5% Reward Cards.... A comprehensive list!

FFGuru,

I still have the world Wildlife Fund Card but have cash plus as an added value program on the card with no extra fees. So my card gives 1% to WWF and 1%/5% to me depending on the category of purchase. This particular card can be converted to a myriad of different cards within the Chase product line. What I found interesting though is after everyone else was saying they couldn't get the rewards plus program on their affinity card I tried to convert just to see if it was available and they told me it was no dice. What is even weirder was that I only had 4 rewards programs available to me (free cash rewards, cash plus, travel plus ($39 annual fee), and Flexible Rewards select ($59 annual fee)). I found this interesting because a lot of the affinity cards chase has come with either flexible rewards or value miles. I was told that apparently the rewards programs available for each card are different and it also depends on the individual cardholder as to what rewards programs are available. Apparently, Chase has changed a lot of things since I got my card and changed to Cash Plus. The representative understood my fustration and told me he would be bringing up my concerns to the higher ups (for what that's worth). He even tried to get me into the rewards plus program through a backdoor but no dice. I will update you if I am successful on changing from Cash Plus.

return222 said:

~ Discover Strategy- Sign up for whichever program (#12 or 13) will benefit you the most for the time being. If you realize that you will earn more in the other program, just call to switch. You can do so as much as you want. The switch happens at the close of your billing cycle.

* although only $600 of that can be redeemed in a year as cash. So you have to redeem the rest as gift cards, travel, or simply wait until next year to redeem that extra cash. Thanks again jowaju!

** A benefit of Discover is that you can maximize your reward and feasibly double it by redeeming your reward as a gift certificate to certain specialty retailers, or get 6.25% back by getting gift certificates to more everyday type retailers. (click here for more info) Discover does not limit the total Cash Back bonus you can earn, only the amount in the 5% bracket.


Let me see if I understand this correctly. If I keep switching to different programs, I still get to keep all the points I earn in each program and I guess it is 5% toward maximum of $1500 for each program.

When I talked to discovercard about changing my gas card, they told me I will lose all my points.


Discover doesn't have points, they have Cash Back. When I changed my regular Plat Discover to Restaurant I did not lost any of my CashBack Bonus. That being said, they no longer offer Restaurant and home Improvement cards with 5%, so you don't have all those opportunities for switching any more.

76hhma said: Yep, the 5% Discover Card offer was discontinued as of 1/23/2006, according to Discover Card senior account management. Hope that it would not impact existing cardholders.

I am trying to decide if I want to switch my gas card back to regular platnium card. The problem with AMEX and Discovercard is many resturants don't accept them. I have a resturant AMEX card.

I don't use my discover card much nowadays. I am keeping it around just in case I want to use a separate card for purchases online. The gas card gives me 1% right away for standard purchases but cap at $1,500. But my only problem is I can't take advantage of their special promotion.

Gasoline Purchases:
$0 - $1,500: 5%
$1,500.01 - $3,000: 3%
$3,000.01 - $25,000: 1%
The gas CashBack Bonus award is capped at $25,000; any purchases above $25,000 will not earn an award.

Standard Purchases:
$0 - $1,500: 1%
$1,500.01 - $3,000: 0.5%
$3,000.01 + : 0.25%
There is no cap on standard purchases.

Regular Platnium
Qualified Purchases:
$0 - $1,500: Earns 0.25%
$1,500.01 - $3,000: Earns 0.5%
$3000.01 +: Earns 1%

FFGuru said: 76hhma said: Yep, the 5% Discover Card offer was discontinued as of 1/23/2006, according to Discover Card senior account management. Hope that it would not impact existing cardholders.

Well, the 5% gas card is still there, and you can still participate in 5% Get More purchases with the Platinum. It is just the restaurant and home improvement card which have disappeared.

return222, I had the gas card in November, but then thought I'd make more on their pre-Christmas get-more offer which gave 5% for online purchases. I switched from gas to the basic platinum (the one which gives 5% on Get More Purchases) without redeeming points. It worked like a charm, I bought my online stuff, and switched back to the gas program. I've earned about $80 cash from Discover in 4 months (I am not a big spender) and If I convert into a Sharper Image gift card, I'll have $160! Not bad. So you shouldn't have to redeem. That is unless things have changed since then. I thing you'll get more knowledgable CSR's if you e-mail them. FW forum on switching Discover Programs.

To all: If you've got Discover already you might as well use in your 5% areas it because 1) its the only card on the list which can get you 6.25%-10% back on your purchases. 2) if you use, or switch into the gas card it will keep you from maxing out the rewards on other cards so quickly (even if you already have an Everyday Purchases 5% card)

Sorry, I meant the 5% Restaurant card only (edited). Thanks.

JadeEyedScorpio said: AMEX has a restaurant card? Got a link or name?
I believe he was talking about Discover used to have a resturant card.

AMEX truesaving is sort of a resturant card.

• Earn Cash Back on virtually every purchase:
- 3% for eating out
- 2% for traveling
- 1% everywhere else, including Costco
• No annual fee with your paid Costco membership.

Joe1690 said: FFGuru,

I still have the world Wildlife Fund Card but have cash plus as an added value program on the card with no extra fees. So my card gives 1% to WWF and 1%/5% to me depending on the category of purchase. This particular card can be converted to a myriad of different cards within the Chase product line. What I found interesting though is after everyone else was saying they couldn't get the rewards plus program on their affinity card I tried to convert just to see if it was available and they told me it was no dice. What is even weirder was that I only had 4 rewards programs available to me (free cash rewards, cash plus, travel plus ($39 annual fee), and Flexible Rewards select ($59 annual fee)). I found this interesting because a lot of the affinity cards chase has come with either flexible rewards or value miles. I was told that apparently the rewards programs available for each card are different and it also depends on the individual cardholder as to what rewards programs are available. Apparently, Chase has changed a lot of things since I got my card and changed to Cash Plus. The representative understood my fustration and told me he would be bringing up my concerns to the higher ups (for what that's worth). He even tried to get me into the rewards plus program through a backdoor but no dice. I will update you if I am successful on changing from Cash Plus.

Did you get any signing bonus adding Cash Plus to your WWF card? I want my $100!

lyahmun said: Question about some of the bonus. Do you still get the same bonus when you apply online or do you need an offer code?

Yes, you must call to apply for all of the Chase signing bonuses. Citi varies by card. You'll find specific application instructions in the OP.

FFGuru said: Updated 01/27/06

GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases)
9) Citi Dividend Platinum Select
Max of $300 in rewards per year, no signing bonus. The redemption schedule is nice, but still, it is probably not your best card.




Another thing you didn't take into account is the Citi Dividend Merchant Network, which lets you earn a higher rate at certain retaliers, like OfficeMax.com, overstock.com, partsamerica.com ... etc. and not only do you get a higher Cash Back rate from these places but also money earedn while shopping "in network" doesn't count against your $300 yearly limit.


The Citi Dividend Merchant Network
With the Citi Dividend Card, you can earn Cash Back on every purchase you make – no matter where you shop or what you buy.* You’ll earn 5% Cash Back on the things you buy everyday at supermarkets, drugstores, and gas stations, and 1% Cash Back on all your other purchases. Plus, when you use your Citi Dividend Card at participating Citi Dividend Merchant Network merchants, you’ll earn on average, an additional 5% Cash Back in Dividend Dollars on those purchases! The Cash Back you earn shopping with merchants participating in the Citi Dividend Merchant Network, does not count toward your calendar year maximum of $300 Dividend Dollars – so your Cash Back potential is unlimited!

chuzzlewit said: Here's a tip, Citibank retention will often offer 5% on everything if you try to cancel (they won't however lift the $300 cap), also you can close and re-open a card within 12 months. This time I reopened in December, used it a few times, and then call to cancel in January. Sure enough, they patched me through to retentions that offered me 5% on everything, so I use it for all non-grocery, gas, pharmacy purchases!Which Citi card did you do this on?

EndlessKnight said:

Another thing you didn't take into account is the Citi Dividend Merchant Network, which lets you earn a higher rate at certain retaliers, like OfficeMax.com, overstock.com, partsamerica.com ... etc. and not only do you get a higher Cash Back rate from these places but also money earedn while shopping "in network" doesn't count against your $300 yearly limit.

Yeah, but how much money do you really spend in those places? Unless you buy everything online I hardly think that the higher rate is worth it. What is the rate anyway?

EndlessKnight said:

Sorry but cash hasn't been king for a long time, it's always better to use a rewards card than cash (no matter what the reward). With a rewards card you get something (reward) and added protection. Credit cards are only a problem for people with no financial self disapline, which is not a group most FW member fall into.

I think SuaveSeattle was referring to cash rewards. He/she was probably saying that cash rewards trump gift cards.

Citi's dividend doesn't give 1 for 1 if you redeem as cash. Only for gift cards.

I'd guess that is why Chase's cards generally get higher ratings in the OP than with Citi's comperable card.

EndlessKnight said: Billiken said:
Citi's dividend doesn't give 1 for 1 if you redeem as cash. Only for gift cards.


The Citi Divvidend card is a Cash Back card, there's not even a GC option

Oops. You are simply limited to the $300 rewards. Card still stinks though.

ffguru,

you may want to update your info on #8, i have the att universal cash rewards mc and i do not lose value when redeeming as cash.

Duplicate

ahh..joe1690, i like my Chase Cash Plus Rewards Visa better then the Citi Dividend Card (which i had...but just closed) also! I also had a Chase Rewards Plus Mastercard, which i just converted over to the Cash Plus program....This way, between the 2 cards (Visa and Master and both on the same program) I will still have the $600 max cash out per year...
Rewards Plus is pretty good, Joe1690, but it does have a little gimmick with the Cash Outs (checks)...the only level you get the full points value is at $100 (10,000 pts= $100) Sure, they let you cash out at $25 and $50...BUT it costs you extra points (3500 pts gets you $25.....6,000 pts gets you $50)....where as with Cash Plus...it's just the straight 5,000 pts gets you $50 deal.
PS: they do the same thing with certain levels of the gift cards also.....But, overall, I still prefer the Chase over the Citi...and i find the customer service is generally nicer, too

Go to the thankyou network at www.thankyounetwork.com, then log-in. Once logged in click on view points total which will be on the right side of the screen, then under my statement summary choose a statement date, and once this screen comes it will say points expiring in the next 90 days (X points) and to the right of that it will say view which you click on and you have a summary of when all of your points will expire.

On my account all of my earnings show and the expiration goes out as far as 2011 so I don't think it is just the points in the short term. The 90 day expiration information will clearly only show those that expire in the next 3 months but if you click view it will tell you when they expire. Maybe your points never expire as I believe certain thankyou credit cards offer points that never expire like premierpass.

In my case, the bonus points are only available for 6 months. Talked to customer service and specifically a supervisor who agreed with me that they should be good for 5 years and then came back and told me that marketing said they were only good for 6 months and they had given me X number of points so I could get a $25 gift card (clearly incorrect information on the amount of the gift card). However, she gave me the mailing address for corporate headquarters to write a letter which I will do as I am pretty pissed about the fact that these bonus points were never indicated to expire in 6 months and the terms and conditions indicate 5 years. Will let you all know what I find out. However, if Citi doesn't make good on their terms and conditions then I plan on closing my account with them because I don't agree with their bait and switch policy and have found their customer service to be less than adequate. I will go back to chase who has always made me a happy customer and is willing to listen to my concerns and do the right thing when necessary.

Bry said: Shouldn't everyone get the Driver's Edge card? The way I read it, you can just own the card and do nothing with it.. And if you drive 10k miles in a year, you will get 10k points for doing nothing.

Nope. Read it again.

phlack said: Bry said: Shouldn't everyone get the Driver's Edge card? The way I read it, you can just own the card and do nothing with it.. And if you drive 10k miles in a year, you will get 10k points for doing nothing.
I believe your driving points have to be matched by points earned by spending.

-Mike
AWWW! I didn't notice that when I applied. It's still pretty good -- if you match your spending with miles, you'll effectively get 12% rebate instead of 6% in the first 12 months and 6% instead of 3% afterwards (gasoline, etc), and 2% instead of 1% (everything else) all the time.