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
Oct 15, 2013, 10:31 am
#2688
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 747
In relation to shutdowns, I'm just curious, do people get their entire Amazon account shutdown or is it only for the AP portion?
I'm thinking about bringing my brother into the fold
Currently I'm A, doing A > B to B bank, would end up doing C > A > A bank, A > B > B bank, B writing me a check/cash and doing C > A with GC
However I know he is not willing to risk losing his Amazon account over it, as he is in love with Amazon, so just curious on what happens with people's accounts in reference to shutdowns.
I'm thinking about bringing my brother into the fold
Currently I'm A, doing A > B to B bank, would end up doing C > A > A bank, A > B > B bank, B writing me a check/cash and doing C > A with GC
However I know he is not willing to risk losing his Amazon account over it, as he is in love with Amazon, so just curious on what happens with people's accounts in reference to shutdowns.
Oct 15, 2013, 11:56 am
#2689
Formerly known as FTRox87
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TX
Programs: AA/US 1M, AS, BA, CX, EK, EY, JL, KE, LH, NH, OS, QF, QR, TG, UA/CO | *$G
Posts: 1,428
Hello all,
Quick Amazon Payments noobie Q --
To cut a long story short: can I use AP to pay my friend up in Canada, I dont think he has an AP account. Can he create one or is this service US only like Venmo?
Thanks!
edit:// nvm I think I found my answer that the service is US only right now.
Quick Amazon Payments noobie Q --
To cut a long story short: can I use AP to pay my friend up in Canada, I dont think he has an AP account. Can he create one or is this service US only like Venmo?
Thanks!
edit:// nvm I think I found my answer that the service is US only right now.
Last edited by FTR 787; Oct 15, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Oct 16, 2013, 10:31 am
#2690
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
Hello all,
Quick Amazon Payments noobie Q --
To cut a long story short: can I use AP to pay my friend up in Canada, I dont think he has an AP account. Can he create one or is this service US only like Venmo?
Thanks!
edit:// nvm I think I found my answer that the service is US only right now.
Quick Amazon Payments noobie Q --
To cut a long story short: can I use AP to pay my friend up in Canada, I dont think he has an AP account. Can he create one or is this service US only like Venmo?
Thanks!
edit:// nvm I think I found my answer that the service is US only right now.
Oct 16, 2013, 10:37 am
#2691
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
In relation to shutdowns, I'm just curious, do people get their entire Amazon account shutdown or is it only for the AP portion?
I'm thinking about bringing my brother into the fold
Currently I'm A, doing A > B to B bank, would end up doing C > A > A bank, A > B > B bank, B writing me a check/cash and doing C > A with GC
However I know he is not willing to risk losing his Amazon account over it, as he is in love with Amazon, so just curious on what happens with people's accounts in reference to shutdowns.
I'm thinking about bringing my brother into the fold
Currently I'm A, doing A > B to B bank, would end up doing C > A > A bank, A > B > B bank, B writing me a check/cash and doing C > A with GC
However I know he is not willing to risk losing his Amazon account over it, as he is in love with Amazon, so just curious on what happens with people's accounts in reference to shutdowns.
But from what you posted, adding the safety of C (3rd party) you and your brother shouldnt have any problems as long as all have different names, differ SSN and differ bank accts.
Oct 16, 2013, 11:11 am
#2693
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 747
Note: When my brother and his wife was shut down over a year ago, it was their ENTIRE Amz accounts. They were doing A>B>A.
But from what you posted, adding the safety of C (3rd party) you and your brother shouldnt have any problems as long as all have different names, differ SSN and differ bank accts.
But from what you posted, adding the safety of C (3rd party) you and your brother shouldnt have any problems as long as all have different names, differ SSN and differ bank accts.
Oct 16, 2013, 11:50 am
#2694
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
Others have reported AP shutdowns (for multiple -think many- AP accounts) that left the Amazon accounts open. He could open a second Amazon account under a dedicated email and link that one to the AP.
But this game is not for everyone. I would not ask someone to play it unless they understood all the risks and wanted to, and not just because I want them to want to.
But this game is not for everyone. I would not ask someone to play it unless they understood all the risks and wanted to, and not just because I want them to want to.
Oct 16, 2013, 1:35 pm
#2696
Join Date: May 2000
Location: I see palm trees....
Posts: 414
Many here, myself included, have been doing A-B-A for YEARS with no problems. Were they using the same bank account perhaps?
Oct 16, 2013, 1:42 pm
#2697
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 204
Should you be concerned? Obviously you should.
Oct 16, 2013, 7:43 pm
#2698
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
I've been reading quite a bit on using AP to make bonuses.
But what I see is a lot of people doing A > B > A or even A > B > C > A.
I was wondering if anyone has done or is doing, A > C > B and deposited money back into one of your accounts from B. A&B are your AP accounts and C is another person.
But what I see is a lot of people doing A > B > A or even A > B > C > A.
I was wondering if anyone has done or is doing, A > C > B and deposited money back into one of your accounts from B. A&B are your AP accounts and C is another person.
Oct 17, 2013, 6:45 am
#2699
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
I've been reading quite a bit on using AP to make bonuses.
But what I see is a lot of people doing A > B > A or even A > B > C > A.
I was wondering if anyone has done or is doing, A > C > B and deposited money back into one of your accounts from B. A&B are your AP accounts and C is another person.
But what I see is a lot of people doing A > B > A or even A > B > C > A.
I was wondering if anyone has done or is doing, A > C > B and deposited money back into one of your accounts from B. A&B are your AP accounts and C is another person.
Oct 17, 2013, 10:31 am
#2700
Used to be garyjr316
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX or SBA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 800
I don't know if he needs to be concerned... I have been doing A-B-A since the beginning of Amazon payments and am still going strong. Probably comes down to how you do the payments... I never do a flat $1000 but always break it up into different amounts.