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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 2263754 times)

Offline HelpMe

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2140 on: February 28, 2013, 05:02:41 PM »
Thanks for your help.  You guys are great at helping!
Thats why we are here!  :)
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Offline Shmulyg

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2141 on: February 28, 2013, 08:33:23 PM »
I called today to close my MVD card (this is the 1st time I close MVD card) and it took me almost 20 mins. The rep asked me why I want to close the card, then put me on hold to talk to a supervisor. Then she came back to ask me again the reason why I want to close it then tried to convince me not to.
What is everybody's experience? How long does it take for u guys to close MVD card?
I only closed 2 so far (have like another 7 to go), but it only took a sec, IME.

Offline Shmulyg

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2142 on: February 28, 2013, 08:35:12 PM »
I just activated my seventh MVR under my name, my social, I did not open an online account after activating
How do you do that? I once tried bailing out after activating, but before making an account, and the card remained inactive.

Offline Zalmy2

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2143 on: February 28, 2013, 09:07:37 PM »
Can I can cash out a mvd with ap? I need to put in fake exp fate? Any charge?

Offline Shmulyg

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2144 on: February 28, 2013, 09:16:44 PM »
Can I can cash out a mvd with ap? I need to put in fake exp fate? Any charge?
That would be a major waste! Just do a cash advance.

Offline Zalmy2

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2145 on: February 28, 2013, 09:35:40 PM »
That would be a major waste! Just do a cash advance.
what is there to waste ? I currently don't have any thresholds to meet and I have this in my pocket for a month already not getting the time to get to a bank in middle the day...

Offline yitzf

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2146 on: February 28, 2013, 09:39:08 PM »
Just checked my MVD account online, and by card status it says on hold  instead of active.

Anyone have this before?

Offline Shmulyg

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what is there to waste ? I currently don't have any thresholds to meet and I have this in my pocket for a month already not getting the time to get to a bank in middle the day...
It's a waste because your forfeiting 1000 free miles/points if you were to use ap for a cc.

Offline yitzf

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Just checked my MVD account online, and by card status it says on hold  instead of active.

Anyone have this before?

They want me to send them a copy of a photo ID and social security card.

Anyone had this before?

Offline Kn9ght

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I only closed 2 so far (have like another 7 to go), but it only took a sec, IME.
Did they ask you to explain why you close the cards? What did you tell them?

Offline Lou Bob

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Did they ask you to explain why you close the cards? What did you tell them?
I wanted to reload my permanent card, and I accidently bought mvd instead of reload
Always use an Amex, you'll thank me one day.

Offline Thingywingy

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Just found a CVS with tons of VR's!
After charging 1k to my Citi Divident, I called Citi to make them verify purchase, and make them aware of another 2k in puirchases today. I told them it would be 2 purchases at about 1k each. I then went back and tried to buy another 1k. The cashier tried to charge it as 2 transactions. 1st went through, but 2nd did not. Could it be because it was a $500 transaction instead of 1k it got flagged, or is citi just a little slow? Afterwards I saw a text from Citi confirming asking me to confirm the charge; but I already paid with my BA card even though I'm not that desperate on that card.
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline deusconsilio

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Just found a CVS with tons of VR's!
After charging 1k to my Citi Divident, I called Citi to make them verify purchase, and make them aware of another 2k in puirchases today. I told them it would be 2 purchases at about 1k each. I then went back and tried to buy another 1k. The cashier tried to charge it as 2 transactions. 1st went through, but 2nd did not. Could it be because it was a $500 transaction instead of 1k it got flagged, or is citi just a little slow? Afterwards I saw a text from Citi confirming asking me to confirm the charge; but I already paid with my BA card even though I'm not that desperate on that card.

I'd take it easy in charging too much CVS activity at one time.  Fraud depts have a hard-on for large CVS charges and I've had cards temporarily shut down b/c of fraud alerts.  I've made the card compensate me for the inconvenience, but not worth it.

Try $1K on a VR and $1K on an MVD and space things out a bit.  Also, make sure your payments do not match the spend. I.e. if you charge 1003.95 at CVS don't turn around and make a $1K payment.  Do something like $250 ... wait a week $525 ... wait a week $225, or whatever.

Offline A3

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Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #2153 on: March 01, 2013, 03:15:43 PM »
I'd take it easy in charging too much CVS activity at one time.  Fraud depts have a hard-on for large CVS charges and I've had cards temporarily shut down b/c of fraud alerts.  I've made the card compensate me for the inconvenience, but not worth it.

Try $1K on a VR and $1K on an MVD and space things out a bit.  Also, make sure your payments do not match the spend. I.e. if you charge 1003.95 at CVS don't turn around and make a $1K payment.  Do something like $250 ... wait a week $525 ... wait a week $225, or whatever.

One my BA card didn't work once,l. Called up the fraud dept. had it cleared. Swiped for 2k 5 min later.
That was my only glitch. I go in and by 2k at a time in two diff transaction and bli ayan hara haven't had any issues.
Oh any I pay 1k from both my BB accounts to the credit card at the same time

Offline noturbizniss

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I'd take it easy in charging too much CVS activity at one time.  Fraud depts have a hard-on for large CVS charges and I've had cards temporarily shut down b/c of fraud alerts.  I've made the card compensate me for the inconvenience, but not worth it.

Try $1K on a VR and $1K on an MVD and space things out a bit.  Also, make sure your payments do not match the spend. I.e. if you charge 1003.95 at CVS don't turn around and make a $1K payment.  Do something like $250 ... wait a week $525 ... wait a week $225, or whatever.
Def take it slow at least in the beginning. Once you establish a pattern you can speed up. At first I did maybe 2 every 7 days but now ill do 4k or sometimes 2k in a day.
As far as the payments go I try to wait a few days and pay off a few k not 1k after each purchase.
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I wanted to reload my permanent card, and I accidently bought mvd instead of reload
How did you know?... That's exactly what i said. Though i didn't say it was accidental, rather i couldn't find any VRs.

Offline Kn9ght

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I've been to 3 banks this morning: BoA, PNC & wells fargo to do a CA on my MVD card but all of them couldn't do it. It said debit card was declined and it doesn't even have an option to put the PIN number in. What did I do wrong?

Offline Shmulyg

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I've been to 3 banks this morning: BoA, PNC & wells fargo to do a CA on my MVD card but all of them couldn't do it. It said debit card was declined and it doesn't even have an option to put the PIN number in. What did I do wrong?
I always do it by Chase. Was never asked for PIN numb.

Offline Kn9ght

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I always do it by Chase. Was never asked for PIN numb.
Too bad there is no Chase branch in my state :(. I think when I visited 3 banks today, they only had the option to CA a credit card; hence no PIN.

Offline cozmohoot

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Is this the only thread for mvd info?