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 16, 2012 | 2:47 pm
#331
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
No.
May 16, 2012 | 2:54 pm
#332
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Unfortunately, I only have one mileage bearing card.. a Citi AA.. and the girl has none and can't qualify for any.
I don't count the SunTrust Skypesos card. That's for quick signup bonuses only..
Virtual account number created for linking to her account. Fingers crossed..
Also, not to be redundant.. but the limits are $1000 either direction, right? Meaning.. I can sent $1000 and I can receive $1000 per month, right?
I don't count the SunTrust Skypesos card. That's for quick signup bonuses only..
Virtual account number created for linking to her account. Fingers crossed..
Also, not to be redundant.. but the limits are $1000 either direction, right? Meaning.. I can sent $1000 and I can receive $1000 per month, right?
edit: and as far as I know, VANs with Citi Cards are one-time use. That could be quite a pain, plus look fishy if you're using a different CC every time.
I also disagree with you on the VAN's. They can be used multiple times before the short lived expiry date. By default however, they seem to be tied to the first merchant you use them on (i.e. you can't use the same VAN on Amazon, and then go use it on Serve).
Additionally, I've seen no evidence that adding new cards, and removing old ones often results in AP thinking you're doing stuff that looks 'fishy'.
May 16, 2012 | 3:53 pm
#333
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,767
sorry.. I am not understanding the objective of fishing cash out of cc.. if reward points (TY, UR, Membership rewards, miles etc.) are not being accrued on Amazon payments.
Is it only to get the $1000 of "cash advance" for free?
Is it only to get the $1000 of "cash advance" for free?
May 16, 2012 | 4:00 pm
#334
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orlando area, FL
Posts: 42
I guess it's one of those "If I have to explain, then.." kinda things.
Last edited by junglesmacks; May 16, 2012 at 5:28 pm
May 16, 2012 | 4:01 pm
#335
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
What makes you think that reward points are not being accrued?
May 16, 2012 | 9:39 pm
#336
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: DL-Polished Aluminum, Air Mobility Command-Chartreuse
Posts: 395
May 16, 2012 | 9:45 pm
#337
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: DL-Polished Aluminum, Air Mobility Command-Chartreuse
Posts: 395
I'm willing to bet my FT decoder ring that this is the basis of our fountain o' miles- rather than funding a marketing campaign, they (AP) is writing off the subsidized cc pulls as the marketing expense, and looking for word of mouth spread.
May 16, 2012 | 11:15 pm
#338
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Around The World
Programs: ALL :)
Posts: 384
FT decoder ring
How do I get one of those fancy decoder rings? I called the reconsideration line 10 times and couldn't get approved for one 
May 17, 2012 | 9:56 am
#340
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Well then, if you are now saying your original question then means "what's the point of fishing cash out of CC if you won't get an Amazon category bonus?", then well, I'll answer: "Because you can still meet spending requirements for sign on bonuses using it, and, still accrue rewards at the base category rate, which isn't all that bad."
May 17, 2012 | 11:50 am
#342
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,687
YouDontKnowMe -
Welcome to FT, and thanks for the consolidation.
On your list of "don'ts", I'm not sure every one is an ironclad rule, but they are definitely good general guidelines, especially for new users. I think we all probably break some of those, but we all have nice long track records at this point.
In any event, thanks for the post!
Welcome to FT, and thanks for the consolidation.
On your list of "don'ts", I'm not sure every one is an ironclad rule, but they are definitely good general guidelines, especially for new users. I think we all probably break some of those, but we all have nice long track records at this point.
In any event, thanks for the post!
May 17, 2012 | 12:24 pm
#344
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Anywhere warm & sunny
Programs: UAdbaCO-Silver, DL-Kryptonium Med, AA-Silver
Posts: 33
YouDontKnowMe -
Welcome to FT, and thanks for the consolidation.
On your list of "don'ts", I'm not sure every one is an ironclad rule, but they are definitely good general guidelines, especially for new users. I think we all probably break some of those, but we all have nice long track records at this point.
!
Welcome to FT, and thanks for the consolidation.
On your list of "don'ts", I'm not sure every one is an ironclad rule, but they are definitely good general guidelines, especially for new users. I think we all probably break some of those, but we all have nice long track records at this point.
!
May 17, 2012 | 1:43 pm
#345
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
Posts: 1,453
I also disagree with you on the VAN's. They can be used multiple times before the short lived expiry date. By default however, they seem to be tied to the first merchant you use them on (i.e. you can't use the same VAN on Amazon, and then go use it on Serve).
Additionally, I've seen no evidence that adding new cards, and removing old ones often results in AP thinking you're doing stuff that looks 'fishy'.
Additionally, I've seen no evidence that adding new cards, and removing old ones often results in AP thinking you're doing stuff that looks 'fishy'.
Maxing out never seemed prudent to me, but glad to know you can! I guess I play this really cautiously, cuz I only use one account, it's mine, and I buy 50% of all my purchases on amazon!