RIP Redbird... Fun while it lasted
#31
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Too many here are drawing the less likely conclusion. The two factors are deposits and withdrawals and most here are jumping on the deposits, but it seems to me the withdrawals are the more likely reason. It could be the combination of both, but quick withdrawals seems to me something they really wouldn't like. Why would they care what amounts you load with?
The still open question is if the OP was doing BP, or maybe ATM withdrawals, which brings up the suspicion of money laundering.
#32
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 749
"We are writing to you today regarding your Target Prepaid REDcard Account.
During a recent review, we have noticed several instances of unusual/irregular activity on your Targed Prepaid REDcard Account.
Repeated suspicious activity on your account has been documented as follows:
Register "Cash" Reloads in $1000 or $500 increments
Withdrawals and/or bill pays equal to the account balance immediately following "Cahs" Reloads
American Express and Target have determined that you are not using this account for its intended purposes and have deemed your relationship with us unsatisfactory. Your account has been closed effective immediately and a check for the balance of your account will be sent to that address on file within 60-90 days.
You are not eligible to reopen another Target Prepaid REDcard Account. "
#33
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
I can understand that they don't like loading and immediately unloading of large amounts, but I also don't really understand what's wrong with loading even numbers like $1000. That just makes sense. Who loads $843.54 to buy Target items? I would guess the main thing would be to avoid immediately BP/withdrawal, and certainly in the amount that was loaded.
I wonder how much of these shutdowns are the result of the extra attention and phone calls RB got after the fiasco last week.
I wonder how much of these shutdowns are the result of the extra attention and phone calls RB got after the fiasco last week.
#34
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 191
Too many here are drawing the less likely conclusion. The two factors are deposits and withdrawals and most here are jumping on the deposits, but it seems to me the withdrawals are the more likely reason. It could be the combination of both, but quick withdrawals seems to me something they really wouldn't like. Why would they care what amounts you load with?
#35
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
During a recent review, we have noticed several instances of unusual/irregular activity on your Targed Prepaid REDcard Account.
Register "Cash" Reloads in $1000 or $500 increments
Withdrawals and/or bill pays equal to the account balance immediately following "Cahs" Reloads
Register "Cash" Reloads in $1000 or $500 increments
Withdrawals and/or bill pays equal to the account balance immediately following "Cahs" Reloads
#36
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 226
OP- did you ever use the Red Card for purchases, either at Target or elsewhere?
#37
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: SPG Gold, SW Companion Pass, Hilton Gold
Posts: 128
I don't see why they (AMEX Redbird) would care whether these amounts are round numbers or not. What do you want to hide from them? They see the transaction and know that you load the card with a credit card as payment, whether the amount is round or not.
The only reason to use odd numbers would be to hide the fact that you are loading a re-loadable card from your credit card issuer, so they think it is legitimate spend and not loading a card. So I think it will make no difference whatsoever. Just my 2 cents.
The only reason to use odd numbers would be to hide the fact that you are loading a re-loadable card from your credit card issuer, so they think it is legitimate spend and not loading a card. So I think it will make no difference whatsoever. Just my 2 cents.
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,652
Only ever took out $400 a few times back in November and they made me call in and unfreeze my account after trying to do a $400 and $300 back to back at a Walgreens so I quit doing that.
I'd buy things like bread, deodorant and gum maybe once a month
I'd buy things like bread, deodorant and gum maybe once a month
Last edited by RFDMinnesota; Mar 4, 2015 at 1:12 pm Reason: I can't spell
#39
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: WA
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum,
Posts: 60
we put money on our RB = money in their 'bank'
money in their bank = gain more interest and able to 'lend' more
take that money out before they can earn anything = effing with their profits
effing with people's profit =
= consequences
consequences = you get closed down
money in their bank = gain more interest and able to 'lend' more
take that money out before they can earn anything = effing with their profits
effing with people's profit =
= consequences
consequences = you get closed down
#40
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Chicago
Programs: United MileagePlus, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 148
I believe that is one of the ways they intended the card to be used.
#41
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
Just curious-- do most of you guys load $2500 in 1 day all at once, in 3-4 consecutive transactions? I've never had the guts to do that. I wonder if that's what OP did-- $1000, $1000, $500.
#42
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sacramento
Programs: RR, QS, AS MP, SPG
Posts: 233
I've never actually done the full $2500 in a day. Max I did was like $15xx.xx split between AM and PM.
#43
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 13
When you think about how they can possibly make money with this product (I can't really figure out how as it is so easy to abuse), their plan must be for people to carry a balance, visit Target stores more often and increase their spend at Target.
People who load the card and immediately drain it without spending anything at Target certainly do not create any profit.
So my guess would be that it is all about how you spend/drain not how you fund.
#44
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
Posts: 1,453
One of my cards (mine) I've loaded either $500, $750, or $1K at a time. I usually pay out of it within 7-10 days, generally the same amounts to load. I've kept ~$200 floating in there this whole time for purchases at Target, and replenish the $200 every month as I burn through it. Aside from that, mine probably looks guilty.
My wife's has been straight up load/BP. But only one month so far. Both mine are empty right now (sans the ~$150 in mine for Target purchases), as I'm awaiting a Citi PC from AA Exec to DC. Guess I'll sit tight for a couple days and see what happens.
My wife's has been straight up load/BP. But only one month so far. Both mine are empty right now (sans the ~$150 in mine for Target purchases), as I'm awaiting a Citi PC from AA Exec to DC. Guess I'll sit tight for a couple days and see what happens.
#45
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
OP, were you paying off the same CC you used to load the REDcard when you were doing your BPs, or was it a different CC?
There have been almost no reports of people getting shut downs on Serve or BB when loading the full allowable amounts each month so it seems a little strange that they would have an issue with this. The biggest difference between these products is you can't load BB directly with CC and the only Serve shutdowns I've seen reported seem to be correlated to using BP to pay off the same CC they have linked to the account for online loading in the same amount they loaded for the month. Which is the same thing that seems to be going on here.
There have been almost no reports of people getting shut downs on Serve or BB when loading the full allowable amounts each month so it seems a little strange that they would have an issue with this. The biggest difference between these products is you can't load BB directly with CC and the only Serve shutdowns I've seen reported seem to be correlated to using BP to pay off the same CC they have linked to the account for online loading in the same amount they loaded for the month. Which is the same thing that seems to be going on here.