Info about Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Card has been collected by WalletHub to help consumers better compare cards. The financial institution did not provide the details.
Key Fees773Reviews367Q&AContact
Key FeesQ&ACustomer Reviews
Usage Fees
Activation Fee: None
Monthly Fee: None
Signature Transaction Fee: Free
Pin Transaction Fee: Free
ATM Fees
In Network ATM Transaction Fee: $0
ATM Network Size: 30000 ATMs
Out of Network ATM Transaction Fee: $2.5
Foreign ATM Transaction Fee: $2.50
Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Card's Additional Info
live customer support
Free
automated customer support
Free
reload options
Direct Deposit, Cash Reload, Bank Transfer, Check Reload
Get free ATM access at over 30,000 MoneyPass® ATM locations
•
Send money to anyone with Bluebird2Walmart Money Transfer Powered by Ria®. You can send money for free between Bluebird Accounts
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Get your paycheck up to 2 days faster when you sign up for Direct Deposit
•
Members can make Direct Deposits, pay bills online, add checks with the Bluebird Mobile App, and set up Sub-Accounts — a great new way to manage family spending
•
Purchase Protection can provide coverage against accidental damage or theft of eligible items for 90 days from date of purchase, up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card member account per calendar year
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24 hours a day, 7 days a week world-class American Express Customer Service
Can't find what you are looking for? Submit your question about Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Card to our community. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by the issuer of this card.
Share your insights and review the Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Card
5
36%
4
20%
3
15%
2
9%
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20%
3.4
773 reviews
773 reviews
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benj_ryherd @benj_ryherd
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1 Star Rating
They sent my money to some property abandament place since I didn't use my card and they can't even tell me how to contact them to get my money back I will never use this crooked company again due to the manager even saying I don't have that information on how to contact them
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Nicole Pugh @ladynite2212
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1 Star Rating
Just don't ever need customer service for anything. Everyone is in India and there is no help. System issues every other month and no answers as to why. I want to love my card I really do, but the terrible customer service, lack of caring, and constant system issues make it so hard.
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Kay Crowder @groomesk9
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4 Star Rating
I actually love the card. Lot of comments are over 2, 3 years old , and issues experienced in the past , has not been my issue today. I never had a hold put on my funds, as I transfer my money from one card to this one. Money is there asap, or I either load for free at Walmart. NO fees are involved with this card that is a win win all together. True enough everyone doesn't accept Amex/Express, but more than enough merchants do to make using the card still pleasant. I use it for my trips. I have reserved hotels, made purchases with no problems. I got the card to not have to worry about theft, and unauthorized charges to my bank debit card which is of course attached to my bank account. Now that was a headache! If used properly this is a excellent card the free send money feature to another card holder which my son is also a cardholder, has been wonderful. I have had the card now 2 years and none of the issues stated here, have I had. I tried other prepaid debit cards that come with a bunch a hidden fees and fees to load. This card is great Lyft even accepts them now....The card has truly served it's purpose for me. Another thing consumers need to start doing is reading the pkg and fine print. Don't be so quick to load money on a card that may not be suited for you. read more
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ruvidan2001 @ruvidan2001
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1 Star Rating
I put all my spare money into one of these cards. Went to pay my phone bill. It stated it was"ON HOLD". I thought it was the phone. Tried again. The second charge was "ON HOLD".
I borroed money and used a different card. IT WORKED. I call Bluebird to get the HOLD charges released. They say I have to wait up to a week. I call the phone company and they don't reflect any holds. It's all on Bluebird.
I can't wait a week, I need the funds now. Nothing they can do about it. They rejected it. They are holding my money. I ask to speak to a manager. I am put on hold for 10 minutes then they hang up on me. I wait a day and call them back. Exact same thing. I hate this company.
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Lisa Fleming @lfleming8184
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1 Star Rating
Bluebird card is great, until someone gets ahold of your card information and takes money from you. Unlike a bank that immediately returns your funds, they make you wait 48 hours to see if the funds post, then if they do post you have to wait another 7-10 business days while they do a dispute investigation to get your funds back!!! Horrible! Talk about a slap in the face when your hard earned money has been stolen, then you have to wait over 2 weeks to get your money back!!! Beware!!!
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Mike Wells @wellsmike638
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1 Star Rating
was told through my email that it would take up to 7 days to get my money seven days have came and gone I called and waited on the phone for 45 minutes at a time to be told that there was a glitch with their computers which I don\'t understand why I should have to wait for my money I am now on hold again because I was transferred to a supervisor the last representative that I spoke with lad and told me it was not Wednesday when it has been Wednesday 12 hours longer at her location in Manila then it has been at my location in America then she said she didn\'t lie lucky for me I have a witness I would say do not put any money on this card at all they find a way to gain interest off your money and they bullshit you while they\'re doing it Bluebird is a scam get a regular bank or keep your money under your mattress at least you\'ll have it and be able to track it that way I do not believe that something call damn erican should be based in another country who doesn\'t understand our values in the concept of truth and how seriously we take it here in America they are thieves and scammers at Amex
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netnet1005 @netnet1005
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1 Star Rating
Beware if you return merchandise or have a refund coming to you, it takes 7 to 10 days before you’ll get your money back. These people don’t care if that is your last dime. I have almost $100 pending forever. They blamed it on the store I got a refund from, but turns out all along it was Bluebird. Their customer service leaves much to be desired. Don’t use this card unless you can afford to b without your refund.
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taye7968 @taye7968
I'm going through the same thing they tried to blame it on the merchant .
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Sarah Chisholm @sarahd_81
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4 Star Rating
I've never had a problem with this card and I've had it for over a year. Does the basics, nothing fancy but not a bad choice if you can't get a regular account. They have the option to set up sub accounts with their own cards plus a savings account. Customer service is pretty good and the app/website is easy to use especially to move money between the sub accounts. Only major down side is the checks are expensive and they have a pre-approval process which isn't a big deal but giving someone a check from them kind of gives away the fact that your using a prepaid card but it does assure them that it's good.
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brian_hieb @brian_hieb
You stated that, this card is a good option for those people that don't qualify for "real cards". Well, that's kind of a bad statement to make, if you think only poor people and people with bad credit are the only people that get the Bluebird Card, then your statement and your believe is wrong!! Well, I have plenty of money, I have several "real credit cards" and 2 bank debit cards. I think the comment made by you, was uncalled for, this card is not just for people that can't get a real credit card, many people get prepaid cards for lots of different reasons. I got this card because I could set up sub-accounts for my kids and transfer money onto their card if they need money in a hurry or for getting work done on a car or something like that, they need the money right away. And I use it for vacation sometimes so that it is not linked to my bank account or so if it gets lost or stolen they can't just run up charges on it. That all fine and dandy, but to take advantage on people and put a 10 day hold on money that has been already refunded to Bluebird, I think that is a bad why to treat your customers. This just happened to me this week, I bought some auto parts on March 26, 2019, I did not use the parts, so I returned them unopened for a full refund from the parts store. They did the refund on March 26, 2019, Bluebird posted the payment on March 28th, posted the refund on March 28th, then placed a 10 day hold on the refund. I called the parts store and the corporate headquarters of the parts store, I was advised that the parts store sent the refund to Bluebird on March 28, 2019 and that American Express National Bank 4315 South 2700 West Salt Lake City, UT 84184, already has the money on March 28, 2019 and the parts store has a confirmation from Bluebird and American Express that the refund was completed and successful on March 28, 2019. So as I understand it, Bluebird and American Express have my money in their bank account that they confirm they received on March 28, 2019, but yet there is a 10 day hold on the money. I called customer service and they said that it is standard policy to hold the money for 10 days. The supervisor I spoke to confirmed that the refund was completed on March 28, 2019, but they had to follow the policy and hold the money for 10 days.. This is nuts.. Why do they need to hold the money, (in case the parts store changes it's mind????), If Bluebird already has the money then why are they holding it??? I grow up in the days when credit cards, debit cards and banks worked for the card holders and account holders, NOT the merchant!! I can only assume that American Express National Bank is holding on to the money in order to get interest off my money that is in their bank account, making a buck off my money.. Mean while I could have this money in my bank account earning interest. Well My Mistake for using Bluebird.. Bluebird Customer Service advice to me is that I should not be using a prepaid card.. Well great Idea Bluebird, I won't use you any more.. Thank You for the advice.. All of my other Credit Cards and Bank Card, process the refund and make the money available with a couple days, once the merchant process the refund. So, why are there different standards for prepaid cards then there are for other credit and debit cards. Does Bluebird think that only poor people and people with bad credit use these prepaid cards, so they can hold the money for 10 days, because the poor people are used to being without the money any ways.. Well I am not poor and I have lots of other credit cards, and I can afford to wait the 10 day, but I should not have to wait 10 days for money that they have already received back from the merchant. This was real cash money that I loaded onto this Bluebird Card, Not a line of credit. So, if Bluebird had my real cash to do this transaction and had real cash back from the merchant, then why the 10 day hold. This is not a line of credit that Bluebird is fronting me the money and they want to make sure they get THEIR money back before they refund me, IT is MY MONEY that I gave them on my behalf to pay someone for me with the money I gave them, it’s my money, not theirs, why do they have the right to hold money that is not theirs to hold on to. It’s about making money off my hard earned money, Bluebird has so many free options and no fee options, that it needs to make money off my money by earning interest on my cash for 10 days in their bank.. Imagine all the money in one day that Bluebird places a hold on in their bank, how much interest are they making off all that money that is placed on hold each and ever day.. Glad to know I can contribute to American Express’s multi-billion dollar enterprise. YOUR welcome Bluebird and American Express for helping you out by providing you with more cash in your bank to earn interest on, I hope it helps make all your financial goals a success at the expense of others.
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Joe Walker @jwalker90_jw
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3 Star Rating
I only have this card because I had to file chapter 7 Bankruptcy in 2017, since I can't even get a credit union to let me open an account. Anyways, this card is great and it's nice to get direct deposit 2 days early, but it never deposits at the same time or even close to it. My company submits payroll on Sunday and normally employees get paid Thursday, but I get my check on Tuesday usually anywhere from 12pm-1230pm or anywhere from 4-5pm or anywhere from 11pm-12am. I called them and asked why the time is always different and they said that if I don't receive a deposit by 7pm I wont get it, which is a lie because I got my check a few times after 11pm. Somehow every so often my account goes negative a few dollars which I don't understand because I thought these things were supposed to stop you from going over. I don't get charged for this but it's kind of annoying and I know I can budget myself but still lol . A lot of places don't even accept American Express, I was at taco bell and had to leave the drive-thru and find an ATM because they don't accept this card. Walmart said they are not allowed to unload these cards only load, so it's kind of dumb if i need to get money off of it without using an ATM. I had to call customer service a few times and they were helpful. I had almost $800 on it and used my card at a gas pump and received a $50 hold which I'm guessing is the gas stations thing, but I thought these cards were supposed to withdraw the funds right away towards a purchase so the hold is kind of stupid. I've never truly had a pending purchase, it always shows up right away and shows the funds that I spent. Overall if you have trouble getting a bank account, this card is the way to go. There are a lot of free ATMS to use these at but make sure you check prior if the place you're at accepts American Express. A lot of stores told me that AE is expensive to use, so that's why they don't accept them. I would recommend getting the card through the Bluebird website so you don't have to buy the kit in store. Mine shipped fast. Another issue I have had is when I received my taxes, I had well over $2000 and went to purchase a Walmart money order to pay rent and I was denied, sometimes it will ask you for the security code which can be either the 4 digit one on the front OR the 3 digit one on the back. I don't care what anyone says, but I have had to use both codes at different times.
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vnm82 @vnm82
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1 Star Rating
STAY AWAY will put holds on your money and not release it even if it is an issue with their system. Their customer service is horrible. Even their supposed "Supervisors" are of not help. Transfer never happened and they refuse to make my money accessible again. Excuse "technical issue" for 10 days. Only get involved with this company if you want one headache after another.
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Offer last updated: Jan 23rd, 2023 at 09:39 ET
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