Mar 12, 2015, 11:57 am
RIP Redbird... Fun while it lasted
Mar 4, 2015, 1:42 pm
#61
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
Too many here are drawing the less likely conclusion. The two factors are deposits and withdrawals and most here are jumping on the deposits, but it seems to me the withdrawals are the more likely reason. It could be the combination of both, but quick withdrawals seems to me something they really wouldn't like. Why would they care what amounts you load with?
Mar 4, 2015, 1:43 pm
#62
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 158
Exactly. If we were really the card's target audience, as a bunch of unbanked cash users, we would be loading with stacks of $20s and $100s, so it would definitely be even amounts.
Mar 4, 2015, 1:45 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sacramento
Programs: RR, QS, AS MP, SPG
Posts: 233
Mar 4, 2015, 1:47 pm
#64
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
People, the letter posted in OP references $1,000 and $500 amounts, not general even amounts. There are no data points on whether $800 or $876.36 is safer. Until we have such data points, let's not speculate.
Mar 4, 2015, 1:47 pm
#65
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United
Posts: 62
Irrational float panic. The source of most shutdowns.
Mar 4, 2015, 1:48 pm
#66
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Will never by anything with airlines
Posts: 287
Blogs have their material for the next few days...
Mar 4, 2015, 1:50 pm
#67
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CT
Posts: 4
I don't think nice, round loads are the issue. If people (non-MS folks) load RB with cash at WM they will use round amounts $50 or $100.
I think odd numbers would raise more flags..
I think odd numbers would raise more flags..
Mar 4, 2015, 1:52 pm
#68
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, DL Diamond 1MM, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, AMEX 2015 Centurion
Posts: 323
!
Mar 4, 2015, 1:53 pm
#69
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,983
I received the same shutdown notice, but it was a little bit different. It specifically called out my $750 loads
Mar 4, 2015, 1:54 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 523
I call BS. One person claims to have received this email, and the only corroboration comes from an FT account created today? Not convinced.
Think someone is trying to play a not-actually-that-funny joke here.
Think someone is trying to play a not-actually-that-funny joke here.
Mar 4, 2015, 1:55 pm
#71
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
That doesn't mean loads of $998.57 are going to save you, nor does it mean ALL even loads are bad.
It means that one thing they look for are loads of exactly the load limits available.
It also states that he was immediately withdrawing in the same amounts, and the other poster above just got shut down for the same thing with no mention of even loads.
Stop pretending you are an inside man at AmEx and know definitively why this happened.
It means that one thing they look for are loads of exactly the load limits available.
It also states that he was immediately withdrawing in the same amounts, and the other poster above just got shut down for the same thing with no mention of even loads.
Stop pretending you are an inside man at AmEx and know definitively why this happened.
Inside man? No, I'm simply able to comprehend the written word. Which definitely states why they shut down the OP's account. Written at an 8th grade level.
... and yet that's one of the criteria written in the letter. Maybe you're right and AmEx/Target lied to the OP???
Mar 4, 2015, 1:57 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
Why do folks unload immediately? Mind you I've not had the card for as long as many, but even when it came to other techniques, I always waited until the end of the month to unload anyway. Part of it was convenience - mortgage and car payment are due first of the month - but part of it just seemed to make sense. I figured Amex would probably want to have the float for just a little longer than 24 hours. I've tried to frontload the loading, and then billpay what I haven't spent toward the end of the month.
I do load 500/1000 at a time, but I don't immediately take it out. I've also avoided doing the 1000/500/1000 in a day technique, although I did once do back to back 1000 swipes. I also do some shopping at Target each time I go and use the card for that - not huge in the grand scheme, but it is, you know, a Target card and they might prefer you use it for its intended purpose every once in a while.
I do load 500/1000 at a time, but I don't immediately take it out. I've also avoided doing the 1000/500/1000 in a day technique, although I did once do back to back 1000 swipes. I also do some shopping at Target each time I go and use the card for that - not huge in the grand scheme, but it is, you know, a Target card and they might prefer you use it for its intended purpose every once in a while.
Mar 4, 2015, 2:04 pm
#73
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 13
I would argue that high amounts for loading may be a red flag for them. Because it may hint that you intend to use the card not for its intended purposes. But I do not see why it would make the relationship sour for Amex if we load $500 instead of $493.71. What's the difference? You are not hiding anything from them. They see the whole transaction anyway.
At this point all of us will have to guess. But haven't shutdowns in other products in the past always been in conjunction with either 1) possible money laundering or 2) not being a profitable customer?
So, my guess still is that odd amounts will not save anyone. Profitable spending (at Target etc.) will.
Mar 4, 2015, 2:06 pm
#74
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
I'm not trying to 'play inside man'. I am simply able to comprehend the letter sent to the OP. It clearly states one of the reasons is $1K and $500 loads. The letter is very clear; no 'mystery' as to the two reasons why his account was flagged.
Inside man? No, I'm simply able to comprehend the written word. Which definitely states why they shut down the OP's account. Written at an 8th grade level.
... and yet that's one of the criteria written in the letter. Maybe you're right and AmEx/Target lied to the OP???
Inside man? No, I'm simply able to comprehend the written word. Which definitely states why they shut down the OP's account. Written at an 8th grade level.
... and yet that's one of the criteria written in the letter. Maybe you're right and AmEx/Target lied to the OP???
Mar 4, 2015, 2:07 pm
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
Are you serious? Did you read the letter. It states EXACTLY why his account was flagged. Two reasons.
One was: "Repeated suspicious activity on your account has been documented as follows:
Register "Cash" Reloads in $1000 or $500 increments"
It doesn't get much clearer than that.
Target/AmEx/Chase disagree with you. But feel free to continue with round number loading.
One was: "Repeated suspicious activity on your account has been documented as follows:
Register "Cash" Reloads in $1000 or $500 increments"
It doesn't get much clearer than that.
Target/AmEx/Chase disagree with you. But feel free to continue with round number loading.
"Register "Cash" Reloads in $1000 or $500 increments
Withdrawals and/or bill pays equal to the account balance immediately following "Cash" Reloads"
The reason given is more accurately that poster was loading amounts of money and then withdrawing the same amounts quickly. Note the reason given in TommyFlysAlot's post:
"Withdrawals and/or bill pays equal to the account balance immediately following "Cash" Reloads "
Sure, it doesn't get much clearer if you ignore everything else and focus on only the one line.