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
#2701
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,362
Thanks! That was helpful...will break mine up from now on.
#2702
Join Date: May 2000
Location: I see palm trees....
Posts: 414
In any event, I haven't heard of any shutdowns in ages...which leads me to believe all this concern is unwarranted.
#2703
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 194
Anyone had this issue - I sent $1000 from B -> A today, and after the confirm screen, I got taken to that new Amazon Payments banner advertising their new payment platform. I originally thought it was a browser glitch and tried to send the payment again, since it wasn't showing up in activity, and A didn't receive an email. But when I went to send it through, it tells me that I've already exceeded the amount this month for credit card payments. Sent an email but it seemed weird enough to ask.
#2705
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
Not phoney, just managed by you. They may also want to open managed-by-you bank accounts (Bluebird would work) to deposit the incoming AP funds into.
#2706
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Do all the AP accounts have to be linked to a bank account?
Waiting for both my accounts to verify since it's not letting me activate it. The SO is hesitant to link the bank account. Does hers have to have one linked? Or is she able to take the amount in the account and gift that?
A > C > B > Bank
A&B me, C is her.
Waiting for both my accounts to verify since it's not letting me activate it. The SO is hesitant to link the bank account. Does hers have to have one linked? Or is she able to take the amount in the account and gift that?
A > C > B > Bank
A&B me, C is her.
#2707
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
You can transfer up to 1k if you link a bank, if not your limit is .5k.
Do all the AP accounts have to be linked to a bank account?
Waiting for both my accounts to verify since it's not letting me activate it. The SO is hesitant to link the bank account. Does hers have to have one linked? Or is she able to take the amount in the account and gift that?
A > C > B > Bank
A&B me, C is her.
Waiting for both my accounts to verify since it's not letting me activate it. The SO is hesitant to link the bank account. Does hers have to have one linked? Or is she able to take the amount in the account and gift that?
A > C > B > Bank
A&B me, C is her.
#2708
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 59
Do all the AP accounts have to be linked to a bank account?
Waiting for both my accounts to verify since it's not letting me activate it. The SO is hesitant to link the bank account. Does hers have to have one linked? Or is she able to take the amount in the account and gift that?
A > C > B > Bank
A&B me, C is her.
Waiting for both my accounts to verify since it's not letting me activate it. The SO is hesitant to link the bank account. Does hers have to have one linked? Or is she able to take the amount in the account and gift that?
A > C > B > Bank
A&B me, C is her.
Is a & b the same name and address. . . .? Just different email and bank account?
#2709
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
A is a checking, B is a savings acct.
Last edited by f0xx; Oct 17, 2013 at 6:48 pm
#2711
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
AP is really pissing me off. SO's AP account needs more "additional information". After adding bank account, they sent an email saying a CC needed to be added. Yet it's still "not verified", sent an email. They want a copy of a ID. Seriously? You ask for her information while signing up, once again after signing up, and when adding bank & CC.
How frustrating.
Meanwhile, I opened two accounts. No issues.
How frustrating.
Meanwhile, I opened two accounts. No issues.
#2713
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 149
I've been ACH-ing AP into GB, but if BB works well, I prefer BB's UI. GB's UI in BP is so clunky!
#2714
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
I haven't actually done ACH with AP into BB, but I have done Paypal > BB via ACH. You should be able to put the routing and account number from the direct deposit instructions on BB into AP and verify the test deposits.