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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 2350721 times)

Offline etech0

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7680 on: February 19, 2014, 01:04:45 AM »
do you do this online? the closest m&t is not close...do you send check deposits from BB to m&t directly online?
I did that once, or else I go to the branch to deposit. It could be that they have a smartphone app that could deposit checks - not sure.

It doesn't have to be M&T - just any bank where you don't have CCs. And you want to look for an account without fees.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline ah

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7681 on: February 19, 2014, 01:34:03 AM »
I did that once, or else I go to the branch to deposit. It could be that they have a smartphone app that could deposit checks - not sure.

It doesn't have to be M&T - just any bank where you don't have CCs. And you want to look for an account without fees.
thanks! my question then is...once i open the account, is it safe from bluebirds end to send payments into that bank account online? is this even possible? all ive been doing so far is writing out checks to myself at citibank...i guess too risky since i have credit cards there? I'm really not knowledgable about banking in general (clearly) sorry if these questions sound dumb...has anyone ever written bluebird checks to a friend and had the friend write you one back or give cash? or is that pointless? dont want to mess up with bluebird :)

Offline ckmk47

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7682 on: February 19, 2014, 02:07:03 AM »
Edited the wiki.  The 'What to do with it:' section.
I put the 'pay bills with BB' first. On line or with their checks. and followed it with 'withdraw to your bank.'
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Offline ah

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7683 on: February 19, 2014, 02:22:25 AM »
Edited the wiki.  The 'What to do with it:' section.
I put the 'pay bills with BB' first. On line or with their checks. and followed it with 'withdraw to your bank.'
thank you so much! I as a "n00b", or whatever anyone wants to call me, REALLY appreciate the honest help (and patience) without the criticism!

Offline Redbull3

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Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7684 on: February 19, 2014, 07:04:50 AM »
thanks! my question then is...once i open the account, is it safe from bluebirds end to send payments into that bank account online? is this even possible? all ive been doing so far is writing out checks to myself at citibank...i guess too risky since i have credit cards there? I'm really not knowledgable about banking in general (clearly) sorry if these questions sound dumb...has anyone ever written bluebird checks to a friend and had the friend write you one back or give cash? or is that pointless? dont want to mess up with bluebird :)
You can withdraw funds from bb to a linked bank account online. Some are a little nervous about doing this especially if it's to a bank that you have a cc with that you bought vrs with. Like everything else with bb it might be overcaution as no one has actually ever been shutdown by bb afaik except for loading online with gc.

Offline HDS

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7685 on: February 19, 2014, 11:01:29 AM »
@ckmk47
@Redbull3

Unless I'm missing something fundamental about "withdrawing to a linked bank account online", the edit I just made to the wiki makes it clearer what this means and how this works. If I did miss something, please edit the wiki again to make it clearer.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7686 on: February 19, 2014, 11:07:47 AM »
@ckmk47
@Redbull3

Unless I'm missing something fundamental about "withdrawing to a linked bank account online", the edit I just made to the wiki makes it clearer what this means and how this works. If I did miss something, please edit the wiki again to make it clearer.

it really isn't like "any other payee." there is a distinct button that says "withdraw funds" or something along those lines. I avoid that completely because many people report BB not being so happy. It isn't using BB "as intended"

Offline HDS

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7687 on: February 19, 2014, 11:14:27 AM »
Weird!

I guess because all of the description about linking an account talks about it as a funding source, I never linked a bank account. I just checked carefully - there is nothing at all in advance that even discusses the functionality of sending money TO the bank account.

I've always send myself money as a payee.

If I linked an account, it would let me withdraw into it? Do I have that right? And if it does, how is that not using BB as intended? Why build that feature?

Offline etech0

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7688 on: February 19, 2014, 11:26:18 AM »
Weird!

I guess because all of the description about linking an account talks about it as a funding source, I never linked a bank account. I just checked carefully - there is nothing at all in advance that even discusses the functionality of sending money TO the bank account.

I've always send myself money as a payee.

If I linked an account, it would let me withdraw into it? Do I have that right? And if it does, how is that not using BB as intended? Why build that feature?
I've done it. i wonder if sending money to myself as a payee is safer. Anyone know??
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline DBK

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7689 on: February 19, 2014, 11:38:38 AM »
it really isn't like "any other payee." there is a distinct button that says "withdraw funds" or something along those lines. I avoid that completely because many people report BB not being so happy. It isn't using BB "as intended"
Are you saying that using BB to transfer funds into a different bank account is using BB not as intended?

Offline CountValentine

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7690 on: February 19, 2014, 11:53:23 AM »
I send money at random to people I don't know. Is this safe?
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Offline DBK

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7691 on: February 19, 2014, 11:56:03 AM »
I send money at random to people I don't know. Is this safe?
???

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7692 on: February 19, 2014, 11:57:21 AM »
I send money at random to people I don't know. Is this safe?

My address is...

Offline CountValentine

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7693 on: February 19, 2014, 12:01:23 PM »
My address is...
...that would not be random.  ;)
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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7694 on: February 19, 2014, 12:11:04 PM »
...that would not be random.  ;)
So can you guess my address?
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Offline ushdadude

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7695 on: February 19, 2014, 12:14:48 PM »
I've done it. i wonder if sending money to myself as a payee is safer. Anyone know??

The safest would be to send it to someone else or to write yourself a physical check.

Are you saying that using BB to transfer funds into a different bank account is using BB not as intended?

I don't think it was created to add money and to withdraw directly. If you do it too often it can raise a flag.

Offline DBK

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7696 on: February 19, 2014, 12:17:23 PM »
The safest would be to send it to someone else or to write yourself a physical check.

I don't think it was created to add money and to withdraw directly. If you do it too often it can raise a flag.

So then when attempting to meet a threshold using VR, since its not good to pay the credit card you are attempting to meet with the money transferred into BB, and its potentially raising a red flag to send to your bank and pay that way what is the best alternative to do so without raising any flags?

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7697 on: February 19, 2014, 12:19:10 PM »
So then when attempting to meet a threshold using VR, since its not good to pay the credit card you are attempting to meet with the money transferred into BB, and its potentially raising a red flag to send to your bank and pay that way what is the best alternative to do so without raising any flags?

The safest would be to send it to someone else or to write yourself a physical check.
That's what I do. Many DDfers are more aggressive  than me and will pay cc directly. Do what you're comfortable with.

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7698 on: February 19, 2014, 12:26:36 PM »
The safest would be to send it to someone else or to write yourself a physical check.
That's what I do. Many DDfers are more aggressive  than me and will pay cc directly. Do what you're comfortable with.
Understood so sending to a bank account in my wifes name would probably be the best course of action. I am too new to be overly aggressive but thanks a bunch for the tips

Offline sam i am

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7699 on: February 19, 2014, 12:32:17 PM »
@ckmk47
@Redbull3

Unless I'm missing something fundamental about "withdrawing to a linked bank account online", the edit I just made to the wiki makes it clearer what this means and how this works. If I did miss something, please edit the wiki again to make it clearer.
Please change wiki back. You "link" your account. You can send money either way, to and fro. If you abuse this, it is not using bb as intended, but in moderation it is fine