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
Apr 19, 2013, 6:39 pm
#826
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: CA
Programs: BA, AA, United
Posts: 429
Yes they will split into 2. In most cases, when you swipe the first card, the system will automatically check how much you have on that card and take the entire amount.
So, you can load $997 and swipe the 2 cards or you can even load 1000, use the 2 GC and pay the $3 with a miles earning CC.
So, you can load $997 and swipe the 2 cards or you can even load 1000, use the 2 GC and pay the $3 with a miles earning CC.
Apr 19, 2013, 10:18 pm
#827
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: United MP, American AAdvantage, Chase UR, AMEX MR
Posts: 211
I have 7 various value rebate reward cards (Symantec, Trend Micro, Newegg, etc.) with the Visa logo. Am i able to load these in the AFT card? Are the the same as GC?
Apr 20, 2013, 4:09 pm
#829
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,344
To poster above and everyone else: Do you know if the register automatically deducts the amount available on prepaid amex/visa/mc cards or do you have to tell the clerk the amount on each card?
Apr 20, 2013, 7:00 pm
#830
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 267
You tell them the total of your load and then swipe as many cards as you want. I usually go there with 3-4 cards, total up the amount of the cards and subtract $3 for the load fee.
Apr 21, 2013, 2:31 pm
#831
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: United MP, American AAdvantage, Chase UR, AMEX MR
Posts: 211
Apr 21, 2013, 4:59 pm
#832
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,417
best credit card to use?
Does anyone know of a credit card that pays an extra bonus at Target? Some of us had hoped that the Citi Preferred card would pay the 5x grocery bonus because Visa generally classifies Target as "grocery stores," but Citi seems to have it's own non-lucrative policy.
I've been using the Club Carlson card to reload as that card seems to have the best all-around kickback (5x Carlson points, plus 2 for 1 hotel redemption). But there's only so many Carlson points I need. Target AMEX is also obviously very good for meeting minimum spends. But given the general hassle and (fairly modest) expense of "cashing out" at ATMs, I'm not sure this is the best manufactured spending opportunity in the world.
Unless, of course, somebody has figured out a good category bonus that applies.
I've been using the Club Carlson card to reload as that card seems to have the best all-around kickback (5x Carlson points, plus 2 for 1 hotel redemption). But there's only so many Carlson points I need. Target AMEX is also obviously very good for meeting minimum spends. But given the general hassle and (fairly modest) expense of "cashing out" at ATMs, I'm not sure this is the best manufactured spending opportunity in the world.
Unless, of course, somebody has figured out a good category bonus that applies.
Apr 21, 2013, 6:39 pm
#833
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,031
Does anyone know of a credit card that pays an extra bonus at Target? Some of us had hoped that the Citi Preferred card would pay the 5x grocery bonus because Visa generally classifies Target as "grocery stores," but Citi seems to have it's own non-lucrative policy.
I've been using the Club Carlson card to reload as that card seems to have the best all-around kickback (5x Carlson points, plus 2 for 1 hotel redemption). But there's only so many Carlson points I need. Target AMEX is also obviously very good for meeting minimum spends. But given the general hassle and (fairly modest) expense of "cashing out" at ATMs, I'm not sure this is the best manufactured spending opportunity in the world.
Unless, of course, somebody has figured out a good category bonus that applies.
I've been using the Club Carlson card to reload as that card seems to have the best all-around kickback (5x Carlson points, plus 2 for 1 hotel redemption). But there's only so many Carlson points I need. Target AMEX is also obviously very good for meeting minimum spends. But given the general hassle and (fairly modest) expense of "cashing out" at ATMs, I'm not sure this is the best manufactured spending opportunity in the world.
Unless, of course, somebody has figured out a good category bonus that applies.
Apr 21, 2013, 6:40 pm
#834
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Ann Arbor
Programs: Delta GM, Hilton
Posts: 192
Does anyone know of a credit card that pays an extra bonus at Target? Some of us had hoped that the Citi Preferred card would pay the 5x grocery bonus because Visa generally classifies Target as "grocery stores," but Citi seems to have it's own non-lucrative policy.
I've been using the Club Carlson card to reload as that card seems to have the best all-around kickback (5x Carlson points, plus 2 for 1 hotel redemption). But there's only so many Carlson points I need. Target AMEX is also obviously very good for meeting minimum spends. But given the general hassle and (fairly modest) expense of "cashing out" at ATMs, I'm not sure this is the best manufactured spending opportunity in the world.
Unless, of course, somebody has figured out a good category bonus that applies.
I've been using the Club Carlson card to reload as that card seems to have the best all-around kickback (5x Carlson points, plus 2 for 1 hotel redemption). But there's only so many Carlson points I need. Target AMEX is also obviously very good for meeting minimum spends. But given the general hassle and (fairly modest) expense of "cashing out" at ATMs, I'm not sure this is the best manufactured spending opportunity in the world.
Unless, of course, somebody has figured out a good category bonus that applies.
Apr 22, 2013, 7:47 am
#835
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 104
so an update on my inability-to-do-in-store-reload situation:
i went to a different store here in NC. tried a cashier who was baffled and i tried instructing her on how to do it. no dice--she showed me that the POS was not even recognizing that a card had been swiped. so off to CS...someone who HAD reloaded these before came out and he knew just what to do...but alas, same as the cashier. absolutely NOTHING happened--no prompts, no nothing. he tried for a good while and was stumped. he said that the store USED to carry the prepaid card but no longer does and perhaps that's related...but no luck for me here in NC.
cliffs: YMMV on in-store reloads, but despite reports, it doesn't appear to work everywhere
i went to a different store here in NC. tried a cashier who was baffled and i tried instructing her on how to do it. no dice--she showed me that the POS was not even recognizing that a card had been swiped. so off to CS...someone who HAD reloaded these before came out and he knew just what to do...but alas, same as the cashier. absolutely NOTHING happened--no prompts, no nothing. he tried for a good while and was stumped. he said that the store USED to carry the prepaid card but no longer does and perhaps that's related...but no luck for me here in NC.
cliffs: YMMV on in-store reloads, but despite reports, it doesn't appear to work everywhere
Apr 22, 2013, 10:28 am
#836
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 203
I don't think this is the case, as it can also vary by card issuer. I always use the same target, shows as grocery for Citi, and discount store for amex.
Apr 22, 2013, 11:19 am
#837
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,031
That makes sense. The merchant accounts for accepting Amex are different from those for MC/Visa. But across all MC/Visas, they should classify the same way, and across all Amexes, the same way.
Apr 22, 2013, 5:08 pm
#838
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,417
I would think Citi would be big enough to have their own "category checker" -- especially since they're so big on this category bonus thing. They must get a lot of frustrated customers who complain about not getting the bonuses they think they're getting.
With Target, it would be easy for many of us to reload at Targets that qualified as grocery stores -- if we knew which ones they were. It's kind of hard to randomly make purchases to find out.
Apr 22, 2013, 5:21 pm
#839
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I do have the PenFed card. I guess I'll make a small purchase and see what happens.
I would think Citi would be big enough to have their own "category checker" -- especially since they're so big on this category bonus thing. They must get a lot of frustrated customers who complain about not getting the bonuses they think they're getting.
With Target, it would be easy for many of us to reload at Targets that qualified as grocery stores -- if we knew which ones they were. It's kind of hard to randomly make purchases to find out.
I would think Citi would be big enough to have their own "category checker" -- especially since they're so big on this category bonus thing. They must get a lot of frustrated customers who complain about not getting the bonuses they think they're getting.
With Target, it would be easy for many of us to reload at Targets that qualified as grocery stores -- if we knew which ones they were. It's kind of hard to randomly make purchases to find out.
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...r/NewSearch.do
Apr 22, 2013, 6:20 pm
#840
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,417
Go here to check on your particular location. As an fyi, some dollar generals count as grocery stores and some Kmarts count as department stores. Do with that information as you will.
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...r/NewSearch.do
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...r/NewSearch.do