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 25, 2014 | 9:13 am
#4022
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 111
Sorry if this has been answered, but I've read the wiki and through most of the thread and can't seem to find it.
Can you withdraw from AP to a bank account in someone else's name? So not using the same bank account in multiple AP accounts and using AP accounts with different SSN.
So A > B > C > D where A is my SO, B is someone else with a Serve/BB in my name, C is someone else with a Serve/BB under my SO and D is me. Would I be safer just getting a Serve or BB under the individuals and have control of the account?
Thanks!
Can you withdraw from AP to a bank account in someone else's name? So not using the same bank account in multiple AP accounts and using AP accounts with different SSN.
So A > B > C > D where A is my SO, B is someone else with a Serve/BB in my name, C is someone else with a Serve/BB under my SO and D is me. Would I be safer just getting a Serve or BB under the individuals and have control of the account?
Thanks!
Apr 25, 2014 | 9:21 am
#4023
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
Sorry if this has been answered, but I've read the wiki and through most of the thread and can't seem to find it.
Can you withdraw from AP to a bank account in someone else's name? So not using the same bank account in multiple AP accounts and using AP accounts with different SSN.
So A > B > C > D where A is my SO, B is someone else with a Serve/BB in my name, C is someone else with a Serve/BB under my SO and D is me. Would I be safer just getting a Serve or BB under the individuals and have control of the account?
Thanks!
Can you withdraw from AP to a bank account in someone else's name? So not using the same bank account in multiple AP accounts and using AP accounts with different SSN.
So A > B > C > D where A is my SO, B is someone else with a Serve/BB in my name, C is someone else with a Serve/BB under my SO and D is me. Would I be safer just getting a Serve or BB under the individuals and have control of the account?
Thanks!
Apr 25, 2014 | 9:35 am
#4024
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Apr 25, 2014 | 9:45 am
#4026
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,616
I don't know about the monthly limit being reduced but my guess is that since the transaction didn't officially complete on record, it shouldn't and your funds will be refunded back to your VGC.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Apr 25, 2014 at 10:00 am
Apr 25, 2014 | 10:12 am
#4027
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Apr 25, 2014 | 12:07 pm
#4030
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Apr 25, 2014 | 12:42 pm
#4031
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Nomad
Programs: AS MVPG75k, SQ Gold
Posts: 182
Really?! I mean... REALLY?! I know on some threads, you need to click to the MS Basics thread... and that apparently is too much work for some people. But the very first post on this page, posted just 1.5 hrs prior to yours, answers your question:
Apr 25, 2014 | 2:10 pm
#4033
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
Apr 25, 2014 | 2:16 pm
#4034
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 111
I liked the idea of using Bill Pay instead of sending checks or using ATMs, but I don't think I can use Bill Pay from someone else's BB/Serve to pay my bills.
*I'd rather be safe though and go the slow and steady route.
Apr 25, 2014 | 2:45 pm
#4035
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
I'm sure I could but then I'd have to find a way to unload their BB/Serve. Currently reading through the Serve thread so it might be answered there already.
I liked the idea of using Bill Pay instead of sending checks or using ATMs, but I don't think I can use Bill Pay from someone else's BB/Serve to pay my bills.
*I'd rather be safe though and go the slow and steady route.
I liked the idea of using Bill Pay instead of sending checks or using ATMs, but I don't think I can use Bill Pay from someone else's BB/Serve to pay my bills.
*I'd rather be safe though and go the slow and steady route.