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
Jul 6, 2013 | 11:39 am
#2206
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
Pending points don't include bonus points, at least not from what I can see looking at my account...
Jul 6, 2013 | 12:16 pm
#2207
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 33
I've been pretty conservative with AP. Been doing $1k - A (husband) to B (wife) - withdrawing $1k to our joint AB account.
Never had a problem.
Thinking about adding the second reverse payment - $1k from B to A and withdrawing to same joint AB account.
Would this get us flagged and shutdown? Or are people here doing this regularly?
Never had a problem.
Thinking about adding the second reverse payment - $1k from B to A and withdrawing to same joint AB account.
Would this get us flagged and shutdown? Or are people here doing this regularly?
Jul 7, 2013 | 1:31 am
#2208
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 398
I've been pretty conservative with AP. Been doing $1k - A (husband) to B (wife) - withdrawing $1k to our joint AB account.
Never had a problem.
Thinking about adding the second reverse payment - $1k from B to A and withdrawing to same joint AB account.
Would this get us flagged and shutdown? Or are people here doing this regularly?
Never had a problem.
Thinking about adding the second reverse payment - $1k from B to A and withdrawing to same joint AB account.
Would this get us flagged and shutdown? Or are people here doing this regularly?
Jul 7, 2013 | 7:51 am
#2209
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: EUG,PDX
Posts: 495
update-
Jul 7, 2013 | 8:55 am
#2210
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,506
Jul 7, 2013 | 9:22 am
#2211
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: PC Pl, UA 1K, CC Gl
Posts: 2,236
Jul 7, 2013 | 10:49 am
#2212
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Diamond; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 655
Quick question, and yes, I searched the thread but didn't find a clear answer. I want to open AP for me and AP for my wife. I'll transfer to her each month but she will never transfer to me to avoid risk. Is there a problem with the fact that my wife and I will have the same joint checking account registered? For whatever reason, she is vehemently opposed to opening new individual bank accounts for this purpose.
Jul 7, 2013 | 11:05 am
#2213
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,506
Quick question, and yes, I searched the thread but didn't find a clear answer. I want to open AP for me and AP for my wife. I'll transfer to her each month but she will never transfer to me to avoid risk. Is there a problem with the fact that my wife and I will have the same joint checking account registered? For whatever reason, she is vehemently opposed to opening new individual bank accounts for this purpose.
Jul 7, 2013 | 1:59 pm
#2214
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Programs: UA 1K, 1.3mm
Posts: 918
Quick question, and yes, I searched the thread but didn't find a clear answer. I want to open AP for me and AP for my wife. I'll transfer to her each month but she will never transfer to me to avoid risk. Is there a problem with the fact that my wife and I will have the same joint checking account registered? For whatever reason, she is vehemently opposed to opening new individual bank accounts for this purpose.
Jul 8, 2013 | 8:18 am
#2215
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 53
ive been skimming through this thread and havent found my answer. is this legal? i mean has anyone got a tax evasion or anything from the irs? if you use your credit card and it comes up as a purchase and you select goods or services, doesnt that mean the person you are sending money to has a business. the person you are sending money to has to sign up for an amazon account and list there ssn. that person would be a sole proprietor and would have to file taxes on the money they received right?
Jul 8, 2013 | 12:37 pm
#2216
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
ive been skimming through this thread and havent found my answer. is this legal? i mean has anyone got a tax evasion or anything from the irs? if you use your credit card and it comes up as a purchase and you select goods or services, doesnt that mean the person you are sending money to has a business. the person you are sending money to has to sign up for an amazon account and list there ssn. that person would be a sole proprietor and would have to file taxes on the money they received right?
Jul 8, 2013 | 1:56 pm
#2217
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 33
Got a yes and a no.
Is the no from past experience? Tranferring from A to B and withdrawing to joint account. Then transferring from B to A and withdrawing from same joint account?
If someone in the past has been shutdown because of this, then it wouldn't be worth it.
Is the no from past experience? Tranferring from A to B and withdrawing to joint account. Then transferring from B to A and withdrawing from same joint account?
If someone in the past has been shutdown because of this, then it wouldn't be worth it.
Jul 8, 2013 | 6:56 pm
#2218
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 53
lad2- yah i read all that, but that doesnt answer my question. that is for a 1099k which was made because too much online retailers don't report all their earnings, so the irs is making the 3rd party companies like amazon report it. you are still supposed to file a 1099 misc. from my understanding you report any income coming in. if the income is more than $600 you get taxed. If the profits are more than $400 you get taxed. if it is less than that you dont get taxed but still have to report it.
so if the 1099k supersedes the 1099 misc for online income, i would be a very happy person. then i wouldn't have to pay taxes until i make $20,000
so if the 1099k supersedes the 1099 misc for online income, i would be a very happy person. then i wouldn't have to pay taxes until i make $20,000
Jul 8, 2013 | 7:40 pm
#2219
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,506
Got a yes and a no.
Is the no from past experience? Tranferring from A to B and withdrawing to joint account. Then transferring from B to A and withdrawing from same joint account?
If someone in the past has been shutdown because of this, then it wouldn't be worth it.
Is the no from past experience? Tranferring from A to B and withdrawing to joint account. Then transferring from B to A and withdrawing from same joint account?
If someone in the past has been shutdown because of this, then it wouldn't be worth it.