Apparently, after more than a year of disciplinary actions, Target has decided to lift my ban.
When I was banned originally, I was receiving the auto-emails and cancelled orders. Tried different things, but the only way I was able to get a second account working was to use a different email, different CC, and an incognito browser window. Same name, same address, didn't seem to care. Also, goes without saying, didn't link Target Circle account to the new account.
Since then, that account worked fine, and I've been staying below the radar on that one. My wife also created an account for herself on her phone with the Target app, and has been placing all sorts of orders there -- different CC numbers for her -- without any problems.
So, last night I went to place a couple of small LEGO orders with the second account, except I placed them on the Target app by mistake (I would still use the app in-store on the banned account if needed for Target circle in-store discounts). Instantly cancelled due to a "technical problem". Got the usual email associated with banned accounts -- those emails come before the purchase confirmation email, they are so efficient these days. I'm thinking I just messed up by tying the accounts together through the app. So, I try the exact same orders using the incognito browser window and time-tested workaround. They went through without being cancelled.
This morning, those orders are still in processing, but haven't been cancelled. Now I'm thinking, "can I use the old account in a browser window instead of the app?". Log into that account, verify it's the same account -- cancelled orders galore in my order history, check! Place the same order as the non-banned account using my paypal account. Bada-bing! No cancellations. However, this is on a PC and not my phone -- in the past, it didn't seem to matter which device (I could place the second account orders on a PC and they would still go through).
Figuring I've got nothing to lose, let's try it with the red card... Also went through! Again, same different PC, although this PC had been used to place orders on the banned account as well.
Now, my IP address has changed at home, but even an incognito window originates from the same IP address, so that shouldn't matter. And the second account went from working fine, to ban orders, to working fine again.
The common elements here now just seems to be the Target app. From what I can tell on Target's website, Target Circle is tied to the account. So, it's not avoidable. And that seems to be true even in a regular browser window.
So, is there something tied to the Target app itself? I'm going to have to try some other combinations with non-incognito browsers on the same phone and maybe other devices. Maybe also try deleting the app and reinstalling it and using the original account. I could also try the original account on an ipad I have that I know I've never placed an order on.
Anyways, for those who have had your Target accounts hard banned in the past, there might be a glimmer of hope. If you have a banned account you haven't used in a while, maybe give it a go and report back.