I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[mmmears]

Question about extra Amex Gold Cards (AU):

Is there any downside to signing up trusted family members for these? Looks like 5K MRs for $500 spend.

 

[platamama]

@disneymagicgirl and @DisneyMandC and @WVMomof3 You guys could try out loading Serve or Bluebird with a real bank debit card for your first time at Walmart (or Family Dollar or Dollar General) to see how the process goes. You shouldn't be nervous since that's totally on the up and up, and the process is identical to when it comes to using a vgc. Some vgcs come with a printed PIN on a separate card inside the packaging (which I scribble in ink on my hand like I'm in elementary school so that I don't have to chant 4 digits over and over to myself), some cards you just use the last 4 digits of the card as the PIN (this is noted on the back of the packaging). [I've stuck with vgcs because I can't get the mcgcs to work at Walmart.]

As for getting the actual cards, it's cheapest (i.e. FREE!) to go online to open one, then wait for the physical card to arrive in the mail. Once it comes, you have to activate it, then it's ready for use.

If you get shutdown, that doesn't mean you've lost your money. It's there, you can still empty out the account, you just can't put any more funds into it.

 

[DisneyMandC]

@disneymagicgirl and @DisneyMandC and @WVMomof3 You guys could try out loading Serve or Bluebird with a real bank debit card for your first time at Walmart (or Family Dollar or Dollar General) to see how the process goes. You shouldn't be nervous since that's totally on the up and up, and the process is identical to when it comes to using a vgc. Some vgcs come with a printed PIN on a separate card inside the packaging (which I scribble in ink on my hand like I'm in elementary school so that I don't have to chant 4 digits over and over to myself), some cards you just use the last 4 digits of the card as the PIN (this is noted on the back of the packaging). [I've stuck with vgcs because I can't get the mcgcs to work at Walmart.]

As for getting the actual cards, it's cheapest to go online to open one, then wait for the physical card to arrive in the mail. Once it comes, you have to activate it, then it's ready for use.

If you get shutdown, that doesn't mean you've lost your money. It's there, you can still empty out the account, you just can't put any more funds into it.

Thanks!! Bookmarking that. Is there any reason not to move the money to your everyday checking account? I’ve banked with BoA for years and wouldn’t want to jeopardize anything with them.

 

[speedyfishy]

Ok, might be willing to try this Serve thing lol.

Dumb question... where do I get a Serve card? Probably need to check the Reddit page when I get done with laundry lol

You can sign up online or buy a temporary one at Walmart for a fee and register it.

 

[disfanforlife]

Great Southern Bank taking care of another CIP MSR. Applied 6/16, approved 6/17, received card 6/24, opened checking account 6/25 with $5000 charge, $85,000 URs pending on 6/27. And from reading comments on DoC it looks like you can open another account, like money market and savings and fund another $5000. Easiest MS ever! I know it's not illegal, but sometimes it feels like it should be when it's so easy!

How does this work? Are you able to fund the account with the credit card?

 

[platamama]

Thanks!! Bookmarking that. Is there any reason not to move the money to your everyday checking account? I’ve banked with BoA for years and wouldn’t want to jeopardize anything with them.

I usually use a bank account that I've opened for a bank bonus since I don't really care what happens if the bank fires me (not that any bank ever has). That said, I used my Serve as the direct deposit for a $100 BoA checking account bank bonus -- and got the bonus! So I think BoA is fine with it!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

@disneymagicgirl and @DisneyMandC and @WVMomof3 You guys could try out loading Serve or Bluebird with a real bank debit card for your first time at Walmart (or Family Dollar or Dollar General) to see how the process goes. You shouldn't be nervous since that's totally on the up and up, and the process is identical to when it comes to using a vgc. Some vgcs come with a printed PIN on a separate card inside the packaging (which I scribble in ink on my hand like I'm in elementary school so that I don't have to chant 4 digits over and over to myself), some cards you just use the last 4 digits of the card as the PIN (this is noted on the back of the packaging). [I've stuck with vgcs because I can't get the mcgcs to work at Walmart.]

As for getting the actual cards, it's cheapest (i.e. FREE!) to go online to open one, then wait for the physical card to arrive in the mail. Once it comes, you have to activate it, then it's ready for use.

If you get shutdown, that doesn't mean you've lost your money. It's there, you can still empty out the account, you just can't put any more funds into it.

I’m such a chicken I usually just skim the parts about MOs and Serve. So I’m reading with more interest now. I’m having problems meeting MSR on Amex. So potentially I could go to Staples and get the VGC. Open Serve account. Load Serve (we have 2 Dollar General nearby) with VGC. Come home and deposit into bank account. Is that correct? But Amex won’t like the VGCs, right?

 

[afan]

You can sign up online or buy a temporary one at Walmart for a fee and register it.

Once past msr you've been doing this with amex right?

 

[Angrose]

Tahoe

If you're ever in passing through Davis, stop at one of our Safeway stores and they will set you up, lol!

 

[afan]

I’m such a chicken I usually just skim the parts about MOs and Serve. So I’m reading with more interest now. I’m having problems meeting MSR on Amex. So potentially I could go to Staples and get the VGC. Open Serve account. Load Serve (we have 2 Dollar General nearby) with VGC. Come home and deposit into bank account. Is that correct? But Amex won’t like the VGCs, right?

No gc at staplea during amex msr.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Walk, ride the streetcars or Uber. All three will help you avoid the average $30/night parking fees.

We have always taken a cab from the airport the used streetcars or walked in French Quarter or Garden District. Although it might just be a moo point because Hilton says all booked everywhere I check.

 

[mmmears]

I’m such a chicken I usually just skim the parts about MOs and Serve. So I’m reading with more interest now. I’m having problems meeting MSR on Amex. So potentially I could go to Staples and get the VGC. Open Serve account. Load Serve (we have 2 Dollar General nearby) with VGC. Come home and deposit into bank account. Is that correct? But Amex won’t like the VGCs, right?

I'm the same. But I'm paying attention now. We have 2 big Visa MSRs to deal with right now, and since we've been trying to curb our actual spending it's taking a long time to meet them.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I keep trying to get one for my daughter...unfortunately it doesn’t go through

that keeps happening for the ones I have chosen too. I wonder if anyone is actually having any success.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

that keeps happening for the ones I have chosen too. I wonder if anyone is actually having any success.

Not sure about stitch...but I was able to order the castle one for me and I thought the gene golf for DH..his didn’t go through...but Disney made it right today when I called

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

How does this work? Are you able to fund the account with the credit card?

Some bank accounts will allow you to fund your initial deposit via a credit card AND it posts as a purchase and counts towards your MSR. It’s a form of “couch MS”. (MS = Manufactured Spend)

 

[speedyfishy]

Once past msr you've been doing this with amex right?

Yeah I maxed my Gold grocery category 25k worth. Working on maxing my SOs now.

 

[platamama]

I’m such a chicken I usually just skim the parts about MOs and Serve. So I’m reading with more interest now. I’m having problems meeting MSR on Amex. So potentially I could go to Staples and get the VGC. Open Serve account. Load Serve (we have 2 Dollar General nearby) with VGC. Come home and deposit into bank account. Is that correct? But Amex won’t like the VGCs, right?

Amex doesn't know about VGCs at the grocery store IME. If you're looking at meeting Amex MSRs then I wouldn't go to Staples or OD/OM for VGCs. I know those are the stores that most frequently have fee-free gift cards so that's attractive. But I think a 1.19% fee for $500 of MSR is likely outweighed by whatever the SUB is, so I'm good with paying the fee at grocery stores.

Do you have a Safeway reward/loyalty account? There is a (IDK if it's targeted?) $10 coupon for a $100+ prepaid gift card available for that program that you can activate on your account, it expires on 6/29. I bought a $500 vgc at Safeway yesterday for $495.95.

I'm actually not familiar with Dollar General, I don't have one nearby. I would read Flyertalk or r/churning to see the ins and outs of doing that, or if other MSers on our thread use DG, maybe they can chime in.

 

[Alexle2007]

Thank you very much Marriott Bonvoy CC for your very generous offer of 10k points after spending $10k in 3 months, NOT! What a joke.

 

[disfanforlife]

Some bank accounts will allow you to fund your initial deposit via a credit card AND it posts as a purchase and counts towards your MSR. It’s a form of “couch MS”. (MS = Manufactured Spend)

I never knew this before!

 

[usakiwi]

dollar general doesn't charge for this?

I just wanted to chime in that it is VERY YMMV with DG from my experience. We have 3 DG in our small town...one will only allow Serve load with cash, one rings it up in a way that I get charged a fee, and one will let me use a card to load and no fee no problem. These are all within about an 8 mile radius of each other. So that is probably the only ‘scary/intimidating’ thing about using Serve...you just need to be prepared to try it and politely abandon the mission if it isn’t working out!!