Had an issue with Target? Get a real response.
How to submit a complaint with Target
Choose your preferred method to lodge a complaint easily with Target Australia:
📞 Phone Support
- Contact: 1300 753 567
- Hours: Monday–Friday (8am–6pm AEST), Saturday (8am–5pm AEST), closed Sundays & public holidays.
- Ideal for urgent, detailed conversations.
💬 Live Chat
- Available: Daily, 8am–9pm AEST.
- Access via Target Australia’s Help Centre here.
- Quick written responses, excellent for documented records.
✉️ Email
- Email: customersupport@target.com.au
- Expect a reply typically within 1–2 business days.
- Good for detailed complaints needing evidence (photos, receipts).
🖥️ Online Contact Form
- Fill out Target’s structured online form selecting specific complaint categories (orders, product issues, store feedback).
- Perfect for routing complaints directly to specialist teams.
🏬 In-Store
- Speak directly to store managers or customer service desks at your local Target store.
- Quick resolution for in-store purchases and service-related issues.
📫 Postal Mail
- Mail detailed complaints to:
Target Customer Support, 2 Kendall St, Williams Landing VIC 3027 - Slower, but effective for formal written records.
Tip: Always keep details handy (order numbers, receipts, and product information) to accelerate resolution.
Target’s structured process ensures your complaint is addressed efficiently and fairly:
✅ Immediate Acknowledgment
- Written complaints are acknowledged typically within 5 business days.
- A reference number is provided for tracking your complaint.
📋 Initial Assessment & Early Resolution
- Target staff assess urgency, seriousness, and your desired resolution.
- Most complaints resolved immediately (refunds, exchanges, replacements).
🚩 Escalation to Senior Specialists
- Unresolved or complex complaints escalated to experienced managers or dedicated complaint teams.
- Regularly reviewed by senior management in weekly Customer Care Forums.
🗨️ Clear, Regular Communication
- Target regularly updates you on progress and resolution outcomes.
- You’ll receive clear explanations of proposed resolutions (refund, replacement, compensation).
🎯 Customer-Focused Solutions
- Solutions tailored to your needs (refund, exchange, repair, gift vouchers, apology).
- Safety-related issues receive urgent, prioritised handling.
Common complaints against Target
Here’s what customers commonly raise issues about:
- Product Quality Issues: Faulty goods, durability concerns (e.g., clothing, homewares).
- Online Orders & Delivery Problems: Missing items, incorrect deliveries, late shipments.
- Gift Card & Payment Problems: Activation or redemption errors, incorrect charges.
- Store Service Experiences: Occasional staff rudeness, lack of assistance.
- Pricing & Promotional Issues: Misleading or incorrect pricing, unavailable advertised promotions.
- Returns & Refund Hassles: Difficulty or resistance in processing returns or refunds.
- Flybuys & Loyalty Program Issues: Points not credited, vouchers not redeemable.
Complaints submitted through Ajust
I bought slippers from Target but got home to find the security tag still attached. I couldn’t wear them, and had to go through the hassle of organising a return just to fix their mistake. Felt like more effort than it should’ve been for a simple purchase. - Leanne
I tried to use Target’s click & collect for a pair of leggings, but the staff clearly didn’t want to help. After 22 minutes on hold, they just hung up. The whole experience felt careless and dismissive. - Wendy
I noticed a Target staff member at my local store seemed under the influence most days. It made me uncomfortable shopping there and worried about safety. I raised it, but I’m not sure if it’s been taken seriously. - Marcus
One item from my Target order just didn’t arrive. I contacted customer service but they said it’d take 10 to 15 days to resolve. That’s a long wait for something that’s clearly their error. - Nina
How other consumers Target complaints got resolved
Faulty Towels – Full Refund Given
- Issue: Target-branded towels continuously shedding lint.
- Resolution: Store accepted return with bank statement as proof. The customer received a full refund and apology.
Click & Collect Error – Order Replaced & Compensation
- Issue: Order marked collected but never received.
- Resolution: Immediate re-fulfillment and $10 gift card provided as goodwill gesture.
Exceptional Customer Service – Positive Turnaround
- Issue: Customer frustrated after poor service elsewhere.
- Resolution: Target staff proactively helped, creating positive shopping experience.
If initial attempts aren’t satisfying, escalate your complaint:
🔹 Speak to a Supervisor or Manager
- Request escalation to supervisors during calls or store visits for more authority and solutions.
🔹 Escalate at the Store Level
- Contact Target Store or Duty Manager for unresolved in-store complaints.
🔹 Contact Corporate Customer Relations
- Submit a formal written complaint to customersupport@target.com.au or via postal mail clearly requesting senior management review.
🔹 Invoke Target’s Complaints Policy
- Reference Target’s official Complaints Handling Policy to ensure fair and timely resolutions.
🔹 External Escalation (Fair Trading/Consumer Affairs)
- Notify Target you’ll contact external regulators if internal resolution fails, typically prompting quick action.
🔹 Social Media Escalation
Tip: Document all interactions to clearly present your complaint during escalation.
If internal avenues fail, external help is available:
- State Consumer Protection Agencies (Fair Trading):
Lodge complaints for free mediation:
- ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission):
Report systemic consumer issues or breaches of Australian Consumer Law. - Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA):
For financial-related disputes involving Target’s credit products, contact AFCA. - Small Claims Tribunals:
Last resort legal resolution through state tribunals (NCAT, VCAT, QCAT).
Know Your Rights: Under Australian Consumer Law, Target must honour product guarantees (repair, replace, or refund faulty goods).
Direct resources for complaint handling:
- Target Australia Customer Support
- Complaints Handling Policy
- Target Returns & Refund Policy
- Flybuys Support
- OnePass Customer Support
External Resources:
Target Complaints FAQs
How can I lodge a complaint with Target Australia most effectively?
The fastest way to submit a complaint to Target Australia is via phone (1300 753 567) or live chat for urgent or trackable issues. Email and the online contact form are great for detailed complaints needing documentation, while postal mail works best for formal written records. Choose based on urgency and whether you need evidence or a paper trail-keeping receipts and order numbers ready helps speed things up.
What can I expect after filing a complaint with Target?
After lodging a complaint, Target typically responds within 5 business days with a tracking reference. Most simple issues are resolved quickly with a refund, exchange, or explanation. If your issue is complex or unresolved, it’s escalated to senior staff, and you’ll receive updates until it’s settled. For serious complaints, expect tailored solutions, especially if they involve safety or significant financial loss.
What are the most common complaints against Target?
Target customers most often complain about faulty products, delivery issues, billing errors, returns troubles, and poor in-store service. Problems with Flybuys, incorrect pricing, and promotion availability are also frequent. If any of these happen to you, be specific when reporting-include receipts, photos, and timelines to strengthen your case and ensure faster resolution.
How do I escalate a Target complaint if I'm not satisfied?
If your complaint isn’t resolved, escalate by speaking with a store or customer service manager. You can also send a formal email requesting senior review or mention taking it to Fair Trading. Posting publicly on Target Australia’s social media often prompts faster responses. Keep records of all interactions to support your case during escalation.
You’ve done your part, now it’s time to hold Target accountable.
Take the final step and submit a complaint that gets seen and responded to.