Amex Lowers The Boom On Bluebird & Serve Accounts For Manufactured Spenders

I had received the e-mail and then saw the post by Frequent Miler to confirm the bad feeling the e-mail brought me – Amex has finally decided that loading Bluebird & Serve cards at registers is not a profitable business for them. They have sent e-mails out to people calling out “unusual usage patterns” and terminated the loading of cards that they have identified as doing that. I assume that would likely be just about all manufactured spenders who buy prepaid cards and load them at registers.

Amex Lowers The Boom On Bluebird & Serve Accounts For Manufactured Spenders

Interestingly, I only received this e-mail for my Bluebird account – my wife’s Serve card that has only been used with online credit card loads was not notified. It remains to be seen if that will be something they go after later but for now, that account seems to be fine for credit card loads (can only be done with Amex cards and they do not count for points but do count for minimum spending totals).

Here is the e-mail that you have likely received:

Termination of Funds Loading Capabilities On Your ____ Account

We are writing to let you know that we have observed unusual usage patterns on your Bluebird Account. Because of this, effective immediately, you will no longer be able to add money to your Account.¹ We have made this change in accordance with Section 22.d of our Member Agreement, which you can view here.

Please be aware that you continue to have full access to the funds on your Account and can withdraw them at any time.

Once your balance reaches $0, please close your Account online via your Profile page accessible here. Scroll down to the Close Accountsection and click “Close Account.”

If you have any questions or would like to inquire further about this issue, you may write to us at the following address:

American Express
C/O Customer Relations 02-04-40
4315 S 2700 W
Salt Lake City, UT 84184-0440

If you have not received such a notice, maybe you have not done much with loading lately or maybe they have not finished the complete sweep yet. If you have cards to unload, I would drop by a Wal-Mart quickly and try to unload those cards to Bluebird or Serve as soon as you can. Obviously, they are going to target loads that are not cash loads so better to move quickly than wait for the boom to drop on yours – if you have not received notification.

Do you have a Bluebird or Serve card and NOT get the e-mail?