Nov 10, 2013, 11:26 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Dead as of 10/13/14

Quote:

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.

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:

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

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Nov 17, 2012, 2:24 pm

#961

stormy16

Join Date: Oct 2012

Posts: 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpooh108

In the past I've been able to charge my Citi Amex Business, Chase PC and BOA Cash Rewards on AP w/o a cash advance fee.

I'm getting 2 new cards in next week: Chase Hyatt & Citi Visa. Does anyone have recent info on whether those cards are subject to cash advance categorization?

I saw a post a few pages back on a fee imposed for the Citi Visa, but I thought maybe that poster selected the wrong category.

Input appreciated, thanks.

Citi Visa still works for me. I used it this month in AP without CA fee.

Nov 17, 2012, 3:45 pm

#962

brooklynmatt

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Brooklyn

Programs: AMEX Plat, AAdvantage Gold, UA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold

Posts: 963

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormy16

Citi Visa still works for me. I used it this month in AP without CA fee.

I think it was misread. I never got a fee. I just got an 'advert' for balance transfer right next to it.

Which makes me think someone at Citi is thinking of it too much

Nov 17, 2012, 4:29 pm

#963

lilpooh108

Join Date: Sep 2005

Posts: 86

Thanks for the input.

Nov 18, 2012, 12:02 am

#964

julp

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: PDX

Programs: United, SPG, Hyatt

Posts: 167

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpooh108

I've been able to send AP payments using both the Citi AA Visa and Citi AA Amex this month as purchases (no fees attached).

Nov 18, 2012, 11:05 am

#965

lilpooh108

Join Date: Sep 2005

Posts: 86

Quote:

Originally Posted by julp

I've been able to send AP payments using both the Citi AA Visa and Citi AA Amex this month as purchases (no fees attached).

Perfect, thanks.

Nov 29, 2012, 4:11 am

#966

mrp20

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: East Coast

Programs: AA/DL/UA, SPG/HH

Posts: 154

data point: AP appears to be monitoring IP addresses now for new accounts, per below:

Greetings from Amazon Payments:

Thank you for verifying your account information. We appreciate your cooperation and use of Amazon Payments.

Please contact us as soon as possible if you did not recently sign in to your Amazon Payments account.

- The Amazon Payments Team

This email regarding your account was delivered to you by Amazon Payments.

Nov 29, 2012, 7:52 am

#967

AlohaDaveKennedy

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads

Programs: Several dozen

Posts: 4,820

Indeed - some signs in Jungleland that the sleeper has awakened. We either adapt or perish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrp20

Nov 29, 2012, 8:24 am

#968

elBulli

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: DCA

Programs: SPG, HHonors

Posts: 242

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrp20

Ouch. But to be fair I don't think anyone was using one IP address to create or even access multiple accounts. Each of my three accounts are completely separate aside from my name. Different CCs, different banks (where applicable), different addresses, and always use different computers to access.

Nov 29, 2012, 8:33 am

#969

shoreline

Join Date: Aug 2011

Posts: 1,689

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrp20

Why should this email mean they are monitoring IP addy's? I think it means nothing more than a friendly notice to let you know activity on your account has occured and if it's not you (meaning fraud) you should let them know ASAP.

I received this same email for very different computers in very different locations for the spouse's account. They were simply trying to verify the primary address on the account. Why is it wrong for 2 different people within the same household to have an AP account?

Last edited by shoreline; Nov 29, 2012 at 8:38 am

Nov 29, 2012, 8:47 am

#970

echip

Join Date: Oct 2007

Programs: Marriott, Radisson, AA, UA

Posts: 360

This email does NOT proved that AP is monitoring IP addresses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrp20

Nov 29, 2012, 9:15 am

#971

shoreline

Join Date: Aug 2011

Posts: 1,689

Quote:

Originally Posted by echip

This email does NOT proved that AP is monitoring IP addresses.

+1^

That was exactly my point. In my case, we are in separate states at the moment, so no where near the same IP addresses.

I really think it's a friendly notice of account activity.

Nov 29, 2012, 10:13 am

#972

y2chen

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: SEA

Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, AA Gold

Posts: 354

Quote:

Originally Posted by elBulli

... and always use different computers to access.

That doesn't mean different IPs unless you're using a different internet connection for each of those computers. Once you get past your router, it all looks like its coming from the same IP.

Nov 29, 2012, 10:17 am

#973

elBulli

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: DCA

Programs: SPG, HHonors

Posts: 242

Quote:

Originally Posted by y2chen

That doesn't mean different IPs unless you're using a different internet connection for each of those computers. Once you get past your router, it all looks like its coming from the same IP.

Yes of course. It would be silly to use two different physical computers on the same internet connection and expect different IP addresses. I assumed that this was assumed in my post.

Nov 29, 2012, 10:19 am

#974

y2chen

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: SEA

Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, AA Gold

Posts: 354

Quote:

Originally Posted by elBulli

Yes of course. It would be silly to use two different physical computers on the same internet connection and expect different IP addresses. I assumed that this was assumed in my post.

touche. wanted to make sure others made that assumption as well.

Nov 29, 2012, 10:28 am

#975

elBulli

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: DCA

Programs: SPG, HHonors

Posts: 242

I could have written it more clearly. Thanks for the clarification.