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
Feb 25, 2014 | 5:00 am
#3616
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Indeed, but many opportunities lived long lives because this old cardinal spoke Latin to the masses. Once the opportunities were spelled out in English in the blogs and seminars they quickly died.
Feb 25, 2014 | 6:11 am
#3618
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 22
Just 2-off-topic-cents from a noob.
Feb 26, 2014 | 9:24 am
#3619
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Georgia
Programs: AA, UA, DL, BA, HH, IHG
Posts: 155
I have opened a second account. Same name, SS, address, but different bank account. The "credit card" I registered is actually a debit card associated with an unrelated bank. I tried to send a payment to someone using this card. I am asked to fax in a credit card statement for this card. My account is locked until I sent this in.
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
Feb 26, 2014 | 10:06 am
#3620
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SNA/LAX
Posts: 1,410
I have opened a second account. Same name, SS, address, but different bank account. The "credit card" I registered is actually a debit card associated with an unrelated bank. I tried to send a payment to someone using this card. I am asked to fax in a credit card statement for this card. My account is locked until I sent this in.
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
If you let it "die naturally" you will be tied up making additional accounts because the SSN will be the same.
I would just send it and get it over with. Maybe black out the first sets of numbers so they can see it's the card number, with your information. (edit: actually probably doesn't matter because they can see the full set anyway through your account!
)
Feb 26, 2014 | 10:08 am
#3621
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
I have opened a second account. Same name, SS, address, but different bank account. The "credit card" I registered is actually a debit card associated with an unrelated bank. I tried to send a payment to someone using this card. I am asked to fax in a credit card statement for this card. My account is locked until I sent this in.
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
Feb 26, 2014 | 10:43 am
#3622
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 801
I have opened a second account. Same name, SS, address, but different bank account. The "credit card" I registered is actually a debit card associated with an unrelated bank. I tried to send a payment to someone using this card. I am asked to fax in a credit card statement for this card. My account is locked until I sent this in.
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
I am leery of sending this in. Is this a prelude to a shutdown? My first reaction is to just let this account die a natural death and just move on. What do you think?
Feb 26, 2014 | 10:49 am
#3623
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SNA/LAX
Posts: 1,410
"I don't have statements. I go green, so it's paperless." ^^^
Feb 26, 2014 | 11:48 am
#3625
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Jose Cuervo Gold, Bud Light Platinum, Schwab 401K, VW Bug 2MM
Posts: 1,147
For the life if me I can't get AP to recognize my bank account. I've been rejected with the logon thing twice and both time I used the small deposit confirmation it didn't work. Anyone have any ideas?
Feb 26, 2014 | 11:59 am
#3626
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
AP has a pretty robust banking system... I would say you're using the incorrect account or routing number rather than AP not being able to find your bank. Is it a very obscure bank or credit union?
Feb 26, 2014 | 12:03 pm
#3627
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 835
Had the same issues. Finally just emailed them and they had me fax them a bank statement. Then they verified the account.
Feb 26, 2014 | 12:35 pm
#3628
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Jose Cuervo Gold, Bud Light Platinum, Schwab 401K, VW Bug 2MM
Posts: 1,147
Feb 26, 2014 | 1:15 pm
#3630
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,386