Target charged my EBT card 5 times for same transaction - how do I get $48 back?

This is definitely something you need to address with both Target AND the EBT customer service. Start by calling the EBT customer service number on the back of your card (1-877-328-9677) and report the duplicate transactions. They can see all the transactions and should be able to help you file a claim for the duplicate charges. Make sure to have your receipt ready and note the exact time and register number if possible. Then go back to Target with your receipt and EBT transaction history (you can print this from the EBT website) and speak with a manager. They can verify in their system that these were duplicate charges for the same items and should be able to process a refund back to your EBT card. You have 90 days to dispute EBT transactions, but I'd do this ASAP since you need those benefits for food!

omg target did this to me too last month! but mine was worse, they charged me 3 times for a $29 purchase! i called the store manager and they kept transferring me around and nobody could help. finally i had to go back to the store and wait like 45 min to talk to someone who knew what to do. bring your receipt and your ebt card with you!!

This is a common issue with EBT processing at certain retailers. Here's what you need to know: 1. Call the EBT Customer Service number (1-877-328-9677) and report the duplicate charges immediately. You'll need to file what's called a "benefit dispute claim." 2. They'll investigate, which can take up to 10 business days, but many cases are resolved faster. 3. Bring your EBT transaction history (you can print this from the BenefitsCal website or app) and your Target receipt to the store's customer service desk. Ask specifically for a manager who can handle EBT transaction issues. 4. Target can verify that these were duplicate charges for the same purchase and should issue a refund to your EBT card. 5. If Target is uncooperative, the EBT office will continue their investigation and should credit your account if they determine the charges were duplicates. This happens because when a cashier "cancels" a transaction, sometimes the cancel doesn't fully process, resulting in multiple authorizations. But don't worry - you will get your money back as long as you follow the dispute process.

ur county office probably wont help w/ this btw. I had something similar happen at Walmart and when I called my county worker they just told me to call the EBT customer service number. They said they cant do anything about transaction issues cuz thats handled by the EBT card people not the calfresh office

I had a similar situation last year, called the EBT number over and over and couldn't get through to anyone who could help. After being on hold for HOURS across multiple days, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a person at the EBT office in like 10 minutes. Seriously saved my sanity. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 My issue got resolved that same day once I actually talked to a real person instead of trying to navigate the automated system. The EBT office put the money back on my card within 3 days after confirming the duplicate charges.

MAKE SURE YOU GET NAMES OF EVERYONE YOU TALK TO!!!! I had a similar issue with Walmart and spent THREE WEEKS trying to get my money back because nobody would take responsibility!!! Target will try to tell you to call EBT, and EBT will tell you to go back to Target!!! It's INFURIATING!!! Document EVERYTHING - times, names, what they promised. The system is DESIGNED to wear you down until you give up!! And don't expect your county CalFresh office to care AT ALL. They'll just refer you back to EBT customer service who will refer you back to Target. Round and round you'll go while your family goes HUNGRY!!!

Just want to clarify something important: When your EBT card has duplicate charges, this is handled by the EBT card processor (Fidelity Information Services - FIS), not your county CalFresh office. The correct number to call is definitely 1-877-328-9677. When you call, immediately say "dispute transaction" when prompted for why you're calling. This will route you to the right department. You'll need: 1. Your EBT card number 2. The date of the transactions 3. The amounts of each transaction 4. Your receipt showing the legitimate purchase They should be able to issue provisional credits while they investigate. By law, they have to investigate and determine if the claim is valid within 10 business days. If they find in your favor (which they should with duplicate charges like this), the provisional credit becomes permanent. One more thing - CalFresh benefits are protected by Federal Regulation 7 CFR 273.16(h)(1), which ensures you have the right to dispute unauthorized or erroneous transactions.

my sister works at target n she said this happens alot. u should go to customer service at target n ask for the store manager not just regular customer service. bring ur receipt n the ebt transaction history from the app. they can fix it faster than waiting for ebt office

I just want to add that if you're having trouble getting through to the EBT customer service line (which can be super busy), try calling early in the morning right when they open or later in the evening. I've found the wait times are much shorter then. Also, if you have the BenefitsCal app, you can actually see all your transaction details there in real time, which is really helpful when you're talking to customer service or Target managers. They can see exactly what happened and when. Good luck getting this sorted out - $48 is a lot when you're on a tight budget!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is actually more common than you'd think with EBT transactions. I had a similar issue at CVS last year where their system glitched and charged me twice for the same prescription pickup. Here's what worked for me: I called the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) first thing in the morning when wait times are shorter. When the automated system asks why you're calling, say "dispute transaction" - this gets you to the right department faster. Have your card number, receipt, and the exact transaction details ready. The good news is they usually issue provisional credits pretty quickly (within 2-3 business days) while they investigate, so you won't have to wait the full 10 days to get your benefits back. Just make sure to explain clearly that these were duplicate charges for the same purchase due to their system freezing up. Also definitely go to Target with your receipt and EBT transaction history - ask specifically for a store manager who can handle EBT issues. They can see on their end that these were system errors and should be able to help resolve it from their side too. Don't give up if the first person you talk to can't help - keep escalating until you get someone who understands the issue. You'll get your $48 back!

This happened to me at Safeway about 6 months ago! Same exact situation - their card reader kept freezing and the cashier kept "canceling" transactions but they all went through. I was charged 4 times for a $15 purchase. Here's what I learned: definitely call EBT customer service first (1-877-328-9677) and say "dispute transaction" when prompted. But also take a screenshot or print out your EBT transaction history from the app/website BEFORE you go to Target. Having that visual proof of the duplicate charges makes a huge difference when talking to store managers. The EBT office gave me provisional credits within 48 hours, which was a lifesaver. Then I went to Safeway with my receipt and transaction history printout, and they were able to refund the duplicate charges directly to my EBT card that same day once they saw the proof. One tip: if the first Target employee you talk to seems confused about EBT refunds, ask for a different manager. Some stores have employees who are more familiar with handling EBT transaction issues than others. Don't let them brush you off - you have every right to get your money back! Hope this helps and you get it resolved quickly!

I'm really sorry this happened to you! As someone who's been through similar EBT transaction issues, I wanted to share what worked for me. First, definitely call the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) and when the automated system asks why you're calling, say "dispute transaction" - this gets you to the right department faster. Have your card ready along with the exact dates and amounts of each duplicate charge. The good news is that they can usually issue provisional credits within 2-3 business days while they investigate, so you won't have to wait the full investigation period to get your benefits back. Also, before you go to Target, log into your BenefitsCal account or app and either screenshot or print out your complete transaction history showing all 5 charges. This visual proof makes a huge difference when talking to store managers. Ask specifically for a manager who handles EBT transaction issues - not all employees are familiar with this process. Don't let anyone brush you off or send you in circles between Target and EBT customer service. You have the right to dispute these charges and get your money back. The key is being persistent and having all your documentation ready. You've got this - $48 is a lot when you're on a tight budget and you deserve to get every dollar back!

I've been through something similar at Walmart and want to share a few additional tips that helped me get this resolved faster: 1. When you call the EBT customer service line, ask them to email or text you a reference number for your dispute case. This way you have proof that you filed the claim and can reference it when talking to Target. 2. If you go to Target and they try to tell you they can't do EBT refunds, that's not true. They absolutely can process refunds back to EBT cards - they just need a manager who knows how to do it. 3. Don't just rely on your receipt - also take a photo of the actual register/checkout lane where this happened. Sometimes they can pull up transaction logs from specific registers to verify what went wrong. 4. If you get pushback from either EBT customer service or Target, mention that you have documentation of the system freezing and multiple failed attempts. This shows it was clearly their technical error, not user error. The whole process took me about 5 days to get fully resolved, but I got provisional credits within 48 hours which made all the difference. Stay persistent and document everything - you shouldn't have to pay for their system failures!

I went through this exact same situation at Target about 3 months ago! Their card readers seem to have issues with EBT processing. Here's what worked for me: Call EBT customer service (1-877-328-9677) ASAP and say "dispute transaction" when the automated system asks. They'll file a dispute claim and should give you provisional credits within 48-72 hours while they investigate. Then go to Target with your receipt AND print out your EBT transaction history from the BenefitsCal app/website. Ask for a store manager who handles EBT issues specifically - not just any customer service rep. Show them the transaction history proving the duplicate charges. Target was actually pretty helpful once I had all the documentation. They could see in their system that it was a technical error and processed the refund back to my EBT card the same day. The key is having that transaction history printout - it's visual proof that makes it impossible for them to deny what happened. Don't let them send you in circles between departments. You'll get your $48 back!

This is such a frustrating situation but you're definitely not alone - EBT system glitches at major retailers seem to be happening more frequently lately. I had a similar experience at CVS where their payment system froze during checkout and charged me multiple times. Here's my advice based on what worked for me: 1. Call the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) first thing in the morning when wait times are shorter. When prompted, say "dispute transaction" to get routed to the right department immediately. 2. Before calling, gather all your info: EBT card number, exact transaction amounts, dates/times, and your receipt. Having everything ready speeds up the process significantly. 3. Ask specifically about provisional credits while they investigate - this can get your money back within 2-3 business days instead of waiting for the full investigation. 4. Print out your complete EBT transaction history from the BenefitsCal app/website before going to Target. This visual proof of the duplicate charges is crucial. 5. At Target, ask for a store manager who specifically handles EBT transaction issues. Don't settle for regular customer service - some employees aren't trained on EBT refund processes. The whole thing is such a pain when you're already on a tight budget, but stay persistent and document everything. You have every right to get that $48 back, and the system is set up to protect you from exactly this kind of merchant error. Good luck!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This exact same thing happened to me at a different Target location about two months ago - their payment terminals seem to have ongoing issues with EBT processing. Here's what I learned from my experience: Start by calling the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 immediately. When the automated system asks why you're calling, say "dispute transaction" - this gets you directly to the fraud/dispute department instead of general customer service. The most important thing to ask about is provisional credits. They can usually put the disputed amount back on your card within 24-48 hours while they investigate, which is a lifesaver when you need those benefits for groceries right away. Also, before you go back to Target, log into your BenefitsCal account and print out your full transaction history showing all five charges. Having that visual proof makes a huge difference when talking to store management. Ask specifically for a manager who handles EBT transaction issues - not all employees are trained on the refund process. One tip that really helped me: if the first person at Target seems confused about EBT refunds, politely ask for someone else. Some locations have employees who are much more familiar with resolving these technical issues than others. You absolutely will get your $48 back - just stay persistent and keep all your documentation handy. The system is designed to protect you from exactly this kind of merchant error. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! As someone new to CalFresh, this is exactly the kind of situation I worry about happening. It sounds like you've gotten some really solid advice from others here already, but I wanted to add that you should also keep a detailed log of every call you make and every person you speak with - write down their names, the time you called, and what they promised to do. From what I've learned lurking in this community, these kinds of technical issues seem to happen more often than they should, and having a paper trail can really help if you need to escalate. Also, don't feel bad about being persistent - this isn't your fault and you deserve to get every dollar of your benefits back. $48 is a huge amount when you're on a tight food budget! I hope the EBT customer service can get you those provisional credits quickly while they sort this out. Please keep us updated on how it goes - your experience could really help other people who run into the same issue.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is actually a pretty common issue with EBT processing at major retailers - their payment systems sometimes don't properly cancel transactions when they freeze up like that. Here's what I'd recommend based on others who've dealt with this: 1. Call the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 ASAP. When the automated system asks why you're calling, say "dispute transaction" to get routed to the right department. 2. Ask specifically about provisional credits - they can often put the disputed amount back on your card within 48 hours while they investigate, which would help with your immediate food needs. 3. Before going to Target, print out your EBT transaction history from the BenefitsCal app/website showing all 5 charges. This visual proof is crucial. 4. At Target, ask for a store manager who specifically handles EBT issues - not just regular customer service. Bring your receipt and the transaction history printout. Document everything - names, times, reference numbers. Don't let them send you in circles between departments. You have every right to get that $48 back, and the dispute process exists exactly for situations like this. Stay persistent and you'll get it resolved!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is exactly why I always check my EBT balance immediately after any transaction now. A few months ago I had a similar issue at a grocery store where their system kept "timing out" but was actually processing multiple charges. Here's what worked for me: Call the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) right away and say "dispute transaction" when prompted. This gets you to the fraud department faster. Make sure to ask about provisional credits - they can usually restore the disputed amount to your card within 24-48 hours while they investigate, which is crucial when you need those benefits for food right away. Also, definitely go to Target with your receipt AND a printout of your EBT transaction history from the BenefitsCal app. Ask specifically for a store manager who handles EBT transactions. Don't let the first employee brush you off if they seem confused about EBT refunds - some staff are much more familiar with the process than others. The good news is that these technical errors are usually pretty straightforward to resolve once you get to the right people. You have 90 days to dispute but definitely don't wait - get those provisional credits ASAP so you can feed your family while this gets sorted out. You'll get your $48 back!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! As someone who's had to deal with EBT transaction issues before, I know how stressful this can be when you're on a tight budget. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like you have a solid plan forming. I just wanted to add one thing that helped me when I had a similar situation - when you call the EBT customer service line, if you get someone who doesn't seem familiar with provisional credits or seems to be giving you the runaround, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the first person you get isn't as experienced with dispute cases. Also, when you go to Target, if possible try to go to the same location where the error happened. They'll have better access to the transaction logs from that specific register and can more easily verify what went wrong with their system. You shouldn't have to stress about feeding your family because of their technical failures. Stay persistent and document everything - you've got a whole community here rooting for you! Please update us on how it goes - your experience will definitely help others who face the same issue.