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You can send up to $1,000/month directly from your CCs or GCs, and receive the same amount, which can then be withdrawn to your bank account.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 1122615 times)

Offline Emkay

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5200 on: September 06, 2014, 06:38:04 PM »

What's a merchant on AP?
someone whos biz takes AP

Offline yoshi

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5201 on: September 06, 2014, 07:17:59 PM »
Actually, if Amazon really factors the IP address as part of its anti-fraud initiative, using a different IP every month could hurt because it may be deemed suspicious.  Further, if one is using software or a tool to hide his IP, the service may use a foreign IP address which could also be considered suspicious.

I concur with Emkay, though, that Amazon is not using the IP address to close accounts.  I don't have any first hand knowledge, but I have seen reports of others doing the same thing that myself, my 3 siblings, and some friends do.  That is sending payments back and forth each month between spouses using the same IP address (A>B, B>A).   I know there are others who claim they got shut down for using the same IP address and they state nothing else was different among their accounts, but the reason given by Amazon for closures has been for having multiple accounts without any mention of IP addresses. 

People who have been using AP successfully between spouses with the same IP address have been labeled lucky.  I've been doing the same thing for over 3 years and have never had a problem.  Is Amazon's technology really based on luck?   If Amazon wanted to close accounts with people sending back and forth with the same IP address, it would be very easy for them to do.

With that said, those I know using AP as I do only have one account per person.  Each account holder is a real person using his/her correct SSN.  Each person only withdraws to his/her individual bank account which is in the same name as the AP account.  Each person only uses his/her individual credit card that is also the same name as the AP account.
My sisters account was shut down. They thought it was a multiple of my brothers acct. (Same billing address) BH it was reopened. One of the questions they asked me was if my brother and sister had sent to each other.

Online TimT

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5202 on: September 06, 2014, 08:37:44 PM »
One of the questions they asked me was if my brother and sister had sent to each other.
Couldn't they see that on their own ?

Online TimT

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5203 on: September 09, 2014, 11:12:43 AM »
Just got the pending message, the WIKI says it's normal, still accurate?
What was the outcome ?

Offline txtmax4

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5204 on: September 10, 2014, 05:37:28 PM »
From the AP annual notice:

Quote
Additionally, we have updated the terms and conditions of our User Agreement (https://payments.amazon.com/help/Personal-Accounts/User-Agreement-Policies/User-Agreement) that apply to your use of the products and services provided by Amazon Payments.  Our updated User Agreement revises certain terms (including, among other things, the elimination of person-to-person payments).  Our new User Agreement will become effective on October 13, 2014, which is more than 30 days from when we first posted our updated User Agreement.  By continuing to use our services after October 13, 2014, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of our new User Agreement.

Looks like R.I.P.  :'(
If You See Something, Say Something!!

Offline Boruch999

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5205 on: September 10, 2014, 05:38:43 PM »
Ouch!

Offline Hershelsdeals

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Bye Bye Amazon Payments for Minimum Spend   http://t.co/EKiqebEGhK #travel #creditcards
« Last Edit: September 10, 2014, 05:44:51 PM by Hershelsdeals »

Online TimT

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5207 on: September 10, 2014, 05:41:31 PM »
Other than person-to-person, what else is it good for ?

Offline waygora

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Offline Centro

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Offline rivkao

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I cried before already. They closed 8/10 of my accounts!  :'(

Offline Talmid Muvhak

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (Poll)
« Reply #5211 on: September 10, 2014, 05:50:39 PM »
start a business
וצדיק באמונתו יחיה

Offline Hershelsdeals

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I cried before already. They closed 8/10 of my accounts!  :'(
Well, at least you're not alone anymore

Offline Centro

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Guess I'll just go bananas on them now. O:-)

Offline Hershelsdeals

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Guys, the noose is tightening against these games

Offline nobiggy

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (RIP 10/13/14)
« Reply #5215 on: September 10, 2014, 06:07:28 PM »
It's unfortunate for those who have AP. But I'm consoled since i was closed a couple months ago so it wasn't a major loss for me.....

Offline Ephraimh

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (RIP 10/13/14)
« Reply #5216 on: September 10, 2014, 06:07:58 PM »
At least corporations are NOT people

Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (RIP 10/13/14)
« Reply #5217 on: September 10, 2014, 06:09:53 PM »
At least corporations are NOT people
:P

Online TimT

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (RIP 10/13/14)
« Reply #5218 on: September 10, 2014, 06:12:01 PM »
At least corporations are NOT people
What do you do differently when you open an AP account if its for a corporation ?

Offline Moshe123

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Re: Amazon Payments Master Thread (RIP 10/13/14)
« Reply #5219 on: September 10, 2014, 06:13:12 PM »
 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
BDE

AP was a nice man. He met so many of my thresholds. He'll be missed.