Tag Archives: American Express Bluebird Card

Calling Bluebird to Verify Debit Card and Bank Account Information

BB Card

Calling Bluebird to Verify Debit Card and Bank Account Information

If you have tried to load your Bluebird Card with a debit card online (see this post), you may have seen the following error messages.

BB Message

Recently I have started seeing this error message show up in my Bluebird account when I try to load my Bluebird Card with my PayPal Debit Card.  I called Bluebird customer service last night and they needed to verify some of my personal information and accounts.  They needed proof that my PayPal Debit Card was registered in my name and to my mailing address and some information with about my bank account.

When I called last night, they informed me that they would need to conference in PayPal and my bank (OC Credit Union).  Since PayPal is open 24/7 but my bank is open at 8am PST, they told me to call back in the morning.

This morning, I called the direct Bluebird account verification department (1-800-660-2454).  You do not get a friendly Bluebird customer service agent, but an agent that sounded similar to the American Express Financial Review department.  They speak very strictly, so you have to be on your game with all your accounts and numbers in order.

Anyways, after I called Bluebird this morning, the agent called PayPal and after a 10 minute hold, I was finally able to speak with the PayPal representative.  The PayPal representative was unable to find my PayPal Debit Card in PayPal’s system, even after giving her the entire 16 digit card number.  At that point, I could sense that the Bluebird agent was very skeptical of me.  I pushed the PayPal representative to double check and to log into my PayPal account and look at my current PayPal Debit Cards.  At that point, that PayPal representative was able to find my PayPal Debit Card and verify my name and mailing address.

One down and one to go.

Next, the Bluebird agent called my bank.  After a few minutes on hold, the Bluebird agent stated that she was able to verify my bank account information and she restored full access to my Bluebird account, including online debit card funding.  I attempted to load my Bluebird account with a $100 online reload and it worked perfectly.

BB Load

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

Square Cash and Bluebird only Allows Visa and MasterCard “Debit” Cards

Visa and MC Only CC

Square Cash and Bluebird only Allows Visa and MasterCard “Debit” Cards

I have been experimenting with both Square Cash and Bluebird online reloads and found that both services only accept Visa and MasterCard “debit” cards.  No mention of why American Express or Discover cards are excluded.  I will check back in a month or so and see if that changes.  If anyone notices a change, please let me know.  I have some experiments to do.  I have tried (unsuccessfully) to use my Target Amex reloadable “debit” card but it wouldn’t work for either service.  However, if you have a cash back earning “debit” card, you can use it with both services.  I cannot reveal any more and am upholding the “Blogger’s Oath of Not Killing Deals”.  See Travel Blogger Buzz’s post today about Vanilla Reload Cards and Speedway Gas Stations.  Good night and only 26 days until my 24th birthday :)

Birthday Cake

Version 4 of the Vanilla Reload Card and Serve Card News

VRC School

Version 4 of the Vanilla Reload Card and Serve Card News

I wrote a very similar post a few months back called Vanilla Reload Card Grows Up.  Today, I am posting an update to that post.  Follow me on this flash back…

Version 1.0, originally found at Office Depot

VRC 1011 Front

On the back of the card, located on the right side under the Vanilla cone, is a code “1011v01.”  I think that codes means October 2011, version 1.  That might indicate that this card was manufactured in October 2011.

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Quick Notes: Gift Cards with PINs do not work right away and Staples FAR deal troubles

Quick Note

Quick Notes: Gift Cards with PINs do not work right away and Staples FAR deal troubles

I was in CVS this afternoon and bought a $20 Home Improvement Gift Card to test out (you can read Million Mile Secret’s post from yesterday for more info).  Walked next door to Walmart and tried to load this card to my Bluebird Card.  I even clicked “other payment options” and debit, but still didn’t work.  I had 2 MasterCard Gift Cards from Staples that I had just called to add a PIN.  Neither of those cards would load to Bluebird either.

Therefore, it looks like it takes at least 20 minutes (probably longer) for the PIN to be registered with the Home Improvement Gift Card and the other gift cards.  Let me know if your experiences are similar/different than mine.  My dad always goes to Home Depot, so I just gave the Home Improvement Gift Card to him in exchange for a $20 bill.

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