Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
Bluebird
I’m still excited to see what Amex has in store for us regarding the new Bluebird Prepaid product. Last week, they said that it would be available “next week” (which is now this week). Has anyone seen one in the wild? For background, see “Bluebird is coming. The sky isn’t falling.”
Mio
In the post “Vanilla Reloadables” I gushed about the Mio card which had no fees for credit transactions. Just a few days later Mio started charging for credit transactions. Amex still stands alone as the only no-fee Vanilla reloadable.
MyVanilla
The new MyVanilla card has had a rocky start. People have had all kinds of trouble:
- A couple of people have reported that they loaded the card, but then found that large debit purchases were declined.
- One reader reported that he was charged $1.95 (instead of 50 cents) for an in-store debit purchase that included cash back.
- Similarly, another reader reported being charged $1.95 (instead of 50 cents) for a money order purchase.
- Another reader reported that the MyVanilla has a $3000 daily spend limit.
- I’ve had a technical issue with the MyVanilla in which I get an error when I try to setup my online account. Phone reps haven’t been able to help. Managing my money and checking fees is going to be a challenge.
Next steps
I need to update the “Vanilla Reloadables” post with new information about fees and other gotchas. I hope to get to that very soon (maybe even today). Has anyone experienced other issues with MyVanilla or other reloadables? Please comment below.
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@FM, I bought two myvanilla card today, when I did the registration, I realized that I was setting up an online account, and I was told that the permanently card will arrive soon.
How many myvanilla card can someone has? does each myvanilla card has one online account? Thanks!
karen: I don’t know how many MyVanilla cards a person can have. I would have thought just 1, but maybe it will let you get more. Please let me know how it turns out.
[…] Prepaid musings […]
But the good news is they’re giving me 20 bucks for the inconvenience.
Update: my bluebird card looks nothing like the normal bluebird card you have. (White background and says bluebird on it.) Also login doesn’t work on bluebird website, only works on americanexpress.com/prepaid … weird!!
JaMo: I wonder if you somehow got the old Bluebird card?
Yep, you’re right – it’s the old one lol.
Thanks! I’ll try the walmart trick tomorrow. As for how I got it: just searched on AmEx’s website for bluebird and found a link. Simple as that.
Do you think if I withdraw 1000 from the atm each month and spend about 200 it’ll be enough to keep the red flags from going up at AmEx?
I signed up for the bluebird the day you made it public on your website and got the cards in the mail yesterday!
JaMo: How did you do that? I didn’t see a signup link until today. Anyway, congrats on being the first! Now would you mind running out to Walmart to see if they’ll let you load it with a credit card? Amex told me that some Walmart stores do allow it.
It seems like one can pay pretty much any bill with this account as you fill out the payment information like you would with an online bank checking account and Amex will mail a check. Seems like a great way to pay all bills. However, with the $5k limit, there is still a $2500 load limit for any 28 days?
Mark: $5K per month load limit, but load up to $10K overall.
I got to the compliance department within 5 minutes by calling back during 9-5 business hours. They’re out of Austin, and because I live in TX I got my refund within 6 days. I should have asked the rep why on earth they go through all this trouble? What do they care anyway?
@frequent churner- Yes I agree completely re the Georgia crap. I put this out there to let people know, and it’s interesting to see you got the same lines. So this is their thing right now. Nice to know they told you the same! Yes I will definitely follow up. But this is a heads up for everyone using PP MC–who wants to go through this?? How many hours to get to someone who speaks English??
–Update: it’s all moot now, since AMEX Bluebird is going to operate the same way and even better! Larger limits too Yay! There will be no need to use another card for the most part–except when AMEX is not taken on the card end, and for true large debit payments here and there.
skizz: yes, Bluebird is now available! Look for my full post tonight or tomorrow. You do have to close your Serve account first
I haven’t been to a local Walmart lately, but I did try to register for a Bluebird account on the website (which looks like it’s functional). I ran into some problems where they didn’t like my email address, and then another problem where they said my phone number was already registered. Eventually used a different phone and email, and just received an automated email from them saying my account request was “under review”.
Has anybody been able to sign up for an account? There was a post on FT that said having an existing Serve account would cause problems with registering for Bluebird.
[…] I got curious about the various reloadable cards. I decided it was fate when an Amex Prepaid card and a Vanilla reload card were both available at […]
Which Prepaid debit card from Office depot can be used to pay property tax and not be charged as a credit card. Debit card is $3.95 flat fee, Credit card is 2.3 %
@Mike — the Georgia excuse is a load of steaming crap! I got the foreign CSR grunt and he told me the same thing, and it sounded like he was reading from a script. Whatever they tell you about it being a problem with Vanilla reloads is a dirty lie to get you to stop calling. Trust me if you were topping up from Vanilla and just doing nothing but regular spending you’d be fine.
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When I pushed them for an answer, they transferred me to the compliance department when suddenly someone with perfect english confronted me about how I’m paying for these reloads, and why so many, and how dare I make these large withdrawals.
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I suggest you get a hold of this compliance department and try to confront them. Tell them you either complain to the Texas attorney general (which you should) or they reinstate your account. See what happens.
@FM – Any thoughts on the Chase liquid? I was offered it for free with no monthly fee when opening a new chase checking account today.
I have 2 bits of news, one bad, one not so bad. First: Paypal card. Got shut down. No problems until thi week, using it here and there, loading with Vanillas from OD bought w/Ink. The Netspend back end is the problem- they shut you down for anything. They told me they do not like the Vanilla “top-up” cards since they are used by gamblers! Apparently, they see the Vanilla reloads as being physical swipes in Georgia- because that is where the Vanillas process thru InComm. Then they wonder how you can be in Georgia and somewhere else on the same day. They shut you down with no questions or explanations–it’s all Netspend and they will not tell you anything just BAM closed. You will go along fine with Paypal cards for a little while- then the whole Georgia Vanilla fiasco mistake from crappy Netspend will bomb you and you will be closed. The rep told me they are heavily looking at Vanilla “top-ups” now. !!!! So this is another flaky card like Mio certainly can be.
Second news:
Walmart. Not just Bluebird. Reloads at cash registers for all prepaid debit cards–no scratch-offs, no buying cards–just load at register to your favorite Vanilla or any other! Remains to be seen how they will handle CC loads–of course the problem is no bonus category at Walmart which is what makes this whole thing go ’round! But an interesting development nonetheless! Why can’t OD and MANY other stores get in on the prepaid action here??! It’s just the next iteration of ‘gift cards’ and yes they do get a good cut from the sale so more stores will start getting interested.
-BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Walmart is launching an affordable and convenient way for customers to load money onto prepaid cards with Rapid Reload, a new service that will accept reloadable cards affiliated with the Green Dot Network, InComm’s Vanilla Reload Network and First Data’s Money Network. Available today in more than 3,800 Walmart stores nationwide, customers can add money to their card at any register for a low price of $3.74.
According to a recent study by Mercator Advisory Group, 56 million Americans have a prepaid card or payroll card. Rapid Reload is a savings for these consumers who have been paying up to $5 to add cash to their cards.
“Many of our customers continue to seek alternatives that improve both the convenience and cost of every day financial services,” said Daniel Eckert , vice president of financial services for Walmart U.S. “Through our partnerships with Green Dot, InComm, and First Data, we are ensuring that the majority of prepaid cards available in the U.S. can be reloaded at Walmart. This is another way we are providing millions of Americans with affordable ways to manage their money.”
Before today, customers had to make an extra stop to reload their prepaid cards before shopping at Walmart. With Rapid Reload, the process is simple. There are no forms to fill out, no scratch-off PINs and no need to make a phone call or visit a website to complete the reload.
Walmart will now accept individually branded cards such as Account Now, Achieve Card, H&R Block, Momentum, Money Network, MyVanilla, NetSpend, PayPal, Rush Card and Upside among others. Walmart’s MoneyCard, the world’s best-selling prepaid card, will remain available for a low price of $3
PR Newswire