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
Dec 6, 2013 | 7:39 am
#3016
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM/2MM, Hilton, Wyndham and IHG DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Southwest A List
Posts: 15,565
I had to have done six figures in purchases when the mint coin program was around and those were always for even purchases in increments of $1,000 and those were a true cash equivalent and no one ever had problems with Am Ex, outside of a couple people getting hit with FR's. The only credit card I heard of that didn't give points over the mint purchases was US Bank.
Dec 7, 2013 | 1:46 am
#3017
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Denver
Programs: ALL OF THEM, NO STATUS ON ANY OF THEM!!
Posts: 30
Ok so after much reading and experimenting I came to some conclusions! You'll get your account closed if you use the same credit card in 2 different accounts. it happened to me and haven't gotten accounts closed anymore. I do it in 2 parts, first part 1k monthly from a-b b-c c-d e-f the 2nd part 2 weeks later g-h h-i and i-a Been doing it 16 months straight and no problems whatsoever. I have couple of friends that don't mind lending me their accounts and are always happy to send me a check back. I was a little scared whit all the rumors around but I managed to transfer the first part with no issues, Ill transfer the 2nd part in 2 weeks and foresee no issues whatsoever!! Just in case like me you were somewhat scared this is my experience as of 10 minutes ago!! Have no transactions pending all went trough already!
Dec 7, 2013 | 10:09 am
#3018
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM/2MM, Hilton, Wyndham and IHG DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Southwest A List
Posts: 15,565
In my case an am ex account is linked to amazonpayments account B which is used sometimes to send $ to amazonpayments account A. Account A has the same email as my actual amazon account.
I have an amex account for AP account B linked to my twitter amex offers which hasn't been an issue in the past but now there is a twitter deal where if I charge $75 on that account on amazon I'll get a $25 credit.
I don't want to add that amex to my regular amazon account and end up getting my AP account closed over $25.
I know AP is a different entity from Amazon but not sure if it's worth the risk
Dec 7, 2013 | 10:25 am
#3019
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Denver
Programs: ALL OF THEM, NO STATUS ON ANY OF THEM!!
Posts: 30
Has anyone had experience with using the same credit card in their actual amazon.com account (which email also has an amazonpayment.com) and a different amazonpayments.com account?
In my case an am ex account is linked to amazonpayments account B which is used sometimes to send $ to amazonpayments account A. Account A has the same email as my actual amazon account.
I have an amex account for AP account B linked to my twitter amex offers which hasn't been an issue in the past but now there is a twitter deal where if I charge $75 on that account on amazon I'll get a $25 credit.
I don't want to add that amex to my regular amazon account and end up getting my AP account closed over $25.
I know AP is a different entity from Amazon but not sure if it's worth the risk
In my case an am ex account is linked to amazonpayments account B which is used sometimes to send $ to amazonpayments account A. Account A has the same email as my actual amazon account.
I have an amex account for AP account B linked to my twitter amex offers which hasn't been an issue in the past but now there is a twitter deal where if I charge $75 on that account on amazon I'll get a $25 credit.
I don't want to add that amex to my regular amazon account and end up getting my AP account closed over $25.
I know AP is a different entity from Amazon but not sure if it's worth the risk
Dec 7, 2013 | 4:32 pm
#3020
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Ok so after much reading and experimenting I came to some conclusions! You'll get your account closed if you use the same credit card in 2 different accounts. it happened to me and haven't gotten accounts closed anymore. I do it in 2 parts, first part 1k monthly from a-b b-c c-d e-f the 2nd part 2 weeks later g-h h-i and i-a Been doing it 16 months straight and no problems whatsoever. I have couple of friends that don't mind lending me their accounts and are always happy to send me a check back. I was a little scared whit all the rumors around but I managed to transfer the first part with no issues, Ill transfer the 2nd part in 2 weeks and foresee no issues whatsoever!! Just in case like me you were somewhat scared this is my experience as of 10 minutes ago!! Have no transactions pending all went trough already!
Dec 7, 2013 | 6:10 pm
#3021
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 64
I HAD 6 AP accounts for over a year(maxed every month) and this month they closed 3 of them(2 of my sons and 1 of mine).
Dec 8, 2013 | 8:54 pm
#3023
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 222
Are you guys having the cards simultaneously loaded to multiple accounts? or are you removing it from one AP account before adding it to another? I ask because I would like to add one of my Amex GC that I already used on one account to a different AP account but I would remove it from the other account first. Not sure if this makes a difference but wanted to see what scenario you guys had.
Dec 9, 2013 | 9:45 am
#3024
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LAX / ONT
Programs: DL GM, AmEx Plat, DL AmEx Plat, SPG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 59
I set up my account on AP about a week ago and tried to verify using my SSN, but used my work address instead of home address out of instinct because I usually have non-personal mail sent to work (it's a family business). Any time I receive packages that I order online, I also have them sent to work. I didn't think to use my home address for verification.
My account is now locked because verification failed. Is there a way around this? I tried talking to a customer service rep for AP and they said they'd try lift my restriction and to check my account in a few days, which I have and still no go.
So what now? Customer service doesn't seem able to fix the problem, though I suppose I could call back and try to elevate to a manager or something. I am guessing that creating a new account and doing the process over again is not an option since my SSN is already on file?
My account is now locked because verification failed. Is there a way around this? I tried talking to a customer service rep for AP and they said they'd try lift my restriction and to check my account in a few days, which I have and still no go.
So what now? Customer service doesn't seem able to fix the problem, though I suppose I could call back and try to elevate to a manager or something. I am guessing that creating a new account and doing the process over again is not an option since my SSN is already on file?
Dec 9, 2013 | 11:45 am
#3025
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: The Empire State
Programs: CO (RIP), US (RIP), Amtrak. Lots of CC programs.
Posts: 442
Dec 9, 2013 | 3:56 pm
#3026
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 322
I was running up to 12 accounts for the last year. 5 of them were shut down within the last 2 months. I tried to create new accounts within the last 2 months but they were shut down almost immediately.
Dec 9, 2013 | 5:16 pm
#3027
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Dec 10, 2013 | 2:45 am
#3028
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 24
See the questions at the beginning of the thread but I can't find the wiki with the answers.... unless if I'm to comb through ~200 pages
If I can't find anyone else to do AP with, is it actually possible to open 2 or more accounts with the same SSN and send money around as long as I'm using different cards/bank accounts on the card or am I just risking my accounts to be closed...
What about the fact with gmail accounts, email is the same if you add a punition to the address?
If you've two accounts under different people it looks like doing A -> B then B -> A isn't a good idea too
If I can't find anyone else to do AP with, is it actually possible to open 2 or more accounts with the same SSN and send money around as long as I'm using different cards/bank accounts on the card or am I just risking my accounts to be closed...
What about the fact with gmail accounts, email is the same if you add a punition to the address?
If you've two accounts under different people it looks like doing A -> B then B -> A isn't a good idea too
Last edited by ambivalent; Dec 10, 2013 at 3:00 am
Dec 10, 2013 | 5:02 am
#3029
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
See the questions at the beginning of the thread but I can't find the wiki with the answers.... unless if I'm to comb through ~200 pages
If I can't find anyone else to do AP with, is it actually possible to open 2 or more accounts with the same SSN and send money around as long as I'm using different cards/bank accounts on the card or am I just risking my accounts to be closed...
What about the fact with gmail accounts, email is the same if you add a punition to the address?
If you've two accounts under different people it looks like doing A -> B then B -> A isn't a good idea too
If I can't find anyone else to do AP with, is it actually possible to open 2 or more accounts with the same SSN and send money around as long as I'm using different cards/bank accounts on the card or am I just risking my accounts to be closed...
What about the fact with gmail accounts, email is the same if you add a punition to the address?
If you've two accounts under different people it looks like doing A -> B then B -> A isn't a good idea too
It's not answered in the wiki for a reason.
Dec 10, 2013 | 5:33 am
#3030
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
See the questions at the beginning of the thread but I can't find the wiki with the answers.... unless if I'm to comb through ~200 pages
If I can't find anyone else to do AP with, is it actually possible to open 2 or more accounts with the same SSN and send money around as long as I'm using different cards/bank accounts on the card or am I just risking my accounts to be closed...
What about the fact with gmail accounts, email is the same if you add a punition to the address?
If you've two accounts under different people it looks like doing A -> B then B -> A isn't a good idea too
If I can't find anyone else to do AP with, is it actually possible to open 2 or more accounts with the same SSN and send money around as long as I'm using different cards/bank accounts on the card or am I just risking my accounts to be closed...
What about the fact with gmail accounts, email is the same if you add a punition to the address?
If you've two accounts under different people it looks like doing A -> B then B -> A isn't a good idea too