Amex Bluebird & Serve Shutdowns 2017
Over the past year American Express has cracked down on the use of Bluebird and Serve cards to generate spend. Specifically they have shutdown (or made it impossible to load) accounts where they see people loading prepaid gift cards and then paying bills. This activity is prohibited in their terms and they feel people doing this aren’t using the product as intended.
Shutdowns have all come in waves with everyone receiving an email at the same time. I believe Amex must run a report and then shutdown accounts that trigger their algorithm. Well, today yet another wave of shutdown letters are coming. Several people on Reddit are reporting receiving the letter stating that they can no longer load their accounts.
My Bluebird Lives
As I have posted about previously, my family still has one Bluebird account that lives on. This account is over four years old and somehow survived all of the previous waves. I did throw it in the sock drawer for awhile, but have been using it again the past few months. It seems to be immune to shutdowns or more likely we have gotten lucky.
With that said, we have been leaving a balance on the card after loading and thanks to the recent lucrative Amex Offers, we have done a fair amount of spending on the main and sub-cards as well. Hopefully this activity is viewed as favorable by the Amex gods. At least it lives to swipe another few months!
Conclusion
Amex Bluebird/Serve are no longer a long term viable way to generate spend. You might be able to have fun with them for a few months, but more often than not they will cut you off eventually. Did you receive the dreaded email today? Share your experiences in the comments!
HT: Doctor of Credit
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[…] was about $20, and I tried to do it at least once every week on my way to play chess. Sadly, Bluebird changed the rules and recently started shutting down […]
They froze my account with $3077 in it on June 3rd. They and are so shady that I still haven’t gotten a email, call nothing. No explanation besides breaking section 15d of user agreement which basically says for any reason they want they can steal your money! They arent returning a dollar to me. Every thing I ever did with card in year and half waa legit. I have a 5 and 7 year old, and they crippled our family! Its not over by any stretch. They will be answering for it soon. Stay away from this garbage company
You people are funny. Trying to skirt rules to earn freebies. And then wonder why they close your accounts. No different than stealing money from a bank. Think you can get away with it because your collars are white. My bluebird is alive and well for almost five years because I use it as intended. I have bank accounts, but like to have the BB for my kids among other things. Earn your miles/points the right way. Thieves!
I would also like to know the strategy? Newbie and need all the help I can get 🙂 Thanks stfflngr@aol.com
@anthonyjh21 would you be so kind to share your strategy? My email is kristofertsao@gmail.com/ Thank you.
WARNING.. If you use the AMEX Serve card. Do not use an ATM to withdraw cash. If the ATM malfunctions, you lose your cash. The CS at AMEX Serve will not assist you, nor credit your account. This was the first and last time using them or JH. This experience cost me $120.00 when an ATM malfunctioned. No one will help you. USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK
@anthonyjh21, can you share details with me as well? Real email: gathering_evidence_music@yahoo.com
Thanks!
[…] More Bluebird/Serve Shutdowns Today: My 4 Year Old Bluebird Still Lives! […]
I’m genuinely confused here. Is the mere loading of the card a trigger?
I have both and intended to load them regularly in 2017. But now I’m wondering if I should even bother. I am happy to leave $$$ on them. But if AMEX is just going to shut me down, why bother.
Who are these products for if just adding $ is punishable by termination?
They are designed for the unbanked – you know, people who actually shop at WM…
Respectfully, that’s not really an answer. If you put money on the card and leave it there, why would that trigger a shutdown? I would happily roll up tens of thousands on the card, spend down a small portion of it, to generate a bunch of UR points. But if they are going to shut me down for having $$$ on the card… Um….
I had my BB card for 5 months made 4 mortgage payments with it and Jan 3rd I was shut down. I tried to appy for a serve card but was turned down guess both accounts are linked. Anyone know of a similar card? I heard the Target RedDot debit card is similar to a BB card. Can anyone confrim, should I apply?
I had my BB account for about 5 months. Paid 4 months of Mortgage with then I was shut down on Jan 3rd. I tried to apply for a Serve card today but was turned down as I guess BB & Serve are linked. Is there any similar card? I read something about target Red Dot Debit card having a similar fuction as the BB? Can anyone confrim?
I’ve kept thousands of $ sitting in my accounts and I’ve had infrequent loads in recent months and I was still shut down yesterday. Had the cards for a few years
Got my Serve shut down during the first wave a year ago. Any idea when Amex will allow someone to open a new Serve or Bluebird account?
I got the email yesterday.. Can I open a new account or it won’t work?
Won’t work. It’s linked to your SSN/ personal information.
Didn’t receive an email but it’s because of a successful strategy over the last year or so that I won’t disclose here for exposure reasons. 🙂
I’m sure it’s been mentioned here and there in comments but it’s best not to overly expose how to avoid the fury of the Amex Gods.
Anthonyjh21 care to discuss over email or twitter or other social media?
What’s your email?
Same request as stephen. Can u send the info via DM on Facebook? Look for eandrusier. Don’t want to post my email here.
lizbeth9@d58pb91.com ; it’s a temp email through emailondeck.com
Anthonyjh21 – can you email me as well at this temp email address: lucely6@m2r60ff.com created using emailondeck for this purposes. (My original request above dated 1/4/17 didn’t include an email address). Thanks!
I tried a temp email but I’ll give real one this time. galapas02@yahoo.com
I’ve managed to avoid shutdown but purely through non-use.
Anthonyjh21 – ditto what Steven said today. The temp email from emailondeck is too temp and died. Here’s a real email. Please send to b.andru17@yahoo.com. Thanks again!
Anthony, my BB card has remained active so far, mostly due to lack of use as I was using RedCard for a while. Would you mind sharing your method with me over email?
Can I know your method as well?!you can email me at wshropsh@hotmail.com