topic Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments in Credit Cards

Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

therebilllll — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 01:09:33 GMT

About a month ago, I got the Amazon Prime Store Card. I was approved for a whopping $500 limit. I buy on Amazon a lot and want to use this card for the rewards. I make $200 payments weekly and have made two payments so far. Both payments are being "held" and won't clear for 2+ weeks after they were made. Is that normal for Synchrony? Their website says payments clear in 1-3 business days. Not two plus weeks. The money has been taken from my bank account, so I don't know what the holdup is. I just want to use my card.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

DoppelgangerD — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 04:39:12 GMT

@therebilllll wrote:
About a month ago, I got the Amazon Prime Store Card. I was approved for a whopping $500 limit. I buy on Amazon a lot and want to use this card for the rewards. I make $200 payments weekly and have made two payments so far. Both payments are being "held" and won't clear for 2+ weeks after they were made. Is that normal for Synchrony? Their website says payments clear in 1-3 business days. Not two plus weeks. The money has been taken from my bank account, so I don't know what the holdup is. I just want to use my card.

Banks don't like "credit cycling", which is when you spend more than your total credit limit in a credit cycle.

Even if you're paying it off and then charging up again.

Personally I think it's a stupid policy, but banks look at is as you over extending the loan they've granted you.

Synchrony Bank can be very finicky too, and might shut down your account.

If it were me, i'd go ahead and ask for a limit increase and see what happens.

That card (and most synchrony cards) are easy to grow pretty quickly, assuming you have good credit and decent income to back it up.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

UncleB — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 06:22:13 GMT

@therebilllll wrote:
About a month ago, I got the Amazon Prime Store Card. I was approved for a whopping $500 limit. I buy on Amazon a lot and want to use this card for the rewards. I make $200 payments weekly and have made two payments so far. Both payments are being "held" and won't clear for 2+ weeks after they were made. Is that normal for Synchrony? Their website says payments clear in 1-3 business days. Not two plus weeks. The money has been taken from my bank account, so I don't know what the holdup is. I just want to use my card.

There are several things likely causing your issue.

You have a new account, you're making frequent payments and those payments are large relative to your credit line. I'm assuming you're making the payment from the Amazon/Synchrony website... if you send a payment using your bank's billpay there will likely be no hold.

Years ago when I had smaller credit lines I had similar issues anytime I let the card 'pull' the payment from my bank; sending payments via my checking account's billpay solved the problem.

Only once have I had a payment hold when I've pushed a payment... that was NFCU, and my account was new. That is the sole exception, though (even for new accounts); all other payments I've sent via billpay have had no holds.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

Girl_In_The_City — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:41 GMT

I agree with the previous comment. Use your bank billpay system to push the payment and there will not be a hold.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

BallBounces — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:01:26 GMT

Synchrony is among the worst servicers in this respect. Do not plan for timely application of payments. There is quite literally no accounting for some of their practices and decisions.

However, bigger picture ... any time you use a credit product in a non standard method -different from the way most people do, and different from what the creditor expects - there is a chance the creditor responds in a way that you do not appreciate.

YMMV, and the above is based solely on personal experience.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:42:05 GMT

Yes, it is a ymmv. I have Sams MC, Paypal MC, and an Amazon store card. All have worked flawlessly for 3+ years after the initial break-in period.

Paypal MC had a 3 month break-in of "Holding my used credit limit hostage for 7 to 21 days after payment"
Amazon Store card had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.
Sam's had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.

So @therebilllll, I do know it is annoying, but give the Amazon card time and it will smooth out. Synchrony is skittish and they want to get to know you. Also, they are good with CLI requests.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

TG101 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:00:52 GMT

I have a personal policy of never ever using ACH debit (pull) to pay anything. I always "push" payments with my bank's BillPay service. It is a lot faster and no holds.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

therebilllll — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:04:42 GMT

I tried to do bill pay with my bank but it says they can't send it electronically to Synchrony and they'll send a paper check instead. I assume that'll be slow too.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

UncleB — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:44:39 GMT

@TG101 wrote:
I have a personal policy of never ever using ACH debit (pull) to pay anything. I always "push" payments with my bank's BillPay service. It is a lot faster and no holds.

Yeah, I usually prefer pushing payments myself, but there are plenty of people in the other camp... there's been more than one thread about it with the pros and cons of each.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

UncleB — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:50:13 GMT

@therebilllll wrote:
I tried to do bill pay with my bank but it says they can't send it electronically to Synchrony and they'll send a paper check instead. I assume that'll be slow too.

Hmm... I don't have any suggestions for this. I've used billpay with two separate banks and both have supported electronic payments to all five of my Synchrony accounts.

You might try deleting and re-adding the Amazon card as a biller (try to find the biller name 'Amazon' over the generic 'Synchrony') since your bank may have changed and the Amazon card might be electronic now. If that fails, you might consider sending a $5 payment to see how long it takes anyway, since it still might be faster than 2+ weeks.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

TG101 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 05:51:30 GMT

@therebilllll wrote:
I tried to do bill pay with my bank but it says they can't send it electronically to Synchrony and they'll send a paper check instead. I assume that'll be slow too.

Ya, I think it has to be the bigger banks, I have not had any problems with Citi's BillPay being able to send to anyone electronically but my Credit Union's BillPay has a lot of payee's missing from their list so they use a check.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

pip3man — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 06:44:58 GMT

This is normal and likely because you have a new account. I have a Venmo and PayPal Mastercard. With both accounts, every payments were subjected to an extended 2-3 weeks hold in the first 6 months of account opening. After I completed the initial period, my payments now post and available credit updated same day shortly before midnight. The workaround is pushing payments from ur bank directly to SYNCB.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

NoMoreE46 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:53:03 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@therebilllll wrote:
I tried to do bill pay with my bank but it says they can't send it electronically to Synchrony and they'll send a paper check instead. I assume that'll be slow too.
Hmm... I don't have any suggestions for this. I've used billpay with two separate banks and both have supported electronic payments to all five of my Synchrony accounts.

You might try deleting and re-adding the Amazon card as a biller (try to find the biller name 'Amazon' over the generic 'Synchrony') since your bank may have changed and the Amazon card might be electronic now. If that fails, you might consider sending a $5 payment to see how long it takes anyway, since it still might be faster than 2+ weeks.

@UncleB

Along that same rationale, whenever I get a new card, I will send a small "test" payment to make certain all is good. I dont want to get on the radar of a new issuer by flubbing the very First statement's (full) payment.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

BallBounces — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 21:26:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yes, it is a ymmv. I have Sams MC, Paypal MC, and an Amazon store card. All have worked flawlessly for 3+ years after the initial break-in period.

Paypal MC had a 3 month break-in of "Holding my used credit limit hostage for 7 to 21 days after payment"
Amazon Store card had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.
Sam's had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.

So @therebilllll, I do know it is annoying, but give the Amazon card time and it will smooth out. Synchrony is skittish and they want to get to know you. Also, they are good with CLI requests.

Just know that Synch AA can come in several forms and for very strange or better said unknowable reasons. I am glad you have not experienced it - you could.

Anecdotes: I have held variously 14 Synch credit lines over a great number of years. 5 current.

So my intent with my response was not to badmouth them, but to caution their proper use, and even then understand the very real danger they present.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 23:08:32 GMT

@BallBounces wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Yes, it is a ymmv. I have Sams MC, Paypal MC, and an Amazon store card. All have worked flawlessly for 3+ years after the initial break-in period.

Paypal MC had a 3 month break-in of "Holding my used credit limit hostage for 7 to 21 days after payment"
Amazon Store card had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.
Sam's had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.

So @therebilllll, I do know it is annoying, but give the Amazon card time and it will smooth out. Synchrony is skittish and they want to get to know you. Also, they are good with CLI requests.
Just know that Synch AA can come in several forms and for very strange or better said unknowable reasons. I am glad you have not experienced it - you could.

Anecdotes: I have held variously 14 Synch credit lines over a great number of years. 5 current.

So my intent with my response was not to badmouth them, but to caution their proper use, and even then understand the very real danger they present.

My post had nothing to do with AA. Same as your post had nothing to do with AA. You gave your view point and explained your mileage. I did the same. (I.E. Your Mileage May Vary)

As for "real danger" ?? Seriously? All credit card issuers can CLD and close cards. And while yes Synchrony is known to be more prone to do this for reasons only known to them, I see no reason for a dire warning of "danger". A CLD or account closure is a small bump in the road (or no bump at all if you have a good set of KYBs) regardless of which issuer did it.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

BallBounces — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 21:19:54 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@BallBounces wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Yes, it is a ymmv. I have Sams MC, Paypal MC, and an Amazon store card. All have worked flawlessly for 3+ years after the initial break-in period.

Paypal MC had a 3 month break-in of "Holding my used credit limit hostage for 7 to 21 days after payment"
Amazon Store card had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.
Sam's had no break-in. Worked flawlessly from the start.

So @therebilllll, I do know it is annoying, but give the Amazon card time and it will smooth out. Synchrony is skittish and they want to get to know you. Also, they are good with CLI requests.
Just know that Synch AA can come in several forms and for very strange or better said unknowable reasons. I am glad you have not experienced it - you could.

Anecdotes: I have held variously 14 Synch credit lines over a great number of years. 5 current.

So my intent with my response was not to badmouth them, but to caution their proper use, and even then understand the very real danger they present.
My post had nothing to do with AA. Same as your post had nothing to do with AA. You gave your view point and explained your mileage. I did the same. (I.E. Your Mileage May Vary)

As for "real danger" ?? Seriously? All credit card issuers can CLD and close cards. And while yes Synchrony is known to be more prone to do this for reasons only known to them, I see no reason for a dire warning of "danger". A CLD or account closure is a small bump in the road (or no bump at all if you have a good set of KYBs) regardless of which issuer did it.

OK.

FYI, "AA" is adverse action, and has literally everything to do with my posts in this thread regarding synchrony.

As to "real danger" ... I hope the reader understands I am not worried Mr. Synch will come to their house and punch them in the nose.

Have a great day.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 02:34:38 GMT

@BallBounces wrote:
FYI, "AA" is adverse action, and has literally everything to do with my posts in this thread regarding synchrony.

As to "real danger" ... I hope the reader understands I am not worried Mr. Synch will cime to their house and punch them in the nose.

Have a great day.

Thank you for explaining that AA here means "Adverse Action" so that uninformed credit forum readers don't continue under the incorrect assumption that AA means "Alcoholics 🍺 Anonymous" or "Basaltic Lava"

I can see the confusion that could stem from "Why are they talking about 🍹 lager, or is it volcanoes 🌋"?

As for your "1st and only thread post at that time" that I referenced (Yes, it is a ymmv), played off of, and elaborated upon: I wasn't in disagreement with you, wasn't discounting anything you said, attacking, or even responding _to you_.

The exact opposite. I felt the meaning of your "1st and only thread post" was that OPs sitution is in effect a "probationary period", I agreed (seemingly incorrectly), I was not making any reference to AA (don't be confused as I do mean Adverse Action), I gave relevant data points on my most recent and currently active 3 synchrony issued cards, and made no mention about my previous synchrony or GE cards that were not currenty relevant to the topic at hand. It was directed at the OPs question, situation, and the theme of the thread. It was not a response "to" or "against" you.

You are the one that seemed have felt I was somehow attacking or arguing with you and turned this from a discussion of what is effectively a "probationary period" to "Adverse (Danger Will Robinson, Danger) Action"

Also seems my understanding of "Adverse Action" has a far narrower definition and scope than what your understanding may be if you feel the OPs "common new synch card situation" falls within the purview AA.

P.S. Positive Emojis added here because reasons

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

UncleB — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 03:43:31 GMT

@NoMoreE46 wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@therebilllll wrote:
I tried to do bill pay with my bank but it says they can't send it electronically to Synchrony and they'll send a paper check instead. I assume that'll be slow too.
Hmm... I don't have any suggestions for this. I've used billpay with two separate banks and both have supported electronic payments to all five of my Synchrony accounts.

You might try deleting and re-adding the Amazon card as a biller (try to find the biller name 'Amazon' over the generic 'Synchrony') since your bank may have changed and the Amazon card might be electronic now. If that fails, you might consider sending a $5 payment to see how long it takes anyway, since it still might be faster than 2+ weeks.

@UncleB

Along that same rationale, whenever I get a new card, I will send a small "test" payment to make certain all is good. I dont want to get on the radar of a new issuer by flubbing the very First statement's (full) payment.

Oh yes, I do this as well... some may call me paranoid, but it's always a bit of a relief to see that first payment post successfully, LOL.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

BallBounces — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 21:22:31 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@BallBounces wrote:
FYI, "AA" is adverse action, and has literally everything to do with my posts in this thread regarding synchrony.

As to "real danger" ... I hope the reader understands I am not worried Mr. Synch will cime to their house and punch them in the nose.

Have a great day.
Thank you for explaining that AA here means "Adverse Action" so that uninformed credit forum readers don't continue under the incorrect assumption that AA means "Alcoholics 🍺 Anonymous" or "Basaltic Lava"

I can see the confusion that could stem from "Why are they talking about 🍹 lager, or is it volcanoes 🌋"?

As for your "1st and only thread post at that time" that I referenced (Yes, it is a ymmv), played off of, and elaborated upon: I wasn't in disagreement with you, wasn't discounting anything you said, attacking, or even responding _to you_.

The exact opposite. I felt the meaning of your "1st and only thread post" was that OPs sitution is in effect a "probationary period", I agreed (seemingly incorrectly), I was not making any reference to AA (don't be confused as I do mean Adverse Action), I gave relevant data points on my most recent and currently active 3 synchrony issued cards, and made no mention about my previous synchrony or GE cards that were not currenty relevant to the topic at hand. It was directed at the OPs question, situation, and the theme of the thread. It was not a response "to" or "against" you.

You are the one that seemed have felt I was somehow attacking or arguing with you and turned this from a discussion of what is effectively a "probationary period" to "Adverse (Danger Will Robinson, Danger) Action"

Also seems my understanding of "Adverse Action" has a far narrower definition and scope than what your understanding may be if you feel the OPs "common new synch card situation" falls within the purview AA.

P.S. Positive Emojis added here because reasons

OK.

Re: Synchrony Amazon Card Payments

NoMoreE46 — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:39:44 GMT

@UncleB

Along that same rationale, whenever I get a new card, I will send a small "test" payment to make certain all is good. I dont want to get on the radar of a new issuer by flubbing the very First statement's (full) payment.

Oh yes, I do this as well... some may call me paranoid, but it's always a bit of a relief to see that first payment post successfully, LOL.

Nice.