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 11, 2012, 12:59 pm
#857
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
Oct 26, 2012, 6:52 am
#858
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,057
I'm using Amazon payments to cash out gift cards from FAR software deals. Will adding too many cards in a short time (e.g. 20 added cards in a month) raise a flag? Has anyone had situations whereby they got shutdown for adding too many cards?
I'm still keeping below the limit of $1k and spend about $700-800 each month.
I'm still keeping below the limit of $1k and spend about $700-800 each month.
Oct 26, 2012, 7:27 am
#859
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: In The Cockpit, Left Seat
Programs: AA, UA, HH, SPG
Posts: 78
I'm using Amazon payments to cash out gift cards from FAR software deals. Will adding too many cards in a short time (e.g. 20 added cards in a month) raise a flag? Has anyone had situations whereby they got shutdown for adding too many cards?
I'm still keeping below the limit of $1k and spend about $700-800 each month.
I'm still keeping below the limit of $1k and spend about $700-800 each month.
Oct 26, 2012, 8:23 am
#861
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Honestly, that's the extent of it.
For further details I suggest you read the following:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...ebit-card.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...hout-mint.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-citicash.html
Oct 26, 2012, 9:28 am
#863
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,057
I will probably have about 40 prepaid cards, and their value range from $10 to $70 (not all the same but always in multiples of $10 or $5). I am thinking of spreading them out over 2-3 mths... do you think that would be ok?
Oct 26, 2012, 9:42 am
#864
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 749
Just go to a gas station with them. Go inside and tell the cashier to give you $12 on pump 2, swipe a $12 card, then come back later, $36 on pump 4...etc. You'll be through them in 2-3 months and not need to use your AP.
Oct 26, 2012, 9:45 am
#865
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Oct 26, 2012, 9:55 am
#866
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Or use the self checkout at the grocery. Ours will use the available funds and then it'll just ask for another form of payment if there's more to pay for. Great way to burn off misc remaining balances on gift cards. Near as I can tell, it'll let you use as many cards as you have until the total is paid
Oct 26, 2012, 10:16 am
#867
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Or go to the branch of the bank that issues the card(s) and see if they'll cash-advance all the funds out for you. Citi for example is particularly good about this for their gift cards. General rule is the card should have your name on it, and the card should be of the type where the numbers are embossed (raised, rather than flat on the card).
Oct 26, 2012, 10:45 am
#869
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Or use the self checkout at the grocery. Ours will use the available funds and then it'll just ask for another form of payment if there's more to pay for. Great way to burn off misc remaining balances on gift cards. Near as I can tell, it'll let you use as many cards as you have until the total is paid
Oct 26, 2012, 10:45 am
#870
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524