Last edit by: NoonRadar
Nov 24, 2015
Dear XXXXXXXXX,
We want to let you know that we are making a change to your Target Prepaid REDcard® by American Express, and you will no longer be able to add money from your debit card at Target stores. As always, you can continue to add money to your Prepaid REDcard by using:
• Your debit card online through your Account
• Cash at a Target Store
• Direct Deposit (You can automatically add all or part of your paycheck, government benefits and federal tax refunds to your Prepaid REDcard)
DEAD FOR DEBIT CARD LOADS EFFECTIVE 10/12/2015 - MEMO: http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.co...uests-can-use/
DEAD FOR CREDIT CARD LOADS. (Amex GCs Included)
Effective May 6, 2015 registers are hard-coded to not allow credit card reload. PIN-based debit cards are working, however YMMV. PIN-based debit cards may be refused by cashiers.
WHAT IS TARGET PREPAID REDCARD?
Prepaid Redcard is a reloadable American Express card. It is only available to purchase at select Target stores.
WEBSITE:
This site may error when in Firefox, especially with adding payees / bill pay. Customer service says to use Chrome or Internet Explorer.
https://amex.serve.com/prepaidredcard
PREPAID REDCARD LOAD LIMITS
Cash (or debit card) loading at Target: ** - $1,000/transaction, $2,500/day and $5,000/month
Online Debit Card Load * - $200/day and $1,000/month
Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
All "Monthly" limits are per calendar month and reset on the 1st of each month.
Daily limits reset at midnight Eastern time, 9 PM Pacific time.
*For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt.
ATM Withdrawals:
No-fee ATM usage at US Target stores* and U.S. Allpoint network ATMs. (ATM usage not available at any other ATMs.) Find an Allpoint ATM at: www.allpointnetwork.com Note that some ATMs only allow $400/transaction. There is a $750/day and $2,000/month limit to ATM withdrawals.
RedCard is only available in specific Target stores and is not available in all states. Go to this site to find a list of available locations:https://amex.serve.com/prepaidredcard
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Can I reload a RB at a Target that doesn't sell RB?
Yes. However, the cashier may not know how to do it. You may be able to coach them through it by saying "It's like reloading a Starbucks (or Gift) card". For step-by-step instructions on one method of 'coaching' new cashiers see Post#1904
Q: Can I buy or reload a RB in North Carolina?
See post here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...a-63.html#2520
There is currently a software issue preventing any reload of any kind in NC. It is a known issue but there is no ETA on a fix.
Q: Can I reload the RB at any register, or just at the Customer Service desk?
It can be done at any register, however some cashiers are not trained on how to do this and you may have to go to Customer Service.
Q: What is the most efficient way to drain a RedCard?
Use BillPay to pay bills. For example, pay the credit card you used to load RedCard with. You can also withdraw money at ATMs.
Q: I cant access the BillPay feature through the RB website!
Verify that your account information correctly reflects a 10-digit phone number (including area code). Numerous people have reported that their account only had a 7-digit phone number (no area code) and that, after updating to a 10-digit phone number, BillPay miraculously started working.
Q: Can we buy a temporary Redbird card while we still have a Bluebird or Serve account?
Yes.
Q: How many Redbird cards can you purchase at once?
You can only purchase one Redbird card a day per SSN. If you plan to purchase more than one, be sure to use a different SSN for each purchase to avoid activation issues.
Q: Can we register our temporary Redbird online while we still have a Bluebird or Serve account?
No. You will have to cancel your Bluebird or Serve account first before registering.
Q: How do I cancel my BlueBird or Serve Account online? Do I need to call them?
Frequent Miler posted a useful trick that will help you cancel online How to cancel Bluebird online This works for both BlueBird and Serve.
Q: Cancelled Bluebird, why does registering Redbird error out saying Bluebird is still active?
If you have open transactions that have not been settled, like BillPay checks that have not yet been cashed, the account cannot settle and will not be truly closed. Thus Target will reject it until it's permanently closed.
Q: Can we get Redbird online?
No. The only way to get Redbird is to find a participating Target store and buy a temporary card there. Some people have purchased RB on Ebay, Amazon, or through private deals. Be aware that doing so may violate the TOS of one or more of these services. Also be aware that buying an un-activated RB, you are potentially buying "stolen" merchandise; the seller *may* have simply taken the un-activated RB cards from a target store without permission. At best they got permission from a low-level employee; they certainly are not getting permission from someone authorized to allow sale of RB outside of the current Target-authorized roll out markets. It is highly recommended to only buy already activated Redbirds because many Targets which do not offer Redbirds also will not be able to activate them and you will spend a month with the Customer Service line trying to get a new one.
Q: Does the initial load you put in when purchasing the Redbird count against the monthly limit?
No. After registering the Redbird online, any loads done will count against your monthly limit, even on your temp card.
Q: Can we load Redbird with Target gift cards at Target?NO.
When loading, the register displays a large message saying that gift cards cannot be used to pay for this transaction.
Q: What are the card’s load limits per transaction at Target?
[B]As of 2/2/2015 there is a maximum $1,000 load per transaction. You can no longer load the same RB multiple times (multiple swipes) in 1 transaction. Likewise, you can no longer load multiple RBs (say your's and your spouse's) in 1 transaction. Maximum of 1 load, for $1,000 per debit card payment. End of story.
Q: What credit cards can I use to reload RedCard in Target stores?
NONE. As of May 6, 2015, credit cards cannot be used to reload.
Q: Can I reload with a debit card?
Yes, but only if the debit card can be authenticated with PIN-number. Signature-based debit that processes on the Visa/MasterCard/AmEx networks will NOT work.
Q: Can I reload with a prepaid debit card or Vanilla Visa?
Yes, but only if you have a PIN for that card.
Q: How can I load 2 debit cards in one transaction? Example 2x$500.
1. Swipe debit card on my terminal after total comes up $1000.
2. PIN pad comes up. Enter 4 digit PIN.
3. Do you want cash back? press NO
4. Do you want full amount on this card? press NO <<<Note: I pressed YES and did not have a step 5. - PHLisa
5. Cashier reads something on register, asks how much on this card. $500. They push something to continue.
6. Swipe card #2. Enter PIN
7. Repeat 3 to 5. Total: 0.00
8. Receipt prints. Thank cashier. The end.
(thanks to Mamibear)
Q: Can someone else buy a Redbird card for you?
Yes. When you buy a temp Redbird card at Target, you have to give them your drivers license info, your SSN (can be any set of numbers, does not need to be real), birthdate, and more. Then, you have to register the card online in order to get a permanent card. In the process of registering online, they ask for the birthday of the original buyer on the first screen, but you can put your own and it will still work. Either way, you can still change the details on the following screens. I did this for my wife. I bought the card at Target and used my own driver’s license, SSN, etc. But, when I got home, I registered the card to my wife. I can’t promise this will work for everyone, but it worked for me.
Q: Can you reload Serve/Bluebird at Target?
No.
Q: How do I contact Target's support team to resolve an issue with my RedCard?
Call Target's Prepaid Resolution Team, their direct telephone number is 800 438 6468 (open from 8AM to 430PM MST).
Q: Can you have both Redbird and AFT cards?
Yes.
You can have both Redbird and AFT since they are independent products.
Q: I got a "Pending" notice that the registration is being reviewed, what now?
Add [email protected] to your address book, and check your spam folder for an email about it. You can also call in. They will need images or faxes of:
• Social Security Documentation (must clearly show full 9 digit Social Security Number). Choose 1 of the following options:
◦ Social Security Card, OR
◦ A Medicare insurance card
Plus...
• Picture ID
◦ A valid driver's license card OR
◦ A valid state issued ID OR
◦ A valid United States Government ID Card (e.g. Green Card) OR
◦ A valid United States Passport (photo page only)
◦ Social Security Card, OR
◦ A Medicare insurance card
Plus...
• Picture ID
◦ A valid driver's license card OR
◦ A valid state issued ID OR
◦ A valid United States Government ID Card (e.g. Green Card) OR
◦ A valid United States Passport (photo page only)
Secure Document Upload
Here's the link to upload secure documents to REDcard: https://secure.prepaidredcard.com/User/SecureFileUpload
Prepaid REDcard (Target) 2015-2016
#6676
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: AMEX Plat, Hyatt Explorist, JetBlue Mosaic, Wyndham Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 169
In some big cities--especially in NYC--several Target stores started demanding that people show ID and matched the named against the credit card and against the Redbird. I believe this was to prevent fraud, which happens more in big cities since there's a lot more people per Target store.
If Target cashiers continue to demand that your debit card name matches your ID, you might be out of luck, since your name won't be on the gift cards. They will likely be a lot fewer cashiers asking people to show ID for debit methods of payment, but still, they might. More testing in big cities will let us know about this in the coming days, I'm sure.
P.S. As before, please mention the name of your city when you report data points, the experiences are not uniform across the country.
If Target cashiers continue to demand that your debit card name matches your ID, you might be out of luck, since your name won't be on the gift cards. They will likely be a lot fewer cashiers asking people to show ID for debit methods of payment, but still, they might. More testing in big cities will let us know about this in the coming days, I'm sure.
P.S. As before, please mention the name of your city when you report data points, the experiences are not uniform across the country.
#6677
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
To clarify on my situation: I went to the local Target, attempted to load, got directed to the Customer Services desk (which was itself odd), and the CC didn't process. I'm not sure about the reason for the re-direct (they might have done that this week if they got slammed with a bunch of MSers, given the stories of massive lines and the like...I'm in a pretty decent-sized city and it is quite plausible that they got hit with a hurricane of customers).
What's interesting is that a friend who works the register was expecting me to come in today (I came in after his shift) and he made no mention of this turnover last night, so it seems likely that they didn't even inform staff at the store of this.
What's interesting is that a friend who works the register was expecting me to come in today (I came in after his shift) and he made no mention of this turnover last night, so it seems likely that they didn't even inform staff at the store of this.
#6678
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 333
#6679
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I'm not sure what the rules are for matching the REDcard to anything but they cannot require ID for a Visa transaction. This is according to Visa:"When should you ask a cardholder for an official government ID? Although Visa rules do not preclude merchants from asking for cardholder ID except in the specific circumstances discussed in this guide, merchants cannot make an ID a condition of acceptance. Therefore, merchants cannot as part of their regular card acceptance procedures refuse to complete a purchase transaction because a cardholder refuses to provide ID." And if you want to press the matter, you can report them using this link.
I understand why people refuse to show their ID to match their CC especially if they're using non personalized GCs but to go to the extent of reporting them to V/MC, one might as well quit doing MS because they'll likely be in this situation most often. JMO.
#6680
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 80
http://www.pointswithacrew.com/targe...-what-we-know/
#6681
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Michigan
Programs: AA, UA, DL, UR, IHG platnium, AirAsia
Posts: 323
I went into my local Target today after work hoping to get in the final $2k that I was short on. My plan was to do this "business as usual" and pretend I had no idea about "the memo" or anything else over RB shutting down CC loads.
First checkout register, handed my RB to cashier. Wanted to load $1k on it. She immediately stated CC's are no longer accepted. I was like "what? No way. Just swipe it." She said no and sent me over to the CSR checkout lane. I demanded to speak to the Manager. I demanded that he go ahead and load the card. He said "I'm sorry it's hard coded, we no longer accept CC's." I had it with him. Blew off steam. I was like "hard coded, what the heck is that suppose to mean?" Just load it. He said "No" then I proceeded to say "so this is how Target treats it's customers? By changing it's policy overnight without letting us know or any lead time. I will no longer shop at your store until you allow me to load with my cards again." and just left.
First checkout register, handed my RB to cashier. Wanted to load $1k on it. She immediately stated CC's are no longer accepted. I was like "what? No way. Just swipe it." She said no and sent me over to the CSR checkout lane. I demanded to speak to the Manager. I demanded that he go ahead and load the card. He said "I'm sorry it's hard coded, we no longer accept CC's." I had it with him. Blew off steam. I was like "hard coded, what the heck is that suppose to mean?" Just load it. He said "No" then I proceeded to say "so this is how Target treats it's customers? By changing it's policy overnight without letting us know or any lead time. I will no longer shop at your store until you allow me to load with my cards again." and just left.
#6682
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
I don't think it's a smart move to report merchants asking to see IDs to match CCs. While customers may have the right to report them, merchants also have the right to refuse to sell to anyone if they suspect fraud, even to the point of banning you from their establishment.
I understand why people refuse to show their ID to match their CC especially if they're using non personalized GCs but to go to the extent of reporting them to V/MC, one might as well quit doing MS because they'll likely be in this situation most often. JMO.
I understand why people refuse to show their ID to match their CC especially if they're using non personalized GCs but to go to the extent of reporting them to V/MC, one might as well quit doing MS because they'll likely be in this situation most often. JMO.
#6683
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 393
Thanks for the data point. Did it auto-drain the first $500 and prompt you for another debit card for the remaining balance? I have never successfully auto-drained VGCs from PIN-based transaction at my local grocery stores.
#6685
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
I went into my local Target today after work hoping to get in the final $2k that I was short on. My plan was to do this "business as usual" and pretend I had no idea about "the memo" or anything else over RB shutting down CC loads.
First checkout register, handed my RB to cashier. Wanted to load $1k on it. She immediately stated CC's are no longer accepted. I was like "what? No way. Just swipe it." She said no and sent me over to the CSR checkout lane. I demanded to speak to the Manager. I demanded that he go ahead and load the card. He said "I'm sorry it's hard coded, we no longer accept CC's." I had it with him. Blew off steam. I was like "hard coded, what the heck is that suppose to mean?" Just load it. He said "No" then I proceeded to say "so this is how Target treats it's customers? By changing it's policy overnight without letting us know or any lead time. I will no longer shop at your store until you allow me to load with my cards again." and just left.
First checkout register, handed my RB to cashier. Wanted to load $1k on it. She immediately stated CC's are no longer accepted. I was like "what? No way. Just swipe it." She said no and sent me over to the CSR checkout lane. I demanded to speak to the Manager. I demanded that he go ahead and load the card. He said "I'm sorry it's hard coded, we no longer accept CC's." I had it with him. Blew off steam. I was like "hard coded, what the heck is that suppose to mean?" Just load it. He said "No" then I proceeded to say "so this is how Target treats it's customers? By changing it's policy overnight without letting us know or any lead time. I will no longer shop at your store until you allow me to load with my cards again." and just left.
#6686
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 59
It's not profitable for Target. That's what I was saying. In the ideal MS scenario, Target is losing money on each AFT.
Assuming a 2% swipe fee, if you load $5,000 a month, they pay $100 to their card processor to load it. They make back some of that in fees, but not all:
$3 per load. 5 loads required due to $1,000 load limit = $15.
$3 per ATM withdrawal. $400/day ATM limit means 13 loads are required to unload the card. First ATM withdrawal is free, so you're paying the ATM fee 12 times = $36
$36 + 15 = $51 paid in fees. It cost $100 in swipe fees for Target, so they're eating $49.
People are surprised that AFT was affected by this "because of all the fees Target charges" but I'm not. If you do the math, they're losing money, even with the fees. Not as much money as they're losing with RedBird, but they're not in business to lose money.
Assuming a 2% swipe fee, if you load $5,000 a month, they pay $100 to their card processor to load it. They make back some of that in fees, but not all:
$3 per load. 5 loads required due to $1,000 load limit = $15.
$3 per ATM withdrawal. $400/day ATM limit means 13 loads are required to unload the card. First ATM withdrawal is free, so you're paying the ATM fee 12 times = $36
$36 + 15 = $51 paid in fees. It cost $100 in swipe fees for Target, so they're eating $49.
People are surprised that AFT was affected by this "because of all the fees Target charges" but I'm not. If you do the math, they're losing money, even with the fees. Not as much money as they're losing with RedBird, but they're not in business to lose money.
I thought AFT loading with CC was reasonable and would continue ... but obviously not.
#6687
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 11
I went into my local Target today after work hoping to get in the final $2k that I was short on. My plan was to do this "business as usual" and pretend I had no idea about "the memo" or anything else over RB shutting down CC loads.
First checkout register, handed my RB to cashier. Wanted to load $1k on it. She immediately stated CC's are no longer accepted. I was like "what? No way. Just swipe it." She said no and sent me over to the CSR checkout lane. I demanded to speak to the Manager. I demanded that he go ahead and load the card. He said "I'm sorry it's hard coded, we no longer accept CC's." I had it with him. Blew off steam. I was like "hard coded, what the heck is that suppose to mean?" Just load it. He said "No" then I proceeded to say "so this is how Target treats it's customers? By changing it's policy overnight without letting us know or any lead time. I will no longer shop at your store until you allow me to load with my cards again." and just left.
First checkout register, handed my RB to cashier. Wanted to load $1k on it. She immediately stated CC's are no longer accepted. I was like "what? No way. Just swipe it." She said no and sent me over to the CSR checkout lane. I demanded to speak to the Manager. I demanded that he go ahead and load the card. He said "I'm sorry it's hard coded, we no longer accept CC's." I had it with him. Blew off steam. I was like "hard coded, what the heck is that suppose to mean?" Just load it. He said "No" then I proceeded to say "so this is how Target treats it's customers? By changing it's policy overnight without letting us know or any lead time. I will no longer shop at your store until you allow me to load with my cards again." and just left.
#6689
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 149