American Express Serve Shutdown: Round #4

Back in January American Express started sending out e-mails letting people know that they would no longer be able to add funds to their account due to unusual usage patterns. Not everybody’s accounts were shut down, but since then the same shut downs have occurred to another two sets of people. American Express have just sent out another round of shut down e-mails.

There are a few theories as to why certain cards might still be active, one is keeping an active balance on the card at all times (e.g not just depositing and withdrawing funds) might help. Honestly at this stage, I don’t have a lot of hope for anybody that still has their accounts open. Whatever you’re doing is working (mine were certainly shut down long ago). Feel free to speculate in the comments below.

Hat tip to Miles to Memories

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Josh m
Josh m (@guest_333653)
January 3, 2017 18:43

Well, I finally have been shutdown on serve and bluebird today. RIP. I may try to get a redcard just so I can do some debit loads to meet northpointe ultimate account minimums.

Steve F,
Steve F, (@guest_333648)
January 3, 2017 18:36

My serve just got shut down on 1/3/17. I only had light use, left a ~$1,200 balance most of the time, used for several purchases each week, mostly only loaded $200 at a time, and never came near the limits. Now I know to just hit it hard on my bluebird and not try to keep it open with light use.

st
st (@guest_290276)
August 31, 2016 20:38

Any tricks to avoid fees on SERVE? Otherwise I will have to cancel.

Gene
Gene (@guest_289438)
August 29, 2016 16:28

has anyone successfully reopened serve/bb?
does using a different phone #, email, address work? or is it all tied to the SSN?
thanks!

Terri Clark
Terri Clark (@guest_289080)
August 28, 2016 12:37

My serve got shut down also. Any recommendations on the next best prepaid card to get other than Amex? At least we don’t have to worry about our funds being frozen with Serve.

Toanito
Toanito (@guest_289072)
August 28, 2016 12:17

My serve VIP one was shutdown two days ago. I always load $2000 with cash at rite-aid each month in the last 4 months. I used the funds to always pay the same bills. Amex said they noticed unusual pattern…

st
st (@guest_290277)
August 31, 2016 20:39

Loading so much cash is always questionable.

John
John (@guest_289057)
August 28, 2016 10:18

Have my serve, and still useable, never tagged for shutdown. Though it has bèen use by someone online three times fraudulently, and serve has replaced it three timss. Someone, somewhere has hacked their system I am sure.

Jason
Jason (@guest_288710)
August 27, 2016 00:15

What did others usually do with BB that caused the shutdown? As I know you can only use debit card to load BB which will be Paypal Business Debit Card and gives $10/month only.

Sa
Sa (@guest_288519)
August 26, 2016 10:03

I beleive the first wave was in January2016. For those who have records, does it look like amex has a schedule on when to run these reviews/shutdowns? Like, every two months?
Also, for us still with accts open, what should we do to fly under the radar?

Gerald
Gerald (@guest_288563)
August 26, 2016 12:33
  Sa

There are lots of theories on how to fly under the radar, but each theory has counterexamples. Obviously, Amex wants to make money on these, so it’s probably a good idea to do a fair number of transactions on which they make money, such as purchases, and few transactions that cost them money. Keeping a balance also makes them money. Bill pay costs them, especially if they have to mail a check. Loads cost them, especially loads from credit cards. My Serve was shut down after I did all the wrong things, so I’m much more cautious with my wife’s, which has so far survived.

Brc
Brc (@guest_288517)
August 26, 2016 10:00

My Serve was shutdown yesterday, it lasted 4 months.

Minutes later my BB was shutdown, it lasted one year. Good Times.