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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 26, 2013, 12:42 am
  #1126  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 152
Originally Posted by xoxx
How long does TopCB generally take for you to get CB?
It normally takes about 2 weeks to post and then 12 weeks to be payable.
iminsandiego is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 12:46 am
  #1127  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 152
Originally Posted by Johnnycomeslater
I placed an order on 10/16 for two customized GCs, got them on 10/22, posted as purchase (the CA limit of the card used is very small), but not posted in BC yet.
Anyone having issue with BC tracking the order?
Yes, still waiting after ordering over a week ago.
iminsandiego is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 1:13 am
  #1128  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 152
AMEX SPG transaction from a week ago finally posted 10/24 and no fees that I can see.

"CATEGORY
BUSINESS SERVICES - OTHER SERVICES"

Last edited by iminsandiego; Oct 26, 2013 at 1:18 am
iminsandiego is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 1:36 am
  #1129  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Hmm, well my Barclay Arrival charges just posted and no CA fees. ^

10/24/13 AMEX GIFT CARD 3,003.95 (Personal Order)
10/24/13 AMEX GIFT CARD 703.95 (Business Order)
HikerT is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 4:42 am
  #1130  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 322
Originally Posted by Lobachevsky
I used the code "BDAY100" for my purchase through BigCrumbs, personal side. The code worked to waive the card fee (I get free shipping on the $99 plan) and I got the notice of pending cashback from BigCrumbs as usual.
I got the pending cashback as well, after applying the BDAY100 code. AMEX in the past would not allow a fee waiver code to be applied when purchasing through BC. Now if only the transaction will actually go through...
flyertalkingallday is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 7:18 am
  #1131  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 31
Has anyone had any success at getting the cash advance fees removed? Either by American Express or by the credit card company?
dprice121 is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 7:59 am
  #1132  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 151
Could someone update the Wiki to show that Cap1 also charges a cash advance fee? I got it on my 10/24 purchase and another member reported the same in this thread. (I'm too new here to be able to update the Wiki myself.) Thanks!
Lobachevsky is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 8:13 am
  #1133  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Starwood Gold , HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, Aadvantage, Rapid Rewards CP
Posts: 1,586
Originally Posted by HikerT
There was a report a page back that someone with a Barclays card got hit with CA fees. Also Capital One. So doesn't sound like just Chase.
The only causes I can come up with are either it is Amex change or the banks are in collusion or agreement to do this.

I did tweet this issue whatever the cause. Might as well bring it up in public to pressure Amex. Got a tweet back already.

Last edited by Frenchie Flyer; Oct 26, 2013 at 8:20 am
Frenchie Flyer is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 8:19 am
  #1134  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,031
Originally Posted by Frenchie Flyer
The only causes I can come up with are either it is Amex change or the banks are in collusion or agreement to do this.

I did tweet this issue whatever the cause. Might as well bring it up in public to pressure Amex.


Personally I think it's better to work around it. I'd rather have some options than none. We don't want the wrong attention here.
josephstern is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 8:39 am
  #1135  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Starwood Gold , HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, Aadvantage, Rapid Rewards CP
Posts: 1,586
I get you JosephStern. I have also notified the cash back portals TCB and BC that this has changed and that it will likely effect their income stream. My hope is that they will contact their reps at Amex and inquire about it.
Frenchie Flyer is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 9:01 am
  #1136  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PHX
Posts: 380
Am I missing something here? Cashing this out with VR and BB, why not just do that in the first place. The target method seems like a lot of time for little return.
N_Phoenix is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 10:12 am
  #1137  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Sacramento
Programs: UA, AA, Delta
Posts: 177
my SPG AMEX purchase posted today without CA fee. Anyone have experience with Barclays Travelocity AMEX? JudyD?
somdave2005 is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 10:58 am
  #1138  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,031
Originally Posted by N_Phoenix
Am I missing something here? Cashing this out with VR and BB, why not just do that in the first place. The target method seems like a lot of time for little return.
Why use a 2% cashback card in the first place?
josephstern is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 11:05 am
  #1139  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Why not? Why pay 2+ cents for your points with a 1x card? That's some expensive travel IMHO.
HikerT is offline  
Old Oct 26, 2013, 11:13 am
  #1140  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: KWI
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 806
Originally Posted by Frenchie Flyer
The only causes I can come up with are either it is Amex change or the banks are in collusion or agreement to do this.

I did tweet this issue whatever the cause. Might as well bring it up in public to pressure Amex. Got a tweet back already.
I saw the response Amex tweeted back, it looks like they're pushing everyone to use their cards instead of anyone elses. Now I just need that Starwood bonus to come back so I can re-open a good Amex card...
LoneTree is offline  


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