American Express Bluebird


Country United States
State Bangladesh
City Saint Petersburg
Address 200 Central Avenue
Phone 18774865990
Website www.bluebird.com

American Express Bluebird Reviews

  • May 7, 2015

May 1, 2015 my entire paycheck was Direct Deposited into my Bluebird account. On this same day, at 10:05 am I went to Kroger to get gas. I swiped my card at the pump and my card was Declined. My futher Son-In-Law was with me and witnessed this transaction. Confused we went to the register and was told to swipe my card, I did and card came back as Decline.

I was extremely upset as I had checked my account online just minutes prior to going to get gas. My entire check which was Direct Deposited was showing and my balance was $325 and some change. I immediately drove back to work as I had left my phone in my office. Upon returning to my office, I immediately pulled up Bluebird.com on my computer. After signing in my balance was now "0". 2 separate holds had been placed on my account. 1st hold for $150.00 and a 2nd hold for $19 and some odd change. After a slight Panic Attack I called the number listed on my account page. Of course everything was automated and it took me a good 7 to 8 minutes before i was able to actually speak with a live person.

I tried on numerous occasions to explain to the Customer Service Represenatative what had happened. That took about 15 minutes as I kept getting interupted. He could not seem to comprehend that both swiped came back as Declined. He kept telling me it was the Merchant, it was the Merchant. He kept telling me again on numerous occasions "well at least you got gas". Really,no i did not get gas. When i got to the gas station to get gas i had a balance and both swipes came back Declined and then on top of that they place 2 Separate Holds on my account, which left me with a "0" balance.

I am a recently separated woman with Absolutely No Other Income. The Balance on my Bluebird card was every penny I had to my name. The conversation with American Express Bluebird was the most wasted time I have ever spent trying to explain what they had done to me. The CSR just kept saying over and over "At least you got gas". No i did not get gas, my card was declined both times. I had no gas to get home, I had no other money and on top of that if I did not pay my Electric Bill that day, May 1, 2015 it would be cut off. Again I'm trying to live off my income alone and I'm barely able to even eat.

I had asked to speak to the supervisor or Manager and was constantly denied. Towards the end of the conversation I kept asking what they were going to do to resolve this Huge Mistake. I get from the CSR, as a courtesy of American Express we can release 1 hold and I would have to wait it out for the 2nd hold to be released. I tried and tried to resolve this issue with the CSR as I had done nothing wrong, the company he is working for had made a huge mistake. Not only did they decline my card twice but they placed 2 holds on Every penny i had in my account. He then proceeded to ask me which hold i would like released, well that was kind of a silly question. I had a choice between the 1st hold of $150 or the second hold of $19 and some change. Of course I choose the 1st hold of $150. My monies from the 1st hold were now showing in my account. I immediately drove to a ATM and withdrew the $150.00.

Unfortunately with this huge mistake of theirs, I was unable to make my full payment to the Electric company and my electric was turned off. As well as a payment toward my Pay'day Loan was unable to be paid. Now that has been placed in Collections and was informed that they are starting court proceedings. The monies that still were on hold was only $19 and some change but it caused me not to be able to pay the electric in full and caused me not to be able to make my payment to the Payday loan.

Today is May 6, 2015 and after checking my account numerous times, the hold is still intact on my account. I placed another call to the company and again had to go through the automated thing to actually speak with someone. Again more time of mine wasted as I could not explain my situation without him interupping me over and over. I was informed by the CSR that it was the Merchant who denied my card and it was the Merchant that placed a hold on all my monies. He flat out said there was not a thing he could do. that I needed to called the Merchant.

In all of my adult life I have never experienced anything like this. The monies on the 2nd hold may seem minor to most people but that is my life, I'm struggling to survive and that money is like a million to me. The severe stress this situation has placed on me has been so unbelievable. I have been a mess and I have no one to depend on or to help me.

  • Feb 4, 2015

Amex bluebird advertises that you can use your account to deposit your tax refund. On their website it states immediate same day processing. I specifically changed to have my refund deposited to Bluebird from Netspend because they expressly stated on their website immediate same day processing, that my refund will be available the day they receive it.

I had my refund approved and sent to Santa Barbara TPG to process and take out my income tax return fees taken out. SBBT received the refund on 2/3, took out their fees and immediately sent via ACH my refund to AMEX Bluebird in the amount of $5150.01, ACH transaction (blocked for privacy)

Several hours after confirming Santa Barbara bank sent the refund to AMEX Bluebird, I called AMEX Bluebird to find out the status and see what time my money would be available. I was told it wouldn't be available for 2 days!

First of all it was hard to explain to the gentlement living in India that my refund had already been sent, processed to have fees taken out and submitted via ACH to Bluebird. He kept telling me to call the IRS.

After going round and round trying to explain about Santa Barbara Tax Products Group bank, etc etc, I tried to explain that the Bluebird website under FAQs for income tax return expressly states it is processed immediately and another Bluebird page states same day availability he called me a liar!

I switched from Netspend because Bluebird expressly promises the same, same day processing. Now I'm told I will get days later!!!!

This is not what is advertised! This is not what is under FAQs for tax refunds at the Bluebird site! This is not what is being told on the phone when I called before agreeing to use Bluebird to deposit my refund! Had I been told the truth, I would have stayed with Netspend. They are misleading people with their claims of immediate/same day availability and then holding funds for interest! I would have stayed with Netspend which honors the same day processing had they not lied!

American Falsely advertises their services for income tax refund availability.

  • Dec 27, 2014

Bluebird and Walmart Savings Catcher do not make sense. I am just trying to make sense of this. So I had money Walmart gave me for savings from Walmart on the App(savings Catcher).

I was just about to transfer it and see the option on the Savings Catcher app 'make double the amount' if you transfer it to a Bluebird card.(no catch- no hidden fees. Yes its true. No catch.)

So I get a Bluebird card in the mail. I transfer the money Walmart gave me to a Walmart E-gift card that I have never even touched or spent, and realize I should have transferred it directly to Bluebird to make the doubled amount..

I hit the wrong option.

So now I can't transfer the money back to Saving Catcher, nor make the doubled amount and transfer the gift card to Walmart. Its all Walmart's money so.. how is it possible that Walmart cannot somehow reverse it.

Who is losing on the deal?

Bluebird isn't losing money. Walmart isn't losing money?

Savings Catcher isn't losing money?

No one in Customer service knows why. Both companies just say 'whoops'. "Sorry bro, you hit the wrong option.Hey at least you have free money now right?"

Please someone more educated please let me know the politics of this situation.

This makes no sense whatsoever. I don't care about the money anymore. I just want to understand behind the scenes of what's really going on. Because if this were a legitimate operation, there wouldn't be a problem with transferring money back to the the same company. Sorry for the rant. I just want to understand is all. I am sincere in this and not just trying to give Walmart or Bluebird a bad name. Why won't they work with me?

  • Dec 26, 2014

Today is Dec 24th . My employer has direct deposited my 1279.37 to my blue bird acct problem is its not there , My employer recieved confirmation that its there Amex says its not , My employer specifically allowed us our paycheck so we would have it before christmas . I was going to send my daughter money for food for Christmas , I have nothing thanks to amex I called and they stated sorry have to do it in writing . I will never ever use these son of a b***** ever again I will only use a real bank from now on . Jeff Clovis NM

  • Dec 26, 2014

American Express rmisepresented their Bluebird Debit Card as a card that doesn't require a credit check or a start-up payment for approval-only some personal information that can be verified. That's not what it really is. These scammers took my driver's license number, birthdate, full social security number, phone number, and physical address and skated. They did not issue the pre-paid debit card, even though all my personal information was correct and I answered the security questions correctly. Instead they sent a curt e-mail saying they were unable to approve my application. They weren't able to give me a reason-of course-because there wasn't one. Since they allegedly don't even do a credit check it couldn't have been that. Everything on my application should have checked out.

Additionally the application process took several hours because their software kept giving me an error message. Took 2 hours and 3 tries to get a customer service rep who spoke English, would listen, and knew what to do about their online application not working.

I've since discovered numerous horror stories about this outfit not giving their Bluebird cardholders access to their own money, so at least that didn't happen to me.

Everybody they rip off or otherwise scam needs to report them to the New York State Attorney General. It looks like this is a consistent problem.

This debit card may have even been a good deal in the past but applying for it now or depositing funds with them seem to be huge risks of which the public needs to be aware.

To be clear: This complaint is ONLY about the American Express Bluebird Debit Card and does not apply to any other American Express cards.

  • Dec 23, 2014

To American Express Bluebird.com(Re Stolen Bluebird card 375150892656448) From Noell Reed , San Ysidro, Ca 92173 Theft of my funds under cover of Fraud Protection by American Express! My Bluebird card got stolen down in Mexico, and thanks to your mandated address verification procedures I cannot change the account address to get another BlueBird card to replace it. This is because absolutely none of my mail coming to this address has the corporate mandated official documentation to allow accepting the address, which would then allow me to change the address. This is because there is no official mail coming to my address documenting the address incontrivertibly as per your fraud department regulations. So I lost the money in the account due to theft & fraud, and cannot recover my funds at all. About $133 of my dollars simply obliterated due to prior Theft and then terminal stupidity by your Fraud Protection Geeks. (Doesn't this obviate the fraud protection measures by its very existence??) Never mind that I could have answered any of the many personal ID questions, and did exactly just to get to being able to report the unauthorized charges on the card. But these address verifications must be made OR NOTHING CAN BE DONE! The requirement to have an “Official Verified Address” send mail to verify this address, which then needs the addressed envelope sent in for verification purposes, is another way that normal account changes are put out of the range of normal victimized people who do not fit the “Standard Mandated Official Profile” by some Geek in your fraud department. So we are then victimized twice, once by the thief who stole our card, and again by address regulations thought up by idiots.

There is one very bright spot in this as I am prevented from getting another Bluebird card unless I clear up the address problem as per the Geek idiots.... This is absolutely great! I would not want to accidentally get another Bluebird card for any earthly reason! Obviously, I will never deal with you people again for any reason thanks to this problem. I think I will set up a website explaining how to get around these procedure for other victims, and I shall absolutely send this complaint to as many newspapers as humanly possible to get it widely published to deservedly reduce your customer data base. Let me state my conclusions clearly, your fraud protection group are idiots only matched by the management that allows them free reign with such stupid policies....

  • Nov 6, 2014

On October 31, 2014, I received a direct deposit payroll allocation of $621.78 to my American Express Bluebird account. Coupled with a previous balance, I was due to make my car payment, buy groceries and pay my electric. I paid my Xcel Energy bill for $187.22 at around 9am. At approximately, 4:45pm, I drove to Lobel Financial to pay my car note. I logged into American Express Bluebird to authorize a check. I discovered that my account balance was zero. Frantically, I scrolled the transactions. Two charges jumped out. One for Meijer, which I never heard of and one for McDonalds. I called American Express to stop the charges as they were still pending. I was put on hold repeatedly and told that nothing could be done until the charges went through. I hung up, filed a police report and Googled Meijer. I called the corporate office and was transferred to store 243 in Michigan. I was transferred to security and told that two people were on camera using a card which apparently had my card number on it. Also, the McDonalds is in Michigan. I have never left Colorado, nor do I know anyone in Michigan. Most perplexing is I still have my card in my possession.

I called American Express again and again and begged for my pay, which is all the money I have in the world. I told them my children would have no food and my car would be repoed(my car is a requirement for work). They said the investigation would take 10 to 45 days before I would receive a refund, maybe. I told them that I would lose my car which means I lose my job and I have no money to feed my children. I was told that the fraud isn't their fault and that is their policy. I told asked them if their policy was to leave children hungry? He said, "Yes, if it means that there is no money to feed them."

Seven days have past since I faxed the affidavit of fraud and police report. I called to ask when I could receive my money. I was told it could be 45 days. I told them they do not protect consumers. Most banks notice that a charge is another state and freeze the account. NOT AT AMERICAN EXPRESS. My money is their money to do with as they choose.

In the meantime, Lobel is going to take my car in a few days and I went to the only food bank in my area. I will lose my job without a car. I am an electrician. I must have a car and tools, therefore I can't pawn my tools. I am a full time student at UCD School of engineering, which means I don't have much between school, kids and work.

I think people need to know that AMEX Bluebird does not protect them at all. Please let consumers know.

Thank you

  • Jul 26, 2014

I have been using American Express Bluebird for over a year now and never had any trouble. Over a week ago I tried to transfer $143 to one of my sub-account. After a few days considering I transferred it on the weekend the money was still pending. I called that monday and all they guy on the phone would tell me is that it was a system error and that it would be fixed that night. The next morning I checked the accounts and it was still pending. I called again and other guy told me that it would be fixed by five o clock that afternoon. I waited another two days trying to be understanding and what was going on. Finally on friday morning I called again and a woman tried to help me figure out what was going on. We tried a few things and the she told me that there were still some accounts that were effected from the system error and I would just have to wait. It has been nearly a week and a half and my funds are still pending. I am someone who has to live paycheck to paycheck so when half of my paycheck is stuck in my account and is pending for almost two weeks anyone should see why I am utterly dissapointed with bluebird and recommended them highly before I started having this trouble.

  • Jul 18, 2014

After recently having our Bluebird debit card information stolen and our account drained we have had a nightmare of a time making contact with anyone from Bluebird or getting them to understand our situation. We live in Arizona and our card was being used in Florida, even as we were trying to report it as stolen.

After several attempts and a full day on the phone with Bluebird, the company canceled our card and thankfully immediatly replaced the stolen funds. That is where things went bad.

We were promised a replacement card within 2-3 business days. After the fourth day, we still hadn't received our new card. We contacted Bluebird, spent another 30 minutes on hold, and was told it was the fault of the postal service.

Now six days later and still no card, still no help from Bluebird in accessing our own funds, and no answers as to why we haven't yet recieved our new card. Each time we call we get are on hold a minimum of 20 minutes, are shuffled from one person to another - none of whom speak English very well, and are given different excuses.

All we want is access to our money, nothing more. I can promise American Express one thing - as soon as we finally do recieve our card, we are draining the account and leaving Bluebird for good.

  • May 9, 2014

I broght this card at walmart and then after having my direct depoist loaded i find out not one merchant accepts or uses bluebird except walmart or sometimes kmart its a rip off card totally useless they need a class action lawsuit pressed to stop get this lame card removed and pay anyone whos had one comprehension for the messes its caused in their life THE CARD SUCKS AS WELL AS COMPANY BEHIND IT

Write a Review about American Express Bluebird