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
May 5, 2014, 9:08 am
#1591
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,184
I also have a Amex for TGT fraud on 1 of the 4 cards in house. Had them reissue all 4 of them. And was asked to fax in the "dispute" form for each of fraud transactions. Card was never lost or used at any store except ATM.
They have absolutely no fraud detection! And no fraud team!!
They have absolutely no fraud detection! And no fraud team!!
May 5, 2014, 10:07 am
#1592
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Brooklyn/NYC.
Posts: 69
It is always hit and miss with all this MS stuff but they were there in plenty yesterday..
May 5, 2014, 3:41 pm
#1593
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 93
But YMMV on what your store thinks about taking the cards inactivated. I just wanted to help folks out who don't have access to these.
May 5, 2014, 7:29 pm
#1594
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: PDX & PHX
Programs: AA,AS,HH,HY,IB,LH,IHG,MAR,WN
Posts: 199
I guess Lifelock, ProtectMyID (Experian's free service for Target customers) or other credit monitoring/protection services would not be much help much with "realoadable prepaid" cards...
May 5, 2014, 7:49 pm
#1595
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
My wife and I have been doing Amex Target for about a year now, not hitting our 10K/month too often, but doing several thousand a month to meet credit card minimum spends. We've always done $1000 loads with one credit card -- quite easy. But now it's become quite advantageous if you have an Ink card to accumulate those $200 gift cards at Staples (what's less easy is getting rid of them). I've never gotten rid of gift cards at Target, but the wiki suggests it's pretty easy. Do I have to tell the cashier I'm going to be doing a split payment -- or just start swiping the gift cards? She will need the last 4 digits from each card, right? And I'm assuming I'll have to enter a pin somehow.
I'm sure there's some guidance on this somewhere in this huge thread, but a refresher would be helpful. Thanks!
I'm sure there's some guidance on this somewhere in this huge thread, but a refresher would be helpful. Thanks!
May 5, 2014, 8:31 pm
#1596
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
I just received my replacement card and I think I will give it another shot - but will keep the balance low for awhile.
May 5, 2014, 8:54 pm
#1597
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
Glad mine have been empty for months. Haven't had much use for them recently.
May 5, 2014, 9:03 pm
#1598
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 33
My wife and I have been doing Amex Target for about a year now, not hitting our 10K/month too often, but doing several thousand a month to meet credit card minimum spends. We've always done $1000 loads with one credit card -- quite easy. But now it's become quite advantageous if you have an Ink card to accumulate those $200 gift cards at Staples (what's less easy is getting rid of them). I've never gotten rid of gift cards at Target, but the wiki suggests it's pretty easy. Do I have to tell the cashier I'm going to be doing a split payment -- or just start swiping the gift cards? She will need the last 4 digits from each card, right? And I'm assuming I'll have to enter a pin somehow.
I'm sure there's some guidance on this somewhere in this huge thread, but a refresher would be helpful. Thanks!
I'm sure there's some guidance on this somewhere in this huge thread, but a refresher would be helpful. Thanks!
Be careful some clerks don't like it when you use cards without names on them
May 6, 2014, 12:12 am
#1599
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 401
Is there something special I need to do on the keypad when swiping it (and selecting to run it as Credit)?
May 6, 2014, 2:23 pm
#1600
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
Is this smart register stuff still working? Today I tried to load 600 onto a card using three Vanilla MC gift cards (200 each). I swiped the first one, the cashier asked for the last 4 digits (I gave it and they punched it in), then it said the register said the transaction didn't go through. I decided to pay the $603 with a normal credit card as to not cause a scene.
Is there something special I need to do on the keypad when swiping it (and selecting to run it as Credit)?
Is there something special I need to do on the keypad when swiping it (and selecting to run it as Credit)?
I was planning on stopping by my Target tomorrow with 5 $200 gift cards. I'm wondering if the load will go smoothly. I was planning on loading $997, so they could take the fee out of the last card.
Any other recent experience loading with gift cards?
May 6, 2014, 2:32 pm
#1601
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
Hmmm. Interesting -- and not in a good way.
I was planning on stopping by my Target tomorrow with 5 $200 gift cards. I'm wondering if the load will go smoothly. I was planning on loading $997, so they could take the fee out of the last card.
Any other recent experience loading with gift cards?
I was planning on stopping by my Target tomorrow with 5 $200 gift cards. I'm wondering if the load will go smoothly. I was planning on loading $997, so they could take the fee out of the last card.
Any other recent experience loading with gift cards?
May 6, 2014, 8:18 pm
#1602
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Plat, SPG & Marriott Gold, CC Silver
Posts: 541
Over the weekend, I tried to pick up a few of these. We found 1 on top of a drink machine near the checkout, but no others nor any obvious spot where they should be hanging. So my BF went to customer service to see if they had any more in stock. The CSR said something like, "We shouldn't even be selling these with all of the issues" and tossed it into the bin behind her! I wondered what she meant and now I'm reading about the recent fraud issues some have experienced, I guess that was it.
So it seems my nearest Target is not and will not be selling these anymore.
So it seems my nearest Target is not and will not be selling these anymore.
May 8, 2014, 7:33 am
#1603
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 51
I just pick up one of these cards yesterday. I was looking at the T&C and it states a maximum of $200 per week withdraw from ATM, but the wiki says differently. Anyone know which is true?
May 8, 2014, 7:48 am
#1604
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
I told her what I wanted to do ("get rid of these gift cards") and after each swipe the pin pad screen asked me whether I wanted to take the whole amount from the card. The employee told me to select "no" and she then authorized $200 per card from her computer.
If I had said "yes" to that question, would the system have known to deduct $200 and prompt me to enter an additional payment method? In other words, could I have simplified (and speeded up) the process?
May 8, 2014, 8:03 am
#1605
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 466
