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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 2263818 times)

Offline yitzf

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First of all I don't think you're right. Go back to the first few pages of this thread and you'll see what I'm talking about.

2nd of all, how do you think it got "wired into the system"?! The store realized what was going on and therefore programme their registers to not allow it.

3rd of all, once they are alerted to what's going on - even if they don't block cc's, they probably will impose limits.

+1 and I've had multiple experiences where I was denied even though it was not coded into the system.

Offline DJE

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit ca
« Reply #1181 on: January 09, 2013, 02:33:16 PM »
There is also a wiki on this thread that you can check for better understanding.

Thank you Saver2000!
Btw, just wondering, how does one become a DansDealsForum Elite member? Or some type of status? And what is it for?
Thank you DAN for everything!

Offline yitzf

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit ca
« Reply #1182 on: January 09, 2013, 02:42:48 PM »
Thank you Saver2000!
Btw, just wondering, how does one become a DansDealsForum Elite member? Or some type of status? And what is it for?
Thank you DAN for everything!

Maybe he'll sell it to you
can i write over the Lifetime Platinum Elite to my children in my will. or mayb i can sell my elite status (when i get it) to some1 else


Just be careful
...the rumor has it that when they want to ban someone with a lifetime elite membership, they will terminate his life...
Mancunian, I guess we can wish each other mazel tov, we've been promoted to Gold Elite Status here on the forum.

Apparently they will ban us here, if we buy regular (non award tix), especially full-fare ones, are a big no no.

So be careful.

Offline aviz

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit ca
« Reply #1183 on: January 09, 2013, 03:03:21 PM »
I think I got it, please confirm if I am correct.

MVD does not allow you to send to Bluebird. The only option is to withdraw the funds via an ATM or AP.

VR allows you to load directly to Bluebird, and from three you can pay your credit card bill, request a check, etc.

Yea... Originally when he said VR is easier .. it confused me .... I guess yes it takes out the step of going into a bank, getting a cash advance, and depositing the money back into your account to pay your bill ....
I have not read nutcase's post on loading MVD yet .... but why not just do both MVD and Blue bird ... I have done the cash advance on the MVD 4-5 times already... seems like theres a $0.50 fee when doing this with the same card over...
Pleas hold. Your call will be answered in the order it was received.

Offline glasses dude

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+1 and I've had multiple experiences where I was denied even though it was not coded into the system.
could be your right but i dont understand why the store would care if you used a cc, seems like the cc company or vanilla should be the ones to care not the cashier answering the phones. But i guess your right better safe then sorry. i take it back

Offline myb821

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could be your right but i dont understand why the store would care if you used a cc, seems like the cc company or vanilla should be the ones to care not the cashier answering the phones. But i guess your right better safe then sorry. i take it back
the store only get the money fromt he activation fee but they pay cc processing on the whole purchase 2% of 500 is alot more than the fee they r making

Offline noturbizniss

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So i purchased a VR card at cvs with CC and a message came up saying it could not be purchased with a cvs gift card or money card.  Does that mean I cannot use a visa/amex/mc gfift card purchased in office store with ink card? Or is the "money card" something else?
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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...can still do FT method
...READS THE WIKI!!!

Offline MosheP

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I ran to CVS and bought a MVD (I think) for $503.95 on my Ink Plus.  I also took a prepaid reload (see pic). Which is better? Can they both be sent to bluebird, or cashed out at an ATM?



I went back to my CVS  and  got 2 VR for $500 each. She took my credit card w/o batting an eyelash, didn't ask for a license or say anything about $1000 max ( the total was $,007.90).

I went to a Chase Bank and they too had no problems whatsoever cashing out my MVD. The teller was even familiar with MVD and VR.

Did I get lucky, or is this how it always goes?

Also why do they say  not to do this with AMEX?
« Last Edit: January 09, 2013, 08:03:56 PM by MosheP »

Offline sky121

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I went back to my CVS  and  got 2 VR for $500 each. She took my credit card w/o batting an eyelash, didn't ask for a license or say anything about $1000 max ( the total was $,007.90).

Did I get lucky, or is this how it always goes?

Also why do they say  not to do this with AMEX?

I haven't gotten carded yet.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline nutcase

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit ca
« Reply #1189 on: January 09, 2013, 08:04:52 PM »
Are you referring  to this?
yes sir we should name it the nutcase mehalach! (like the pggm)

Offline Redbull3

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I went back to my CVS  and  got 2 VR for $500 each. She took my credit card w/o batting an eyelash, didn't ask for a license or say anything about $1000 max ( the total was $,007.90).

I went to a Chase Bank and they too had no problems whatsoever cashing out my MVD. The teller was even familiar with MVD and VR.

Did I get lucky, or is this how it always goes?

Also why do they say  not to do this with AMEX?

I don't know if you got lucky, maybe I'm just getting unlucky because everyone seems to be getting lucky. I have never bought a VR. I have only even seen them twice, once at CVS and once at Walgreens, and both occassions I tried Amex GC and a CC with no luck.

Offline DJE

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit ca
« Reply #1191 on: January 10, 2013, 09:33:37 AM »
Anyone else having a hard time signing up for Bluebird? I am filling out the application online to get my card and every time I try putting in my date of Birth it doesn't let me do it properly, it erases what I wrote and keeps giving me a message I need to be at least 18 years of age to open an account. Please help me here if anyone has had the same issue.
Thanks a million!
And of course THANK YOU DAN!!!!

Offline DJE

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit ca
« Reply #1192 on: January 10, 2013, 09:36:59 AM »
Got it to work somehow. Phew
THANK YOU DAN!

Offline mmermss

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a little off topic but,

i just ate a delicious dinner, thanks dan!!!
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline aviz

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Pleas hold. Your call will be answered in the order it was received.

Offline MosheP

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Are the VR re-loadable? If I go to a CVS and they are out of VR, can I give the cashier one I already used and ask fir it to be loaded with $500?

Offline MEIR613

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Are the VR re-loadable? If I go to a CVS and they are out of VR, can I give the cashier one I already used and ask fir it to be loaded with $500?
No

Offline btab

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Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #1197 on: January 10, 2013, 01:40:44 PM »
b"h bsha' tova. I signed up on dec 18, 2012 and just received my card FINALLY (had to order another bc the first supposedly got lost). already loaded 1k today :)
learning about churning

Offline Redbull3

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No

Really? I don't know how this slipped passed me and I read almost all of these threads daily. Thanks!!

Offline karen

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Does anyone know whether one can buy  VR using Amex Gift cards?