Topic Wiki

DEAD - 10/13/14

READ THE WIKI! IT IS VERY CLEAR!

The Basics:

You can send up to $1,000/month directly from your CCs or GCs, and receive the same amount, which can then be withdrawn to your bank account. (No, you don't withdraw the money to your CC or GC.) These limits reset on the 1st of the calendar month at 12am Pacific Time.

Setup:

1. Although AP requires a SSN, you will not get a hard pull against your credit. You will not get a 1099-K unless you are receiving over $20k per year AND have done 200 transactions.

2. The driver's license number on the account need not be a real number, only the same format.

3. You need to connect and verify a bank account to be able to send $1,000/month. Otherwise, only $500 will be allowed. (Also, you will have difficulty withdrawing money to your bank account if it is not connected to your account.)

4. Verification can sometimes be instant if you log into your bank account through Amazon, but sometimes (particularly with smaller banks or CUs, it seems) the only working option is to allow AP to make two small deposits to you account (less than a dollar, often much less) and then reporting the exact amounts thereby verifying that the account is yours. (If you want to use AP as described here, don't even think about trying to profit from the small deposits by opening up a ton of accounts. You have been warned.)

5. The receiver account must add a credit card to be able to capture the funds sent.

Sending Money

1. Make sure to select "Goods and Services" when sending money. This is important so that the transaction codes as a purchase (for which you will get CC points/miles) and not a cash advance (for which you will not).

2. For some reason, when sending the value from GCs, AP will often prevent the full value from being sent unless, when connecting the GC with your account, you first enter the wrong expiration date and then change it to the correct one. <blinkblink>... <shrug>... but it works.  Or wait a week after putting the GC into your account for the hold to be removed from the funds.

3. And no, Amazon Gift Card balance cannot be used with Amazon Payments.

Multiple accounts:

1. It is highly recommended not to access both accounts of a transaction from the same IP address. Please see the IP Information section below for more... IP Information.

2. Most people didn't have problems opening two accounts per SSN even if they link to the same bank account, but it is risky to send money back and forth between them. Some report a similar risk with sending or receiving with a spouse who has the same bank account linked to their account.

3. Sending money using the same CC from different accounts is a known cause of shutdown.

Error messages and potential delays

1. If you get a message stating "We are unable to complete your transaction until further review. It can take up to 24 hours to complete this transaction. We apologize for any inconvenience this delay may cause," relax and be patient. It is perfectly normal.

2. Withdrawals are never authorized immediately. Be patient. It usually doesn't even take a full day. Likewise it's perfectly normal for you to get a message that your withdrawal has succeeded but it doesn't show up in your bank account yet even as pending. It will be there soon. Be patient.

3. Verifying a bank account via the deposit method can take a few days. Please anticipate and account for the extra time needed for the deposit method if you are planning to set up and use an account for the first time late in the month.

IP Information:

1. To check the IP address of the device you're using, Google "how to check my IP address"

2. All devices using the same WiFi router have the same IP address.

3. A computer connected to the Internet with a router has a different IP than it does if connected to the Internet without a router.

4. Browsing incognito or in private mode does not change your IP address.

5. To change the IP address of a computer, turn off the computer, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on. Check if you have a new IP address. If not, turn it off for 8+ hours (overnight or something) and check again. You will likely have a new IP address.

6. On a phone or other device (with it's own data) switch WiFi off. To change IP addresses, switch to 'airplane mode' and switch back and you will usually have a new IP address. Note: If your phone or tablet has WiFi only, it will always have the same IP address as other devices that connect through the same WiFi.


PBaruch's suggestions:

1. It is no longer generally considered safe to have multiple AP accounts for the same person.  Yes, there are exceptions and some people have had luck but I would caution against it.  If you are the reckless type go to number 2 below.  If not, please proceed to number 3 below.

2. If you do decide to try your luck and open 2 or more AP accounts for the same person, do not send $ back and forth between these two accounts.

3. Do not send $ back and forth between people in the same household.  Again, there are exceptions and some people have had luck but it is a trigger for a shutdown.  The way AP views it is if you are in the same household, give em cash. 

4. If there are multiple AP users in the same household, do NOT use the same IP address.  If you do, be warned.  You will very likely be shut down.

5. If you are shut down, you may have luck reopening your AP account by varying the spelling of your name and changing your address. 

6. If you want to send $ to a spouse, it helps if he/she has a different last name and address.

7. I would caution against any complete circles or triangles.  For instance, do not send A-B-C-A.  Rather, send A-B-C-D.

8. If you need bank accounts to link to AP, it is VERY easy to open multiple accounts (with no fee) by using Capitol One 360: https://home.capitalone360.com/ (Be aware that this is likely a hard pull.)

9. Do NOT do instant account verification. Let them send deposits instead to verify the account.  By doing so, I do not believe that they know who owns the account. This may be useful if you use some of my other suggestions.

These are my suggestions based upon personal experience and my gleaning of other posts.

Poll

Were you shut down?

Yes, but i got it back! :)
7 (2.9%)
Yes. :(
55 (22.5%)
No, B"H!  :)
149 (61.1%)
Yes and No (I have more then 1 account)
33 (13.5%)

Total Members Voted: 244

Author Topic: Amazon Payments Master Thread (RIP 10/13/14)  (Read 1118849 times)

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #20 on: September 06, 2010, 06:57:54 AM »
They are always off shore, I've kicked through them $10k's.

Once a payment didn't go through, so I was put in touch with an agent, who stayed in touch with me till it got solved.

(The problem was that my bank had changed some of their international agreements concerning transfers, while the transfer was being done)

Offline Yordai Dooma

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #21 on: September 13, 2010, 05:13:07 PM »
Does anyone have any updates on using amazon payments? As in issues?

Offline Yordai Dooma

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #22 on: September 15, 2010, 01:27:15 PM »
Perhaps he wasn't using his main amazon account and amazon want's proof of who he is. Just guessing.

It seems they are verifying now by asking you to put in your Drivers license number when adding a bank account to verify your identity (not sure if they were always doing that)

Offline MarkS

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #23 on: November 03, 2010, 09:26:27 AM »
Just got this email from Amazon:

Greetings from Amazon Payments.
This message is to inform you that we have blocked your Amazon Payments account and are unable to process your recent transactions. A recent review indicates that payments were made between two accounts under your control. Making payments between accounts under shared ownership is a violation of our user agreement.

4.2.5 Credit Cards: You may not use your credit card to make payments to yourself or to add money to your account.
https://payments.amazon.com/sdui/sdui/about?nodeId=6019
You can respond to this email with specific reasons for these payments. We will review the block on your account based on your response.
Please understand that we take such steps in the interest of maintaining a secure transaction environment.
Sincerely,
Account Specialist
Amazon Payments
https://payments.amazon.com
« Last Edit: November 03, 2010, 09:31:42 AM by MarkS »

Offline MarkS

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #24 on: November 03, 2010, 05:30:03 PM »
So I just got a call from the financial review team at Amex! They want to know why I have so many charges on my card for $950 to Amazon Payments. I said it's to pay people I owe money to. She wanted to see receipts and bills to explain where the money is going to and I explained that I withdraw the money to my bank account to pay people directly from my bank account. She went on and on about how thats a cash advance and even though Amazon processes it as a cc transaction, it's against the terms and conditions of my card to use it to get cash.............
She threatened to close my account and said I should send in all my bank statements and she will see if my cards can stay open and at what limits. :-[ :'(

Offline Monsey

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #25 on: November 03, 2010, 07:03:07 PM »
WOW!! You got hit from amazon and amex on the same day

Offline Dan

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #26 on: November 03, 2010, 07:20:46 PM »
So I just got a call from the financial review team at Amex! They want to know why I have so many charges on my card for $950 to Amazon Payments. I said it's to pay people I owe money to. She wanted to see receipts and bills to explain where the money is going to and I explained that I withdraw the money to my bank account to pay people directly from my bank account. She went on and on about how thats a cash advance and even though Amazon processes it as a cc transaction, it's against the terms and conditions of my card to use it to get cash.............
She threatened to close my account and said I should send in all my bank statements and she will see if my cards can stay open and at what limits. :-[ :'(
Ouch, that hurts...double whammy!

Definitely should not have admitted to AMEX that you were just trying to get cash.
Also if you are using amazon to get miles be sure to change the amounts so its not always the same round number.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline MarkS

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #27 on: November 03, 2010, 07:27:53 PM »
Ouch, that hurts...double whammy!

Definitely should not have admitted to AMEX that you were just trying to get cash.
Also if you are using amazon to get miles be sure to change the amounts so its not always the same round number.

Ya it sucks. They cornered me because they wanted me to prove who I was paying the money to with receipts, bills. But yah I should have staggered the amounts.

Offline yada

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #28 on: November 03, 2010, 11:58:52 PM »
Sorry to hear this happened to you.  TY for letting us know so that we can avoid the same thing.

Offline Dan

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Re: Earn miles/points with Amazon payments using a credit card
« Reply #29 on: November 04, 2010, 11:38:08 AM »
So the million dollar question is if you had bought AMEX GC's, transferred then to Ploni Almoni and then done amazon payments if AMEX would be doing this now?

My guess is no.  And you'd be able to claim the GC's were legit gifts even if they did FR you, as opposed to Amazon payments charges.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Amazon Payments
« Reply #30 on: July 26, 2011, 12:03:49 AM »
I need to spend a total of about $3k using 4 different Amex cards. How does Amazon payments work? Can I send money to a friend and have him give me the money for it?

If not, How else can I use the $3k to meet the spending requirements?

Offline Dan

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #31 on: July 26, 2011, 12:18:50 AM »
I need to spend a total of about $3k using 4 different Amex cards. How does Amazon payments work? Can I send money to a friend and have him give me the money for it?
Sure.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Yellow

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #32 on: July 26, 2011, 12:24:08 AM »
Yep but there is a 1000 dollar limit per month so it will take time

Offline aryeh1

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #33 on: July 26, 2011, 12:27:27 AM »
can two accounts be open ?

Offline Bigyid

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #34 on: July 26, 2011, 12:28:30 AM »
So perhaps I can spread it out through 4 different amazon accounts?


Offline ganizzy

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #35 on: July 26, 2011, 02:02:27 AM »
is the $1000 limit on any type of payment even from amazon account or bank account? or only from cc

Offline kayef

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #36 on: July 26, 2011, 07:28:03 AM »
is the $1000 limit on any type of payment even from amazon account or bank account? or only from cc
only from cc

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #37 on: July 26, 2011, 08:58:55 AM »
I just did this and sent $500 to one of my other emails. The charge immediately showed up on my CC even thought I never accepted it form the other email. I had originally planned to open the other account in my name using middle name instead of first name while at the airport in a different city (different IP). But I have a feeling they will still cross-reference it after the transfer and shut me down. Has anyone tried sending payments to themselves with name variations?

Offline i3ond

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #38 on: July 26, 2011, 09:32:48 AM »
Ques
I just did this and sent $500 to one of my other emails. The charge immediately showed up on my CC even thought I never accepted it form the other email. I had originally planned to open the other account in my name using middle name instead of first name while at the airport in a different city (different IP). But I have a feeling they will still cross-reference it after the transfer and shut me down. Has anyone tried sending payments to themselves with name variations?

How do you plan on adding your credit card when your name is wrong ?  Just what ever you do, DO NOT send money in a circle between two accounts.  The transactions will be flagged for approval.
Perfection is my goal, excellence will be tolerated.

Offline Bigyid

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Re: Amazon Payments
« Reply #39 on: July 26, 2011, 09:48:53 AM »
Ques
How do you plan on adding your credit card when your name is wrong ?  Just what ever you do, DO NOT send money in a circle between two accounts.  The transactions will be flagged for approval.

Do you mean that if 'A' sends money to 'B', 'B' shouldnt send money to 'A'?