Spending more than your limit to get Target red card discount

[312BillB]

When I called the Target credit card (red card) department, the lady informed me that if I applied for a credit card to get the 5% discount and say, for example, I only received a $200 limit, that I could still spend beyond that dollar threshold and receive the 5% discount on the entire purchase by paying with an alternative payment form.

To my question: can anybody validate this through their experiences? I'd like to buy $3,000 or so of disney gift cards to pay DVC dues and pay for my upcoming trip and want to make sure that I'll get 5% off $3,000, not just $200.

Side question: any recommendations on the max cards I should buy per transaction (as opposed to buying $3,000 in one shot).

 

[frannn]

I got the debit card about two months before our 2013 trip, and hit my limit in my first transaction. I was told by customer service (over the phone when calling the Debit card people) that I would have to have my Redcard deny the transaction first (as proof), then use an alternate payment, and call Target (the phone number will be on the denial slip from the register) with the new receipt #. I had a really hard time getting my 5%, as many of the customer service people (on the phone line) believe that these are gift cards and not entitled to the 5% discount. Once I got past that hurdle, I had to keep calling when the 5% did not appear in the account I had the Redcard tied to. Another issue is that there was a limit to how many cards I could buy in a single transaction, in a single day, so I had to keep coming back ro buy more & keep calling customer service. They kept promising me it would be easier once I had the card for longer & used it for additional, smaller transactions, but I won't know that till I try to buy some more cards for the next trip. I wish I had some left over..since I spent over 100 on the latest F&F Disneystore sale...but it's not that big if a deal... Also, depending on which state you live in, you may not be able to get the extra 5% pharmacy reward coupon thing that many people have mentioned. I was not able to in NY. Good luck with it. Please post back with your experience- hope its better than mine!

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I applied in store recently and got a $3000 temporary limit. They printed out a receipt for me to use until the real card comes in the mail and said it will show my permanent limit.
I got mine to pay dues hoping they will have the coupons they did last year in December for $5 gift card with $50 purchase.

 

[minniefan65]

Only the portion of the sale that you pay for with the redcard is eligible for the 5% discount. The register will automatically recalculate the amount you owe based on the amount put on the red card.

 

[mommyrosa2]

It is up to each individual store manager as to whether or not they will give you the discount with an alternative payment and I can tell you first hand that some store managers are more flexible than others.

 

[descovy]

I think the easiest thing to do is apply for the credit card... Not the debit card. The credit card will give you a definite limit. The debit card limit is based on usage history... And is too vague... Loosy goosy.

Get the Credit Card. Buy how many gift cards the card will allow. Pay off bill (hint you can at the service desk with cash, check, or debit). Give it a day or so to post and buy more cards if need be.

 

[mommyrosa2]

I think the easiest thing to do is apply for the credit card... Not the debit card. The credit card will give you a definite limit. The debit card limit is based on usage history... And is too vague... Loosy goosy.

Get the Credit Card. Buy how many gift cards the card will allow. Pay off bill (hint you can at the service desk with cash, check, or debit). Give it a day or so to post and buy more cards if need be.

...This is exactly what I had to do after all the headaches I had with the debit card these past two years. Target's "rules" seemed to constantly change. One moment, I could spend $1900 on GC's in one transaction with no problem...another time, I couldn't even get $300 worth without being declined. Could never get a straight answer as to what my limit was and while one store manager allowed me to use another form of payment and still give me the discount, another refused. This past Spring was my last time using the debit card...even the store manager in my own town said he gave up his because of the inconsistencies. So no more headaches for me...with the cc, I know exactly what I can spend

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

I think the easiest thing to do is apply for the credit card... Not the debit card. The credit card will give you a definite limit. The debit card limit is based on usage history... And is too vague... Loosy goosy.

Get the Credit Card. Buy how many gift cards the card will allow. Pay off bill (hint you can at the service desk with cash, check, or debit). Give it a day or so to post and buy more cards if need be.

I have the Target credit card with a credit limit of $500. If I pay off the bill with cash does it really take a day to post or can I charge more that same day? Since the pharmacy rewards coupon is only good for one day, I was hoping that I could spend ~$500, pay it off, then spend more on the same day so I can take advantage of the coupon.

Alternatively, how easy is it to get a credit increase?

 

[descovy]

I have the Target credit card with a credit limit of $500. If I pay off the bill with cash does it really take a day to post or can I charge more that same day? Since the pharmacy rewards coupon is only good for one day, I was hoping that I could spend ~$500, pay it off, then spend more on the same day so I can take advantage of the coupon.

Alternatively, how easy is it to get a credit increase?

Sorry it will still take a day to process. There is no way to make your payment instant.

Try calling the number on your Target card for an increase... It can't hurt to ask!

 

[312BillB]

I have the Target credit card with a credit limit of $500. If I pay off the bill with cash does it really take a day to post or can I charge more that same day? Since the pharmacy rewards coupon is only good for one day, I was hoping that I could spend ~$500, pay it off, then spend more on the same day so I can take advantage of the coupon.

I bit the bullet last night and applied for a card to get a discount. My credit limit was really low too ($500), despite excellent credit. Not sure what their method is, but it seems way behind the curve of other creditors in how they determine credit amount. Anyway, I bought a pharmacy rewards coupon on eBay and used the Target card. I got 3 different answers by customer service and 2 working managers in the store. One told me that you can only get the discount on what is purchased using the card. The other manager told me that they would honor what I was told by Target Card Services so I bought $1,000 in disney gift cards and they did a manual override to insure I got the discount on the entire purchase! I can definitely confirm, it is totally up to the working manager. Luckily, I have several Targets on my home from work so if I get an uncooperative manager, on to the next Target!

I would have bought more, but I'm waiting to find out the result of whether that big 20% discount works December 1

 

[rosanab1031]

I recently called Red Card CS for a credit increase and they told me they do not honor these requests over the phone I have had my card since 2007! I have always paid on time and higher than the minimum. I usually pay it off each month and they still won't increase my limit from the $500 I was originally approved for. UGH!!!! Then my little sister applies and gets frickin approved for $1000 They really don't make any sense there!

 

[Marionnette]

I recently called Red Card CS for a credit increase and they told me they do not honor these requests over the phone I have had my card since 2007! I have always paid on time and higher than the minimum. I usually pay it off each month and they still won't increase my limit from the $500 I was originally approved for. UGH!!!! Then my little sister applies and gets frickin approved for $1000 They really don't make any sense there!

Wow. I have the REDCard (not the debit card, not the Target Visa). I haven't had it for more than a year. My credit limit is pretty high compared to the rest of you and I have no need to ask them to increase it. I've always been able to buy what I've set out to purchase without any worries with regard to maxing it out. I wonder if it has to do with the reported income on the application?

 

[smitch425]

I recently called Red Card CS for a credit increase and they told me they do not honor these requests over the phone I have had my card since 2007! I have always paid on time and higher than the minimum. I usually pay it off each month and they still won't increase my limit from the $500 I was originally approved for. UGH!!!! Then my little sister applies and gets frickin approved for $1000 They really don't make any sense there!

Strange! We just signed up for the credit card a last Sunday and were given a temporary limit of $700. It is supposed to go up 11 days after it was opened, but I don't know what it will be going to yet.

 

[lauti]

I recently called Red Card CS for a credit increase and they told me they do not honor these requests over the phone I have had my card since 2007! I have always paid on time and higher than the minimum. I usually pay it off each month and they still won't increase my limit from the $500 I was originally approved for. UGH!!!! Then my little sister applies and gets frickin approved for $1000 They really don't make any sense there!

Yep. They don't take customer requests. We also have a crappy $500 limit.

 

[delmar411]

I recently called Red Card CS for a credit increase and they told me they do not honor these requests over the phone I have had my card since 2007! I have always paid on time and higher than the minimum. I usually pay it off each month and they still won't increase my limit from the $500 I was originally approved for. UGH!!!! Then my little sister applies and gets frickin approved for $1000 They really don't make any sense there!

That's odd. My target limit has risen on its own several times. I never asked though, I just get letters in the mail saying it has been raised.

 

[My3Princez]

Found this information when applying for Target RedCard Credit Card:

When you use your Target Debit Card, Target Credit Card® or Target® Visa® Credit Card (each, a "REDcard®") at Target stores in the U.S. or Target.com, you will receive 5% off your purchases. If you use a REDcard in the same purchase transaction with another form of payment, the 5% discount will apply only to the purchase amount tendered to your REDcard. 5% discount applies to eligible purchases minus any other discounts and the value of any promotional Target gift cards received in the transaction.

I Bolded the part that applies to whether or not your get the 5% discount on amounts paid in addition to the amount charged to the card. So, I suppose if you get a manager who is willing to give the discount on the additional amount, that's an exception, but not something we can count on.

 

[scard192]

Strange! We just signed up for the credit card a last Sunday and were given a temporary limit of $700. It is supposed to go up 11 days after it was opened, but I don't know what it will be going to yet.

I applied recently, when the card came in the mail the paperwork said credit limit $2500, temporary credit limit $700.

Already placed my first order, free shipping is going to be great, especially for holiday shopping. 5% off is nice too.

 

[andrews_dad]

Have had my card since 2011. Only have $1000 limit. Called for increase and they don't do that, they said. So frustrated. Want to get $5000 in cards for a cruise. Grrr.

 

[My3Princez]

Have had my card since 2011. Only have $1000 limit. Called for increase and they don't do that, they said. So frustrated. Want to get $5000 in cards for a cruise. Grrr.

Unless you were planning on carrying a balance on the card, you can do it in chunks. Buy $1000, walk to the Customer Service Counter and pay it off. Wait a few days for the payment to post, buy another $1000, repeat.