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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 2633058 times)

Offline yosefchaim

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can't read might be a legitimate טענה but can't search???
I tried a search first and n/t came up!!! Anyway can s/o answer my question if you can load a amex reload onto Bluebird. Thanks!

Offline HelpMe

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I tried a search first and n/t came up!!! Anyway can s/o answer my question if you can load a amex reload onto Bluebird. Thanks!
If you tell what you mean by "amex reload" I can then answer.
"Elvis Has Left The Building"

Offline yosefchaim

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If you tell what you mean by "amex reload" I can then answer.
S/o told me that amex offered him on the phone a Amex reload and asked me to find out if it works for BB. Is he making a mistake and there is no such a thing?

Offline HelpMe

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S/o told me that amex offered him on the phone a Amex reload and asked me to find out if it works for BB. Is he making a mistake and there is no such a thing?
Not sure what they are talking about. If they mean an Amex prepaid that can be reloaded that it can't be loaded to the BB.
"Elvis Has Left The Building"

Offline MEIR613

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If you are paying real bills, then there is nothing wrong. If you are sending large sums of money, to the same person , time and again, right after loading up with VR's, for the full amount loaded, they may not be so happy.

Whose the same person?? the bank thats what your suppose to do with bb and besides everyone card sign up bonus 1k-3k not so crazy for paying bills

Offline yosefchaim

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Not sure what they are talking about. If they mean an Amex prepaid that can be reloaded that it can't be loaded to the BB.
Thanks, I'll pass it on.

Offline Thingywingy

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So my concern will not apply to you. However for the guy who is looking to meet thresholds on 3 ink bolds, and intends on sending 15 $1000 payments to his wife or brother, pretending its a payment, MVD might be a better route. Not to say you can't overdo it with MVD, just I would think its a little better.
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline chaimmayer

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What MEir613 is saying is that every time you buy a vr on your cc you are going to have to pay the bill so you have just generated a large bill -to pay off your vr.  he is saying you should use bb to pay that bill.

Offline MEIR613

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What MEir613 is saying is that every time you buy a vr on your cc you are going to have to pay the bill so you have just generated a large bill -to pay off your vr.  he is saying you should use bb to pay that bill.

+1. @thingy. Why do you have to send money to relative just pay the bank straight


Offline regdr

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1.)  I did max ca on MVD temp card.  I now owe 50 cents.  Any reason not to reload with VR and repeat ca for $1 less? 
2.)  Close MVD account when perm card arrives to avoid 90 day dormancy fee?

Offline joey

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At which NYC office supply stores can I get a $500 gift card (any flavor)? My local OD (times square) no longer sells $500 denominations. They now only offer $200 and below.
Thanks

Offline Zalmy2

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I just stopped by at a cvs in Rockland county and I went to the register with 2 my vanilla debits and the machine said I need a other payment the rep didn't even know why she asked maybe just don't have money on my card.....  Anyone had a issue like this?

Offline Zalmy2

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I just stopped by at a cvs in Rockland county and I went to the register with 2 my vanilla debits and the machine said I need a other payment the rep didn't even know why she asked maybe just don't have money on my card.....  Anyone had a issue like this?
just checked my email and I got an alert from Amex that there might be fraud on your card so I guess didn't let it through cause it was a big transaction? What do I need to do in order for them to let it through when I go back?

Offline googleyeshivabocher

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just checked my email and I got an alert from Amex that there might be fraud on your card so I guess didn't let it through cause it was a big transaction? What do I need to do in order for them to let it through when I go back?
Just call them up find out what charges are on the card and tell them once they tell you all the charges you made that you made them and they will approve them . Is this a new amex card ?

Offline Dan

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Just thought I'd mention... I was in a CVS in NJ and found 2 VR's hidden behind some other cards. ;) I'm feeling a little guilty but, a DDFer's gotta do what a DDF'ers goota do! ;D
Lol...+1 CLE.
Chaikel you playing this game yet while you're in town?
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 googleyeshivabocher

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be aware I tried verifying a card online and I put all the correct information and work. I called them up and verified my address and name . Then when I went to do a ca it didn't work so I called them up and without my permission they made my card into a gift card . It is no longer a debit card any suggestions?

Offline Zalmy2

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Just call them up find out what charges are on the card and tell them once they tell you all the charges you made that you made them and they will approve them . Is this a new amex card ?
not a new card but never made such a big transaction

Offline Thingywingy

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What MEir613 is saying is that every time you buy a vr on your cc you are going to have to pay the bill so you have just generated a large bill -to pay off your vr.  he is saying you should use bb to pay that bill.
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/24892
From Dans post "You can also use it to pay any other bills you may have like your mortgage, rent, or utilities, which may raise less of a flag then paying a credit card bill."
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline shmooz

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Not been able to find any VR at cvs or walgreens at all. Anywhere else they may be hiding?

Offline eis517

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Not been able to find any VR at cvs or walgreens at all. Anywhere else they may be hiding?

I have been in 2 different CVS in the past week and half and both had a stack of VR cards that looks like noone has touched them. One was in the Bronx in NY and one was in Westchester in NY. If you want the exact locations, I can post them or let you know via PM.