Nov 10, 2013, 11:26 am
Last edit by: mcdullhk88
Dead as of 10/13/14
FAQ's
Is Amazon Payments treated as a cash advance? No CC issuer has been reported as treating an AP transaction as a cash advance unless the sender selected "Payment is for Cash Advance" on the Send Money screen.
What does it mean when your payment is "pending"? Your payment will be reviewed. We are unsure whether this review is done by a human or computer. It should take less than 24 hours but is usually within minutes.
How should you describe your payment? "Goods or services" will allow you to charge with a CC and it will not be treated as a cash advance. Note: If you choose cash advance, it may be treated as such by your CC issuer; always choose Goods/Services. There is no reason to put anything in the optional description field - leave it blank.
What is the monthly limit for sending CC payments? $1,000 per calendar month per AP account
What is the monthly limit for receiving CC payments? $1,000 per calendar month per AP account
What if it is not allowing me to send/receive more than $500 or any at all? You probably have not verified your bank and/or added a CC. In order to get the full $1,000 allowance for sending and receiving you must have a bank verified AND a CC added to your account as a payment method.
Does AP qualify for special spending categories? Specifically it qualifies for Discover's (usually 4th quarter) category of online purchases but so far, not Chase's "5% CB on Amazon.com purchases." Refer to thread for other options.
Can you get shutdown? Yes.
How do you get shutdown? No one knows. Anecdotes are found throughout the thread. Some suspicious behavior that MIGHT get your AP account(s) shut down is listed below.
Which transaction is most advisable? A -> B -> C -> A (see here)
Are any fees charged during this process? No, not by Amazon Payments. If your transaction is treated as a cash advance by your card issuer--fees are possible. Beware and always double check that goods/services is selected!
Can you liquidate Amazon GC via AP? NO!
Can you liquidate other gift cards via AP? Yes. Note that you cannot liquidate the full value of a GC because amazon places a $1 hold while it verifies the validity of the GC. You can sometimes (not always) avoid the hold by entering an incorrect expiration date for the GC when adding it to your AP account, and after you have added it, go to "Edit my account settings," then to "Add edit or delete my credit cards" and edit the expiration date there.
When does the month end? It appears as if Amazon is on pacific time, so midnight PDT/PST is when the month resets.
It bears repeating that no one knows the methodology amazon uses to police AP transactions, determines which transactions violate its T&Cs, or identifies violators. However, various people in this thread and elsewhere have confirmed that their AP account(s) were shut down for the following reasons:
Additionally, we have updated the terms and conditions of our User Agreement (https://payments.amazon.com/help/Personal-Accounts/User-Agreement-Policies/User-Agreement) that apply to your use of the products and services provided by Amazon Payments. Our updated User Agreement revises certain terms (including, among other things, the elimination of person-to-person payments). Our new User Agreement will become effective on October 13, 2014, which is more than 30 days from when we first posted our updated User Agreement. By continuing to use our services after October 13, 2014, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of our new User Agreement.
Is Amazon Payments treated as a cash advance? No CC issuer has been reported as treating an AP transaction as a cash advance unless the sender selected "Payment is for Cash Advance" on the Send Money screen.
What does it mean when your payment is "pending"? Your payment will be reviewed. We are unsure whether this review is done by a human or computer. It should take less than 24 hours but is usually within minutes.
How should you describe your payment? "Goods or services" will allow you to charge with a CC and it will not be treated as a cash advance. Note: If you choose cash advance, it may be treated as such by your CC issuer; always choose Goods/Services. There is no reason to put anything in the optional description field - leave it blank.
What is the monthly limit for sending CC payments? $1,000 per calendar month per AP account
What is the monthly limit for receiving CC payments? $1,000 per calendar month per AP account
What if it is not allowing me to send/receive more than $500 or any at all? You probably have not verified your bank and/or added a CC. In order to get the full $1,000 allowance for sending and receiving you must have a bank verified AND a CC added to your account as a payment method.
Does AP qualify for special spending categories? Specifically it qualifies for Discover's (usually 4th quarter) category of online purchases but so far, not Chase's "5% CB on Amazon.com purchases." Refer to thread for other options.
Can you get shutdown? Yes.
How do you get shutdown? No one knows. Anecdotes are found throughout the thread. Some suspicious behavior that MIGHT get your AP account(s) shut down is listed below.
Which transaction is most advisable? A -> B -> C -> A (see here)
Are any fees charged during this process? No, not by Amazon Payments. If your transaction is treated as a cash advance by your card issuer--fees are possible. Beware and always double check that goods/services is selected!
Can you liquidate Amazon GC via AP? NO!
Can you liquidate other gift cards via AP? Yes. Note that you cannot liquidate the full value of a GC because amazon places a $1 hold while it verifies the validity of the GC. You can sometimes (not always) avoid the hold by entering an incorrect expiration date for the GC when adding it to your AP account, and after you have added it, go to "Edit my account settings," then to "Add edit or delete my credit cards" and edit the expiration date there.
When does the month end? It appears as if Amazon is on pacific time, so midnight PDT/PST is when the month resets.
It bears repeating that no one knows the methodology amazon uses to police AP transactions, determines which transactions violate its T&Cs, or identifies violators. However, various people in this thread and elsewhere have confirmed that their AP account(s) were shut down for the following reasons:
- Associating one credit card number with more than one AP account (Be Careful if authorized user card has the same number as the primary card holder - in some instances the CC numbers are completely different)
- Associating one bank account with more than one AP account
Amazon Payments
Aug 19, 2013, 8:43 pm
#2386
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
For a few months now I've been doing A>B>Bank then B>A>Bank. I don't do these at exactly the same time - I usually spread them out by at least a week or two. I haven't had any problems.
Both of the bank accounts are INDIVIDUAL accounts. Both credit cards are mine (A) but on the B>A transaction I use an AU account which is not otherwise listed on my Amazon account.
Edit to add: A and B have the same address but different last names, if that matters at all.
Both of the bank accounts are INDIVIDUAL accounts. Both credit cards are mine (A) but on the B>A transaction I use an AU account which is not otherwise listed on my Amazon account.
Edit to add: A and B have the same address but different last names, if that matters at all.
Aug 19, 2013, 8:53 pm
#2387
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
missed this the 1st time. Under these conditions I wouldnt be maxing it out, Ive been with my bank for yrs so theres a relationship already in place.
If I was starting out no way would I be pouring MOs or ACHs (APs) into my new acct. Id built it up slowly, so I wouldnt stick out like a sore thumb. Even thou everything youd be doing is on board it wont look that way and most likely the bank will think you are up to something. Id expect even if you could explain it all away to them they still wouldnt want you as a customer.
just as with a new CC and issuer, spend up to your CL and they arent too happy. Had that the other month and I simply said , well I asked what my limit was and was told there isnt any. They said well even thou we say there isnt any there really is, and I said well between what I have parked in my accts and my other CCs with you whats the problem, put me on hold came back and said charge away. Id never do that with a CC if I didnt have any history with the issuer.
If I was starting out no way would I be pouring MOs or ACHs (APs) into my new acct. Id built it up slowly, so I wouldnt stick out like a sore thumb. Even thou everything youd be doing is on board it wont look that way and most likely the bank will think you are up to something. Id expect even if you could explain it all away to them they still wouldnt want you as a customer.
just as with a new CC and issuer, spend up to your CL and they arent too happy. Had that the other month and I simply said , well I asked what my limit was and was told there isnt any. They said well even thou we say there isnt any there really is, and I said well between what I have parked in my accts and my other CCs with you whats the problem, put me on hold came back and said charge away. Id never do that with a CC if I didnt have any history with the issuer.
Aug 19, 2013, 9:04 pm
#2388
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
Easy formula that I've used for over 3 years:
3 accounts: A, B, & C
Things I use different on each account: Email address and bank account
Information that is the same on each account: Everything else (yes even cc# and ss#)
The first of each month within 5 minutes:
1) Send $1k A > B
2) B > $1k to bank; Send $1k > C
3) C > $1k to bank; Send $1k > A
4) A > $1k to bank
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.
3 accounts: A, B, & C
Things I use different on each account: Email address and bank account
Information that is the same on each account: Everything else (yes even cc# and ss#)
The first of each month within 5 minutes:
1) Send $1k A > B
2) B > $1k to bank; Send $1k > C
3) C > $1k to bank; Send $1k > A
4) A > $1k to bank
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.
Aug 19, 2013, 9:12 pm
#2389
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
missed this the 1st time. Under these conditions I wouldnt be maxing it out, Ive been with my bank for yrs so theres a relationship already in place.
If I was starting out no way would I be pouring MOs or ACHs (APs) into my new acct. Id built it up slowly, so I wouldnt stick out like a sore thumb. Even thou everything youd be doing is on board it wont look that way and most likely the bank will think you are up to something. Id expect even if you could explain it all away to them they still wouldnt want you as a customer.
just as with a new CC and issuer, spend up to your CL and they arent too happy. Had that the other month and I simply said , well I asked what my limit was and was told there isnt any. They said well even thou we say there isnt any there really is, and I said well between what I have parked in my accts and my other CCs with you whats the problem, put me on hold came back and said charge away. Id never do that with a CC if I didnt have any history with the issuer.
If I was starting out no way would I be pouring MOs or ACHs (APs) into my new acct. Id built it up slowly, so I wouldnt stick out like a sore thumb. Even thou everything youd be doing is on board it wont look that way and most likely the bank will think you are up to something. Id expect even if you could explain it all away to them they still wouldnt want you as a customer.
just as with a new CC and issuer, spend up to your CL and they arent too happy. Had that the other month and I simply said , well I asked what my limit was and was told there isnt any. They said well even thou we say there isnt any there really is, and I said well between what I have parked in my accts and my other CCs with you whats the problem, put me on hold came back and said charge away. Id never do that with a CC if I didnt have any history with the issuer.
If you are starting AZ payments I would probably spread it out over at least three cards for a few months. Especially if you are already purchasing any type of gift cards (amex/chase) or buying vanilla reloads.
Aug 19, 2013, 10:34 pm
#2391
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
Easy formula that I've used for over 3 years:
3 accounts: A, B, & C
Things I use different on each account: Email address and bank account
Information that is the same on each account: Everything else (yes even cc# and ss#)
The first of each month within 5 minutes:
1) Send $1k A > B
2) B > $1k to bank; Send $1k > C
3) C > $1k to bank; Send $1k > A
4) A > $1k to bank
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.
3 accounts: A, B, & C
Things I use different on each account: Email address and bank account
Information that is the same on each account: Everything else (yes even cc# and ss#)
The first of each month within 5 minutes:
1) Send $1k A > B
2) B > $1k to bank; Send $1k > C
3) C > $1k to bank; Send $1k > A
4) A > $1k to bank
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.
Aug 20, 2013, 6:04 am
#2393
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: Delta silver, HH silver, IHG platinum, SPG gold, AMEX platinum
Posts: 400
Originally Posted by bobert24;2130
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.[/QUOTE
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.[/QUOTE
That's what I'd love to do, but my understanding is that it's one account per SSN these days.
Aug 20, 2013, 7:47 am
#2394
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Arghhh!!!!
Yes, this can work, but everyone was not born to be a witch doctor in the jungle. Newbies steered into the Bush School of Medicine can get badly burned if undercapitalized and their money gets frozen.
The Bezos tribe of headhunters is very capricious and unpredictable in how they hunt down multiple accounts.
These days? Have you just tried? :-)[/QUOTE]
Yes, this can work, but everyone was not born to be a witch doctor in the jungle. Newbies steered into the Bush School of Medicine can get badly burned if undercapitalized and their money gets frozen.
The Bezos tribe of headhunters is very capricious and unpredictable in how they hunt down multiple accounts.
These days? Have you just tried? :-)[/QUOTE]
Aug 20, 2013, 6:09 pm
#2396
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 322
Aug 20, 2013, 10:03 pm
#2398
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Without our help those Nixon and Obama Presidential dollars ain't ever gonna see the light of day.
Aug 21, 2013, 9:41 am
#2399
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
Easy formula that I've used for over 3 years:
3 accounts: A, B, & C
Things I use different on each account: Email address and bank account
Information that is the same on each account: Everything else (yes even cc# and ss#)
The first of each month within 5 minutes:
1) Send $1k A > B
2) B > $1k to bank; Send $1k > C
3) C > $1k to bank; Send $1k > A
4) A > $1k to bank
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.
3 accounts: A, B, & C
Things I use different on each account: Email address and bank account
Information that is the same on each account: Everything else (yes even cc# and ss#)
The first of each month within 5 minutes:
1) Send $1k A > B
2) B > $1k to bank; Send $1k > C
3) C > $1k to bank; Send $1k > A
4) A > $1k to bank
Once or twice a month I check the thread to see if people are getting shut down.