Jan 25, 2015, 12:41 am
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
American Express® is discontinuing the American Express for Target Prepaid Card program on March 21, 2016.
***Attention*** If you are new to the forum and thinking about AFT loads to accomodate your bonus or rewards spend, please be advised this method has taken a major hit effective first week of May, 2015, as mentioned in latter posts on this thread.****
This thread is a continuation of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...ities-208.html
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 12am PST)
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
Note that unlike Amex RB/BB, AFT is NOT in AllPoint network, thus NO surcharge-free ATM generally.
When asked 'from account' choose 'checking.'
Possibly helpful link (Surcharge Free ATMs):
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...-fee-atms.html
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: Can I load with Visa/MC/Amex Gift Cards?
A: Visa and MC Gift cards with a PIN can be used. Amex gift cards no longer work.
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: No. This died February 4, 2015 or shortly before.
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: 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).
Q: Where is my permanent card? I did not receive my permanent card. How do I receive my permanent card?
A: You do not need to register the temporary card online after purchase or create the online account to receive your permanent card. You should have received your permanent card within 7 days. Your temporary card will stop working after 30 days.
If you have not received your card, your application may have been declined. The personal information you registered may be incorrect, or Amex could not verify your identity.
---
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).
***Attention*** If you are new to the forum and thinking about AFT loads to accomodate your bonus or rewards spend, please be advised this method has taken a major hit effective first week of May, 2015, as mentioned in latter posts on this thread.****
This thread is a continuation of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...ities-208.htmlplease 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 12am PST)
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
Note that unlike Amex RB/BB, AFT is NOT in AllPoint network, thus NO surcharge-free ATM generally.
When asked 'from account' choose 'checking.'
Possibly helpful link (Surcharge Free ATMs):
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...-fee-atms.html
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: Can I load with Visa/MC/Amex Gift Cards?
A: Visa and MC Gift cards with a PIN can be used. Amex gift cards no longer work.
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: No. This died February 4, 2015 or shortly before.
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: 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).
Q: Where is my permanent card? I did not receive my permanent card. How do I receive my permanent card?
A: You do not need to register the temporary card online after purchase or create the online account to receive your permanent card. You should have received your permanent card within 7 days. Your temporary card will stop working after 30 days.
If you have not received your card, your application may have been declined. The personal information you registered may be incorrect, or Amex could not verify your identity.
---
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 (2015)
Jan 5, 2015, 1:22 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 46
I went to Falls Church, VA Target to load the RedBird and I saw signs of "Target Red Card Debit 5% off all purchases" all over the place and I thought maybe it was THE Red card and asked more info about it but it turned out the "Target Red Card Debit" is still different from the awesome "Target Red Card Prepaid." They do have a "Target Red Card Credit" and those three all look the same except for the word Debit vs Credit vs Prepaid on it on one side.
I asked them for the Target Prepaid Red card and I was given the Amex for Target which I didn't recognize. I thought it was the Red Prepaid and went ahead with the registration and then I realized that it was the $3 load fee Amex for Target. The cashier was able to load $500 on it (from my CC) without any issue. Another guy came in asking about the Prepaid card and I told him that some stores in Maryland have it, he already knew and said he was headed to Laurel, MD in a few days
I asked them for the Target Prepaid Red card and I was given the Amex for Target which I didn't recognize. I thought it was the Red Prepaid and went ahead with the registration and then I realized that it was the $3 load fee Amex for Target. The cashier was able to load $500 on it (from my CC) without any issue. Another guy came in asking about the Prepaid card and I told him that some stores in Maryland have it, he already knew and said he was headed to Laurel, MD in a few days
Jan 5, 2015, 7:40 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
Basically, it's all trial and error.
Even this list
(reference to free atms, etc)
is wrong. For example, in south florida, there is no fee-free atm at any racetrac. Yet it is still listed. Basically, everything is regional. I go up to Pgh and I can throw a stone and hit 2 or 3 free ATMs.
Down here we end up going to costco. I've gone to every CU and bank around hoping to get lucky...nope.
Even this list
(reference to free atms, etc)
is wrong. For example, in south florida, there is no fee-free atm at any racetrac. Yet it is still listed. Basically, everything is regional. I go up to Pgh and I can throw a stone and hit 2 or 3 free ATMs.
Down here we end up going to costco. I've gone to every CU and bank around hoping to get lucky...nope.
Jan 5, 2015, 10:51 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
I went to Falls Church, VA Target to load the RedBird and I saw signs of "Target Red Card Debit 5% off all purchases" all over the place and I thought maybe it was THE Red card and asked more info about it but it turned out the "Target Red Card Debit" is still different from the awesome "Target Red Card Prepaid." They do have a "Target Red Card Credit" and those three all look the same except for the word Debit vs Credit vs Prepaid on it on one side.
I asked them for the Target Prepaid Red card and I was given the Amex for Target which I didn't recognize. I thought it was the Red Prepaid and went ahead with the registration and then I realized that it was the $3 load fee Amex for Target. The cashier was able to load $500 on it (from my CC) without any issue. Another guy came in asking about the Prepaid card and I told him that some stores in Maryland have it, he already knew and said he was headed to Laurel, MD in a few days
I asked them for the Target Prepaid Red card and I was given the Amex for Target which I didn't recognize. I thought it was the Red Prepaid and went ahead with the registration and then I realized that it was the $3 load fee Amex for Target. The cashier was able to load $500 on it (from my CC) without any issue. Another guy came in asking about the Prepaid card and I told him that some stores in Maryland have it, he already knew and said he was headed to Laurel, MD in a few days
.
Jan 6, 2015, 2:51 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: VA
Posts: 147
I went to Falls Church, VA Target to load the RedBird and I saw signs of "Target Red Card Debit 5% off all purchases" all over the place and I thought maybe it was THE Red card and asked more info about it but it turned out the "Target Red Card Debit" is still different from the awesome "Target Red Card Prepaid." They do have a "Target Red Card Credit" and those three all look the same except for the word Debit vs Credit vs Prepaid on it on one side.
I asked them for the Target Prepaid Red card and I was given the Amex for Target which I didn't recognize. I thought it was the Red Prepaid and went ahead with the registration and then I realized that it was the $3 load fee Amex for Target. The cashier was able to load $500 on it (from my CC) without any issue. Another guy came in asking about the Prepaid card and I told him that some stores in Maryland have it, he already knew and said he was headed to Laurel, MD in a few days
I asked them for the Target Prepaid Red card and I was given the Amex for Target which I didn't recognize. I thought it was the Red Prepaid and went ahead with the registration and then I realized that it was the $3 load fee Amex for Target. The cashier was able to load $500 on it (from my CC) without any issue. Another guy came in asking about the Prepaid card and I told him that some stores in Maryland have it, he already knew and said he was headed to Laurel, MD in a few days
Jan 8, 2015, 1:34 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 394
So after a week now they still won't tell me why they closed my AFT. They say I have to call when the prepaid resolution team is open (during the day) and then those people say that they have to email some other team that doesn't have a phone number and that no one can talk to. They said it'll take another week and that they'll contact me....yeah right.
Anyone else had their card closed and not given a warning or a reason? I never tried anything crazy - just went to target, loaded, unloaded through ATM. I had ONE load not go through in target for $1k and I had to fax in my receipt and ID and card, etc, they fixed it, now they closed my account. Thank god it only has a $1 balance, I can't get my money.
So I guess, buyers beware.
Anyone else had their card closed and not given a warning or a reason? I never tried anything crazy - just went to target, loaded, unloaded through ATM. I had ONE load not go through in target for $1k and I had to fax in my receipt and ID and card, etc, they fixed it, now they closed my account. Thank god it only has a $1 balance, I can't get my money.
So I guess, buyers beware.
Jan 11, 2015, 7:40 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
Wow, thanks for the data point. Normally I skip over localized data points, but this one is actually beneficial to me! Good to hear good news from NC. I've been show down (by associates, not system) at 2 locations in Charlotte. Maybe I need to make the 20 minute trek to Gastonia.
Jan 12, 2015, 7:04 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 16
Discontinued?
I stopped by a Target in Cleveland tonight. They had half a dozen of these on a rack. I took one up to the register, the cashier scanned the bar code, the computer recognized the product for a fraction of a second then the screen went blank. Repeated a few times, with a two different products. Cashier asked manager, he said they must have discontinued the product after xmas. He scanned something from his pocket and said that no other Target store is selling these anymore. Not sure if this is really the case? I'm feeling like my MS options are disappearing on me, so I figured I'd join the site (longtime reader, first time poster) and ask some help from the experts 
Jan 12, 2015, 9:45 pm
#25
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
I stopped by a Target in Cleveland tonight. They had half a dozen of these on a rack. I took one up to the register, the cashier scanned the bar code, the computer recognized the product for a fraction of a second then the screen went blank. Repeated a few times, with a two different products. Cashier asked manager, he said they must have discontinued the product after xmas. He scanned something from his pocket and said that no other Target store is selling these anymore. Not sure if this is really the case? I'm feeling like my MS options are disappearing on me, so I figured I'd join the site (longtime reader, first time poster) and ask some help from the experts
Thanks for the datapoint. Many have speculated that with the rise of Redbird, AFT would be discontinued.
Jan 12, 2015, 11:06 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 503
I stopped by a Target in Cleveland tonight. They had half a dozen of these on a rack. I took one up to the register, the cashier scanned the bar code, the computer recognized the product for a fraction of a second then the screen went blank. Repeated a few times, with a two different products. Cashier asked manager, he said they must have discontinued the product after xmas. He scanned something from his pocket and said that no other Target store is selling these anymore. Not sure if this is really the case? I'm feeling like my MS options are disappearing on me, so I figured I'd join the site (longtime reader, first time poster) and ask some help from the experts
The big hope now is that they don't neuter AFT like they did the Campus card. The 120K TYPs a year I was getting from my Campus cards is nothing compared to the volume I do through all my AFTs.
Jan 13, 2015, 7:38 am
#29
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: DL DM Hub Captive, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, PC Plat, and other stuff.
Posts: 904
Is this really surprising if it is true? With RB it was only a matter of time before they discontinued AFT registration. You should have locked some in when RB was first announced.
The big hope now is that they don't neuter AFT like they did the Campus card. The 120K TYPs a year I was getting from my Campus cards is nothing compared to the volume I do through all my AFTs.
The big hope now is that they don't neuter AFT like they did the Campus card. The 120K TYPs a year I was getting from my Campus cards is nothing compared to the volume I do through all my AFTs.
If you're doing volume with your AFTs, how are you handling all the cash?
I'm a little concerned about what my banks might say if they start seeing a bunch of cash deposits on top of all the MOs I do.
Jan 13, 2015, 8:04 am
#30
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 145
uhh you CANT buy mo with AFT.....IT IS NOT debit