Bleubird Card American Express

[Rustic23]

In another thread about prepaid credit cards the service from Walmart and American Express came up, The Bluebird Card.

https://www.bluebird.com/

FAQ's page
https://www.bluebird.com/faqs?linknav=us-Prepaid-Bluebird-Home-FDIC#get-bluebird

Rather than leave it hidden in that thread, I thought I would start a new one to try to fined out more info.

Does anyone here use it?
If so, please share pluses and minuses.
Other alternatives?
Bank Verification?
I have never heard of Yodlee Inc
Comment on Standard method

It appears to be accepted anywhere an American Express is accepted. I don't use AE, so I have never paid much attention as to how widely accepted it is. My guess would be about the same as Visa or Master Card. My main use would be to pay at the pump, and places where the card is out of my procession. Online use for the rare purchases other than Amazon.

One of the drawbacks, in my opinion, is the time it takes to make your money avail when transferred from a checking account. Might be able to work around this, but a seven to ten day wait on a vacation where you could be spending several hundred dollars a day on the card could pose a problem

Edit Added:
Ok, I checked out some online reviews. At least the first page of reviews are not good have not read them all:

https://www.creditkarma.com/reviews/credit-card/single/id/bluebird-prepaid-card

 

[project2501]

It's not really a rewards type card. It's pre paid; the world of unbanking.

Have funds directed or loaded that can't be garnished by banking. Owe the feds? they can't get the money either.

I have a few friends that use the pre paid system and have been good at it. One has his paycheck direct deposited there long as each card is under 10k/mo on monthly deposits this works. Has access to his money bankless.
Sure there are limits and rules, read the directions first it's definitely not for everyone.

The guys I know that use it don't have bills to pay.

http://www.your-exchange.com/blog/tag/pre-paid-debit-cards

 

[imoldernu]

I signed up for, but never activated the card. The purpose was to offer a sub-card holder, where I could offer help, but limit the withdrawals... the way you would if you had a kid in college away from home.
That said, while I have no reason to push the card, it has had the approval of Consumer Reports (rated #1)... and is still one of the fastest growing cards.
http://defendyourdollars.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Prepaid_Report_July_2013.pdf
Ratings on page 17.