October 29, 2012
I recently posted “The 5X everywhere backup plan” where I showed how people unable to buy Vanilla Reload cards could still earn 5 points per dollar everywhere by making use of the American Express for Target card. I consider it the backup plan to the “One card to rule them all” trick. I also plan to follow-up with one or more additional posts showing how best to leverage this card.
In this post, I’ll tell you how to go about getting one of the Target Amex cards.
Unlike the regular American Express Prepaid cards and the new Bluebird card, the Target Amex cards cannot be ordered online. Instead, you need to first buy a temporary card at a participating Target and then wait for a permanent card to (hopefully) arrive. I found the whole process surprisingly difficult. To save you some headache, I’ve laid out below everything you need to know:
Find a participating Target
In order to get the American Express for Target card, you need to go in person to a Target store that carries them. You can find those stores here.
Find the temporary card in the store
Finding the card isn’t easy. In my case, I had to ask four or five employees before I found someone who knew what I was talking about. Most employees pointed me towards regular Amex gift cards. In the end, I found the card I wanted by one (and only one) of the many checkout lanes. Here is what to look for:
My advice is to look at all of the displays near and above the checkout lanes until you find a card that looks like the one pictured above. Make sure it says “reloadable prepaid card.” Otherwise you may be buying a simple, uninteresting gift card.
Buy the card
Now that you’ve found the card, it should be easy to buy it right? I wish! The surprising thing here is that when you buy this card, the cashier will be prompted to ask you all kinds of questions that you probably don’t really want to answer while a line of angry customers forms behind you. They’ll ask for your full name and address. They’ll ask you to input your SSN on the keypad. I can’t remember all of the questions I had to answer, but I’m pretty sure they asked me to describe my life’s most embarrassing moment (“easy – this one!”). Finally, after sharing all of your personal information with the cashier and the angry mob behind you, you can pay for the initial card load with any credit card. There is a $3 fee for each load.
NOTE: In case you’re worried that a credit card load will be treated as a cash advance: I have tested loads and reloads with Chase, Amex, and Citi credit cards. All transactions were credited as regular Target purchases, not as cash advances (that’s a good thing).
Wait and hope
The card you just bought at Target is a temporary card that cannot be reloaded. You can use it for regular credit purchases, but not for ATM withdrawals. If all goes well, you will receive your permanent card in the mail in a few weeks. If not, you’ll receive a letter or email stating that they were unable to verify your identity. That’s what happened to me. So, I called and they resubmitted my application. A few weeks later I received another letter stating that they were unable to confirm my identity (Really? You know I carry a gazillion Amex cards, right?). Ultimately I had to buy another temporary card in order to try again. The second attempt succeeded. I have no idea why the first attempt failed, but I’ve heard from others who have had similar experiences so don’t be surprised if it happens to you too!
Good luck!
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Who do I need to petition to get NC to get these? As if we dont have enough plates spinning already.
Was the initial load amount on the temporary card $500?
Will: Yes, I believe it is $500, but I don’t remember for sure
Can you buy these with target gift cards?
I just got one and it came with an attached coupon that waived the $3 initial loading fee. Sweet!
@FM: You said each person can own two cards. Does that mean you have to make another trip to Target to get one or you can add one to your account?
If anyone tries to load with a Target Red credit card and you get the 5% discount, please report. Thanks!
I’m in Amex for Target ID verify hell with others.
Bought card for SO and I end Aug. Got the ID verify issue letter. 4 weeks ago called and gave them all the info they wanted once again. Online acct still shows ID verification pending. Ugh. Who’s running this thing for Amex- an online shopping mall company?
Which card gives 5x @ Target?
just got mine
could be worse FM you could be in NC like me where they don’t sell any!! will have to pick one up when I am out of state next
kyunbit: just the $3 fee
.
Talon: you would have to make another trip
.
greek2me: Carterra credit card company?
It certainly seems like Cartera credit card company.
@greek2me: It’s best to forget about the failed verification and start again. The failed one never seems to go through, though my next try was was extremely quick.
What is the point of this card for point hacking? I have a Chase Freedom and Discover Card and I have yet to see Target or other mass merchandise retailers in the 5% category. Remember that Target is NOT considered a department store and that category often gets the 5% bonus.
With a $3 load fee and a $500 load max (0.6%) you are offsetting any credit rewards (1% to 1.5%). I just don’t see the reason for getting this unless there’s a 5% bonus.
And to answer an earlier question, you are NOT going to get 5% Target Card discount on gift cards and prepaid cards such as this one. It’s in the T&Cs.
http://www.target.com/redcard/reward-disclosures-print
FM: this is a side question…I have a southwest card that just turned to 2nd year (annual fee). I am planning to close the account. Will I lose my mileage that I have earned? I assume not because miles transferred to southwest, but I like your confirmation.
Thks!
The cards at my Target have a coupon on them for a $3 load discount. You can load $500 for free!
I should have read the comments before posting. =)
I picked mine up in Florida last year when they were still scarce and had no issues.
Never use it since I got the Serve card though.
This card (Target) could not be used to load the BB cards , correct
should be able to by getting vanilla card at office depot and load the bb card with that
the store cashier didn’t know how much I can load, so I told her try $500, bought 2 total, my wife and I one each.
Once I receive the permanent card in mail, I can load with visa gift cards? Where Can I load? store or online? and how much is the max?
@askmrlee
I think frequentmiler said in the previous post that this is the “backup plan”.
It’s good 1)for people who dont have access to vanilla reload card such as NYC 2) when Chase finally puts a lid on the 5x OD purchase 3) when vanilla reload cards dried up. 4) to meet minimum spend 5) a certain few who has exhausted the use of BB per month.
It has some use, because you can use credit card to load up to 1000 for $3 fee. If you can use a Fidelity AMEX card which gives 2% on every purchase, do the math, you still come out ahead. It’s just not so scalable as the “one card which rules them all”.
Wow, none in the great state of WV. At least they have them at the Target in my “second home” in Georgia.
Even if you get em out of state if your state doesnt participate I dont think you can load them. So if the target you frequent doesnt have them then its a waste of time. Unless you do a mileage run to load em up.
@mileageupdate
Common sense will tell me that all the stores nationwide will be set up with that capacity. It’s just a matter of whether the employee knows how to use the cc to load them.
Got the card loaded up with 500 dollars. Now waiting for FM next article on best uses of this card.
Makes me wonder – if it’s not available in your state, but you go over state lines and buy one, if you report your real address if Amex will verify it just fine.
[...] How to get the American Express for Target card [...]
@viguera, you bought yours in Florida… have you tried loading it another state? which state? thanks
@frequentmiler, a few days after i opened my bluebird account, i got an email from bb telling me my account was suspended since they could not verify my identity and ask me to fax my ssn card or driver license. did you get similar email for your Target amex card? You mean you did not need to fax?
thanks.
Hi FM, so you could use Amex to buy the temp card even it is an Amex prepaid card?
Just checked with a friend in Target HQ…no plans to expand further – Target loses too much money on these.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Amex’s partnership with Target re this card was a factor is doing one better with Target’s competitor, Wal-Mart.
how much was the initial card, second, if the card must be purchased initially and submit all personal information but they dont let you load anything on it, how else are you able to use the card right off the bat ?
Choi: you do load money on when you get the card. I don’t think there is a purchase fee other than the $3 load fee.
I wanted to buy 2 cards at Target. Unfortunately, register has declined the purchase of the second card. According to T&C, one person can have 2 cards. What is the problem then? Should I wait at least 24 hours before purchasing second card?
Sergey: Yes, you are only allowed to buy 1 per day
@FM: Do you know if we can fund this Amex Target card by Citi AA card and the transaction won’t be listed as cash advance?
What does the coupon look like? I went to Target today and found the card, but I did not see a coupon for a free load.
umc: I tried the Citi Premier card and it recorded as a regular Target purchase so I expect the same to be true for Citi AA cards
I too have been getting the “Unable to verify identity” emails. I was using my Google Voice number in the phone number field. Changing this number to a more physical one seemed to help.
Hi FM.
Do you know if using your new pin number that I received in the mail works with the temporary card you get at the target store?
Thanks!
Steven Lu: I don’t know.
FM, I guess this is the more appropriate area to ask this question. I just got the new Target AMEX but still have the temporary card. Will I be able to load that money onto the new permanent card online, or do I have to do it at a Target store?
has anyone had success finding this card At a target in a store where they are NOT sold?
meant to say…. any success FUNDING this card at a target where the temp card is not sold
Funded my temporary card today at a Target that had never even heard of the AMEX for Target. First cashier had no idea what it was, called over supervisor who said no we can’t do this, I countered and asked for manager. Manager said give it a shot. They scanned it with the gun and it came up with nothing, but slid it through the keyboard and it rang up. Loaded $1000 on the temp card with 10 different Visa/Mastercard gift cards. Manager said thanks for showing it to her and she would educate the staff.
Just some additional information which may be helpful for some:
I got the temp card yesterday and loaded it with Visa gift card. In fact a combo or Visa gift and Amex CC.
Called the helpline today and asked about permanent card, they told it was approved and should come within 7-10 days. However, he told now I can use this temp card for everything, load more funds, get ATM cash, etc. I registered the card online and got the temporary PIN. Called again and changed the PIN through self service. Will buy some more Visa GCs from OD with my Ink Plus and load 1000 at Target today. Plan to take out cash and use this card for other credit POS transactions too.
Thanks FM for all the info. I am yet to locate the coupon for free load and avoid $3 fee.
Hey everyone, quick question. I found the prepaid cards at a Target by my house but no one in the store could figure out how to activate them. They tried scanning the two bar codes on the back of the packaging and input an amount to load on the card, but then the whole process failed. Am I supposed to ask them to open the package and swipe the card for the initial load? Thanks in advance.
Found the card but I couldn’t load it with my Amex Platinum. First time, the card was denied. Second time, it did not say anything. I called Amex Customer Service with no help.
For the initial load on purchase, is it possible to use multiple credit cards, or will they restrict you to just one? Anyone try this?
Chris F: you can pay with multiple cards for the initial load too.
Between my wife and I, we’ve picked up 3 temporary cards. All of them are stuck in identity verification hell, and Amex customer support is the very definition of useless. Their best advice for my wife was to ‘buy another card’, which isn’t even possible since she already has 2. Have you heard anything that might help with this?
gbert: When you picked up your temporary cards, did you swipe your driver’s license? I’ve heard of some people being able to do that in order to get the right info into the computer (I haven’t tried it).
We swiped our licenses all 3 times when we picked up our cards, and all our data showed up on the screen and looked correct. All we had to enter ourselves was DOB and SSN. Since we had no success, for my next attempt I’m going to NOT swipe my card and see if I have any better luck. Do you enter your driver’s license number if you don’t swipe?
gbert: In my case, I don’t remember even being prompted to swipe my driver’s license. Maybe that’s a state by state thing? Anyway, I believe the cashier typed in that info, but my memory is a bit hazy
Is it possible to fund the Target Amex with Target Gift Cards?
No.
What happened to the funds on the first card, the one where they could not verify your identity?
I got the card recently, but it seems like the target register did not transmit information to amex properly and the card does not show as activated. I faxed front and back of both card and packaging, target receipt for $503 and copy of Drivers License to amex and they said they’ll investigate within 10 business days. I am thinking I should have activated with just a few bucks at first.
I applied for the AMEX for Target yesterday with initial load of 500$. Today CSR told the verification process is denied for me. She has initiated a new request for re-verification but I have no hope as I gave the same correct information when my details were keyed-in target POS system. Letz hope it gets through.
If it does not can I request a check from them ?
I’ve most likely finally figured out what the verification issue is that’s causing headaches for so many people, myself included. Here it is: if you have a social security number that starts with a zero, you won’t get verified — their system is probably storing socials as numbers rather than strings, so leading zeros get dropped. I finally got through to someone at Amex other than the useless Amex for Target CSRs, and after a couple days research they got back to me and told me this problem. She said they’re working on it but have no ETA at the moment.
Bottom line — if your social starts with a zero, don’t bother trying to get a Target Amex right now. It won’t work.
I had applied for AMEX for Target few days back. Initially verification got rejected. I mentioned to CSR about owning AMEX BlueSky Credit card and Target Red Card, and it is ridiculous that prepaid card got declined.
Once again asked them to verify by asking them to key-in the information again. And it helped.
On calling next day, got info. that permanent card will be dispatched within 10 business days. Hope it helps….
@Alfred — both my and my wife’s initial verifications failed, and both of our resubmissions failed again. We both have socials starting with zero. It may well be that there are multiple bugs in the system, but I’m pretty sure the leading zero issue is one of them.
@gloreglabert, Yes, agreed…there r lots of glitches in the approach this verification works. Hope they fix it soon… I spent like almost 3 hours within last 3 days talking/trying to reach the CSR to make it happen…
VR: I had to spend down the balance and couldn’t use an ATM for the card that wasn’t verified.
Alfred: I’m glad that worked out!
gloreglabert: Thanks for shedding light on that issue!
gloreglabert: Just adding another data point to confirm. Another ID they can’t verify, and another SS with a 0 at the start. Thanks for shedding light on it! Maybe I’ll contact their CS again to ask if there’s any ETA on the issue.
@FM, can you load the Amex for target card online or only at Target? And can you use a loaded permanent Amex for Target card with its pen number (when you get it) to load your Bluebird card at Walmart? Thanks
sweetsavage77: Only in-store with a credit card. No, you can’t use it as a debit card to load bluebird (nor for any other debit card use)
My first verification failed also but i do not have the 0 issue. When I called they asked if the address I gave was the one that was linked to my social security card, almost as if they were using that for verification of address which is ridiculous, I got my S.S. card when I was born and have had no need to update the address as most people don’t have need to unless they are receiving S.S. benefits. The guy had me give him my driver’s license number because he said otherwise since all my information was the same as I originally imputed it would just get automatically denied again. Is it just me or does it seem like this guy has enough information already to steal my identity yet cannot verify the information for this card? I mean what is next giving them my passport information?! If this verification does not go through I’m going to take up serious issue with these guys and request they tell me exactly how they are doing this verification that they can have all this information and still not be able to verify something as simple as a re-loadable prepaid card.
am i the only 1 whos unable to transfer $ from vanilla to bluebird??? plz advise. thanks