's happening...

I had a set of BHN VGCs and was in the process of liquidating via the normal $480 MO route. I almost always use the M grocer to do the MOs, but in this case I stopped by a different grocery store. Here's what transpired:

1. Card #1 not approved at K for $479.xx. Left the store.
2. Went to M and Card #1 was again not approved for $479.xx. I told the service agent I'd try another card. Tried the exact same BHN-type Card #2 for the same amount and was successful.
3. Waited a day and tried Card #1 again at K for a MO and was again not approved.
4. Made some small purchases with Card #1 and was successful.

I just called BHN thinking maybe there was a fraud alert on Card #1 that needed to get cleared. The rep told me it was declined because it was attempted to be used as a "cash out" transaction...for example if I was trying to do a cash advance or buy a money order. Why in the world is that being detected in this one case? Anyone else experience something similar? For the life of me I can't figure out what's special about this particular card. I may just buy a USB VGC, eat the fee and be done with it, but I hate that I don't know what caused the failure.

I had something similar happen but I don't remember the card issuer. I just used it to buy a SS card and moved on.

Metabank GC serviced by BHN stopped working at K long ago. Only USB GC works.

Well, a new velocity limit seems to have dropped at W-D. Tried $475 with a BHN card and got the dreaded "not authorized." Coupled with the new $6.95 fee on BHN cards, I'd say these are pretty much dead.

Andyandy

Disregard. Seems to have been cashier error. W-D still working at $475.

How soon after purchase can you use them? Do you need to register or set pin? Or use any pin at the time of MO (first) purchase? I assume they would work for AmBB loading as well?

One hour

Thanks. I read somewhere that don't check balance or set new pin etc..otherwise fraud lock kicks in. Is that correct? Thanks

That has been my experience. Since I stopped checking the balance and setting pin online I have had zero problems liquidating.

I bought couple of metabank incomm SS VGC 2 days back. They worked fine for MO without any issues so far. Today at Kroger I got not authorized message and at Walmart I got debit transaction not allowed. I called customer service and was told that this is a new error message they are seeing at their end and asked me to try again after 48 business hours

I never got the fraud alert even after checking the balance or setting a new pin.
I did it with a phone call though.

Anyway, I got lazy and using the last 4 numbers as the PIN has worked flawlessly.

I used the last 4 digits as the pin and it worked for full $500 per swipe for AmBB loading. SSVGC (MB, InComm) worked just fine for full 0.5K / swipe for loading AmBB. BiN 409758. Used last 4 of the card as PIN. No checking balance or setting PIN to avoid possible fraud lock. Did 2 back to back transactions in the garden section of Wally. No errors. Thanks

Is this truly a new problem? I thought everything serviced by Incomm was still OK. I thought the "not authorized" problem was limited to Blackhawk.