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
Dec 27, 2012, 10:26 pm
#1157
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 124
Dec 28, 2012, 6:11 am
#1160
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 447
Some interesting data points there with respect to different GCs depending on the source. The incorrect date method is just a fool proof method that should work on all cards though.
I got a couple of PMs about this, but the information is in some threads, and more recently in this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...-payments.html
I got a couple of PMs about this, but the information is in some threads, and more recently in this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...-payments.html
Dec 28, 2012, 6:19 am
#1161
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
Dec 28, 2012, 6:45 am
#1162
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 447
I just initiated deposits from AP to BB for verification via "Manage my bank accounts". I think it will work as I compared with my other linked bank that was verified via deposits, and it looks like AP verifies via deposit only (doesn't withdraw). Instant verification is not an option for BB in AP.
I hope it works as I can see this being a very convenient option to merge AP account(s) balances to BB and use it as centralized source for CC payments.
I hope it works as I can see this being a very convenient option to merge AP account(s) balances to BB and use it as centralized source for CC payments.
Dec 28, 2012, 9:06 am
#1164
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 447
Balance from Amazon.com is not reflected on Amazon Payments, however you can purchase something on Amazon.com using your AP balance, so it is basically a one way street. Amazon to AP would have made it too lucrative and easy 
Dec 28, 2012, 10:59 am
#1165
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 307
I initiated two withdrawals yesterday, and now I see these two as "completed" on AP. However, I don't see any deposit posted to my checking account, no pending either. Does it usually take a while to show in checking accounts after the transaction has been completed?
Dec 28, 2012, 11:18 am
#1166
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Dec 28, 2012, 11:20 am
#1167
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
Dec 28, 2012, 11:59 am
#1168
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 328
Then what is the big deal about the VR cards? I feel like I am missing something but if you can just load a regular Visa/MC gift card into BB then why all the hype around VR and BB?
Dec 28, 2012, 12:14 pm
#1169
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
The "expiration date trick" is to send money on Amazon Payments with the gift cards without an temporary authorization charge.
Dec 28, 2012, 12:17 pm
#1170
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 328
