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
May 15, 2012 | 2:50 pm
#302
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,657
Is the $1000 limit a payment limit or a receipt limit?
I want to get my condo to accept AP for the common charge, which is less than $1000 month per resident. But obviously if several people used it the condo would receive well in excess of $1000 per month total.
I want to get my condo to accept AP for the common charge, which is less than $1000 month per resident. But obviously if several people used it the condo would receive well in excess of $1000 per month total.
May 15, 2012 | 6:40 pm
#303
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
The limit is for BOTH receipt and sending.
May 15, 2012 | 7:45 pm
#305
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
The resistance is because they need only if you exceed the annual limit. If your transactions are within the federal reporting limits they don't need it. In my opinion they are misquoting or partial quoting the federal requirement.
May 15, 2012 | 8:46 pm
#306
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
I think there is more to it than just 'misinterpreting' federal requirements. See above
Last edited by thehawk75; May 16, 2012 at 10:10 am Reason: too much information
May 16, 2012 | 7:59 am
#309
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: IAH
Programs: CO, AA, UA
Posts: 88
May 16, 2012 | 8:09 am
#310
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
May 16, 2012 | 8:11 am
#311
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1
Hey guys, Im new here. I found you all yesterday when I had the same message as you guys.
we are processing the tax identity information submitted by you. your account will have restricted functionality during this time.
Kind of scared me a bit! LOL Glad to know I wasn't the only one though.
I did email AP about it and to be honest by the time the email went through the message was gone.
However, I thought I'd show you guys what the emails said.
Greetings from Amazon Payments,
I've checked your account and it looks like you have submitted your tax information.
We've verified the information however there was a technical error and a banner being displayed and the same message conveyed to you this issue has been resolved and the banner has been removed.
We really apologize for the confusion and we would like to inform you that your account was not impacted and no further action is needed from you at this time related to providing your tax information.
I hope this helps.
I'm just glad it's gone. I use AP everyday and would die if I couldn't! LOL I will NEVER EVER in a million years use that stupid paypal again. I couldn't stand having to pay all those fees.
Take care guys and I love knowing that there are others that love AP just as much as I do!!!
we are processing the tax identity information submitted by you. your account will have restricted functionality during this time.
Kind of scared me a bit! LOL Glad to know I wasn't the only one though.
I did email AP about it and to be honest by the time the email went through the message was gone.
However, I thought I'd show you guys what the emails said.
Greetings from Amazon Payments,
I've checked your account and it looks like you have submitted your tax information.
We've verified the information however there was a technical error and a banner being displayed and the same message conveyed to you this issue has been resolved and the banner has been removed.
We really apologize for the confusion and we would like to inform you that your account was not impacted and no further action is needed from you at this time related to providing your tax information.
I hope this helps.
I'm just glad it's gone. I use AP everyday and would die if I couldn't! LOL I will NEVER EVER in a million years use that stupid paypal again. I couldn't stand having to pay all those fees.
Take care guys and I love knowing that there are others that love AP just as much as I do!!!
May 16, 2012 | 9:40 am
#312
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,690
truckerswife -
Welcome to FlyerTalk and thanks for the post!
While we all like AP over Paypal for the lack of fees, don't expect it will last forever. Once upon a time, Paypal had no fees either, and I think the limit was $5000 per month, in the very beginning.
As these systems mature and take hold, the fees tend to roll in. That recently happened to both Venmo and PayDivvy.
Welcome to FlyerTalk and thanks for the post!
While we all like AP over Paypal for the lack of fees, don't expect it will last forever. Once upon a time, Paypal had no fees either, and I think the limit was $5000 per month, in the very beginning.
As these systems mature and take hold, the fees tend to roll in. That recently happened to both Venmo and PayDivvy.
May 16, 2012 | 10:29 am
#313
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,145
2) Not wanting to deal with some tax bill from the IRS for "selling" ourselves 10s of Ks of "goods and services"
3) Concerns about identity theft
4) Distrust of big brother / big government
May 16, 2012 | 11:04 am
#315
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,690
I think we've got two groups of people in this thread.
One group has two accounts, likely one for each spouse, and plays the $1000 back-and-forth each month, so a cycle of $2k/month.
The other group has a mini-network of accounts and gets a lot more out of this situation, but, of course, runs a higher risk.
The first group has no problem with SSNs or tax reporting, since they can't hit it if they want to (max of $12K per SSN per year).
One group has two accounts, likely one for each spouse, and plays the $1000 back-and-forth each month, so a cycle of $2k/month.
The other group has a mini-network of accounts and gets a lot more out of this situation, but, of course, runs a higher risk.
The first group has no problem with SSNs or tax reporting, since they can't hit it if they want to (max of $12K per SSN per year).