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 8, 2013 | 9:15 pm
#2221
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 613
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 | 9:40 pm
#2222
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 53
jartr4- what do you mean do i know what income is? when sending money to someone with amazon payments you have to choose goods or services to get the miles. that person is providing a good or service which is considered a business and therefore generating income from what ever they are providing. please explain your statement so i know exactly what your are asking or clarify what you think income is.
Jul 8, 2013 | 11:31 pm
#2223
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
jartr4- what do you mean do i know what income is? when sending money to someone with amazon payments you have to choose goods or services to get the miles. that person is providing a good or service which is considered a business and therefore generating income (or loss?) from what ever they are providing. please explain your statement so i know exactly what your are asking or clarify what you think income is.
and they file joint tax return 
Last edited by prasha11; Jul 9, 2013 at 12:33 am
Jul 9, 2013 | 8:15 am
#2225
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
IRS is familiar to lies, the truth does come out, this time it can be in your favor. I am not tax pro and this is going OT I stop here.....
Last edited by prasha11; Jul 9, 2013 at 8:37 am
Jul 9, 2013 | 2:46 pm
#2226
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 789
Cheers,
PedroNY
Jul 9, 2013 | 7:40 pm
#2227
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Houston
Programs: HiltonH-Diamond, IHG-Plat, Hyatt-Diamond,SPG-newbie
Posts: 301
what would be the safest way to have a 2nd AP account.. like most here, we are also doing Husband(A) to Wife (B) and Wife(B) withdraw to (AB) joint bank account.
Account (A) is just CC only
Account (B) is just bank account no CC
But now we need wife(B) to add CC to meet min spending. We only have a Joint account..
Went I try to open another AP account (C), I notice it request for SSN again., would they notice two AP account with the same SSN#, address, Name? Not adding bank info yet.
damn recent Bold 60K sign up got both Husband and Wife.. now we need to meet $10k in 3 months.. lol
husband (A) $3k to wife(B) np. but Wife(B) to ???
Account (A) is just CC only
Account (B) is just bank account no CC
But now we need wife(B) to add CC to meet min spending. We only have a Joint account..
Went I try to open another AP account (C), I notice it request for SSN again., would they notice two AP account with the same SSN#, address, Name? Not adding bank info yet.
damn recent Bold 60K sign up got both Husband and Wife.. now we need to meet $10k in 3 months.. lol
husband (A) $3k to wife(B) np. but Wife(B) to ???
Jul 9, 2013 | 11:31 pm
#2228
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,774
what would be the safest way to have a 2nd AP account.. like most here, we are also doing Husband(A) to Wife (B) and Wife(B) withdraw to (AB) joint bank account.
Account (A) is just CC only
Account (B) is just bank account no CC
But now we need wife(B) to add CC to meet min spending. We only have a Joint account..
Went I try to open another AP account (C), I notice it request for SSN again., would they notice two AP account with the same SSN#, address, Name? Not adding bank info yet.
damn recent Bold 60K sign up got both Husband and Wife.. now we need to meet $10k in 3 months.. lol
husband (A) $3k to wife(B) np. but Wife(B) to ???
Account (A) is just CC only
Account (B) is just bank account no CC
But now we need wife(B) to add CC to meet min spending. We only have a Joint account..
Went I try to open another AP account (C), I notice it request for SSN again., would they notice two AP account with the same SSN#, address, Name? Not adding bank info yet.
damn recent Bold 60K sign up got both Husband and Wife.. now we need to meet $10k in 3 months.. lol
husband (A) $3k to wife(B) np. but Wife(B) to ???
No need to included family members. I literally take 3-5 minutes to send all 3 payments and 3 withdrawals to bank accounts on the 1st of each month. I thought about doing a wiki but do not want the info just copied, pasted, and blasted more by blogs. Good luck with things!
Jul 10, 2013 | 7:48 am
#2229
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: UA Gold, AA Gold, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle, etc etc
Posts: 382
see pm for quick clarifying question
Do a search for my posts within this thread. I've detailed a set up that I've been running for 2+ years. I have no idea if anything new is in place to screen new accounts, but I have 3 accounts that I sent $1k payments to. All accounts have the exact same information except each has a unique email and bank account. YES, everything else that you may ask is the same on each account. I don't break up payments anymore. I do $3k a month.
No need to included family members. I literally take 3-5 minutes to send all 3 payments and 3 withdrawals to bank accounts on the 1st of each month. I thought about doing a wiki but do not want the info just copied, pasted, and blasted more by blogs. Good luck with things!
No need to included family members. I literally take 3-5 minutes to send all 3 payments and 3 withdrawals to bank accounts on the 1st of each month. I thought about doing a wiki but do not want the info just copied, pasted, and blasted more by blogs. Good luck with things!
Jul 10, 2013 | 9:39 am
#2230
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Houston
Programs: HiltonH-Diamond, IHG-Plat, Hyatt-Diamond,SPG-newbie
Posts: 301
For future reference. If you are going to post about getting shut down, detail the method used. Posting that you got shut down for multiple accounts does very little to further the discussion or help other members.
The "safe" number has always been three accounts with unique email addresses and unique bank accounts. At one point in time in the very beginning there was an email sent out stating that there could only be three accounts per household. YES, there may be people doing more than this... I don't work for Amazon so I have no idea what they do to flag accounts or if signing up for three accounts in one day will raise red flags. This is anecdotal evidence from someone who has worked this deal from day one.
Splitting up payments, changing credit cards, etc... has done nothing but add time. There is no evidence that it helps prevent you getting flagged. I use the same credit card and max out all three account (that all have the same SS#) each month. Playing it "safe" would be to stick in line with that, anything beyond that... or people trying to get back in the game after being frozen out is YMMV.
Hope this helps anyone out there thinking about doing this or is currently doing it. Don't over complicate things, don't get your brother's dog involved, I spend 5 minutes the 1st of each month on AZ payments, wait a few days.. pay off my credit card. Easy as that.
Feel free to PM me any questions if you have any "basic" questions. I will not be able to tell you how to go beyond 3 accounts. I only know from my own experience. I want to help other members so that they do not make mistakes making this more complicated than it should be. I also am a strong believer that you should not pull anyone into this deal as it is not necessary from my experience. I've also had no experience having my account frozen or "fanged" so I can't help you there.
The "safe" number has always been three accounts with unique email addresses and unique bank accounts. At one point in time in the very beginning there was an email sent out stating that there could only be three accounts per household. YES, there may be people doing more than this... I don't work for Amazon so I have no idea what they do to flag accounts or if signing up for three accounts in one day will raise red flags. This is anecdotal evidence from someone who has worked this deal from day one.
Splitting up payments, changing credit cards, etc... has done nothing but add time. There is no evidence that it helps prevent you getting flagged. I use the same credit card and max out all three account (that all have the same SS#) each month. Playing it "safe" would be to stick in line with that, anything beyond that... or people trying to get back in the game after being frozen out is YMMV.
Hope this helps anyone out there thinking about doing this or is currently doing it. Don't over complicate things, don't get your brother's dog involved, I spend 5 minutes the 1st of each month on AZ payments, wait a few days.. pay off my credit card. Easy as that.
Feel free to PM me any questions if you have any "basic" questions. I will not be able to tell you how to go beyond 3 accounts. I only know from my own experience. I want to help other members so that they do not make mistakes making this more complicated than it should be. I also am a strong believer that you should not pull anyone into this deal as it is not necessary from my experience. I've also had no experience having my account frozen or "fanged" so I can't help you there.
Hi Astrophsx, this is the close to any detail i can find from your older post.
So you have 3 account A, B , and C
all with same SSN#, same address, same data, but different email, different bank account.
Can you give detail as to which is transfer to which and which is being transfer to bank?
and are you still able to keep it under $20k/year to avoid the amazon 1099?
and is these the only transaction you are doing in AP?
I'm guess you are doing???
- A (CC) to B = B transfer to bank2
- B (CC) to C = C transfer to bank3
- C (CC) to A = A transfer to Bank1
right now I only have two account
-A (my CC) to B (wife) = B transfer to bank1 (AB joint checking account)
want to also do
- B (wife CC) to A = A transfer to bank2 ( AB joint saving account)
- C (my CC) to B(wife) - B transfer to bank3 (B different checking account) ---- would this be flag? would this also cause B(wife) AP account to be over $20k/year. or would wife have to open a different AP account ( D (wife))
Jul 10, 2013 | 9:47 am
#2231
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,774
Hi Astrophsx, this is the close to any detail i can find from your older post.
So you have 3 account A, B , and C
all with same SSN#, same address, same data, but different email, different bank account.
Can you give detail as to which is transfer to which and which is being transfer to bank?
and are you still able to keep it under $20k/year to avoid the amazon 1099?
and is these the only transaction you are doing in AP?
I'm guess you are doing???
- A (CC) to B = B transfer to bank2
- B (CC) to C = C transfer to bank3
- C (CC) to A = A transfer to Bank1
right now I only have two account
-A (my CC) to B (wife) = B transfer to bank1 (AB joint checking account)
want to also do
- B (wife CC) to A = A transfer to bank2 ( AB joint saving account)
- C (my CC) to B(wife) - B transfer to bank3 (B different checking account) ---- would this be flag? would this also cause B(wife) AP account to be over $20k/year. or would wife have to open a different AP account ( D (wife))
So you have 3 account A, B , and C
all with same SSN#, same address, same data, but different email, different bank account.
Can you give detail as to which is transfer to which and which is being transfer to bank?
and are you still able to keep it under $20k/year to avoid the amazon 1099?
and is these the only transaction you are doing in AP?
I'm guess you are doing???
- A (CC) to B = B transfer to bank2
- B (CC) to C = C transfer to bank3
- C (CC) to A = A transfer to Bank1
right now I only have two account
-A (my CC) to B (wife) = B transfer to bank1 (AB joint checking account)
want to also do
- B (wife CC) to A = A transfer to bank2 ( AB joint saving account)
- C (my CC) to B(wife) - B transfer to bank3 (B different checking account) ---- would this be flag? would this also cause B(wife) AP account to be over $20k/year. or would wife have to open a different AP account ( D (wife))
Each account has a unique bank account (which stems from back in the mint days when I needed multiple chains of banks to unload coins). I believe the 1099 also needs a minimum of 200 transactions, but I'm not an expert on this. I've been doing AZ payments since the days of the mint and have had no trouble with a 1099.
Jul 10, 2013 | 1:23 pm
#2232
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Ah, the good old days when heavy metal was music to our ears.
My hundreds of email accounts and dozens of bank accounts served me well then and continue to serve me well to this day. Infrastructure planning is a good thing to practice.
Be aware that in the jungle there are no hard and fast rules. At one time I operated 37 accounts, each with its own address but many sharing cards via discrete AMEX or Citi Virtual numbers. Many fed the same bank accounts. Then the Bezos tribe of headhunters came and made off with the money of one account claiming their forest god had declared I had opened a duplicate account. From that day forward some accounts would work, some would not, leaving the distinct impression that internal controls were all honked up in the jungle and that account reviews were manual. Throughout multiple account suspensions money was still being processed but it became an everyday guessing game of what accounts would work and what accounts would not. In the end I wound down the operation to a more manageable number of accounts. So I have lived in the jungle, died in the jungle and returned as the undead. I am really not sure that the Bezos tribe knows what to make of me, but they have given up on trying to shut me down and have returned my cash. Should they erect a statue of me and start bowing to it and presenting offerings, I'll let you know.
My hundreds of email accounts and dozens of bank accounts served me well then and continue to serve me well to this day. Infrastructure planning is a good thing to practice.Be aware that in the jungle there are no hard and fast rules. At one time I operated 37 accounts, each with its own address but many sharing cards via discrete AMEX or Citi Virtual numbers. Many fed the same bank accounts. Then the Bezos tribe of headhunters came and made off with the money of one account claiming their forest god had declared I had opened a duplicate account. From that day forward some accounts would work, some would not, leaving the distinct impression that internal controls were all honked up in the jungle and that account reviews were manual. Throughout multiple account suspensions money was still being processed but it became an everyday guessing game of what accounts would work and what accounts would not. In the end I wound down the operation to a more manageable number of accounts. So I have lived in the jungle, died in the jungle and returned as the undead. I am really not sure that the Bezos tribe knows what to make of me, but they have given up on trying to shut me down and have returned my cash. Should they erect a statue of me and start bowing to it and presenting offerings, I'll let you know.
Last edited by AlohaDaveKennedy; Jul 11, 2013 at 6:42 pm
Jul 11, 2013 | 5:35 pm
#2233
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Houston
Programs: HiltonH-Diamond, IHG-Plat, Hyatt-Diamond,SPG-newbie
Posts: 301
guess not much are giving details?
another question is if you have 3 AP, do you use 3 different CC to do 1k on ea.. or One CC for 3K total on it.?
2nd is can i use my wife CC under her name to add to my AP to pay to her AP?
another question is if you have 3 AP, do you use 3 different CC to do 1k on ea.. or One CC for 3K total on it.?
2nd is can i use my wife CC under her name to add to my AP to pay to her AP?
Jul 11, 2013 | 6:23 pm
#2234
Join Date: May 2002
Location: LEESBURG, VA, USA
Posts: 254
This has been answered by Astrophsx not long ago but let me state one more time. Stick to different credit cards for different accounts.
Answer to your 2nd question is that you can try it and it might work but why take a chance. Keep each account unique as has been suggested by Astrophsx, ADK and others.