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
Dec 12, 2012 | 8:12 am
#1052
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Dec 12, 2012 | 2:29 pm
#1053
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 204
I recently opened an AP account for my under 18 daughter so that I could do A>B>C>A instead of the A>B>A I have been doing for the past several months. Had no problem initially opening the account, but it quickly was blocked with the message that the T&C prohibit accounts for people under 18.
With all new account openings requiring an SS#, I doubt there is a workaround for this, but thought I'd inquire to see what if anything others have done.
With all new account openings requiring an SS#, I doubt there is a workaround for this, but thought I'd inquire to see what if anything others have done.
Dec 13, 2012 | 4:39 am
#1056
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 462
When you get the chance to read the thread, you'll get your answer. This has probably been one of the most discussed topics of this thread.
Dec 13, 2012 | 6:05 am
#1057
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 196
Dec 13, 2012 | 6:14 am
#1058
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
Dec 13, 2012 | 6:17 am
#1059
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
DaveInLA... Welcome to the thread.
Dec 13, 2012 | 8:05 am
#1060
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 105
I recently opened an AP account for my under 18 daughter so that I could do A>B>C>A instead of the A>B>A I have been doing for the past several months. Had no problem initially opening the account, but it quickly was blocked with the message that the T&C prohibit accounts for people under 18.
With all new account openings requiring an SS#, I doubt there is a workaround for this, but thought I'd inquire to see what if anything others have done.
With all new account openings requiring an SS#, I doubt there is a workaround for this, but thought I'd inquire to see what if anything others have done.
Dec 13, 2012 | 9:03 am
#1061
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,689
I recently opened an AP account for my under 18 daughter so that I could do A>B>C>A instead of the A>B>A I have been doing for the past several months. Had no problem initially opening the account, but it quickly was blocked with the message that the T&C prohibit accounts for people under 18.
With all new account openings requiring an SS#, I doubt there is a workaround for this, but thought I'd inquire to see what if anything others have done.
With all new account openings requiring an SS#, I doubt there is a workaround for this, but thought I'd inquire to see what if anything others have done.
Dec 13, 2012 | 9:08 am
#1063
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,689
Dec 13, 2012 | 1:23 pm
#1064
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,436
I just added my checking acct and driver license number. When sending money to an email address, I take it the other email address has to be registered to AP as well?
As an aside, I know some members create multiple accounts (more than there are family members/friends). The limited factor as I see it is the SSN. I know some members make up SSN to create more accounts. Is there any reason this will cause problems? I know the law requires AP to get our SSN, but since there's no credit pull, I don't see why Amazon will need to run it.
As an aside, I know some members create multiple accounts (more than there are family members/friends). The limited factor as I see it is the SSN. I know some members make up SSN to create more accounts. Is there any reason this will cause problems? I know the law requires AP to get our SSN, but since there's no credit pull, I don't see why Amazon will need to run it.
Dec 13, 2012 | 2:02 pm
#1065
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Manchester,UK and NYC
Programs: One Pass, BAEC, AA
Posts: 708
NYBanker - qudos for your post - incredible how someone who joined this community only a few months ago, with the grand total of 14 posts, feels compelled to have to be obnoxious, instead of just giving a simple one word answer.
DaveInLA - you are correct, the other person you want to send funds to has to register their email address and other details on Amazon Payments.
You can have more than 1 AP account in your name - just slightly modify your first name.
So, for example, David Smith, Dave M. Smith and Davey Smith should all be OK. I use this method, and have had no issues for coming on 3 years.
Then your spouse can have 3 accounts, for example Susan Smith, Sue L. Smoth and Susie Smith.
DaveInLA - you are correct, the other person you want to send funds to has to register their email address and other details on Amazon Payments.
You can have more than 1 AP account in your name - just slightly modify your first name.
So, for example, David Smith, Dave M. Smith and Davey Smith should all be OK. I use this method, and have had no issues for coming on 3 years.
Then your spouse can have 3 accounts, for example Susan Smith, Sue L. Smoth and Susie Smith.