Feb 8, 2014, 2:22 pm
Last edit by: weezl
please be aware the Target breach cards are currently on the black market, as always be aware of activity on all accounts
Purchase in store. Each store seems to have just one lane that has them on display (unlike the AMEX GC which are at most lanes). Package is larger than other gift cards, silver and red.
Not available in all states. Search here for possible locations
Note: Unlike AMEX's restriction on BB/Serve/Redbird where one person can only hold one of those, you can have an AFT (2, actually) while holding a BB, Serve, or Redbird
Need DL to purchase.
Max 1 purchase per ss# per day--this means one person can actually have 2 AFT cards, which is why there is a $5000 total limit for 2 cards (see below).
Max initial load $500 + $3 load fee.
May reload temp card as soon as verification of identity is complete, may take 48 hours. You can use an ATM with a temp card as soon as you're able to view your temp card PIN online. If you're unable to view your PIN online, you won't be able to use an ATM until you have the permanent card, which takes about two weeks.
Many stores now limit reloading to the service desk, and no longer at cashiers. The card must be swiped at a cash terminal to reload, not scanned! Ask cashiers to try if they don't seem to recognize the card. Ask if loading at service desk is a policy, it might just be a knee-jerk response from cashiers that don't know about the card. I have been told that a few times, "You need to go to the Service Desk," it has never been true. Say please and thank you.
Limits & Fees
Loading
Codes as purchase on all cards.
Load fee $3
Max $1000 per card in 24 hour period.
Max $5000 total for both cards per 28 day rolling period.
May load any card *until* balance is $2500 for 28 day period (not *up to*)
System will allow a $1000 load on a card with a $2000 balance so long as you are under $5000 for all cards over 28 day period. See below for optimal load sequence, $15/$5k a month after 1st month and $15k in 65 days for new cards.
Unload via ATM
Max $400/card/day (resets sometime in the wee hours of the morning)
First ATM w/d per month per card is free, based on 1st of the month (not rolling)+ any ATM owner fee.
Additional ATM w/d fee $3 + ATM fee.
When asked 'from account' choose 'checking.'
Possibly helpful link:
Free and Low-Cost ATMs
Unload by purchases
No fee. No cash back.
Additional information
Optimal load pattern for least number of $3 fees after first $500 load is $3k/$2k.
New accounts can load $15k in 65 days. 4 trips in a week for new cards, 3 in a week once a month after that.
Load always means load $1000. 28 day load total in parenthesis. 'Dropped' means that load is past the 28 day mark.
Day 1: Purchase card #1, load $500
Day 3: Purchase card #2, load $500; Load card #1 ($1500)
Day 5: load card #1 ($2500); load card #2 ($1500)
Day 7: load card #2 ($2500)
*********************************wait************
Day 29: ($2000)($2500) day 1 dropped
Day 31: ($1000)($2000) day 3 dropped
Day 32: load card #1 ($2000) ; load card #2 ($3000)
Day 33: ($1000)($2000) day 5 dropped
Day 34: load card #1 ($2000); load card #2 ($3000)
Day 35: ($2000) ($2000) day 7 dropped
Day 36: load card #1 ($3000), ($2000)
*********************************wait************
Day 61: load both cards, day 32 dropped
Day 63: load both cards
Day 65: load one card.
Repeat Loads waiting 29 days between loads, if you loaded both cards 29 days ago load both now, if you loaded one card, load one now. So next load date is 61+29= Day 90
FAQ
Q: Will this show up as a CA?
A: No, Target is not a financial institution.
Q: Even with xxxx cards?
A: Yes, no cards will be charged a CA.
Q: Can I load with Visa/MC/Amex Gift Cards?
A: Yes. Also the balance can be detected and drained if you ask to load more than the value on a prepaid it will just prompt you to give a second payment form. Great for draining random balances.
Q: How about Target gift cards?
A: The register prompts not to allow Target gift cards. They may not be hard coded, though.
Q: Will I get 5% off if I load with a Target Red card?
A: No. Sorry, I wish.
Q: Can I load multiple cards in one transaction?
A: Yes. Up to 3 cards can be loaded in one transaction, but each card will be charged $3.
Q: Why load multiple accounts in one transaction?
A: to avoid multiple $1003 transactions on same CC in minutes. This may trigger a fraud alert.
Q:Is there a max number of payment swipes?
A: Yes. Maximum swipes for split payments is 7, though other users have reported being able to swipe at least 10 gift cards for payment without problems.
Q: Any reason not to load multiple cards in one transaction?
A: Yes, when you have multiple small value gift cards to unload because of 7 swipe limit.
Q: The title says withdrawals are 1.3%, is that true?
A: No. Do the math. I'm not very good at math. Under 1.3% includes Costco ATM fees. It is not possible to edit a thread title, the fees are lower due to the ATM limit now being $400.
Q: What are the lowest possible fees with a fee-free ATM available?
A: For 2 cards, each loaded with $2.5K each over 2 months ($10K in total), you would pay $30 in loading fees (10 load fees of $3 each) and $63 in ATM fees (25 total withdrawals, with 1 free withdrawal per card each month, resulting in 21 ATM fees of $3 each).
Official fund loading from T&C
You may load funds to your Cards using your Funding Source until the Available Funds on any Card purchased by you equals $2,500 and on all card purchased by you equals $5,000... Not more than $1,000 may be loaded to any Card purchased by you in a 24 hour period using your Funding Source, not more than $5,000 may be loaded to all Cards purchased by you in any 28-day period using your Funding Source.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE IF YOU LOADED YOUR PREPAID CARD AT TARGET DURING THE CHRISTMAS SECURITY BREACH: It is important to have AMEX reissue your cards (just phone the number on the card and ask for a new card). Thieves have the numbers and pins and can drain your account at any time. AMEX does not appear to be using software to block suspicious activity, so they can drain it all. If you loaded your prepaid card at Target between November 27 and December 15, 2013, you are at significant risk of having your money stolen (several reported cases in April and May).
Purchase in store. Each store seems to have just one lane that has them on display (unlike the AMEX GC which are at most lanes). Package is larger than other gift cards, silver and red.
Not available in all states. Search here for possible locations
Note: Unlike AMEX's restriction on BB/Serve/Redbird where one person can only hold one of those, you can have an AFT (2, actually) while holding a BB, Serve, or Redbird
Need DL to purchase.
Max 1 purchase per ss# per day--this means one person can actually have 2 AFT cards, which is why there is a $5000 total limit for 2 cards (see below).
Max initial load $500 + $3 load fee.
May reload temp card as soon as verification of identity is complete, may take 48 hours. You can use an ATM with a temp card as soon as you're able to view your temp card PIN online. If you're unable to view your PIN online, you won't be able to use an ATM until you have the permanent card, which takes about two weeks.
Many stores now limit reloading to the service desk, and no longer at cashiers. The card must be swiped at a cash terminal to reload, not scanned! Ask cashiers to try if they don't seem to recognize the card. Ask if loading at service desk is a policy, it might just be a knee-jerk response from cashiers that don't know about the card. I have been told that a few times, "You need to go to the Service Desk," it has never been true. Say please and thank you.
Limits & Fees
Loading
Codes as purchase on all cards.
Load fee $3
Max $1000 per card in 24 hour period.
Max $5000 total for both cards per 28 day rolling period.
May load any card *until* balance is $2500 for 28 day period (not *up to*)
System will allow a $1000 load on a card with a $2000 balance so long as you are under $5000 for all cards over 28 day period. See below for optimal load sequence, $15/$5k a month after 1st month and $15k in 65 days for new cards.
Unload via ATM
Max $400/card/day (resets sometime in the wee hours of the morning)
First ATM w/d per month per card is free, based on 1st of the month (not rolling)+ any ATM owner fee.
Additional ATM w/d fee $3 + ATM fee.
When asked 'from account' choose 'checking.'
Possibly helpful link:
Free and Low-Cost ATMs
Unload by purchases
No fee. No cash back.
Additional information
Optimal load pattern for least number of $3 fees after first $500 load is $3k/$2k.
New accounts can load $15k in 65 days. 4 trips in a week for new cards, 3 in a week once a month after that.
Load always means load $1000. 28 day load total in parenthesis. 'Dropped' means that load is past the 28 day mark.
Day 1: Purchase card #1, load $500
Day 3: Purchase card #2, load $500; Load card #1 ($1500)
Day 5: load card #1 ($2500); load card #2 ($1500)
Day 7: load card #2 ($2500)
*********************************wait************
Day 29: ($2000)($2500) day 1 dropped
Day 31: ($1000)($2000) day 3 dropped
Day 32: load card #1 ($2000) ; load card #2 ($3000)
Day 33: ($1000)($2000) day 5 dropped
Day 34: load card #1 ($2000); load card #2 ($3000)
Day 35: ($2000) ($2000) day 7 dropped
Day 36: load card #1 ($3000), ($2000)
*********************************wait************
Day 61: load both cards, day 32 dropped
Day 63: load both cards
Day 65: load one card.
Repeat Loads waiting 29 days between loads, if you loaded both cards 29 days ago load both now, if you loaded one card, load one now. So next load date is 61+29= Day 90
FAQ
Q: Will this show up as a CA?
A: No, Target is not a financial institution.
Q: Even with xxxx cards?
A: Yes, no cards will be charged a CA.
Q: Can I load with Visa/MC/Amex Gift Cards?
A: Yes. Also the balance can be detected and drained if you ask to load more than the value on a prepaid it will just prompt you to give a second payment form. Great for draining random balances.
Q: How about Target gift cards?
A: The register prompts not to allow Target gift cards. They may not be hard coded, though.
Q: Will I get 5% off if I load with a Target Red card?
A: No. Sorry, I wish.
Q: Can I load multiple cards in one transaction?
A: Yes. Up to 3 cards can be loaded in one transaction, but each card will be charged $3.
Q: Why load multiple accounts in one transaction?
A: to avoid multiple $1003 transactions on same CC in minutes. This may trigger a fraud alert.
Q:Is there a max number of payment swipes?
A: Yes. Maximum swipes for split payments is 7, though other users have reported being able to swipe at least 10 gift cards for payment without problems.
Q: Any reason not to load multiple cards in one transaction?
A: Yes, when you have multiple small value gift cards to unload because of 7 swipe limit.
Q: The title says withdrawals are 1.3%, is that true?
A: No. Do the math. I'm not very good at math. Under 1.3% includes Costco ATM fees. It is not possible to edit a thread title, the fees are lower due to the ATM limit now being $400.
Q: What are the lowest possible fees with a fee-free ATM available?
A: For 2 cards, each loaded with $2.5K each over 2 months ($10K in total), you would pay $30 in loading fees (10 load fees of $3 each) and $63 in ATM fees (25 total withdrawals, with 1 free withdrawal per card each month, resulting in 21 ATM fees of $3 each).
Official fund loading from T&C
You may load funds to your Cards using your Funding Source until the Available Funds on any Card purchased by you equals $2,500 and on all card purchased by you equals $5,000... Not more than $1,000 may be loaded to any Card purchased by you in a 24 hour period using your Funding Source, not more than $5,000 may be loaded to all Cards purchased by you in any 28-day period using your Funding Source.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE IF YOU LOADED YOUR PREPAID CARD AT TARGET DURING THE CHRISTMAS SECURITY BREACH: It is important to have AMEX reissue your cards (just phone the number on the card and ask for a new card). Thieves have the numbers and pins and can drain your account at any time. AMEX does not appear to be using software to block suspicious activity, so they can drain it all. If you loaded your prepaid card at Target between November 27 and December 15, 2013, you are at significant risk of having your money stolen (several reported cases in April and May).
AmEx for Target: $400/week credit card ATM withdrawals for 1.3%+ in certain cities
Jul 28, 2014, 3:46 pm
#2327
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Jul 28, 2014, 4:11 pm
#2328
Join Date: May 2014
Location: New York
Posts: 391
Anyone have any thoughts on why AFT doesn't limit customers to a single card with the same limits and fees 
There must be a reason, but it's that time of day when my brain poses questions and then farts when I attempt to reason out an answer
There must be a reason, but it's that time of day when my brain poses questions and then farts when I attempt to reason out an answer
Jul 28, 2014, 5:27 pm
#2330
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
A lot of my clothing store and kohl's store credits expire from time to time.
I certainly don't understand the unbanked or the financial institutions that want to serve them
Jul 28, 2014, 8:49 pm
#2331
Join Date: May 2014
Location: New York
Posts: 391
Agreed, there is very likely a profit motive behind it (is there ever not 
), but I cannot figure out what the difference is to Amex between one card versus two.
I assume that most of the target market, the underbanked, won't utilize two cards - most of them are not going to load thousands of dollars into AFT the way MSers do. They are most likely loading (relatively) small sums at the register and/or getting DD to AFT.
The more I ponder this great conundrum the more it bugs me
), but I cannot figure out what the difference is to Amex between one card versus two. I assume that most of the target market, the underbanked, won't utilize two cards - most of them are not going to load thousands of dollars into AFT the way MSers do. They are most likely loading (relatively) small sums at the register and/or getting DD to AFT.
The more I ponder this great conundrum the more it bugs me
Jul 28, 2014, 9:17 pm
#2332
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
Any tips on a good way to zero out the balance on these cards other than spending it?
Doing the math, with a $5000 card balance and each withdrawal "costing" $4.25 ($3 fee plus $1.25 ATM fee [1st withdrawal of month only $1.25]) you end up with $152 left.
Another $4.25 to withdraw $140 more and leaving $7.75 does not seem very efficient.
TYIA
Doing the math, with a $5000 card balance and each withdrawal "costing" $4.25 ($3 fee plus $1.25 ATM fee [1st withdrawal of month only $1.25]) you end up with $152 left.
Another $4.25 to withdraw $140 more and leaving $7.75 does not seem very efficient.
TYIA
Jul 29, 2014, 9:17 am
#2335
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 149
For those of you grabbing cards for others, are you like... basically just stealing them?
Or do they allow you to walk out of there?
A store right by where my gf lives in Dallas has two lanes full of them and I was going to grab some extras but forgot to go back to do it.
Or do they allow you to walk out of there?
A store right by where my gf lives in Dallas has two lanes full of them and I was going to grab some extras but forgot to go back to do it.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:05 am
#2336
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,946
Agreed, there is very likely a profit motive behind it (is there ever not ), but I cannot figure out what the difference is to Amex between one card versus two.
I assume that most of the target market, the underbanked, won't utilize two cards - most of them are not going to load thousands of dollars into AFT the way MSers do. They are most likely loading (relatively) small sums at the register and/or getting DD to AFT.
The more I ponder this great conundrum the more it bugs me
I assume that most of the target market, the underbanked, won't utilize two cards - most of them are not going to load thousands of dollars into AFT the way MSers do. They are most likely loading (relatively) small sums at the register and/or getting DD to AFT.
The more I ponder this great conundrum the more it bugs me
Could also be used as a remittance system at a preferable rate to WU
Jul 29, 2014, 10:27 am
#2337
Join Date: May 2014
Location: New York
Posts: 391
One possible intended use of AFT is, in effect, using it as a first DC to store childrens' allowance: dad loads monthly and 2 children debit from AFT monthly until they reach a hard stop. Safer--or perceived as safer--than handing children a wad of cash and more controlled.
Could also be used as a remittance system at a preferable rate to WU
Could also be used as a remittance system at a preferable rate to WU
Jul 29, 2014, 1:44 pm
#2338
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 271
For those of you grabbing cards for others, are you like... basically just stealing them?
Or do they allow you to walk out of there?
A store right by where my gf lives in Dallas has two lanes full of them and I was going to grab some extras but forgot to go back to do it.
Or do they allow you to walk out of there?
A store right by where my gf lives in Dallas has two lanes full of them and I was going to grab some extras but forgot to go back to do it.
Jul 29, 2014, 6:08 pm
#2339
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
One possible intended use of AFT is, in effect, using it as a first DC to store childrens' allowance: dad loads monthly and 2 children debit from AFT monthly until they reach a hard stop. Safer--or perceived as safer--than handing children a wad of cash and more controlled.
Could also be used as a remittance system at a preferable rate to WU
Could also be used as a remittance system at a preferable rate to WU
I'd prefer the serve sub accounts for allowance. It will work beautifully. I have actually started using serve sub accounts for online subscriptions. I just do a transfer for 9.99 and use it up.
This would be more difficult with AFT. Citi has a virtual accoutns feature but it's a pain to obtain compared to serve.
the 5k limit is shared per account. So you can load 2k to one card and 3k to another.
Jul 29, 2014, 6:24 pm
#2340
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 148
I give up, tried 3 times to escalate the 'could not verify your identity' to their risk dept. Each time the risk dept. indicated no go. I made sure each time the address in their file matched what was on my driver's license. Why can't I talk to someone directly in the risk dept.?!?! Absolutely ridiculous.