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
Mar 28, 2013, 5:30 am
#751
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,516
Did anybody try to use Target Visa card (that earns 5% cash back for Target purchases) to load Amex for Target? I am wondering if it works since $50 is a good cash back for each load.
Mar 28, 2013, 8:11 am
#752
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 103
Curious about this as well. From personal experience, I know it allows you to pay the $3 load fee with your Target Visa, bringing the fee down to $2.85.
Mar 29, 2013, 12:26 pm
#756
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 186
During lunch today, I went the Atlantic Terminal Target location to load some Visa gift cards to my Target prepaid card. When the cashier saw that I was about to swipe a gift card, she told me it was not allowed, only credit or debit. She then called over a manager who said that it was a company policy not to accept gift cards for reloads. Has anyone else experienced this recently?
Mar 29, 2013, 12:29 pm
#757
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: Krisflyer, Asia Miles, Miles and Bonus
Posts: 251
Sorry to ask this question as I am new to this thread. Can we still use Amex GC to load the Target card? It seems that some people have trouble doing this. If so, we will need to use Visa and MC gift cards, but where can we get them for a discount? Cheers and sorry if this has been discussed before.
Mar 29, 2013, 1:07 pm
#758
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: CA
Programs: BA, AA, United
Posts: 429
Using gift cards (Visa/MC/Amex) to load target AMEX is mostly a hit or a miss situation. Some cashiers do it and some don't. If someone doesn't allow me to do it, I just move on and try another time.
We all know for sure that there is no restriction from the POS system, it's just the cashier/store managers discretion.
After being denied so many times, I have now applied for a second card and I will always take 2K in gift cards when I go next time. So that if the cashiers accepts GC, I can do it 2K in one trip.
Has anyone had issues with loading 2 cards with 1K each at the same time?
We all know for sure that there is no restriction from the POS system, it's just the cashier/store managers discretion.
After being denied so many times, I have now applied for a second card and I will always take 2K in gift cards when I go next time. So that if the cashiers accepts GC, I can do it 2K in one trip.
Has anyone had issues with loading 2 cards with 1K each at the same time?
Mar 29, 2013, 2:27 pm
#759
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 186
Originally Posted by rambo:20504357
Using gift cards (Visa/MC/Amex) to load target AMEX is mostly a hit or a miss situation. Some cashiers do it and some don't. If someone doesn't allow me to do it, I just move on and try another time.
We all know for sure that there is no restriction from the POS system, it's just the cashier/store managers discretion.
After being denied so many times, I have now applied for a second card and I will always take 2K in gift cards when I go next time. So that if the cashiers accepts GC, I can do it 2K in one trip.
Has anyone had issues with loading 2 cards with 1K each at the same time?
We all know for sure that there is no restriction from the POS system, it's just the cashier/store managers discretion.
After being denied so many times, I have now applied for a second card and I will always take 2K in gift cards when I go next time. So that if the cashiers accepts GC, I can do it 2K in one trip.
Has anyone had issues with loading 2 cards with 1K each at the same time?
Mar 29, 2013, 8:25 pm
#761
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC & PEK
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, UA GS, AA EXP
Posts: 292
Using gift cards (Visa/MC/Amex) to load target AMEX is mostly a hit or a miss situation. Some cashiers do it and some don't. If someone doesn't allow me to do it, I just move on and try another time.
We all know for sure that there is no restriction from the POS system, it's just the cashier/store managers discretion.
After being denied so many times, I have now applied for a second card and I will always take 2K in gift cards when I go next time. So that if the cashiers accepts GC, I can do it 2K in one trip.
Has anyone had issues with loading 2 cards with 1K each at the same time?
We all know for sure that there is no restriction from the POS system, it's just the cashier/store managers discretion.
After being denied so many times, I have now applied for a second card and I will always take 2K in gift cards when I go next time. So that if the cashiers accepts GC, I can do it 2K in one trip.
Has anyone had issues with loading 2 cards with 1K each at the same time?
Mar 30, 2013, 6:52 am
#763
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sweet Home Chicago
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 646
Mar 30, 2013, 7:30 am
#764
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC & PEK
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, UA GS, AA EXP
Posts: 292
Mar 30, 2013, 1:16 pm
#765
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: CA
Programs: BA, AA, United
Posts: 429
Had a weird experience in Target:
I went in this morning to load 2x1000 to 2 of my Amex cards with 200$ gift cards (bought from OD). The first load went through fine and in the second load, 2 of the cards didn't work. One of them didn't load any amount and the other only loaded $60. I thought the card was compromised and thought it's going to be a mess to get this sorted out. After I came home, I registered the cards online and it showed a balance of $200 and $140. I have loaded so many times in target and this is the first time, I have got this issue. Anyone else has seen this??
I went in this morning to load 2x1000 to 2 of my Amex cards with 200$ gift cards (bought from OD). The first load went through fine and in the second load, 2 of the cards didn't work. One of them didn't load any amount and the other only loaded $60. I thought the card was compromised and thought it's going to be a mess to get this sorted out. After I came home, I registered the cards online and it showed a balance of $200 and $140. I have loaded so many times in target and this is the first time, I have got this issue. Anyone else has seen this??