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Bluebird

The basics:

Sign up for a free account from Bluebird. Wait 7-10 business days to receive the card. If you have a Serve account, you will need to cancel it and then wait about 30 days before signing up. You need to wait for your physical BB card before you can proceed here.

Please note: As of the beginning of July 2014, you can load a maximum of $2500 a day at a WM register or ATM, up to $5,000 each calendar month into your Bluebird (hereafter: "BB") account. As of September 4, 2014, you can also load an additional $200/day with a debit card, up to $1000/month, though this might be risky, see below, II.4.

You can find answers to many questions here: https://www.bluebird.com/faqs?linknav=us-Prepaid-Bluebird-Home-Faqs#bluebird-checks And here: https://www.bluebird.com/ (just scroll down instead of clicking 'log in')

How to load it:

"Gift" cards (GCs)
Mastercard (MC) and Visa GCs have PIN codes that will make the cards function as debit cards. GCs may be used to load up your BB account in any Walmart, as will be explained below, or to get cash back when purchasing with them. Note that not all GCs work this way. Those from Metabank do, as do others. AMEX GCs are not capable of working with a PIN. They can only be used as gift cards. GCs for a specific business or store (iTunes or Home Depot or whatever) will never work in the ways described here. Note that 'Vanilla' brand GCs can no longer  be loaded to BB.

1. Buy Visa or MC GCs. The larger the denomination the better, since the fee-to-balance ratio will be better. Buy them anywhere, but you get the most out of this if you buy them with a CC that pays more than 1 point per dollar at that store at that time.

2. You will need a PIN for each GC. If you bought a MC GC, call the number on the back of the card or go online to set a PIN. If you bought a Visa, the last four digits of the card number will usually work, as long as you have not used the card yet. If you have used it, you had to set a PIN, so use that.
The # for US Bank MC Gift Cards is 1-866-952-5653. 1/2/<16 digit cc>#/<3 digits from back>#/3/PIN#/PIN#.

3. Go to Walmart (WM).

There are two suggested ways to load the GCs to BB at WM. Via a MoneyPass ATM (preferred) or via any cashier. Neither method charges an additional fee to what you paid when you bought the card. Please do not go to the service desk. Certainly do not refer to the GCs as gift cards, as they are, in fact, debit cards.

3a. MoneyPass ATMs

Not all WMs have MoneyPass ATMs, and MoneyPass ATMs at non-WM locations will not work to load BB. You can search for MoneyPass ATMs at WMs here: http://www.moneypass.com/atm-locator.aspx

Some report that MoneyPass ATMs in WMs near areas with high concentrations of DDFers seem to be permanently out of service. You may need to go farther afield or use the other method, mentioned below.

Follow the instructions on the machine to load your BB card. In some cases, the "WM Money Card" option will work for BB as well. Be patient and careful with your card swipes, as the machines are often slow or touchy. Each GC will be a separate transaction. Remember, the maximum of $2,500/day per BB account always applies.

If you are using high-denomination GCs, have found a very quick ATM, had a fellow BBer ahead of you, or are just experienced and able to complete each transaction very quickly, it is possible that you will complete $2,000 of transactions within about 10 minutes, which locks up the ATM for a while. Take a walk around the store and come back to let the machine unlock.

3b. Cashier

Please remember to be friendly, considerate and compassionate in all your interactions.

Ask a cashier to load your BB account from a debit card. If they don't know how, tell them to use 70 action code (they may need to type 70 first, followed by "action code") and follow the instructions on their screen. They are able to split a single transaction into up to four different cards, but it can be simpler to add one GC at a time, especially with people waiting behind you on line. You can then go back around to the same or another cashier to add other cards. Again, the $2,500/day per BB account applies.

This method should work at any WM - as intended by the BB product - but there are many stores in which some or all of the staff and management are suspicious of such transactions and will not do it. Your chances of convincing them to do something they think will risk their jobs is slim to none so if you encounter such resistance, please: Do take no for an answer and leave courteously to try another store or another day.
You want to stay under the radar as much as possible, so if things start getting complicated, tell them that you just remembered that you need to pick your kid up from school or whatever (have a good excuse ready beforehand) and that you need to leave, but you'll be back later. Th is way they forgot about their suspicions much faster.

4. It is apparently possible to load up to $200 per day to BB from debit cards on the BB web site for free, up to $1000 per month. Please note that people have had their BB accounts frozen or shut down for using GCs to load BB online, and that the BB site clearly says that any debit card used must be in the BB account holder's name. You have been warned.

Using A MC GC
Frequently a MC is declined at WM

When using the moneypass ATM, press the button ABOVE the BB button.  It may work without the following workaround.
The workaround is to:
1. Swipe MC
2.If you have the black and green screen press Cancel.If you have the white screen with colored touch icons, then right after you swipe a yellow 'change payment' button well pop up for a second, press that (you have to be fast).  You can also push the physical yellow button on the keypad. It does the same thing.
3. Select Debit
4. No Cash Back
5. Enter the PIN

Also seems to work if only $99 loaded.  or 99.99, too.

What to do with the money on your BB:

On the BB site, money can be sent to pay bills that don't normally accept CCs (think rent/mortgage, tuition, insurance, car payment, gas bill, even pay your cc bill) or to anyone in the U.S. for free. Use the 'pay and transfer tab'.  Checks sent online this way are delivered within 5 business days. (It may be prudent not to use BB to directly pay the CC on which you purchased the VRs/GCs that funded BB, but, once again, YMMV.)

Some people would rather use the free physical checks that you can order from BB. Please note that these checks need to be pre-authorized by you online, and a number written on them, before you give them to the person/institution you are paying. For checks of more than $2,000, authorization will require additional information and time. You need to provide the information and wait for confirmation before the check will be valid.

The money in your BB account can be withdrawn directly to a linked bank account, which, if done too much, may be seen as risky by BB, but in moderation should be fine. You can also send money to your bank account online by check, same as any other payee, but this might be risky from the perspective of the bank (not BB) if you bank and have CCs at the same institution.

Useful organizing techniques:

It can be unwieldy and confusing when standing in front of the WM ATM with a BB card or two and a bunch of GCs, some used, some not. The last thing anyone wants is to end up throwing away several hundred dollars on a perfectly good GC because you mistakenly thought it was drained. I'm sure there are contributors to this thread who have woken up in a cold sweat from just such a nightmare. Plus, being unorganized costs you time, and may make it more likely that some employee thinks you are up to something. Here are a few strategies for how to be organized.

1. Cargo pants, or other clothing/accessories with plenty of different pockets. Use different pockets for GCs yet to use and used GCs.

2. If you have more than one BB card, shuffle them into the stack of GCs at the appropriate spots for how many GCs you plan to load to each card. That way, you can just work through the stack and finish/begin each new BB card in turn.

3. A Sharpie marker works well for marking off GCs or BBs that you're done with. The marks even come off the cards with a little alcohol. Careful not to mark yourself or your clothes though.

4. Sort your GCs in ascending order of last 4 digits.  That makes it easier to keep track of which GCs are used.

To Close Your Bluebird:
While logged into your BB account, open this page: https://secure.bluebird.com/Profile/CloseAccount   

This no longer works and the only way to close your account is to call
For more details, including how to close family accounts, see (FM writeup)
« Last edited by justmeha on January 11, 2020, 11:55:46 PM »

Author Topic: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card  (Read 2263892 times)

Offline itsyehuda

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2060 on: February 20, 2013, 08:32:20 PM »
YMMV by store. Some sale only 2a day some allow no limit. I've We've done 6 at a time in 3 transactions with one cashier

Has anyone had problems with Chase because of this? I bought one VR on Chase freedom and got a call from Fraud prevention. No big deal, but I'm not sure if I should push my luck.
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline Steven

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2061 on: February 20, 2013, 08:39:53 PM »
Has anyone had problems with Chase because of this? I bought one VR on Chase freedom and got a call from Fraud prevention. No big deal, but I'm not sure if I should push my luck.
your fine. fraud dept is always wary of big charges that are out of the ordinary.

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2062 on: February 20, 2013, 08:50:48 PM »
Has anyone had problems with Chase because of this? I bought one VR on Chase freedom and got a call from Fraud prevention. No big deal, but I'm not sure if I should push my luck.
When I first got my BA card 2 months ago I either got called by fraud prevention or had the transaction declined until I called chase or the cashier at cvs got a printout with a number to call at chase fraud prevention. One of those happened for the first 10k of vanilla reload spending at cvs at least 5 times until I established spending patterns and paid off the balances often before the statement closed.
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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Offline yitzf

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2063 on: February 20, 2013, 09:30:57 PM »
Funny you say that,  just this afternoon I got 1k at the pharmacy then a couple of minutes later I come up front with another two cards and the clerk tells me "I was told to tell you that there's a limit of 1k a day".

 I'm not really sure what happened.
YMMV by store. Some sale only 2a day some allow no limit. I've We've done 6 at a time in 3 transactions with one cashier

My point was that the clerk in front had no way of seeing (I think) me at the pharmacy counter,  and also her language was "I was told", which I took to mean that s/o told her not to let me... and not her just stating the policy.

Offline jmansour

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2064 on: February 20, 2013, 10:33:30 PM »
If anyones in vegas the cvs by the hard rock is stacked with VRs.
Most people look to win money at the casino.. DDFers try to score VR.
Me and a buddy did a run before and the nice lady let us do 2 separate transactioms of $1k each

Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2065 on: February 21, 2013, 02:00:08 AM »
Got email today from Amex... You can now reload Amex prepaid cards with Vanilla Reloads.
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline Dan

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2066 on: February 21, 2013, 04:02:35 AM »
Got email today from Amex... You can now reload Amex prepaid cards with Vanilla Reloads.
Just $400/month free via ATM, but better than nothing I suppose.
Has anyone tried the free ATMs at Barclays Center yet?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline HelpMe

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2067 on: February 21, 2013, 06:08:19 AM »
Got email today from Amex... You can now reload Amex prepaid cards with Vanilla Reloads.
Talk about late to the party.   ;)
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Offline jaywhy

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2068 on: February 21, 2013, 06:25:23 AM »
Just $400/month free via ATM, but better than nothing I suppose.
Has anyone tried the free ATMs at Barclays Center yet?
I went looking for them last week. I couldn't find any of the free ones outside and the supposed free one inside had just started charging a $3 fee, according to the woman at the box office. She said it always used to be free... There were other ATM's inside the main concourse but they wouldn't let me in as they are only open during gametime.

Offline judahk88

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2069 on: February 21, 2013, 03:07:05 PM »
Just $400/month free via ATM, but better than nothing I suppose.
Has anyone tried the free ATMs at Barclays Center yet?
Ill be there in a week. Ill check it out.

Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2070 on: February 21, 2013, 04:45:49 PM »
Talk about late to the party.   ;)
It was mentioned before? Not sure what the big benefit would be. I load my VR's to my BB or MVD's.
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline glasses dude

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2071 on: February 21, 2013, 05:43:20 PM »
It was mentioned before? Not sure what the big benefit would be. I load my VR's to my BB or MVD's.
It says on the front of the vr that it can be used to load prepaid amex.

Offline yossi4k

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2072 on: February 21, 2013, 05:45:00 PM »
Is it just me or is cvs getting stricter with their  'no vr purchase with gc' policy?

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2073 on: February 21, 2013, 05:51:12 PM »
Wiki beautified :)
Would like someone to proof read it, thanks :)
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Offline Lou Bob

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2074 on: February 21, 2013, 06:58:28 PM »
Wiki beautified :)
Would like someone to proof read it, thanks :)
looks good
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Offline HelpMe

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2075 on: February 21, 2013, 07:29:51 PM »
It was mentioned before? Not sure what the big benefit would be. I load my VR's to my BB or MVD's.
Before BB and MVD where did you load them?
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Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2076 on: February 21, 2013, 08:46:41 PM »
Before BB and MVD where did you load them?
i didn't.
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline HelpMe

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2077 on: February 22, 2013, 02:28:06 AM »
i didn't.
Many were loading them to Amex prepaids. It has been going on for some time.
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Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2078 on: February 22, 2013, 02:35:53 AM »
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/28665
Apparently it was news to Dan as well!
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline HelpMe

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2079 on: February 22, 2013, 02:39:32 AM »
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/28665
Apparently it was news to Dan as well!
Whats your point? Dans field is not exploiting cash back.
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