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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 16, 2014, 10:34 am
  #6661  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
The posers can take a break. Even if BF and BC drop below TCB, 2% is still above the average payout for the last decade.
HikerT is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 10:41 am
  #6662  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 42
might be old news, but i dont see AMEX on the barclay arrival award boost. I was planning on ordering today for the first time in a couple weeks.
RIPvanilla is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 10:45 am
  #6663  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Originally Posted by RIPvanilla
might be old news, but i dont see AMEX on the barclay arrival award boost. I was planning on ordering today for the first time in a couple weeks.
Old news.
It happens. Onto the next one.
f0xx is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 11:24 am
  #6664  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SAN
Posts: 234
Hopefully there will be some 4th of July bump ups soon.
Chris92128 is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 11:28 am
  #6665  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Uranus
Posts: 333
FYI, orders from late April on TCB became payable for me today.....
toxicity is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 11:46 am
  #6666  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 486
Originally Posted by toxicity
FYI, orders from late April on TCB became payable for me today.....
Oh, me too! Thanks for reminding me to check.
itchyfeet123 is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 12:34 pm
  #6667  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Originally Posted by toxicity
FYI, orders from late April on TCB became payable for me today.....
Thanks for the update. I checked, and my TCB from late April is payapble also.
sosamo is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 12:40 pm
  #6668  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Just got a call from Amex. They told me that they were declining all my biz orders b/c they couldn't verify the biz name (sole proprieter). Told me to call Amex and update my biz name with them since I am logging in under my Amex acct. Not sure how I do that given that my Amex card is a personal and I have never used that to place the biz orders, only my Chase Ink. However, the CSR said that that's the only way they can verify my company. Otherwise, they will all count against my personal order. Anyone have experience with this?
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 12:52 pm
  #6669  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 183
Originally Posted by cdancer20
Just got a call from Amex. They told me that they were declining all my biz orders b/c they couldn't verify the biz name (sole proprieter). Told me to call Amex and update my biz name with them since I am logging in under my Amex acct. Not sure how I do that given that my Amex card is a personal and I have never used that to place the biz orders, only my Chase Ink. However, the CSR said that that's the only way they can verify my company. Otherwise, they will all count against my personal order. Anyone have experience with this?
I've had a liquor store tell me i have to add the address i want it shipped to to my cc. I called up my cc and they right away knew how to add it to my profile. by the way it was chase
zipo is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 1:01 pm
  #6670  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Originally Posted by cdancer20
Just got a call from Amex. They told me that they were declining all my biz orders b/c they couldn't verify the biz name (sole proprieter). Told me to call Amex and update my biz name with them since I am logging in under my Amex acct. Not sure how I do that given that my Amex card is a personal and I have never used that to place the biz orders, only my Chase Ink. However, the CSR said that that's the only way they can verify my company. Otherwise, they will all count against my personal order. Anyone have experience with this?
Just call Amex, choose the option for representative and ask them if they can add a business to your account. No rule that you can't use personal cards for business purposes.
payeco is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 1:10 pm
  #6671  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Originally Posted by payeco
Just call Amex, choose the option for representative and ask them if they can add a business to your account. No rule that you can't use personal cards for business purposes.
Thanks. I just really didn't want to go through involving my personal card in my "business" stuff. But I guess if it's the only way that I can get more orders approved, I may have no choice.
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 3:11 pm
  #6672  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum-3 MM Marriott Lifetime Plat Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 980
They probably wont have any new deals until Christmas? Be Frugal still at 4%, they will probably lower shortly like the others. Barclay's was the first to take it down. I have not monitored this until recently. Some vendors I gave the cards to see an expire date of 2022 and tell me they think it is a typo.
robertw477 is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 3:34 pm
  #6673  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: PVD/BOS
Posts: 879
Originally Posted by robertw477
They probably wont have any new deals until Christmas? Be Frugal still at 4%, they will probably lower shortly like the others. Barclay's was the first to take it down. I have not monitored this until recently. Some vendors I gave the cards to see an expire date of 2022 and tell me they think it is a typo.
Until Christmas? The rates have been fluctuating all year which is completely normal. They will be down for a while, then they will go up, probably before Christmas.
ashap is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 3:43 pm
  #6674  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: DFW
Posts: 478
Originally Posted by cdancer20
Thanks. I just really didn't want to go through involving my personal card in my "business" stuff. But I guess if it's the only way that I can get more orders approved, I may have no choice.
As expected Amex CSR have no clue on what they were talking about.
spgbus is offline  
Old Jun 16, 2014, 5:04 pm
  #6675  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Originally Posted by robertw477
Some vendors I gave the cards to see an expire date of 2022 and tell me they think it is a typo.
Ha. I tried to buy lunch with one last week and the girl couldn't get it to go thru cuz their terminal wouldn't recognize a 2023 expiration date.
skitch23 is offline  


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