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
Jan 6, 2013, 10:44 pm
#1366
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
Imagine that? Same could be said about the now-defunct US Mint deal, and any number of other deals talked about on FT where the customer uses the product in a way that's clearly a money-loser for the merchant, yet ends up acting like they are a put-upon victim.
Jan 6, 2013, 11:47 pm
#1368
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,689
The above post is why I took the time to comment. It is false information, there is no elevated risk in not breaking up your payments. I started out breaking up my payments at the very start, but have had no trouble with NOT breaking them up now.
I could give you a list of everyone I've explained the process to. I have no had on PM saying they've been banned. So I'm backing my opinion with something
I could give you a list of everyone I've explained the process to. I have no had on PM saying they've been banned. So I'm backing my opinion with something
Stating opinions (as most here do) is one thing, but aggressively attacking is another. And, yes, some state facts, while others state opinions. But each is trying to help others.
I am no big player in the game at all. In fact, I have very few cards and buy only a few VR's to pay reg. bills through BB billpay. So, I am on the conservative side for sure, and don't really push the limits.
However, I do appreciate each persons input and we just have to make decision, ask for help via PM, or move forward, or decide to stay clear from there.
Jan 7, 2013, 8:05 am
#1369
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Indeed, last night I was among the living dead over in Zombieland processing transactions for a banking cardinal. Ain't Cardinal Fang ever heard of Marie LaVeau?
However, I urge the living and the living dead in the jungle to be very cautious.
However, I urge the living and the living dead in the jungle to be very cautious.
Jan 7, 2013, 8:50 am
#1370
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
What a great movie.
Jan 7, 2013, 10:48 am
#1371
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 845
Ok..need some advice as I have already screwed up..I set up 2 AP accounts each for myself and wife.(used same SS# for both my accounts and her SS# for her accounts) I realize now, that was a mistake. Neither of us have transferred any money yet, accounts were opened over the weekend. What to do next??
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
Jan 7, 2013, 2:31 pm
#1372
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Seems like we have us a repenting heretic.
How about going for door #3 and taking that 4 card Chase spend elsewhere? Just PM me to skip the whole jungleland zombie apocalypse thingy.
How about going for door #3 and taking that 4 card Chase spend elsewhere? Just PM me to skip the whole jungleland zombie apocalypse thingy.Ok..need some advice as I have already screwed up..I set up 2 AP accounts each for myself and wife.(used same SS# for both my accounts and her SS# for her accounts) I realize now, that was a mistake. Neither of us have transferred any money yet, accounts were opened over the weekend. What to do next??
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
Jan 7, 2013, 4:03 pm
#1373
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA 1K | MR Platinum
Posts: 492
Ok..need some advice as I have already screwed up..I set up 2 AP accounts each for myself and wife.(used same SS# for both my accounts and her SS# for her accounts) I realize now, that was a mistake. Neither of us have transferred any money yet, accounts were opened over the weekend. What to do next??
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
Jan 8, 2013, 8:24 am
#1375
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott, AAdvantage, United, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,687
I just read 91 pages of info about Amazon Payments. Is there ANYONE who would kindly send me a PM and explain the best way to use this service to the fullest benefit?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jan 8, 2013, 8:26 am
#1376
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Jan 8, 2013, 3:03 pm
#1378
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Again, I caution all you newbie players that the risk is very real that you may get funds locked up for long periods. 
Jan 8, 2013, 3:35 pm
#1379
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,689
Ok..need some advice as I have already screwed up..I set up 2 AP accounts each for myself and wife.(used same SS# for both my accounts and her SS# for her accounts) I realize now, that was a mistake. Neither of us have transferred any money yet, accounts were opened over the weekend. What to do next??
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
1)use 1 account each for wife and I and don't worry about the other accounts
2)contact AP and get duplicate accounts deleted(will this raise red flag that 2 accounts with same SS# were created, and maybe both are shut down?)
Those Chase Southwest 50,000 bonus point CCs were hard to pass up...got 4, business and personal for each of us.
Not one I would suggest.
What a brave soul to tread in quick sand so illusively.
At least you decided to try to turn back the hands of time. Good Luck.