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 26, 2013, 5:38 pm
#2311
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: OAX
Posts: 109
Jul 26, 2013, 6:29 pm
#2314
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: CA
Programs: AA, UA, Hilton, Hyatt, WN, DL, UR.....
Posts: 34
Jul 26, 2013, 6:33 pm
#2315
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: CA
Programs: AA, UA, Hilton, Hyatt, WN, DL, UR.....
Posts: 34
Thanks! Just found out after unsuccessful tries, and a call to Citi, that my "Executive" card does not allow virtual account numbers. My other Citi card do. Supposedly "they" are working on it for the "Executive" cards, but clearly not fast enough for me.
Jul 26, 2013, 6:54 pm
#2316
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT
Posts: 1,467
I posted it about a year ago in the exec card thread on FT AA board.
Jul 26, 2013, 6:54 pm
#2317
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
Judging from an entire thread on this board directed to this very topic I would say that you misunderstood that.
Jul 26, 2013, 7:36 pm
#2318
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: CA
Programs: AA, UA, Hilton, Hyatt, WN, DL, UR.....
Posts: 34
Thanks for the clarification!!
Jul 26, 2013, 7:43 pm
#2319
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...reloads-7.html
Jul 27, 2013, 8:54 am
#2320
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 33
New AP strategy
This may work for a few others. It does work for me, and very well. My brother (in a different state) and I both use the same Arkansas bank. I live in another state. His wife also has a bank account at the same bank. The bank allows instantaneous transfers from any account in the bank to any other account in the bank (but not FROM any account). Obviously all of us have the same last name, but different SS#'s and different bank account #'s. Each of us has his/her own AP account. Transfers to and from each other are easily handled virtually instantaneously, and no writing of checks and mailing back and forth. May not be necessary, but we divide the $1000 limit into two or three separate spends, and the amounts are never the same, nor are the dates.
An added bonus is the bank pays 3% interest on all deposits up to $25K. You need to use your debit card 10 times each month (transit fares, parking meters, coffee at Starbucks, etc.), have one automatic ACH payment or ACH deposit) plus use the online account web site at least once. Lest others want to use the same bank, you can now only open one if you live in Arkansas. I opened mine before that requirement was added.
Been doing this for only about 8 months, but all purchases and transfers are handled immediately. Never get a "pending" notice.
An added bonus is the bank pays 3% interest on all deposits up to $25K. You need to use your debit card 10 times each month (transit fares, parking meters, coffee at Starbucks, etc.), have one automatic ACH payment or ACH deposit) plus use the online account web site at least once. Lest others want to use the same bank, you can now only open one if you live in Arkansas. I opened mine before that requirement was added.
Been doing this for only about 8 months, but all purchases and transfers are handled immediately. Never get a "pending" notice.
Jul 28, 2013, 5:11 pm
#2322
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: UA AA DL SW Marriott
Posts: 251
Limitations on AP
I recall reading this thread earlier on that AP has maximum of 3 transactions (each direction, in or out) per month, and max $ for each transaction is ~ $650. I just searched many many pages backwards, but could not find the postings to confirm these are the case or not. Logged onto AP, went thru FAQ, 'Learn More...' , could not find any maximum info from Amazon either.
Would some one share what is the limitation as for # of sends / month, and max $ per send? (I did read ~$1000, can it indeed be done in one send?)
Thanks!
Would some one share what is the limitation as for # of sends / month, and max $ per send? (I did read ~$1000, can it indeed be done in one send?)
Thanks!
Jul 28, 2013, 10:02 pm
#2325
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 633
I have seen discussion of using Virtual numbers. Is there no concern due to the name on the CC not being the same as on the AP account? And no concern with the name on the CC being the same as some other AP account?
I have been reluctant to use CC in someone else's name on an AP account. So I am not sure how a Virtual number would help. Or are you able to create a different name with a Virtual # as well? Citi's virtual system appears to be down right now so I can't give it a try.
I have been reluctant to use CC in someone else's name on an AP account. So I am not sure how a Virtual number would help. Or are you able to create a different name with a Virtual # as well? Citi's virtual system appears to be down right now so I can't give it a try.