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
Jan 15, 2014 | 2:21 pm
#3272
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
Jan 15, 2014 | 4:13 pm
#3273
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,616
I think its silly to assume having the same IP is the cause for issue. Lets say you are living in a house with a few of your buddies and of course one of the guys is the owner of the house and you pay your rent via AP. Of course since you are in the same house you will have the same IP address when sending money at your house.
What I think the problem that people do with AP to get in trouble is do the following for example:
A sends 1K -> B sends 1K -> C sends 1K -> Person A
Even though that sounds great to show that you are just not sending your money to one person, the problem is that each person sends the same stinking amount every single time. What I do with my bro is that (even though we don't have same IPs) since he lives elsewhere is that we send each other different amounts each transaction so it doesn't look obvious. Its more believable when everyone doesn't send the same amount because if you truly are paying for Goods/Services then the chances is that not everyone would sending the same amount month after month after month.
What I think the problem that people do with AP to get in trouble is do the following for example:
A sends 1K -> B sends 1K -> C sends 1K -> Person A
Even though that sounds great to show that you are just not sending your money to one person, the problem is that each person sends the same stinking amount every single time. What I do with my bro is that (even though we don't have same IPs) since he lives elsewhere is that we send each other different amounts each transaction so it doesn't look obvious. Its more believable when everyone doesn't send the same amount because if you truly are paying for Goods/Services then the chances is that not everyone would sending the same amount month after month after month.
Jan 15, 2014 | 8:43 pm
#3274
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 260
Could you provide more data as everything here seems ok with me
Jan 15, 2014 | 8:45 pm
#3275
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AA,DL,BA,UA,SPG, and any other free trip!
Posts: 1,803
Jan 15, 2014 | 8:47 pm
#3276
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 260
I think its silly to assume having the same IP is the cause for issue. Lets say you are living in a house with a few of your buddies and of course one of the guys is the owner of the house and you pay your rent via AP. Of course since you are in the same house you will have the same IP address when sending money at your house.
What I think the problem that people do with AP to get in trouble is do the following for example:
A sends 1K -> B sends 1K -> C sends 1K -> Person A
Even though that sounds great to show that you are just not sending your money to one person, the problem is that each person sends the same stinking amount every single time. What I do with my bro is that (even though we don't have same IPs) since he lives elsewhere is that we send each other different amounts each transaction so it doesn't look obvious. Its more believable when everyone doesn't send the same amount because if you truly are paying for Goods/Services then the chances is that not everyone would sending the same amount month after month after month.
What I think the problem that people do with AP to get in trouble is do the following for example:
A sends 1K -> B sends 1K -> C sends 1K -> Person A
Even though that sounds great to show that you are just not sending your money to one person, the problem is that each person sends the same stinking amount every single time. What I do with my bro is that (even though we don't have same IPs) since he lives elsewhere is that we send each other different amounts each transaction so it doesn't look obvious. Its more believable when everyone doesn't send the same amount because if you truly are paying for Goods/Services then the chances is that not everyone would sending the same amount month after month after month.
Not completely sure of this as I've only read shut downs for A>B>A but not for adding an extra player in the mix as there is no direct back and forth sending. In fact most here recommend what you had posted, A>B>C>A
Maybe I missed something?
Jan 16, 2014 | 9:51 am
#3277
Used to be ' simz '
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kolkata, India
Programs: Does it matter..??? It doesn't matter to them
Posts: 1,142
i have been doing A>B>A for last 3-4 months, but I think very soon I will get shutdown.. Need to get a C in the mix, before it all comes crashing down on me..
Jan 16, 2014 | 11:47 am
#3278
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Jan 16, 2014 | 11:56 am
#3279
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Not confirmed. I've used the same card over 5 accounts and no shut down.
I swear... People and their "confirming". All you've "confirmed" is that you're taking your own experience and trying to apply that it's happening to everyone.
I swear... People and their "confirming". All you've "confirmed" is that you're taking your own experience and trying to apply that it's happening to everyone.
Jan 16, 2014 | 11:57 am
#3280
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: US/AA, UA, AS, BA, IHG, HGP
Posts: 223
Any insight into whether A -> B -> C -> D where A & C are person 1 (different e-mail/CC/etc, same SSN) and B & D are person 2 works? Further, has anyone tried that with a closed loop (D -> A)?
Last edited by TMKTakot; Jan 17, 2014 at 9:55 am
Jan 16, 2014 | 12:01 pm
#3281
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
Is that the same card number or is it the same biz CC account which could have different numbers for employee cards?
Also are the five accounts all active and the same CC number used all at the same time? Thx.
Also are the five accounts all active and the same CC number used all at the same time? Thx.
Jan 16, 2014 | 1:57 pm
#3283
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
No need to swear, swear somewhere else please.
Jan 16, 2014 | 2:15 pm
#3284
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Diamond; CCarlson Elite
Posts: 641
That said, it seems self-evidently risky to have several accounts that overlap any more than they absolutely have to. You have to use the same name, address, SSN; why use the same bank account / CC as well?
Jan 16, 2014 | 10:52 pm
#3285
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LAX/BUR
Posts: 525
can't receive money through amazon payments?
so I sent $1k to somebody via amazon payments yesterday. Today, my friend was trying to send me money as well and she said it said I couldn't receive the money for some reason. I know that there's a limit on sending money for AP at $1000/month without a charge, but is there some kind of limit that would affect my friend from sending me money?