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
Apr 22, 2014 | 10:48 am
#4006
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
just to clarify:
https://payments.amazon.com/sdui/sdu...deId=201491280
More than $20,000 in gross payment volume AND More than 200 transactions
will result in a 1099K being mailed to u ....
so does the 20k limit mean u recieving 20k in funds??
or both sending and recieving totals?
and is that the same for the transactions??
does it mean transactions sending and recieving?
https://payments.amazon.com/sdui/sdu...deId=201491280
More than $20,000 in gross payment volume AND More than 200 transactions
will result in a 1099K being mailed to u ....
so does the 20k limit mean u recieving 20k in funds??
or both sending and recieving totals?
and is that the same for the transactions??
does it mean transactions sending and recieving?
Apr 22, 2014 | 11:23 am
#4007
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 129
hehe, good catch
"the $20,000 is calculated based on unadjusted gross payment volume. Unadjusted gross payment volume means the total payments received, unadjusted for fees or refunds. The amount that you receive in your Amazon Payments account is the gross payment amount for the transaction, even if a rebate applies or the transaction is later refunded."
"the $20,000 is calculated based on unadjusted gross payment volume. Unadjusted gross payment volume means the total payments received, unadjusted for fees or refunds. The amount that you receive in your Amazon Payments account is the gross payment amount for the transaction, even if a rebate applies or the transaction is later refunded."
Apr 22, 2014 | 10:28 pm
#4008
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,616
Has anyone have experience in dumping OV VGCs onto AP? For those familiar with OV VGCs, does Amazon put the $1 hold when trying to dump them? Also when adding the VGC as a payment method, do you have to fill in your Name, address, etc since the VGC doesn't have that information registered? Would it best to try to add the VGC card info ahead of time (like a day before) and then try to dump the funds the next day?
I am not too worried about not being able to use OV with AP if its a pain since I bought one just to test it out. If not I can always dump the OV to BB/Serve at WM.
I am not too worried about not being able to use OV with AP if its a pain since I bought one just to test it out. If not I can always dump the OV to BB/Serve at WM.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Apr 23, 2014 at 1:51 am
Apr 23, 2014 | 10:32 am
#4009
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Has anyone have experience in dumping OV VGCs onto AP? For those familiar with OV VGCs, does Amazon put the $1 hold when trying to dump them? Also when adding the VGC as a payment method, do you have to fill in your Name, address, etc since the VGC doesn't have that information registered? Would it best to try to add the VGC card info ahead of time (like a day before) and then try to dump the funds the next day?
I am not too worried about not being able to use OV with AP if its a pain since I bought one just to test it out. If not I can always dump the OV to BB/Serve at WM.
I am not too worried about not being able to use OV with AP if its a pain since I bought one just to test it out. If not I can always dump the OV to BB/Serve at WM.
- yes
- just put in your name and address
- don't know, always take funds out immediately.
Apr 23, 2014 | 10:32 pm
#4010
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,616
So if Amazon puts a $1 hold, does this mean that I should only send $499? Or will Amazon still let you process the full $500? I guess the only reason why I ask is if I am able to put in the full $500, then I don't see why folks would be having trouble.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Apr 23, 2014 at 10:40 pm
Apr 23, 2014 | 10:39 pm
#4011
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
I send 498.xx. Good enough for me. The rest of the $500 can be cashed out anywhere.
Apr 23, 2014 | 11:47 pm
#4013
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
I have about 40 cards with $1.xx balance left.
One day I am going to go to the Safeway and give the cashier a hard time running all those cards thru.
But the bottom line: better safe than sorry. AP is so precious, you wanna be careful with them and avoid being asked the unnecessary questions.
Apr 23, 2014 | 11:52 pm
#4014
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Heaven
Posts: 552
I have about 40 cards with $1.xx balance left.
One day I am going to go to the Safeway and give the cashier a hard time running all those cards thru.
But the bottom line: better safe than sorry. AP is so precious, you wanna be careful with them and avoid being asked the unnecessary questions.
Apr 24, 2014 | 12:20 am
#4015
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.
too much at stake to worry about an extra dollar.
imho but of course.
Apr 24, 2014 | 12:23 am
#4016
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,616
I have about 40 cards with $1.xx balance left.
One day I am going to go to the Safeway and give the cashier a hard time running all those cards thru.
But the bottom line: better safe than sorry. AP is so precious, you wanna be careful with them and avoid being asked the unnecessary questions.
Apr 24, 2014 | 12:24 am
#4017
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,616
Apr 24, 2014 | 9:58 am
#4019
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: DL DM Hub Captive, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, PC Plat, and other stuff.
Posts: 905