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 8, 2014, 8:18 am
#1606
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 51
I was successful unloading 5 $200 cards (I went to customer service, and the employee was very chill with it).
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?
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, 11:34 am
#1607
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA, WN, BA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 313
Data point: I got an email today that a permanent refund has been made to my cards for the fraudulent charges that were made (likely card info stolen from Target breach). I checked and the funds were loaded to my card. It took about a month from the time I called to dispute the charges, to receiving the credit on my account.
And this is why you never spend money that you can't afford to be tied up for months at a time
May 9, 2014, 12:17 pm
#1608
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
So you didn't get "the question" on the pin pad screen? Are there different Target payment systems in different stores -- or did my clerk push a button that generated the question?
May 9, 2014, 1:42 pm
#1609
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25
Does anyone know of surcharge free or low fee ATMs in the Chicago area?
May 9, 2014, 2:07 pm
#1610
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 138
For anyone in the Salt Lake City area -- I was just at the downtown Target location about an hour ago, and they had over 100 cards available spread between all of the registers (above the candy racks.)
May 9, 2014, 2:13 pm
#1611
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 278
No, that question always pops up. Just ignore it - the system will always prompt you for another payment after it drains each gift card. There's no need to specify verbally or on the keypad that you want to do a split payment.
May 9, 2014, 3:35 pm
#1612
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UES/MWC
Programs: Braniff, TWA, Eastern, Midwest, AA Exec, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 270
For anybody in Wisconsin (yes, AFT is available in WI, although only at the Target in Pleasant Prairie, since it is technically in the Chicago area) the ideal place to unload these is at Woodman's, the Wisconsin-based grocery chain. Although they only take cash or debit, the three I've been to all have a *fee-free* ATM inside. Ka-ching!
May 9, 2014, 3:38 pm
#1613
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Anybody in the San Gabriel Valley, CA knows of any Fee Free ATM?
May 9, 2014, 10:23 pm
#1614
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 28
Any of these found around the City of Brotherly Love? Any luck by the monument?
May 10, 2014, 11:13 am
#1615
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 401
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)?
Tried it again today and ran into the same issue while trying to load $600 using three Vanilla MC gift cards. It kept declining the charge since it appeared it was trying to take the full $603 from a $200 card. The cashier was especially nice so I handed over the gift card. She looked at it, said it could be run as credit, and also said "I don't know why this isn't working. Since it's a gift card that is credit, it should just take the whole $200 and then ask for another one."
In the end, she had to manually split tender into three different $200 charges (one for each card). Anyone else experience this?
May 10, 2014, 3:01 pm
#1616
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 331
Newbie for Amex Target here
Hello guys,
I just now got my Amex for Target Card. It was really a hard time, as my nearest Target store is 100 Miles away. I went to city to meet a friend, and along by got this card.
The used my DL Scan and my DL has my OLD house address. But my Credit Reports, Amex CC Address and all has NEW HOME ADDRESS.
Just now I have logged in and it said, we are still verifying your identity.
Do you guys think my Identity verification will FAIL? or should I call Amex and update my NEW ADDRESS before they verify or can I change this after I get the card?
I just now got my Amex for Target Card. It was really a hard time, as my nearest Target store is 100 Miles away. I went to city to meet a friend, and along by got this card.
The used my DL Scan and my DL has my OLD house address. But my Credit Reports, Amex CC Address and all has NEW HOME ADDRESS.
Just now I have logged in and it said, we are still verifying your identity.
Do you guys think my Identity verification will FAIL? or should I call Amex and update my NEW ADDRESS before they verify or can I change this after I get the card?
May 11, 2014, 4:46 pm
#1618
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 466
I'm looking for some data points from others who use this card:
1. How do you use these cards? Simply load/unload? Or do you make a few small purchases as well?
2. For those who only load/unload - any peep out of Amex?
3. Have you ever loaded/unloaded in the same day? Results?
Thanks. Trying to get an idea of acceptable usage for this card.
1. How do you use these cards? Simply load/unload? Or do you make a few small purchases as well?
2. For those who only load/unload - any peep out of Amex?
3. Have you ever loaded/unloaded in the same day? Results?
Thanks. Trying to get an idea of acceptable usage for this card.
May 11, 2014, 5:03 pm
#1619
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: SPG Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 223
I'm looking for some data points from others who use this card:
1. How do you use these cards? Simply load/unload? Or do you make a few small purchases as well?
2. For those who only load/unload - any peep out of Amex?
3. Have you ever loaded/unloaded in the same day? Results?
Thanks. Trying to get an idea of acceptable usage for this card.
1. How do you use these cards? Simply load/unload? Or do you make a few small purchases as well?
2. For those who only load/unload - any peep out of Amex?
3. Have you ever loaded/unloaded in the same day? Results?
Thanks. Trying to get an idea of acceptable usage for this card.
2. Not a word ever.
3. On occasion. No issues.
May 11, 2014, 6:12 pm
#1620
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
I need to do better reading in the future
-delete-
-delete-
Last edited by VizeL; May 11, 2014 at 6:23 pm