BlueBird AMEX's "hold your money" scheme is very simple to explain.
Here's how our agravating experience with BlueBird unfolded:
Rather than using our traditional bank debit cards we would load $500 or $1000 CASH onto our AMEX "Bluebird" reloadable card for use in traveling, internet purchases etc. We liked the fact that unlike other reloadable cards, BlueBird has no fee to load money, or monthly fees for its use.
We have had multiple events related to "holding/freezing of our funds" (remember we load cash) ....here is but ONE example.
1. My office manager tried to make an online $409.62 purchase. Our available balance was $760.82
2. When making her purchase online she began entering the card information. Next as commonly done it was requested that she enter her zip code that is associated with the card. The zip code she entered was misskeyed and thus incorrect. The $409.62 transaction was understandably declined due to zip code verification error.
3. With OTHER debit cards(Visa/Mastecard) at this point you would expect to simply re-enter your correct zip and your purchase is approved. Not with AMEX Bluebird.
4. On the second attempt she entered the correct zip code. Transaction was again declined. This time, not because of zip code but because the original $409.62 was now on an 8 day hold by AMEX ...leaving only $351.20 balance available on our Bluebird card. Not enough funds available to make the original purchase of $409.62.
5. My office manager called and complained to AMEX about the issue. It was explanined that AMEX's policy was to place a holds on ATTEMPTED transactions for 8 days. AMEX acknowledged that on the phone.
6. So anytime we've had a transaction declined by AMEX due to a zip code, keying error, ATM error we lose access to that money(transaction amount) for a period 8 days.
I can understand holding funds for check deposits to clear but this appears to be a scheme of using cardholders money interest free on a nationwide scale.
We've dealt with some major hassles because of this card during our travels. This AMEX practice can be really catastrophic and has the potential to leave you stranded while AMEX holds your money for 8 day periods. After a recent Pensacola trip with the card WE refuses to TRUST AMEX anymore.
First off let it not be stated that I didn't try to resolve this issue with kind words inthe beginning. That being said there is NO EXCUSE for the lack of customer service and hatred of people in the United States demonstrated by Blue Bird by American Express. I signed up for this lousy card and have dealt with the horrible abuse of my trust and finances by this outsourcing, company that repeatedly lies to its customers. I will say DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH BLUE BIRD! If you have an account cancel it before they abuse your trust and finances as well. They think that they can hold direct deposites untill they decide to release it. Then they lie to you about the basic things, IE their own names, and give you the run around about your account and tell you that there is no one above them to escalate the issue to, this is NOT customer service. This is what you get with American Express. DO NOT DO BUSINESS with them.
Blue bird is a joke. Something is wrong with there system or server. I believe it get hacks sometimes.
I transferred all my money to my savings. I went on a vacation then needed some money out the atm. So I transferred 100$ back into my checking account with blue bird. I purchased a 20$ shirt so that left around 80$ in my checking.
Then I went to the atm to withdraw 60$. The atm said insufficient funds. I knew that was incorrect. So I checked my transaction on my Blue bird account. It showed that I withdrew 60$ from that atm plus a 3$ fee plus the 2$ fee from blue bird.
I never received any money from the atm. This is the second time a similar case has happened to me. I called after dealing with customer service for almost two hours. They will not put my money back on the account. They said I need to file a dispute.
Then at the casino I talk to management. They looked at the history of the atm machine and it never shows my credit card number on the transactions history.
I would of thought it was the casino atm and not blue bird but this is the second time this happened to me in two different locations in two different cities.
That being said it has to be blue bird system. I will Never use Blue bird again. I'm going to get me a real checking account. Be aware not to use blue bird. There sever or system gets hacks.
Have direct deposit tried to withdraw cash from atm transaction denied.called customer service they said monthly cash withdrawal limit reached cant use card until may first.its my money .customer service is a joke people in india.cant understand a word they say.they accept your cash easy enough but when you need it in an emergency you cant get it.told me to transfer funds to a family members card and have them withdraw the money on his or her card.why so they will have reached the limit too.its a rip off. canceling direct deposit to the account asap retrieving the balance of my funds and destroying the useless piece of plastic
Blue Bird American Express Reviews
BlueBird AMEX's "hold your money" scheme is very simple to explain.
Here's how our agravating experience with BlueBird unfolded:
Rather than using our traditional bank debit cards we would load $500 or $1000 CASH onto our AMEX "Bluebird" reloadable card for use in traveling, internet purchases etc. We liked the fact that unlike other reloadable cards, BlueBird has no fee to load money, or monthly fees for its use.
We have had multiple events related to "holding/freezing of our funds" (remember we load cash) ....here is but ONE example.
1. My office manager tried to make an online $409.62 purchase. Our available balance was $760.82
2. When making her purchase online she began entering the card information. Next as commonly done it was requested that she enter her zip code that is associated with the card. The zip code she entered was misskeyed and thus incorrect. The $409.62 transaction was understandably declined due to zip code verification error.
3. With OTHER debit cards(Visa/Mastecard) at this point you would expect to simply re-enter your correct zip and your purchase is approved. Not with AMEX Bluebird.
4. On the second attempt she entered the correct zip code. Transaction was again declined. This time, not because of zip code but because the original $409.62 was now on an 8 day hold by AMEX ...leaving only $351.20 balance available on our Bluebird card. Not enough funds available to make the original purchase of $409.62.
5. My office manager called and complained to AMEX about the issue. It was explanined that AMEX's policy was to place a holds on ATTEMPTED transactions for 8 days. AMEX acknowledged that on the phone.
6. So anytime we've had a transaction declined by AMEX due to a zip code, keying error, ATM error we lose access to that money(transaction amount) for a period 8 days.
I can understand holding funds for check deposits to clear but this appears to be a scheme of using cardholders money interest free on a nationwide scale.
We've dealt with some major hassles because of this card during our travels. This AMEX practice can be really catastrophic and has the potential to leave you stranded while AMEX holds your money for 8 day periods. After a recent Pensacola trip with the card WE refuses to TRUST AMEX anymore.
First off let it not be stated that I didn't try to resolve this issue with kind words inthe beginning. That being said there is NO EXCUSE for the lack of customer service and hatred of people in the United States demonstrated by Blue Bird by American Express. I signed up for this lousy card and have dealt with the horrible abuse of my trust and finances by this outsourcing, company that repeatedly lies to its customers. I will say DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH BLUE BIRD! If you have an account cancel it before they abuse your trust and finances as well. They think that they can hold direct deposites untill they decide to release it. Then they lie to you about the basic things, IE their own names, and give you the run around about your account and tell you that there is no one above them to escalate the issue to, this is NOT customer service. This is what you get with American Express. DO NOT DO BUSINESS with them.
Blue bird is a joke. Something is wrong with there system or server. I believe it get hacks sometimes.
I transferred all my money to my savings. I went on a vacation then needed some money out the atm. So I transferred 100$ back into my checking account with blue bird. I purchased a 20$ shirt so that left around 80$ in my checking.
Then I went to the atm to withdraw 60$. The atm said insufficient funds. I knew that was incorrect. So I checked my transaction on my Blue bird account. It showed that I withdrew 60$ from that atm plus a 3$ fee plus the 2$ fee from blue bird.
I never received any money from the atm. This is the second time a similar case has happened to me. I called after dealing with customer service for almost two hours. They will not put my money back on the account. They said I need to file a dispute.
Then at the casino I talk to management. They looked at the history of the atm machine and it never shows my credit card number on the transactions history.
I would of thought it was the casino atm and not blue bird but this is the second time this happened to me in two different locations in two different cities.
That being said it has to be blue bird system. I will Never use Blue bird again. I'm going to get me a real checking account. Be aware not to use blue bird. There sever or system gets hacks.
Have direct deposit tried to withdraw cash from atm transaction denied.called customer service they said monthly cash withdrawal limit reached cant use card until may first.its my money .customer service is a joke people in india.cant understand a word they say.they accept your cash easy enough but when you need it in an emergency you cant get it.told me to transfer funds to a family members card and have them withdraw the money on his or her card.why so they will have reached the limit too.its a rip off. canceling direct deposit to the account asap retrieving the balance of my funds and destroying the useless piece of plastic