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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 Oct 1, 2014, 8:08 pm
  #8836  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 245
Originally Posted by Pecan Pie
put in 5k with my FIA amex yesterday without problem
I logged into FIA and there are 3 temp charges, one for $0.00 for Amex Gift and two for $3003.95 each with no business name. This is appears to be an Amex screwup caused by an overload of orders in the last 48 hours. If the charges don't drop maybe I can get some SPG points from Amex for the inconvenience.

I put an order in tonight with a SPG card so I'll see how that goes.
nmp0 is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2014, 8:09 pm
  #8837  
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 nmp0
I logged into FIA and there are 3 temp charges, one for $0.00 for Amex Gift and two for $3003.95 each with no business name. This is appears to be an Amex screwup caused by an overload of orders in the last 48 hours. If the charges don't drop maybe I can get some SPG points from Amex for the inconvenience.

I put an order in tonight with a SPG card so I'll see how that goes.
Did 2x $3K biz AGCs yesterday with SPG and it went through no problem. Cards will be here tomorrow.
payeco is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2014, 8:46 pm
  #8838  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Programs: Hilton Gold, SPG & IHG Plat, & every airline program that I can join
Posts: 2,279
Originally Posted by farwest101
AFT is a PITA precisely because you have to cash out via ATM. Most don't have access to no cost ATMs, and those that do typically have low daily withdrawal limits, so multiple trips required.

The lowest cost ATM I have access to is Costco ($1.25). But only $400/day. Just not worth the trouble while other options are available.
Excuse me, as I have been away for the summer... What is the AFT card?

JudyJFLA
JudyJFLA is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2014, 8:51 pm
  #8839  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: MD
Programs: UA,AA,SPG
Posts: 61
Originally Posted by JudyJFLA
Excuse me, as I have been away for the summer... What is the AFT card?

JudyJFLA
Amex for Target card.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...in-cities.html
SVUS is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2014, 11:16 pm
  #8840  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
Originally Posted by stupidzbu
I ordered $3k biz AGCs on 9/19 and $5k pers on 9/25

Have not received any of the orders. Calls to cust service and all they say is "keep waiting"

I used to get them 2-3 biz days after ordering, often before the fee hit the CC

This is sorta irking me because I was planning on using the ponts on barclay for some travel spend.

I asked the csr "if I paid for next day air and it's been 11 calendar days, does that sound like next day air to you?"
I have yet to receive my AGC order from 9/19 and the one from 9.25 also states "processing"

I called the Indian Custom Service number numerous times and all they say is "it takes time to make a customized GC" to which I reply "yet the other 12 orders this year were received very quickly"

does anyone have ANY suggestions? They seem very reluctant to send me a replacement for some reason.
stupidzbu is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 12:31 am
  #8841  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, AS, DL, BA, F9, IHG Plat, HH Gold, CC Gold, SPG Gold, MR Silver
Posts: 1,786
Originally Posted by stupidzbu
I have yet to receive my AGC order from 9/19 and the one from 9.25 also states "processing"

I called the Indian Custom Service number numerous times and all they say is "it takes time to make a customized GC" to which I reply "yet the other 12 orders this year were received very quickly"

does anyone have ANY suggestions? They seem very reluctant to send me a replacement for some reason.
yeah...I suggest not ordering personalized cards or just be patient grasshopper
skibum7732 is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 6:25 am
  #8842  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 10
New Portals back live

Looks like Mr. Rebates and Fatwallet are live again but only at 1% and offering free shipping code. Happy to see many portals coming back, might help push % higher
rwt534 is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 7:34 am
  #8843  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
Originally Posted by stupidzbu
I have yet to receive my AGC order from 9/19 and the one from 9.25 also states "processing"

I called the Indian Custom Service number numerous times and all they say is "it takes time to make a customized GC" to which I reply "yet the other 12 orders this year were received very quickly"

does anyone have ANY suggestions? They seem very reluctant to send me a replacement for some reason.
That's far longer than I've ever seen.

Maybe the point of dropping portal bonuses for a month is to give the guy who types out the personalized cards a vacation.
josephstern is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 8:25 am
  #8844  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3
Unable to buy VGC using Amex

All,
So I have purchased $2000 Amex Gift card, got it yesterday and I went to buy visa gift cards online through giftcardmall.

I have activated a card prior to going to giftcardmall.

I got "Invalid card number" message when trying to use the card.

did anyone experience same problem?
what is the solution?

thank you
theunreal03 is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 8:26 am
  #8845  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by theunreal03
All,
So I have purchased $2000 Amex Gift card, got it yesterday and I went to buy visa gift cards online through giftcardmall.

I have activated a card prior to going to giftcardmall.

I got "Invalid card number" message when trying to use the card.

did anyone experience same problem?
what is the solution?

thank you
have you been on Mars for the last month? Welcome back to earth....
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 8:27 am
  #8846  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by theunreal03
All,
So I have purchased $2000 Amex Gift card, got it yesterday and I went to buy visa gift cards online through giftcardmall.

I have activated a card prior to going to giftcardmall.

I got "Invalid card number" message when trying to use the card.

did anyone experience same problem?
what is the solution?

thank you
Buy cards elsewhere

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...hback-tip.html
Stoughton is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 8:50 am
  #8847  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: New York
Posts: 391
Free shipping and 1.5% ^ Not 3+%, but it's better than ZERO percent!
smoothmunkey is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 9:05 am
  #8848  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 242
I thought that the use of any codes would disqualify the order for cash back?
That's also what it says in the terms on befrugal (who is posting the free shipping code).

Originally Posted by smoothmunkey
Free shipping and 1.5% ^ Not 3+%, but it's better than ZERO percent!
DeErEtYn is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 9:40 am
  #8849  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 162
anyone have the callback number for the business gift card division? i received a call yesterday, but the voicemail they left me was inaudible. he spoke in a very thick indian accent and spoke very fast. if you have the 800 number, i would appreciate it.
haloseven is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2014, 9:42 am
  #8850  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 415
Originally Posted by haloseven
anyone have the callback number for the business gift card division? I received a call yesterday, but the voicemail they left me was inaudible. He spoke in a very thick indian accent and spoke very fast. If you have the 800 number, i would appreciate it.
8002977327
ttlmmky is offline  


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