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 21, 2013, 11:32 am
#886
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 190
OK, thanks. I will try it. I guess what I can't do is take one credit card and, say, charge $400, and then take another card for the balance. (This would be useful for avoiding fraud alerts on new cards.) It sounds like it must be a gift card with a balance that can be drained, before the system will ask you for an additional payment.
May 21, 2013, 11:21 pm
#887
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAX
Posts: 288
Unable to load Visa/Amex GCs?
Today I tried to load a bunch of Visa/Amex GCs to my Amex Target and both types all got declined. The system said it won't accept "this type" of payment. I hope it's just one time issue and not permanent.
Does anybody have recently loaded Visa/Amex GCs successfully in past few days?
Will try different Target later this week.
Does anybody have recently loaded Visa/Amex GCs successfully in past few days?
Will try different Target later this week.
May 21, 2013, 11:43 pm
#888
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: UR, MR, HH, MW, SPG
Posts: 15
I am new to all of this, so please be gentle.
I did an App-O-Rama and was approved for various cards Bold, SPG, and Plat Biz each with their own min spend to get my signup bonus points. Im sure I can meet the minimum spends with AP and BB but of course there was a little trial and error before I figured out the proper way to use our various avenues.
Im in NYC, so Beans are hard to come by. GreenDot are cash only so Vanilla Gift cards are the only CC purchases available to me right now. Im lucky (or unlucky) enough to live 15min from a Walmart so I signed up and received my BB. Went to Staples and bought a few $200 Vanilla Visa Gift cards and went to Walgreens and felt good about picking up 2 $500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Debit cards (to save on the purchase fees). The feeling was shortlived when, at Walmart, I was only able to load the $200 Visa Gift Cards. The $500 OneVanilla was declined. When I checked online the transaction said 'MCC declined'. Merchant Code issue.
I thought I was SOL with $1000 tied up in OneVanilla but I tried the Amex for Target route after reading about it here. I crossed my fingers that I would not have the same MCC issue when trying to use the OneVanilla card and my jaw dropped when the cashier said it was declined... but she noticed my card and says "Oh if its a Gift card, just press credit.. it will go through". It friggin worked!! Happy!!
Moral of the story, for the newbies of course...
$500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Card CANNOT be loaded on BB but it CAN be loaded on Amex for Target using credit transaction NOT debit.. even though it says DEBIT right on the card.
Now to figure out my best strategy.
Staples and Target are in the same parking lot.
I guess I can buy 5x$200 Visa Gift Cards in Staples with Bold for 5x and load to Amex for Target. Or Just load up with my Bold at Target to meet my minimum spend with less purchase fees.. but MUCH less UR points. I guess the Staples route is the correct way to go.
I did an App-O-Rama and was approved for various cards Bold, SPG, and Plat Biz each with their own min spend to get my signup bonus points. Im sure I can meet the minimum spends with AP and BB but of course there was a little trial and error before I figured out the proper way to use our various avenues.
Im in NYC, so Beans are hard to come by. GreenDot are cash only so Vanilla Gift cards are the only CC purchases available to me right now. Im lucky (or unlucky) enough to live 15min from a Walmart so I signed up and received my BB. Went to Staples and bought a few $200 Vanilla Visa Gift cards and went to Walgreens and felt good about picking up 2 $500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Debit cards (to save on the purchase fees). The feeling was shortlived when, at Walmart, I was only able to load the $200 Visa Gift Cards. The $500 OneVanilla was declined. When I checked online the transaction said 'MCC declined'. Merchant Code issue.
I thought I was SOL with $1000 tied up in OneVanilla but I tried the Amex for Target route after reading about it here. I crossed my fingers that I would not have the same MCC issue when trying to use the OneVanilla card and my jaw dropped when the cashier said it was declined... but she noticed my card and says "Oh if its a Gift card, just press credit.. it will go through". It friggin worked!! Happy!!
Moral of the story, for the newbies of course...
$500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Card CANNOT be loaded on BB but it CAN be loaded on Amex for Target using credit transaction NOT debit.. even though it says DEBIT right on the card.
Now to figure out my best strategy.
Staples and Target are in the same parking lot.
I guess I can buy 5x$200 Visa Gift Cards in Staples with Bold for 5x and load to Amex for Target. Or Just load up with my Bold at Target to meet my minimum spend with less purchase fees.. but MUCH less UR points. I guess the Staples route is the correct way to go.
May 23, 2013, 10:27 am
#889
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
I am new to all of this, so please be gentle.
I did an App-O-Rama and was approved for various cards Bold, SPG, and Plat Biz each with their own min spend to get my signup bonus points. Im sure I can meet the minimum spends with AP and BB but of course there was a little trial and error before I figured out the proper way to use our various avenues.
Im in NYC, so Beans are hard to come by. GreenDot are cash only so Vanilla Gift cards are the only CC purchases available to me right now. Im lucky (or unlucky) enough to live 15min from a Walmart so I signed up and received my BB. Went to Staples and bought a few $200 Vanilla Visa Gift cards and went to Walgreens and felt good about picking up 2 $500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Debit cards (to save on the purchase fees). The feeling was shortlived when, at Walmart, I was only able to load the $200 Visa Gift Cards. The $500 OneVanilla was declined. When I checked online the transaction said 'MCC declined'. Merchant Code issue.
I thought I was SOL with $1000 tied up in OneVanilla but I tried the Amex for Target route after reading about it here. I crossed my fingers that I would not have the same MCC issue when trying to use the OneVanilla card and my jaw dropped when the cashier said it was declined... but she noticed my card and says "Oh if its a Gift card, just press credit.. it will go through". It friggin worked!! Happy!!
Moral of the story, for the newbies of course...
$500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Card CANNOT be loaded on BB but it CAN be loaded on Amex for Target using credit transaction NOT debit.. even though it says DEBIT right on the card.
Now to figure out my best strategy.
Staples and Target are in the same parking lot.
I guess I can buy 5x$200 Visa Gift Cards in Staples with Bold for 5x and load to Amex for Target. Or Just load up with my Bold at Target to meet my minimum spend with less purchase fees.. but MUCH less UR points. I guess the Staples route is the correct way to go.
I did an App-O-Rama and was approved for various cards Bold, SPG, and Plat Biz each with their own min spend to get my signup bonus points. Im sure I can meet the minimum spends with AP and BB but of course there was a little trial and error before I figured out the proper way to use our various avenues.
Im in NYC, so Beans are hard to come by. GreenDot are cash only so Vanilla Gift cards are the only CC purchases available to me right now. Im lucky (or unlucky) enough to live 15min from a Walmart so I signed up and received my BB. Went to Staples and bought a few $200 Vanilla Visa Gift cards and went to Walgreens and felt good about picking up 2 $500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Debit cards (to save on the purchase fees). The feeling was shortlived when, at Walmart, I was only able to load the $200 Visa Gift Cards. The $500 OneVanilla was declined. When I checked online the transaction said 'MCC declined'. Merchant Code issue.
I thought I was SOL with $1000 tied up in OneVanilla but I tried the Amex for Target route after reading about it here. I crossed my fingers that I would not have the same MCC issue when trying to use the OneVanilla card and my jaw dropped when the cashier said it was declined... but she noticed my card and says "Oh if its a Gift card, just press credit.. it will go through". It friggin worked!! Happy!!
Moral of the story, for the newbies of course...
$500 OneVanilla Prepaid Visa Card CANNOT be loaded on BB but it CAN be loaded on Amex for Target using credit transaction NOT debit.. even though it says DEBIT right on the card.
Now to figure out my best strategy.
Staples and Target are in the same parking lot.
I guess I can buy 5x$200 Visa Gift Cards in Staples with Bold for 5x and load to Amex for Target. Or Just load up with my Bold at Target to meet my minimum spend with less purchase fees.. but MUCH less UR points. I guess the Staples route is the correct way to go.
May 23, 2013, 11:10 am
#890
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
How would you do that? When the cashier swipes my Target AMEX card, she asks me how much I want to put on it. I tell her $1000. The total then comes up as $1003 with the fee. I swipe my credit card. What would I tell the cashier to do if I want, say, $400 on one credit card and $600 on another?
May 23, 2013, 12:43 pm
#891
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: UR, MR, HH, MW, SPG
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by ;
The $6/7 per $200 card is not worth it. Just pickup $500 cards from Kroger/King Soopers/grocery store and save yourself the hassle.
No Kroger/King Soopers
No Vanilla REloads to be found
Cash only on the greendots and most other reloads
Plus, like I said, 5X on the Ink cards at Staples..
and Im just trying to meet min spend for the bonuses at this point.
May 23, 2013, 2:19 pm
#892
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 102
How would you do that? When the cashier swipes my Target AMEX card, she asks me how much I want to put on it. I tell her $1000. The total then comes up as $1003 with the fee. I swipe my credit card. What would I tell the cashier to do if I want, say, $400 on one credit card and $600 on another?
May 23, 2013, 4:12 pm
#893
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
I'm in a similar boat. No CVS in the state and nowhere will sell a VR with a CC. I've tried them all multiple times. Have you tried other grocery stores? Surely one of them must sell Visa/MC GCs. I'd only go the $200 route to meet min spend, but you have to figure that at some point it won't be worth it.
May 23, 2013, 5:05 pm
#894
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 190
How would you do that? When the cashier swipes my Target AMEX card, she asks me how much I want to put on it. I tell her $1000. The total then comes up as $1003 with the fee. I swipe my credit card. What would I tell the cashier to do if I want, say, $400 on one credit card and $600 on another?
Say, like your example that you'd like to load $1000 and total comes to $1003. I will tell the cashier that I would like to split the transaction into multiple cards. He/she will ask me how much I wanted to put on each card, one card at a time and the cashier will let me know when I can swipe the card and go from there...
May 23, 2013, 8:05 pm
#895
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 584
I always go to the customer service for AMEX load because some of the cashiers at check-out line are not always knowledgable enough to make this work.
Say, like your example that you'd like to load $1000 and total comes to $1003. I will tell the cashier that I would like to split the transaction into multiple cards. He/she will ask me how much I wanted to put on each card, one card at a time and the cashier will let me know when I can swipe the card and go from there...
Say, like your example that you'd like to load $1000 and total comes to $1003. I will tell the cashier that I would like to split the transaction into multiple cards. He/she will ask me how much I wanted to put on each card, one card at a time and the cashier will let me know when I can swipe the card and go from there...
May 24, 2013, 10:36 am
#897
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Programs: UA 1K, 1.3mm
Posts: 918
May 24, 2013, 2:06 pm
#899
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,516
I always go to the customer service for AMEX load because some of the cashiers at check-out line are not always knowledgable enough to make this work.
Say, like your example that you'd like to load $1000 and total comes to $1003. I will tell the cashier that I would like to split the transaction into multiple cards. He/she will ask me how much I wanted to put on each card, one card at a time and the cashier will let me know when I can swipe the card and go from there...
Say, like your example that you'd like to load $1000 and total comes to $1003. I will tell the cashier that I would like to split the transaction into multiple cards. He/she will ask me how much I wanted to put on each card, one card at a time and the cashier will let me know when I can swipe the card and go from there...
May 27, 2013, 12:06 pm
#900
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I was traveling out of state in Chicago and realized that I didn't pack any boxers. I travel regularly, but I routinely forget something important
I decided to go to Target instead of going commando during my trip. Lo and behold, I see a display with some Amex Target cards. I grabbed one immediately. I explained to my gf what I was doing and she decided to get one also to meet minimum spend on a Gold Delta Amex.
I attempted to load the card with one of my BofA cards, but they declined the purchases. I was ticked off because I just had them activate my card for large purchases back at home. I had to use a Citi card and fix the issue later.
I hope that I get a permanent Amex Target card soon. I intend to load it with Visa GCs. I hope it works out. As a newcomer to this product, I appreciate any additional tips that you might have to share.
I decided to go to Target instead of going commando during my trip. Lo and behold, I see a display with some Amex Target cards. I grabbed one immediately. I explained to my gf what I was doing and she decided to get one also to meet minimum spend on a Gold Delta Amex.
I attempted to load the card with one of my BofA cards, but they declined the purchases. I was ticked off because I just had them activate my card for large purchases back at home. I had to use a Citi card and fix the issue later.
I hope that I get a permanent Amex Target card soon. I intend to load it with Visa GCs. I hope it works out. As a newcomer to this product, I appreciate any additional tips that you might have to share.