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
Sep 1, 2013 | 5:19 pm
#2461
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,160
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
Sep 2, 2013 | 6:31 pm
#2463
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AA,DL,BA,UA,SPG, and any other free trip!
Posts: 1,803
I'd steer of clear if sending to someone same address....use a friend's address instead
Sep 2, 2013 | 7:47 pm
#2465
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AA,DL,BA,UA,SPG, and any other free trip!
Posts: 1,803
Sep 2, 2013 | 9:03 pm
#2466
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,436
I've been avoiding AP for the longest time for no particular reason at all. But now I feel it's time to jump in. My wife and I have a joint account. My plan is to send her money, and then have her transfer to our joint account. Is there any reason I would run into problems with this plan at all? If she registers our joint account to her AP account, will Amazon be able to see my name on there as well?
Sep 2, 2013 | 9:37 pm
#2467
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
Just go back to previous page and read my post on exactly this scenario. My brother and sister in law was shut down for sending money back and forth and having same address. They may or may not shut you down but don't be surprise when the notice comes.
Sep 2, 2013 | 9:42 pm
#2468
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,160
I've been avoiding AP for the longest time for no particular reason at all. But now I feel it's time to jump in. My wife and I have a joint account. My plan is to send her money, and then have her transfer to our joint account. Is there any reason I would run into problems with this plan at all? If she registers our joint account to her AP account, will Amazon be able to see my name on there as well?
I've been transferring to a joint account for a while now and haven't had a problem. I do not mean both of us transfer to the same account.
Sep 2, 2013 | 9:57 pm
#2469
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Programs: UA 1K, 1.3mm
Posts: 918
I've been avoiding AP for the longest time for no particular reason at all. But now I feel it's time to jump in. My wife and I have a joint account. My plan is to send her money, and then have her transfer to our joint account. Is there any reason I would run into problems with this plan at all? If she registers our joint account to her AP account, will Amazon be able to see my name on there as well?
Sep 3, 2013 | 3:51 pm
#2470
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,894
Over the weekend, I did three AP withdrawals to my bank account (three different AP accounts and three different bank accounts). The money showed up in 24 hours (despite the holiday). Previously, it took three days. Things have become more efficient!
Sep 3, 2013 | 9:40 pm
#2471
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
How many CC can be linked to a Amz acct?
I was reading on another thread and a question was asked how many CC is too many link to an acct. Had me thinking as now I'm not sure. I usually switch about 4-5 cards a year with Amz ( I only have one acct with Amz) as I need to make minimum spending whenever I sign up for new cards. Not sure if Amz have a limit. Wondering if anyone been shut down for switching too many CC using Amz payments. Have I been lucky or Amz don't have rules on this matter?
Any thoughts or experiences to share.
Any thoughts or experiences to share.
Sep 3, 2013 | 9:45 pm
#2472
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
I am doing A>B>C>D>A
where A and C is me with the different emails and bank accounts, and B and D is SO with the different emails and bank accounts.
I do think I am pretty safe for $4K a month.
But you can never be too sure.
Thoughts por favor.
where A and C is me with the different emails and bank accounts, and B and D is SO with the different emails and bank accounts.
I do think I am pretty safe for $4K a month.
But you can never be too sure.
Thoughts por favor.
Sep 3, 2013 | 9:47 pm
#2473
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
I was reading on another thread and a question was asked how many CC is too many link to an acct. Had me thinking as now I'm not sure. I usually switch about 4-5 cards a year with Amz ( I only have one acct with Amz) as I need to make minimum spending whenever I sign up for new cards. Not sure if Amz have a limit. Wondering if anyone been shut down for switching too many CC using Amz payments. Have I been lucky or Amz don't have rules on this matter?
Any thoughts or experiences to share.
Any thoughts or experiences to share.
Sep 4, 2013 | 7:39 am
#2474
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
Thanks for the reply as I had the same thoughts as you about switching CC. Like I said it was a question raised on the Amex Serve thread that had me rethinking about this. Many on Serve said you can only add ONE credit card and can't switch it around like Amz. Serve have been known to shut down accts just on this issue.
Sep 5, 2013 | 1:13 am
#2475
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, IHG Spire, Marriott Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 311
Thanks for the reply as I had the same thoughts as you about switching CC. Like I said it was a question raised on the Amex Serve thread that had me rethinking about this. Many on Serve said you can only add ONE credit card and can't switch it around like Amz. Serve have been known to shut down accts just on this issue.
Serve has issues when you try and add a card that isn't in "your" name. This includes those debit gift cards. Changing the funding source to another credit card *should* be easy enough.