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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 Aug 6, 2014, 8:19 am
  #7861  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: DFW
Posts: 478
Originally Posted by payeco
+ I liquidate $25k in AGC on AFTs alone each month.
My problem is that I am running out of AGC this week.
Can anyone share how to get 75k+ AGC per 14 days?
spgbus is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 10:11 am
  #7862  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: DC/NOVA
Programs: AA Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 192
Originally Posted by spgbus
My problem is that I am running out of AGC this week.
Can anyone share how to get 75k+ AGC per 14 days?
Business gift cards...
picards007 is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 10:22 am
  #7863  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Originally Posted by ZzzzX
Combined with a cash back portal it offsets the GC purchase cost. Only downside is you have to wait for a payout. I love the things.
Well, you are right! I'm afraid of scaling up and getting too many AFTs if I don't get much pushback for using AGCs
VizeL is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 12:08 pm
  #7864  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: DFW
Posts: 478
Originally Posted by picards007
Business gift cards...
Have you been able to order more than 75k+ Biz AGC per 14 days? If so, what is the limit you ever got... Thanks for sharing.
spgbus is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 1:35 pm
  #7865  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
I just signed up to TCB and they said I'm a plus member for a month. So does that mean I earn the 3% +5% on these AGCs or is there some fine print on the 5% bonus.
nova08 is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 1:48 pm
  #7866  
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 nova08
I just signed up to TCB and they said I'm a plus member for a month. So does that mean I earn the 3% +5% on these AGCs or is there some fine print on the 5% bonus.
How did you get a plus membership outside the UK? I can't find a way to get it on an American account?
payeco is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 1:51 pm
  #7867  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
Originally Posted by payeco
How did you get a plus membership outside the UK? I can't find a way to get it on an American account?
I was quite confused with it as well. As soon as I registered (don't think I needed to put in a mailing address) the confirmation page said I would receive a 5% bonus for a month and I would be charged (in pounds) after the 30 days. However I can't find anywhere on my account that confirms this statement.
nova08 is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 1:52 pm
  #7868  
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 nova08
I was quite confused with it as well. As soon as I registered (don't think I needed to put in a mailing address) the confirmation page said I would receive a 5% bonus for a month and I would be charged (in pounds) after the 30 days. However I can't find anywhere on my account that confirms this statement.
Sounds like you signed up at the .co.uk version of the site. If so, that account won't work on the US site and you can't use it to get AGCs. You need a US account.
payeco is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 2:14 pm
  #7869  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Damnit, I DID see the FSGrad code but I did not use it. I wasn't frequenting AGC that much during that time

A mistake I regret...but as a side note -- 3K business declined using SSN. EIN/SSN, nothings going through for me right now
VizeL is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 2:21 pm
  #7870  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Put in a 2k order on barclay and got a fraud call ...and listened to her run through every MS item . I'm hoping the AGC doesnt get declined due to barclay declining it...but hopes are low now
VizeL is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 3:05 pm
  #7871  
Used to be garyjr316
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX or SBA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 800
Just a random question. What is your usual go to card for these purchases? I would assume that most people who wanted UR points would go through a office supply store. So do most people try to stick with a card like the Arrival... or SPG? Just curious.
Dad to GO is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 3:09 pm
  #7872  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by VizeL
Damnit, I DID see the FSGrad code but I did not use it. I wasn't frequenting AGC that much during that time

A mistake I regret...but as a side note -- 3K business declined using SSN. EIN/SSN, nothings going through for me right now
I got 4 straight declines for biz AGCs >1k with SSN... today I decided to suck it up and order 1x 1K biz AGC and automatic approval... I guess Amex just wants my $4 fee/1k...
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 3:57 pm
  #7873  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 349
Originally Posted by smaxber
Can someone explain how? Aren't there monthly load limits? And dont they have withdrawal limits as well? 25k seems a bit much
Yes there are withdrawal limits, however, you can buy more AGCs with them just like any other CC. In this case you would be constantly floating whatever amount you have in it, not really worth it for me.
llbad is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 4:04 pm
  #7874  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 148
Originally Posted by llbad
Yes there are withdrawal limits, however, you can buy more AGCs with them just like any other CC. In this case you would be constantly floating whatever amount you have in it, not really worth it for me.
have you done that personally? I think they decline your order if you use a prepaid card.
kenshinluo is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2014, 4:25 pm
  #7875  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 300
Originally Posted by Dad to GO
Just a random question. What is your usual go to card for these purchases? I would assume that most people who wanted UR points would go through a office supply store. So do most people try to stick with a card like the Arrival... or SPG? Just curious.
Mostly fidelity cb, arrival and spg for me
dublin487 is offline  


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