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Cashback on Amex GC through TopCashBack, BigCrumbs, etc.

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Old Oct 25, 2013, 7:07 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: ericdabbs
Please read the wiki before posting a question.

UPDATE 01/17/15

BeFrugal: 1.5%
Big Crumbs: 0.9%
TopCashBack: 1.5%


For other cash back or airline portals, check here: http://www.cashbackmonitor.com/Cashb...erican+express

Public Service Announcement: Do NOT use fee-free codes if you want portal cashback / miles. CB/Miles will post and then be clawed back.

FAQ

Will it post as a cash advance (CA)?

Citi - Yes.

Cards from Chase, BoA, FIA, Barclay, AMEX, CapitalOne, US Bank, Discover, HSBC, etc., have posted as purchase. PNC Visa Cashbuilder - posts as purchase but does not earn CC rewards

Note: Some issuers (Discover, US Bank, etc.) will decline the authorization if it exceeds your CA limit. This does NOT mean it will post as CA. It simply means you need to lower the purchase amount below your CA limit for authorization, but it ultimately posts as a purchase.

How do I set PIN on AMEX Gift Cards and use as debit to load Bluebird, buy MOs, etc.
You cannot set PIN or use them as debit to load Bluebird, buy MOs, etc. You can only use them as credit where AMEX is accepted.

How do I cash out AMEX Gift Cards?
Use manufactured spend techniques (load RB, buy Visa/MC GCs, VRs, AP, AFT, etc.) or normal spend where AMEX is accepted.

Why buy AMEX Gift Cards then?
To reduce the cost of manufactured spend, to mask your manufactured spend (i.e unusual high spend at Target or CVS), earn additional cash back on spend, or meet minimum spend targets faster.

Next day shipping that isn't?
The next day shipping is from when they ship the cards to UPS, which can be as long as 10 days from the order submission if you order personalized cards (more recently this has been under a week). For next day shipping, you are notified late night (once your card finishes processing, see above) and the package arrive that same morning before 10:30AM in your area.

What is with the charge disappearing from my credit card?
Once the order is placed you will see a pending charge on your CC account. Quite often once the card ships this pending is removed but does not show as a charge. Don't panic (or celebrate) it will show up as a charge within a day or so.

Personalized GCs?
Either Biz or Personal GCs can be personalized with your name. This helps when shaky cashiers who demand to see your card are prevalent. These take approximately 4 biz days to arrive compared to the non personalized which arrives as quickly as the next day.

UPS Tracking?
If you logged in to your AMEX account when placing the order you can get tracking info by logging in to your AMEX account and clicking on cards > gift cards > order history > order details. Unfortunately tracking information may not appear until well after your order has shipped so it's best to sign up for UPS My Choice to get faster tracking info and reroute your package if needed. Since UPS may drop your package off at the door if you're not home, it will be useful to know when your package will arrive.

The portal terms indicate that coupon codes will invalidate cash back. Is this true?
Yes (as of July 2014)

What are the purchase limits? (Updated Dec 2014)
10K personal every 14 days
100K business every 14 days

Do declined orders count toward the purchase limits?
YMMV

Do fees and shipping count toward the purchase limits?
No

Why was my purchase declined by AMEX?
There are several possibilities:
- Your billing address does not match 100% with what the credit card company has on file. This could be anything from apt/suite/condo # on the wrong line to zip code requiring 9 digits instead of 5. If your first purchase does not go through, call your bank or login to your acct to verify that this matches what you used.
- You have gone over the $10k every 14 day limit on personal gift card purchase.
- Even if you are sure the first two are correct as you have ordered before on that card and it's been more than 14 days, you might still get declined. No one has any idea why.
- You placed a business order and you don't really have a business (at some point AMEX does a background check for a valid business) or you have exceeded the 14 day limit for business orders.

My order was declined but my credit card still shows a pending authorization. How long until this falls off and my credit line is freed up?
I typically takes 1 week for the pending authorization to fall off after a declined order.

Can I order from the business side using a personal card? Or does it need to be a business card?
You can use whatever credit card you want to pay for business or personal orders. About the only restriction is you can't use an AMEX GC to buy another AMEX GC.

How long will it take the portal to track my order and confirm the pending cash back or points?
For non-Cartera portals (TCB, BC, Befrugal, etc) your order will usually track within a day or two.
For Cartera portals (Barclay Reward Boost, Lucky Rewards, USAA, Alaska, Delta) it will take 3-4 weeks to track.

My orders are not tracking. How can I maximize the chances the portal will track my order properly?
Use a browser you do not normally use (Chrome, Firefox, Opera), reset all browser settings to defaults, clear all browser cookies, disable all browser add-ons, and close/re-start your browser before navigating to the portal and placing your order. Do NOT use promotional coupon codes. The vast majority of tracking issues result from use of coupon codes, a bad browser cookie, improperly configured browser settings, or add-ons that interfere with cookie tracking.
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Cashback on Amex GC through TopCashBack, BigCrumbs, etc.

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Old Jun 11, 2014, 1:37 pm
  #6526  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 126
Originally Posted by Tuppins
Right, I get that. I'm wondering how people are counting "time to post" - time from purchase through the portal (e.g. bought & approved on 5/31), or time from charge being posted on the CC (e.g. finally hit my CC on 6/6).
I'm counting based on the date my order was placed. My business orders have been approving on same day or next day, but it's easier for me to track based on order day.
met152 is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 1:41 pm
  #6527  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 126
Originally Posted by spgbus
Was the order for Personalized biz cards? If so, yes, it needs signature no matter of the amount. I have never been asked to sign for any non-Personalized order upto 5x1k.
The UPS app on android and UPS My Choice will allow you to authorize release of the cards in the app. You can also redirect delivery to a UPS store. I've done both recently. Interestingly, when my wife missed the delivery one day, I called to request a redirect to the UPS store and they were blocked from making any changes and were surprised the app would allow me to make the changes.
met152 is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 2:04 pm
  #6528  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Originally Posted by met152
The UPS app on android and UPS My Choice will allow you to authorize release of the cards in the app. You can also redirect delivery to a UPS store. I've done both recently. Interestingly, when my wife missed the delivery one day, I called to request a redirect to the UPS store and they were blocked from making any changes and were surprised the app would allow me to make the changes.
Thanks. I missed a delivery because I thought they were going to leave the package without signature. I have updated my preference on my choice.
sosamo is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 2:12 pm
  #6529  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
I'm being lazy right now (I will admit it) and have a quick question that I know has been discussed. Feel free to ignore if you don't want to answer. Is it ok to use someone else's credit card with your Amex shipping acct?

My sister just got a new CC and I was going to volunteer to teach her about Amex GCs. Figured that I wouldn't mind sharing my Amex login for unlimited shipping with her but not sure how Amex will like this. Any suggestions or warnings?
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 2:15 pm
  #6530  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by cdancer20
I'm being lazy right now (I will admit it) and have a quick question that I know has been discussed. Feel free to ignore if you don't want to answer. Is it ok to use someone else's credit card with your Amex shipping acct?

My sister just got a new CC and I was going to volunteer to teach her about Amex GCs. Figured that I wouldn't mind sharing my Amex login for unlimited shipping with her but not sure how Amex will like this. Any suggestions or warnings?
It'll count against your ordering totals
Stoughton is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 2:19 pm
  #6531  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Originally Posted by Stoughton
It'll count against your ordering totals
Thanks. I wasn't sure of that total was by address, SSN. But then I remembered that they keep my birthdate for all orders so that makes sense.
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 2:42 pm
  #6532  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM-1MM HH Diamond
Posts: 361
Originally Posted by cdancer20
I just had an idea...do you think that Barclay taking Amex down could have anything to do with that new thread on Slickdeals? We have been talking about it a lot here but it's been hidden under the "Topcashback Bigcrumbs" thread title. Now, you have a whole group of newbies doing it that got this info from a thread directly titled Barclaycard card Boost.
I hope this is only temporary. I just booked a $6k cruise and this is how I was going to pay for it. ARRRRRRGH!
2B or back in coach is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 3:11 pm
  #6533  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Originally Posted by 2B or back in coach
I hope this is only temporary. I just booked a $6k cruise and this is how I was going to pay for it. ARRRRRRGH!
Wow. What kind of cruise costs $6k?

To get that much. That's 100k worth of AGC on an Arrival card.
sosamo is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 3:11 pm
  #6534  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 571
Originally Posted by 2B or back in coach
I hope this is only temporary. I just booked a $6k cruise and this is how I was going to pay for it. ARRRRRRGH!
Befrugal is effectively the same, with a longer delay. Alternatively, you could get a part time job. But there's a delay in getting your first paycheck as well.
carpentry4thought is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 6:24 pm
  #6535  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 241
Just received a decline notice stating "You have exceeded the purchase limits set for the allowed time period." Issue is last order was 5/19- so 14 days has passed.

I guess I will just try again and hope for the best. Orders have been going fine for the last two months so this is just a minor hiccup hopefully.
Ctrix65513 is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 6:36 pm
  #6536  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 133
Curious also

Originally Posted by bar19900
Has barclays ever had AGC removed and then added again? Im just trying to speculate whether its coming back again. I liked using rewards boost best.
I'd love to know the answer to this one too. I'm holding up orders hoping it reappears, but maybe I should just befrugal it.
doubleheader is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 6:54 pm
  #6537  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: PVD/BOS
Posts: 879
Originally Posted by sosamo
Quote: Originally Posted by 2B or back in coach


I hope this is only temporary. I just booked a $6k cruise and this is how I was going to pay for it. ARRRRRRGH!




Wow. What kind of cruise costs $6k?

To get that much. That's 100k worth of AGC on an Arrival card.
Lots of cruises are well over 6k lol. If you cruise in suites you can barely touch one for under 5/6k.

I paid for 2 cruise fares (mine at 7k) and my parents at 3k. With mixing in regular spend, AGC, and normal MS it took me about 4 months to get the points.
ashap is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 7:00 pm
  #6538  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Originally Posted by carpentry4thought
Befrugal is effectively the same, with a longer delay. Alternatively, you could get a part time job. But there's a delay in getting your first paycheck as well.
And Lucky Rewards is also 4% at present (for quite a while now)
silver6054 is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2014, 7:36 pm
  #6539  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by 2B or back in coach
I hope this is only temporary. I just booked a $6k cruise and this is how I was going to pay for it. ARRRRRRGH!
No thanks, I can get e coli for free right here in Wisconsin.
Stoughton is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2014, 12:32 am
  #6540  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
data point: got Boost points today for 5/22 $5K transaction.
MaineCoon is offline  


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