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
Aug 28, 2013 | 10:38 am
#2446
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA, UAL
Posts: 545
It still is a circle, as B returned money to A (albeit, B withdrawing the money sent by A and depositing in bank aside, B did return money back to A, thus completing the circle).
Cheers!
Aug 28, 2013 | 11:27 am
#2447
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,160
It is in my experience that AP does not care A -> B & B -> A as long as you are not sending the same amount back & forth. I send A -> B in a week and another week I send B -> A. In a month, ~$1k/(A -> B) & ~1k/(B -> A). I have not shutdown for many many months. So, I don't know why people worry so much.
Aug 28, 2013 | 1:53 pm
#2448
Join Date: May 2000
Location: I see palm trees....
Posts: 414
It is in my experience that AP does not care A -> B & B -> A as long as you are not sending the same amount back & forth. I send A -> B in a week and another week I send B -> A. In a month, ~$1k/(A -> B) & ~1k/(B -> A). I have not shutdown for many many months. So, I don't know why people worry so much.
I'm not inclined to break up the amounts...I prefer to be done with it in 2 mins and wait until next month.
Last edited by Bean; Aug 29, 2013 at 6:43 am
Aug 29, 2013 | 9:14 am
#2449
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: USA
Programs: All of em...
Posts: 1,269
Unwarranted concern, if you ask me.
I've been doing A to B to bank with an immediate (1 min later) B to A to bank every month for two years now. All full $1K amounts.
So either I am incredibly lucky or AP just doesn't give a rat's a$$.
You decide which one....
Personally, I think the key to being safe is different bank accounts.
I've been doing A to B to bank with an immediate (1 min later) B to A to bank every month for two years now. All full $1K amounts.
So either I am incredibly lucky or AP just doesn't give a rat's a$$.
You decide which one....
Personally, I think the key to being safe is different bank accounts.
It is in my experience that AP does not care A -> B & B -> A as long as you are not sending the same amount back & forth. I send A -> B in a week and another week I send B -> A. In a month, ~$1k/(A -> B) & ~1k/(B -> A). I have not shutdown for many many months. So, I don't know why people worry so much.
Were there actually any reports in this thread of people being shut down for going a-b-a? I THOUGHT back in the earlier days of AP there was, but haven't read anything recently.
Aug 29, 2013 | 4:26 pm
#2450
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
The takeaway is that Amazon is inconsistent. The truth is that accounts are, and are not, shut down. It is a complete crap shoot, or an internal controls nightmare, in cardinal-speak. There is real risk.
And here I always heard and read to never send back and forth, and we have people on here saying they've been doing it for a long time (years even!) with no problems. Amazing.
Were there actually any reports in this thread of people being shut down for going a-b-a? I THOUGHT back in the earlier days of AP there was, but haven't read anything recently.
Were there actually any reports in this thread of people being shut down for going a-b-a? I THOUGHT back in the earlier days of AP there was, but haven't read anything recently.
Aug 30, 2013 | 6:08 am
#2451
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,720
Had a new experience last night.
My partner joined Amazon and tried to send me $987. It wouldn't let him and said "We're sorry but this transaction could not be completed because the recipient cannot receive this payment."
Hmm, OK. So I tried other amounts and found out it would let him send me $5. That came thru instantly.
He then sent me $487. It went into pending status. Checked this morning and it was cleared.
He then tried to send $487 from another card. It wouldn't let him send any more to me.
So he tried to send it to another friend who also plays in the jungle. Not allowed either.
We then tried another friend who has less activities. That went thru.
Seems like they may be onto the more active users.
My partner joined Amazon and tried to send me $987. It wouldn't let him and said "We're sorry but this transaction could not be completed because the recipient cannot receive this payment."
Hmm, OK. So I tried other amounts and found out it would let him send me $5. That came thru instantly.
He then sent me $487. It went into pending status. Checked this morning and it was cleared.
He then tried to send $487 from another card. It wouldn't let him send any more to me.
So he tried to send it to another friend who also plays in the jungle. Not allowed either.
We then tried another friend who has less activities. That went thru.
Seems like they may be onto the more active users.
Aug 30, 2013 | 6:13 am
#2452
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,720
Aug 30, 2013 | 7:24 am
#2454
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
Had a new experience last night.
My partner joined Amazon and tried to send me $987. It wouldn't let him and said "We're sorry but this transaction could not be completed because the recipient cannot receive this payment."
Hmm, OK. So I tried other amounts and found out it would let him send me $5. That came thru instantly.
He then sent me $487. It went into pending status. Checked this morning and it was cleared.
He then tried to send $487 from another card. It wouldn't let him send any more to me.
So he tried to send it to another friend who also plays in the jungle. Not allowed either.
We then tried another friend who has less activities. That went thru.
Seems like they may be onto the more active users.
My partner joined Amazon and tried to send me $987. It wouldn't let him and said "We're sorry but this transaction could not be completed because the recipient cannot receive this payment."
Hmm, OK. So I tried other amounts and found out it would let him send me $5. That came thru instantly.
He then sent me $487. It went into pending status. Checked this morning and it was cleared.
He then tried to send $487 from another card. It wouldn't let him send any more to me.
So he tried to send it to another friend who also plays in the jungle. Not allowed either.
We then tried another friend who has less activities. That went thru.
Seems like they may be onto the more active users.
Aug 30, 2013 | 7:35 am
#2455
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 757
Had a new experience last night.
My partner joined Amazon and tried to send me $987. It wouldn't let him and said "We're sorry but this transaction could not be completed because the recipient cannot receive this payment."
Hmm, OK. So I tried other amounts and found out it would let him send me $5. That came thru instantly.
He then sent me $487. It went into pending status. Checked this morning and it was cleared.
He then tried to send $487 from another card. It wouldn't let him send any more to me.
So he tried to send it to another friend who also plays in the jungle. Not allowed either.
We then tried another friend who has less activities. That went thru.
Seems like they may be onto the more active users.
My partner joined Amazon and tried to send me $987. It wouldn't let him and said "We're sorry but this transaction could not be completed because the recipient cannot receive this payment."
Hmm, OK. So I tried other amounts and found out it would let him send me $5. That came thru instantly.
He then sent me $487. It went into pending status. Checked this morning and it was cleared.
He then tried to send $487 from another card. It wouldn't let him send any more to me.
So he tried to send it to another friend who also plays in the jungle. Not allowed either.
We then tried another friend who has less activities. That went thru.
Seems like they may be onto the more active users.
Aug 30, 2013 | 12:04 pm
#2456
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 353
a-b-a with SAME bank account and getting shut down? Then yes it's possible but so is buying gift cards, bluebird, etc, etc...
Aug 30, 2013 | 4:00 pm
#2457
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,720
Sep 1, 2013 | 1:12 am
#2458
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
And here I always heard and read to never send back and forth, and we have people on here saying they've been doing it for a long time (years even!) with no problems. Amazing.
Were there actually any reports in this thread of people being shut down for going a-b-a? I THOUGHT back in the earlier days of AP there was, but haven't read anything recently.
Were there actually any reports in this thread of people being shut down for going a-b-a? I THOUGHT back in the earlier days of AP there was, but haven't read anything recently.
The answer is Yes. My brother was shut down about 2 or 3 yrs back doing the A-B then B-A route with his wife. Both had separate checking accts with different banks and never sent same amts back and forth. Amts would vary by $10-20 each way. They both had same address though. He thinks it was a random internal audit of certain accts that the computer had selected as suspicious. During that time I remember reading a few others reported being shut down for sending back and forth. Recently past yr or so, have not seen any shut downs but then who knows how often or how widespread the next Amazon surprise audit will be?
I learn from him and I do the a-b-c sent routing with different amts and different addresses and sometimes break it up into 2-3 payments. I try to not show a pattern and be as random as possible. I've been at this since the start and never had a problem as I stay below their computer radar.
Last edited by sharka; Sep 1, 2013 at 1:18 am
Sep 1, 2013 | 7:43 am
#2459
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,160
Sep 1, 2013 | 3:27 pm
#2460
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
Dont really think it would matter 2-3 rs ago if SSN needed or not as its only to verify ID of individual . I think even had they collected SSN from the start yrs ago my brother would probably be shut down anyway as it was not the SSN that trigger the red flags but back and forth transactions or combination of having same living address also? (know this as a fact as not only brother shut down but my sister in law was shut 1 week later)-- but yes, do agree to take extra steps as precaution to fly under their radar. Those that will eventually get shot out of the sky later should rethink their flight plans now.--IMO