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
Feb 4, 2012 | 10:40 am
#166
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
REQUIREMENT: Chase Freedom and Case Sapphire Card.
So sending money via Amazon Payments with a credit card is currently categorized as 'purchase'. With that said, Chase Freedom Card is offering 5% cash back for Amazon purchases. A savy opportunist can send money to a trustful family relative using the Chase Freedom Card. After earning 5%, combine points with the Chase Sapphire and redeem for miles at a 1:1 ratio. Or you can simply cash out. Anyone game?
...
So sending money via Amazon Payments with a credit card is currently categorized as 'purchase'. With that said, Chase Freedom Card is offering 5% cash back for Amazon purchases. A savy opportunist can send money to a trustful family relative using the Chase Freedom Card. After earning 5%, combine points with the Chase Sapphire and redeem for miles at a 1:1 ratio. Or you can simply cash out. Anyone game?
...
Were 5X the Ultimate Reward points accrued?
Feb 4, 2012 | 7:37 pm
#170
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 388
Feb 5, 2012 | 1:03 pm
#172
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: CVG
Programs: AAdvantage, Delta Skymiles, CapOne Venture, Citi ThankYou
Posts: 486
Feb 5, 2012 | 2:29 pm
#173
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 41
If i sign up for amazon payment and so does my mom. We share an AMEX account with different card numbers, live at the same address. I know the max is 1k. So if i send 1k to her she deposits it into her bank account, then send me 1k and i deposit into my bank account would be ok, get banned, loss money?
Feb 5, 2012 | 2:36 pm
#174
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,273
If i sign up for amazon payment and so does my mom. We share an AMEX account with different card numbers, live at the same address. I know the max is 1k. So if i send 1k to her she deposits it into her bank account, then send me 1k and i deposit into my bank account would be ok, get banned, loss money?
Feb 5, 2012 | 2:49 pm
#175
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
If i sign up for amazon payment and so does my mom. We share an AMEX account with different card numbers, live at the same address. I know the max is 1k. So if i send 1k to her she deposits it into her bank account, then send me 1k and i deposit into my bank account would be ok, get banned, loss money?
But the chances of that happening, who knows? That's why we're all here!
Feb 5, 2012 | 7:06 pm
#178
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,894
I read the Amazon Payments User Agreement, and I found a sentence that says Personal Accounts cannot accept credit card payments..... but my spouse has sent me three payments, all from her credit card, with no problem.
I am just trying to learn the rules...and the loopholes.
Feb 5, 2012 | 7:19 pm
#179
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,894
I think I found the relevant portion of the User Agreement:
"You may not use your credit card to make payments to yourself or to add money to your account. If you use your credit or debit card to send payments for transactions that do not involve the sale of goods or services, you may be charged a cash advance or other fee directly by your card issuer."
"You may not use your credit card to make payments to yourself or to add money to your account. If you use your credit or debit card to send payments for transactions that do not involve the sale of goods or services, you may be charged a cash advance or other fee directly by your card issuer."