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
Jul 10, 2012 | 12:07 pm
#497
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,688
Jul 10, 2012 | 12:14 pm
#498
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: aa, spg
Posts: 69
PLEASE DO NOT CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are people really never going to learn anything? I find myself turning into a forum grinch. for the love of god please PM someone before calling. There is no better way to kill deals than to rub the company's face in it.
DO NOT CALL!!!!!!!!!!
Are people really never going to learn anything? I find myself turning into a forum grinch. for the love of god please PM someone before calling. There is no better way to kill deals than to rub the company's face in it.
DO NOT CALL!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 10, 2012 | 12:16 pm
#499
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,684
Okay, I've got a cut and paste for AP. If you're still confused after reading this thread, please feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Please try to read the thread first and please follow the FT philosophy of not calling.
Mike
Mike
Jul 10, 2012 | 12:52 pm
#501
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
Seriously. PM me if you want some help. I learnt most of it by reading threads like these from BEGINNING to END. Lots of people helped me...and I'd be willing to pay it forward. Just PM me with your questions.
And don't call. Please.
And don't call. Please.
Jul 10, 2012 | 1:03 pm
#502
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold, AS MVP Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, US
Posts: 965
There will always be someone who will call.. and I think the vast majority of folks who call, do not take the time to read the threads. I am new here but I love reading threads. Tons of great insights and lessons learned.
Jul 10, 2012 | 1:24 pm
#503
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,732
Unfortunately there isn't an IQ test required to join FT. Seriously, some people are seriously not cut out for this game...
Jul 10, 2012 | 4:13 pm
#505
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CLL
Programs: MS Plat, AOR ninja
Posts: 2,177
Hi there! I just called AP to see if they could raise my limit on my three accounts. The rep asked why, and I told her I use three different credit cards processed through AP, and send the money to myself in a circle, but the current limit wasn't enough for me to earn the number of miles and points I wanted for a free trip. She seemed concerned and asked me to hold while she checked on something.
Then another rep picked up the phone and started asking me a bunch of questions and told me I wasn't allowed to do that. I asked him why I wasn't allowed to, that there's a buttcrap load of people on FT doing it, and why couldn't I????
Now my accounts are closed down. How can I get this gravy train moving again?
Don't fall off your chair folks, the above is an example of something I will never do
Then another rep picked up the phone and started asking me a bunch of questions and told me I wasn't allowed to do that. I asked him why I wasn't allowed to, that there's a buttcrap load of people on FT doing it, and why couldn't I????
Now my accounts are closed down. How can I get this gravy train moving again?
Don't fall off your chair folks, the above is an example of something I will never do
Jul 10, 2012 | 7:09 pm
#506
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,064
Classic post, loved it, thanks
Let's hope sanity prevails for the sake of us all!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi there! I just called AP to see if they could raise my limit on my three accounts. The rep asked why, and I told her I use three different credit cards processed through AP, and send the money to myself in a circle, but the current limit wasn't enough for me to earn the number of miles and points I wanted for a free trip. She seemed concerned and asked me to hold while she checked on something.
Then another rep picked up the phone and started asking me a bunch of questions and told me I wasn't allowed to do that. I asked him why I wasn't allowed to, that there's a buttcrap load of people on FT doing it, and why couldn't I????
Now my accounts are closed down. How can I get this gravy train moving again?
Let's hope sanity prevails for the sake of us all!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi there! I just called AP to see if they could raise my limit on my three accounts. The rep asked why, and I told her I use three different credit cards processed through AP, and send the money to myself in a circle, but the current limit wasn't enough for me to earn the number of miles and points I wanted for a free trip. She seemed concerned and asked me to hold while she checked on something.
Then another rep picked up the phone and started asking me a bunch of questions and told me I wasn't allowed to do that. I asked him why I wasn't allowed to, that there's a buttcrap load of people on FT doing it, and why couldn't I????
Now my accounts are closed down. How can I get this gravy train moving again?
Jul 10, 2012 | 8:44 pm
#507
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 117
Jul 11, 2012 | 1:43 am
#508
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,732
I think it's all of the above, to be honest. There are the lazy, who can't be bothered to read, for sure. But to actually call up demonstrates a fundamental lack of critical thinking ability altogether. I stand by my comment that sadly not everyone is suited to this game.
Jul 11, 2012 | 5:34 am
#509
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 7,038
Is the theory that Amazon is not capable of careful reading and critical thinking and therefore won't notice what's going on with their payments system?
Is the theory that requiring people to read and think will result in fewer people using AP to rack up miles, so Amazon is less likely to notice?
Something else?
Is the theory that requiring people to read and think will result in fewer people using AP to rack up miles, so Amazon is less likely to notice?
Something else?
Jul 11, 2012 | 5:54 am
#510
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,758
Is the theory that Amazon is not capable of careful reading and critical thinking and therefore won't notice what's going on with their payments system?
Is the theory that requiring people to read and think will result in fewer people using AP to rack up miles, so Amazon is less likely to notice?
Something else?
Is the theory that requiring people to read and think will result in fewer people using AP to rack up miles, so Amazon is less likely to notice?
Something else?