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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 2263558 times)

Offline HDS

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7480 on: February 11, 2014, 03:05:23 PM »
My comment was NOT addressed to those who ask questions instead of reading the T&C . It was directed at this comment: That is, its easier to just ask the same questions again and again even though one knows they have been asked but they are too lazy to search

+1

I hear ya.

Offline shauly

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7481 on: February 11, 2014, 04:12:20 PM »
So I got my first two VRs today, and I put them into my BB. Before I transfer it out though, maybe someone can clarify something for me..

The wiki here says that "The money in your BB account can be deposited straight into your bank account", and that "It is only prudent not to use BB to directly pay the CC on which you purchased the VRs/GCs that funded BB".

Dan said over here (http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/35174) that "Personally I also avoid making online Bluebird transfers to checking accounts"..

So what is it? Is it safe to put it into my Chase account and then pay my Starwood? I purchased the VRs with my Starwood, it's the only card I have for now since I'm just starting.

Thanks
« Last Edit: February 11, 2014, 04:17:16 PM by shauly »

Offline mordyl19

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7482 on: February 11, 2014, 04:15:37 PM »
i directly pay Amex and Citi with VR and BB. I have read that people have run into issues with direct cash transfers. I do it to avoid an issue
I am not 100% sure about this. But I am going to click it anyway.

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7483 on: February 11, 2014, 04:17:14 PM »
So I got my first two VRs today, and I put them into my BB. Before I transfer it out though, maybe someone can clarify something for me..

The wiki here says that "The money in your BB account can be deposited straight into your bank account", and that "It is only prudent not to use BB to directly pay the CC on which you purchased the VRs/GCs that funded BB".

Dan said over here (http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/35174) that "Personally I also avoid making online Bluebird transfers to checking accounts"..

So what is it? Is it safe to put it into my Chase account and then pay my Starwood?

Thanks

Do NOT transfer $ directly from BB to your bank account.  Doing so will invite unwanted scrutiny.  In my opinion, I would NOT deposit BB checks into Chase accounts if you are buying VR with Chase CC's.  Others may have a differing view, but I think this is the safer route.  My advice would be to deposit BB checks into an account with a bank that you do not have credit cards with.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline HDS

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7484 on: February 11, 2014, 04:18:18 PM »
Some of it is what you are comfortable with, and where those checking accounts are relative to your CCs.

Also, you can order checks, which some people prefer to use over online transfers.

@PBaruch - oops - what you said. :)

Offline Adam101

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7485 on: February 11, 2014, 04:18:29 PM »
I have not had that happen to me.

What debit card are you using? Visa? MC?
Have you tried asking a cashier to load BB?
happened to me to.  Visa gc from vanilla.

Offline shauly

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7486 on: February 11, 2014, 04:19:49 PM »
Do NOT transfer $ directly from BB to your bank account.  Doing so will invite unwanted scrutiny.  In my opinion, I would NOT deposit BB checks into Chase accounts if you are buying VR with Chase CC's.  Others may have a differing view, but I think this is the safer route.  My advice would be to deposit BB checks into an account with a bank that you do not have credit cards with.

But if I have no CCs with Chase, it would be okay? At the moment I have no other checking accounts. I've got my Chase checkings and savings, and my Starwood.

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7487 on: February 11, 2014, 04:20:53 PM »
But if I have no CCs with Chase, it would be okay? At the moment I have no other checking accounts. I've got my Chase checkings and savings, and my Starwood.

Chase is finicky - I would avoid it.  Probably safer to deposit into a small local bank you use or BOFA or Wells Fargo.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline ckmk47

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7488 on: February 11, 2014, 04:24:19 PM »
I use my BB to pay bills.  If you have none of your own, then figure out a safe cash out option.  Otherwise: rent/ mortgage, insurance, car payment,  gas bill.....
My favorite cause: cssy.org

Offline shauly

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7489 on: February 11, 2014, 04:29:28 PM »
Chase is finicky - I would avoid it.  Probably safer to deposit into a small local bank you use or BOFA or Wells Fargo.

Okay, thanks so much.

So for now I've ordered checks from BB, and I'll have to figure out what to do with them when they arrive..

Is it also a bad idea to make the checks out to my mother in law, who has Chase as well and can transfer them into my account?

Or should I wait until I'm in America, sign up for another bank, deposit them there, and pay my Starwood that way?


Offline ranhan429

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7490 on: February 11, 2014, 06:09:36 PM »
Bought my first VR in CVS and transferred it into my BB acct. I have CapitalOne 360 (formerly ING direct). I do not really have any credit cards with them (one old capital one card that I never use anymore thanks to Dan). I pay my Chase cc of with ING. I do not have a Chase Checking account (yet). My plan was to transfer BB money into CapitalOne 360. Would this trigger anything?!

-- PS just re-read updated wiki. Awesome. Going to try and find a gas station to buy a Visa GC at 5X with freedom card to max out the 1500$. Any insight as to which gas stations would be appreciated!! Still very new to the world of BB/VR.
כפרות על כפרה

Offline etech0

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7491 on: February 11, 2014, 06:10:44 PM »
Bought my first VR in CVS and transferred it into my BB acct. I have CapitalOne 360 (formerly ING direct). I do not really have any credit cards with them (one old capital one card that I never use anymore thanks to Dan). I pay my Chase cc of with ING. I do not have a Chase Checking account (yet). My plan was to transfer BB money into CapitalOne 360. Would this trigger anything?!

-- PS just re-read updated wiki. Awesome. Going to try and find a gas station to buy a Visa GC at 5X with freedom card to max out the 1500$. Any insight as to which gas stations would be appreciated!! Still very new to the world of BB/VR.
It's not a gas station, but if you read some of this thread you might hear people mention CVS here and there...
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

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 #7492 on: February 11, 2014, 06:24:26 PM »
It's not a gas station, but if you read some of this thread you might hear people mention CVS here and there...
-1
He needs gas station to earn bonus on freedom. CVS is of no use for that. Somewhere it was posted that many 7/11's are classified as gas stations, even if they don't actually sell gas. You can't buy VR's with CC, but you can buy OV or VVGC

Offline BigDanFan

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7493 on: February 11, 2014, 07:44:56 PM »
I use my BB to pay bills.  If you have none of your own, then figure out a safe cash out option.  Otherwise: rent/ mortgage, insurance, car payment,  gas bill.....
+100%
the options never run out.. always bills to pay..
(cool, page #500 already...  :) )
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Offline yitzf

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7494 on: February 11, 2014, 10:38:27 PM »
Okay, thanks so much.

So for now I've ordered checks from BB, and I'll have to figure out what to do with them when they arrive..

Is it also a bad idea to make the checks out to my mother in law, who has Chase as well and can transfer them into my account?

Or should I wait until I'm in America, sign up for another bank, deposit them there, and pay my Starwood that way?

Were talking about taking extreme caution over here, there have no cases that I'm aware of that a CC provider made issues about receiving a BB payment, even if that card was used to buy VR.

If you have another option available, it would be safer to write checks and deposit into another back, but are you crazy to pay Amex directly, No.

I'd pay Amex directly and not transfer to Chase, unless you wan't to wait until you get back to the states.

Offline steve L

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7495 on: February 11, 2014, 11:05:57 PM »
Is it risky for me to pay someone else's Amex bill with my bluebird ?

Or is better to write check to him then he deposit it and he pays the Amex bill

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7496 on: February 11, 2014, 11:07:32 PM »
Is it risky for me to pay someone else's Amex bill with my bluebird ?

Or is better to write check to him then he deposit it and he pays the Amex bill

Do NOT pay another persons CC bill from your BB account.  The will investigate and/or shut you down.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline steve L

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7497 on: February 11, 2014, 11:14:43 PM »
Thx. How bad is the other option. It's just writing a normal check to me?

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7498 on: February 11, 2014, 11:15:59 PM »
Thx. How bad is the other option. It's just writing a normal check to me?

No problems whatsoever writing checks.  Most would caution, however, against depositing BB checks into a Chase account.  Also, note that checks for 2k or more take longer to clear.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline mr. perfect

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Re: Bluebird: Now you can pay bills that don`t take credit card with a credit card
« Reply #7499 on: February 11, 2014, 11:26:21 PM »
Do NOT pay another persons CC bill from your BB account.  The will investigate and/or shut you down.
who are you referring to by "they" ?bluebird or cc ?
be smart and don't mess things up please