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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 28, 2014, 6:57 pm
  #7246  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM-1MM HH Diamond
Posts: 361
Originally Posted by fluffyCat
This may indead have been a fraud alert. I tried to use my new AMEX Business Gold -- which I had activated a few days ago and had not even used yet.

But after the failure it also failed on my Barclays. Perhaps my AMEX account was temporarily flagged.

At any rate, here it is several hours later and I did successfully purchase a $1k AGC using my Barclaycard. I'll have to way until 8 minutes past the hour for the email.
IME placing an order on Saturday, you won't get the email until early Monday morning. Seems AMEX takes the weekends off.
2B or back in coach is offline  
Old Jun 28, 2014, 7:34 pm
  #7247  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Raiegh, NC
Posts: 300
TopCashBack: 2.25% on Amex Gift Cards, but changes in fees, BigCrumbs 2%.

I am only able to get approved biz orders using an AMEX CC.
CrediPig is offline  
Old Jun 28, 2014, 7:36 pm
  #7248  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 202
Originally Posted by CrediPig
I am only able to get approved biz orders using an AMEX CC.
I thought about placeing a Business order to use my AMEX Business card. Next time I'll give that a try.
fluffyCat is offline  
Old Jun 29, 2014, 6:35 pm
  #7249  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 632
My TopCashBack from April cleared waivers today, so that was a nice surprise.

Anyone holding out for a July 4th bump? I'm due for an order yesterday but am trying to diversify from BeFrugal as they've already got $500 outstanding for me.
flyertalker9867674 is offline  
Old Jun 29, 2014, 8:19 pm
  #7250  
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 RamboAroundTheWorld
My TopCashBack from April cleared waivers today, so that was a nice surprise.

Anyone holding out for a July 4th bump? I'm due for an order yesterday but am trying to diversify from BeFrugal as they've already got $500 outstanding for me.
Not hopeful. Personally don't foresee any more bumps until back for school starts the first week or two of August.
payeco is offline  
Old Jun 29, 2014, 8:27 pm
  #7251  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 486
I just want Boost to come back. Sigh.
itchyfeet123 is offline  
Old Jun 29, 2014, 8:31 pm
  #7252  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Boost ain't coming back. Time to move on.
f0xx is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 4:59 am
  #7253  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 333
Topcashback is at 3%
Adirondacker is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 5:34 am
  #7254  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: PVD/BOS
Posts: 879
Originally Posted by f0xx
Boost ain't coming back. Time to move on.
It's disappeared on is once before though right? Maybe we will get lucky
ashap is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 6:08 am
  #7255  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LAX
Posts: 28
Current AMEX OFFER $10 statement credit for $200 or more AMEX GC purchase

Last edited by Therealsuperman; Jun 30, 2014 at 6:22 am
Therealsuperman is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 6:25 am
  #7256  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Originally Posted by Therealsuperman
Current AMEX OFFER $10 statement credit for $200 or more AMEX GC purchase from www.americanexpress.com
Thanks! Nice find. For anyone else that goes looking, this can be added via Facebook, Amex website, possibly Twitter too.
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 6:33 am
  #7257  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: SW CP, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 571
Originally Posted by cdancer20
Thanks! Nice find. For anyone else that goes looking, this can be added via Facebook, Amex website, possibly Twitter too.
Added to my SPG card via facebook. Anyone know the hashtag for twitter?

Edit found it: Its #AmexGiftCard duh.
ftomasze is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 6:33 am
  #7258  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Originally Posted by ftomasze
Added to my SPG card via facebook. Anyone know the hashtag for twitter?
FYI, you can always just change the card on facebook to your other card(s). I tend to swap between 3 cards this way.
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 6:36 am
  #7259  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: SW CP, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 571
Originally Posted by cdancer20
FYI, you can always just change the card on facebook to your other card(s). I tend to swap between 3 cards this way.
Thanks for the heads up.
ftomasze is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 8:04 am
  #7260  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,363
Has anyone gotten an AMEX GC purchase to track through TCB while using a promo code? I notice the new language that says promo codes will invalidate cash back.
ZBigFam is offline  


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