Another Wave of Serve & Bluebird Shutdowns

It has been awhile since the last round of Serve/Bluebird shut downs, but it was bound to happen again. I think we’re up to shut down wave #6 now. The first wave of shut downs happen in January 2016. The second wave of shutdowns came in March, the third in May, and the fourth in August all in 2016 and then the fifth was January 2017. Serve and Bluebird cards are an easy way to liquidate Visa/MC gift cards by using them to load these prepaid cards at Walmart.

Once banned, you can not get the an Amex prepaid card again. Some people like getting the card under a different SSN (e.g. a spouse) and using it for a few months for old time’s sake.It’s still possible to load other prepaid cards or buy money orders with Visa/MC gift cards, but it’s not always easy to find a vendor or a card which allows it.

Hat tip to readers Jeff L & Charles

 

 

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Ken
Ken (@guest_761558)
May 21, 2019 18:18

Looks like another wave of shutdowns:

We’ve noticed unusual usage patterns on your American Express Serve® Account and, because of this, you’ll no longer be able to add money to your Account, effective immediately.1 We’ve made this change in accordance with Section 15.d of our Consumer User Agreement, which you can view here.

Please know that you still have full access to the funds on your Account and can withdraw them at any time. Any applicable monthly fees continue to apply.

Once your balance reaches $0, please close your Account online via your Profile page, which you can access here. Scroll down to the Close Account section and click “Close Account.”

If you have any questions, please write to us at the following address:

Serve Customer Care
P.O. Box 826
Fortson, GA 31808

Thank you,
The American Express® Serve Team

arizonapv
arizonapv (@guest_761581)
May 21, 2019 18:50

What did you do to deserve the shutdown…was it depositing VGCs?

Dan
Dan (@guest_761585)
May 21, 2019 18:52

In my case, I was mainly using it to load from my discover cashback debit. That, and using serve to trigger DDs for bank bonuses. Still haven’t gotten my email but I expect it anytime now.

arizonapv
arizonapv (@guest_761601)
May 21, 2019 19:18

Why is this considered against the rules? How else are you supposed to get money over to BB? So, if I load BB using my debit card, I will get shut down? Where is this in the terms, can someone point me to this wording?

Dan
Dan (@guest_761779)
May 22, 2019 08:03

It’s against the rules to use BB or serve to MS. It’s in the terms, believe it’s section 15.d. By the way, the other ways you can get money over are to push it from another bank account (be careful when linking, don’t try to set it up using a bank that claws back the trial deposits), or I suppose you could mobile deposit a check (though I wouldn’t recommend this service… I think it takes 10 days?)

Craig
Craig (@guest_727534)
February 26, 2019 15:34

What’s the current best advice to avoid a Bluebird shutdown? If it’s to close and re-open Bluebird accounts periodically, then: (a) how often is recommended to close each Bluebird account; and (b) is there a delay on how long your Bluebird account has to be closed before you can re-open another one?

Also, it looks like this is the last shutdown I could find reported on DoC. If this was the last one and Incomm acquired Bluebird in April 2018, what are the community’s thoughts that shutdowns may no longer be an issue (since there have been no shutdowns since Incomm’s acquisition of Bluebird)?

Josh
Josh (@guest_740018)
March 26, 2019 21:47

Wondering the same myself

Dan
Dan (@guest_760781)
May 18, 2019 22:59

I might have just got shutdown. Two BB and one Serve. No email from them yet, but suddenly I cant login. Claims wrong username or pw. That can’t be it… ugh.

Abe
Abe (@guest_761561)
May 21, 2019 18:21

Dan I just got two email notices 20 min ago from amex (or most likely Incomm) that they have decided to suspend my loading privileges on both serve and bluebird due to unusual usage patterns and that I should close my accounts as soon as they reach $0. I haven’t even loaded serve or bluebird since one and a half weeks ago. This truly blows. Game is almost over for me with regards GC liquidation I now only have money order option left which I dislike.

Mimi
Mimi (@guest_761571)
May 21, 2019 18:34

Dan

Have you tried logging in via app? I had the scare days ago when I couldn’t log in using laptop/desktop but was able to log in successfully via app. The issue for me then was that windows updates were going on so it may have messed up logging in to both S/BB.

Dan
Dan (@guest_761573)
May 21, 2019 18:35

Same result when I try via app. Good idea though, thanks.

don73
don73 (@guest_684341)
December 3, 2018 22:53

Anyone still doing this? If so how do you stay in the game?

stacker
stacker (@guest_648499)
September 27, 2018 14:03

I just tried applying for a Serve card and I am still blacklisted from a shutdown in 2012. Customer service said the ban is permanent. I don’t really care that much, was just going to use it for direct deposits.

Anthony
Anthony (@guest_520138)
November 20, 2017 15:27

So I didnt get shut down but I closed my account voluntarily in August. I just tried opening a new account today and was denied. Anyone have the same experience?

captainsave
captainsave (@guest_505532)
November 1, 2017 18:11

Anybody else monthly limit didnt get reset today?

mark
mark (@guest_502475)
October 27, 2017 20:57

Aside from Bluebird, Serve, and GoBank, what are the remaining options?

Kyle
Kyle (@guest_502046)
October 27, 2017 06:54

I was one of the lucky ones to make it through all other shut down “waves.” But not this time. Got my official shut down email a couple days ago. Wife still has her card though.

Francesco Marini
Francesco Marini (@guest_501908)
October 26, 2017 22:32

I guess I was lucky enough not to be shut down this time (I do very limited MS).

Tim
Tim (@guest_501757)
October 26, 2017 17:43

I did not receive email, but I could not load my USVGC at wally today. Kept telling me call authorizer. Called them, told me it was fine on their end. They could see the transactions happening then getting reversed out immediately. I went home, and I could see the same too. I would assume if I was shut down , I wouldn’t be able to see these? I logged into BB to try to add funds, but the only way I can add is link a debit or direct deposit…

Mimi
Mimi (@guest_501892)
October 26, 2017 21:52

Did you check your spam folder to see if the shutdown email is there? If there none, you can link a bank DC and try to add funds; if it goes through, your account is still active.