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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 2624195 times)

Online ual902

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Amex GC's do not work for BB.

What gift cards cards and from what stores will work for bb?.

Offline PBaruch

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CountValentine - I am confused - can you load a Visa or Mastercard Gift Card onto a Target Amex Card at Target or not?
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline CountValentine

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What gift cards cards and from what stores will work for bb?.
Any Visa GC from any store. There are others but I don't feel like giving fishing lessons today.
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half
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Offline CountValentine

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CountValentine - I am confused - can you load a Visa or Mastercard Gift Card onto a Target Amex Card at Target or not?
Most of the time yes. If you run into a know it all clerk (Mrs Target) she might say no.
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half
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Offline PBaruch

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Thanks CountValentine.  I have 3 Mastercard Gift Cards laying around (from recent Staples rebate offer) and will try it this weekend and report back. 
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Online ual902

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Any Visa GC from any store. There are others but I don't feel like giving fishing lessons today.

 When I go to walmart to load my blue bird I will need a pin for the Visa GIFT CARD, is that correct?

Offline CountValentine

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Thanks CountValentine.  I have 3 Mastercard Gift Cards laying around (from recent Staples rebate offer) and will try it this weekend and report back.
If they say no just say OK and leave. Try a different time and/or clerk.
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half
Simone Biles: “I love my black job”

Offline CountValentine

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When I go to walmart to load my blue bird I will need a pin for the Visa GIFT CARD, is that correct?
Short answer, yes.
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half
Simone Biles: “I love my black job”

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Any Visa GC from any store. There are others but I don't feel like giving fishing lessons today.
I just wish there was a list of what gc and from what stores will work to reload bb, my $20 vanilla  gc from waldgreens manhttan won't allow me to create a pin, so not every visa and mc gc works!

Offline CountValentine

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I just wish there was a list of what gc and from what stores will work to reload bb, my $20 vanilla  gc from waldgreens manhttan won't allow me to create a pin, so not every visa and mc gc works!
You bought this GC?
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half
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Offline Shreknit

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You might run into Mrs Target that will tell you no.

Mrs target will let it pass if you show her a nice smile :)

Offline Shreknit

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Most of the time yes. If you run into a know it all clerk (Mrs Target) she might say no.

I feel like giving a fishing lesson. First inspect cashier area at target usually there will be one or two who are extra smiley or bubbly this is the one to choose to do your loading.

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You bought this GC?

 Yes I purchased the vanila visa gc at waldgreens times sq,but the only way to create a pin is to enter debit at checkout after a purchase but no stores treat it this way.

There must be a better way!

 

Offline Saver2000

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If anyone is in Howell Walmart please report if ATM is back in service. It takes forever when you call up to ask. Can't stand the Walmart service. I switched to target.
Machine was working as of yesterday.

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What are the benefits of the target AMEX? And by adding fund to it it just pays the bill or is it like bb where u need funds to make transactions?

Offline smaxber

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After taking a quick look I don't see what is so great about it because there are fees to load onto it in addition to the fees you paid for it to activate the gift card

Offline Shreknit

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What are the benefits of the target AMEX? And by adding fund to it it just pays the bill or is it like bb where u need funds to make transactions?


You can take money out via ATM.

Offline smaxber

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Machine was working as of yesterday.
Thanks sooooo much!!! ;)
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.