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 | 2:56 pm
#4036
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 111
Apr 25, 2014 | 5:56 pm
#4037
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,386
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.
Apr 25, 2014 | 9:22 pm
#4038
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
So just got done with my AP with VGC/OV experiment. Did the whole put in a wrong expiration date for the OV when initially added to Amazon and then put in the correct expiration date for the OV. Went to onevanilla.com and verified that it didn't put a $1 hold. However I did see a preauthorization transaction from Amazon.com with $0 so that was good news. Just sent a $500 AP transaction and was completed successfully.
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.
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.
Like I said, I don't give a bird in terms of what other people do.
It is a free country, do as you pleased.
Cheers.
Apr 26, 2014 | 6:21 pm
#4039
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 237
I might be way behind on this. Has the monthly limit been reduced from $1000 to $500?
I searched on the AP website and saw this :
"Personal Accounts may receive up to $500 per month. The receiving limit may be raised or removed entirely once a credit card and verified bank account have been registered in the account." Link here.
Am I misreading anything? Could someone advise?
I searched on the AP website and saw this :
"Personal Accounts may receive up to $500 per month. The receiving limit may be raised or removed entirely once a credit card and verified bank account have been registered in the account." Link here.
Am I misreading anything? Could someone advise?
Apr 26, 2014 | 6:50 pm
#4040
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 53
I might be way behind on this. Has the monthly limit been reduced from $1000 to $500?
I searched on the AP website and saw this :
"Personal Accounts may receive up to $500 per month. The receiving limit may be raised or removed entirely once a credit card and verified bank account have been registered in the account." Link here.
Am I misreading anything? Could someone advise?
I searched on the AP website and saw this :
"Personal Accounts may receive up to $500 per month. The receiving limit may be raised or removed entirely once a credit card and verified bank account have been registered in the account." Link here.
Am I misreading anything? Could someone advise?
Apr 26, 2014 | 8:54 pm
#4041
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 237
I used to be able to see the content where it says $1000 per calendar month but I couldn't find it anywhere tonight. Need a new prescription for my glasses....
Apr 28, 2014 | 8:03 pm
#4042
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 520
Just had the plug pulled on me. I've been doing just under $1,000/month in 2 different transactions for at least a couple of years. A to B and then B cashes out (same address, IP varied depending upon what house I was living in or if I did it at work). Account B is suspended (B also happens to be the account with Prime on it). The only thing different was I've always did the transactions the first couple days of the month vs this month it was at the end, but can't imagine that had any impact.
Anyone had their suspension reversed?
Anyone had their suspension reversed?
Last edited by nic3456; Apr 28, 2014 at 9:19 pm
Apr 28, 2014 | 8:39 pm
#4043
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 55
Just had the plug pulled on me. I've been doing just under $1,000/month in 2 different transactions for at least a couple of years. A to B and then B cashes out (same address, IP varied depending upon what house I was living in or if I did it at work). Account A is suspended (A also happens to be the account with Prime on it). The only thing different was I've always did the transactions the first couple days of the month vs this month it was at the end, but can't imagine that had any impact.
Anyone had their suspension reversed?
Anyone had their suspension reversed?
Apr 28, 2014 | 9:18 pm
#4044
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 520
So you've been playing by the rules and still got bounced? Yikes. Any chance you could further dissect your situation for any potential new data points? No new credit cards or bank accounts, internet connection, something on the Amazon.com side, etc? Clearly looks like they saw something on the sending side of the equation.
Apr 28, 2014 | 11:18 pm
#4045
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 55
Yeah, please do update if you can. If you are getting shut down with no overt suspicious activity, then it might not bode well for most of the rest of us.
Apr 29, 2014 | 6:26 am
#4046
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 45
Now, my transaction of about $800 is still in PENDING mode, usually it completes within a few seconds in the past.
The only flag is that I did log in to my other account using the same IP, but then did log out. Then later logged into the other corresponding account, using the same internet connection, but using Incognito browser mode.
Should I ping Amazon CSR on what is holding up the PENDING status?
Apr 29, 2014 | 7:02 am
#4047
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,732
I have been having an A -> B type of accounts as well, been no issue for the past 6-8 months, have broken up my transactions, and only send everything one way, then withdraw, then give a delay of about a week, before doing the same in the reverse direction.
Now, my transaction of about $800 is still in PENDING mode, usually it completes within a few seconds in the past.
The only flag is that I did log in to my other account using the same IP, but then did log out. Then later logged into the other corresponding account, using the same internet connection, but using Incognito browser mode.
Should I ping Amazon CSR on what is holding up the PENDING status?
Now, my transaction of about $800 is still in PENDING mode, usually it completes within a few seconds in the past.
The only flag is that I did log in to my other account using the same IP, but then did log out. Then later logged into the other corresponding account, using the same internet connection, but using Incognito browser mode.
Should I ping Amazon CSR on what is holding up the PENDING status?
1) How long has it been pending?
2) Have you read the Wiki?
3) Do you really want to have a human looking at this?
Apr 29, 2014 | 10:10 am
#4048
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA, UAL
Posts: 545
I have been having an A -> B type of accounts as well, been no issue for the past 6-8 months, have broken up my transactions, and only send everything one way, then withdraw, then give a delay of about a week, before doing the same in the reverse direction.
Now, my transaction of about $800 is still in PENDING mode, usually it completes within a few seconds in the past.
The only flag is that I did log in to my other account using the same IP, but then did log out. Then later logged into the other corresponding account, using the same internet connection, but using Incognito browser mode.
Should I ping Amazon CSR on what is holding up the PENDING status?
Now, my transaction of about $800 is still in PENDING mode, usually it completes within a few seconds in the past.
The only flag is that I did log in to my other account using the same IP, but then did log out. Then later logged into the other corresponding account, using the same internet connection, but using Incognito browser mode.
Should I ping Amazon CSR on what is holding up the PENDING status?
Cheers!
Apr 29, 2014 | 10:17 am
#4049
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,616
Now, my transaction of about $800 is still in PENDING mode, usually it completes within a few seconds in the past.
The only flag is that I did log in to my other account using the same IP, but then did log out. Then later logged into the other corresponding account, using the same internet connection, but using Incognito browser mode.
Should I ping Amazon CSR on what is holding up the PENDING status?
Last edited by ericdabbs; Apr 29, 2014 at 10:26 am
Apr 29, 2014 | 2:57 pm
#4050
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 520
I chatted with them, but no resolution.
Anyone had to call before?
Jevoy:Thanks,
I have reviewed the issue and I will have to get you to a phone agent.
May I have your number to send you a call please.
Me:i can't chat on the phone at the moment - can it be done via email?
Jevoy:Honestly they will want to speak with you directly.
I will give you the number.
Me: ok I can call in a bit - can you tell me in general what the issue is?
Jevoy:Yes you can.
I was not informed of the technical details as its not my dept.
Anyone had to call before?
Jevoy:Thanks,
I have reviewed the issue and I will have to get you to a phone agent.
May I have your number to send you a call please.
Me:i can't chat on the phone at the moment - can it be done via email?
Jevoy:Honestly they will want to speak with you directly.
I will give you the number.
Me: ok I can call in a bit - can you tell me in general what the issue is?
Jevoy:Yes you can.
I was not informed of the technical details as its not my dept.