Disney Visa Bonus Rewards confusion

[cseca]

I am hoping someone on the board is way smarter than me...

Has anybody figured out how to correlate your bonus reward dollars (not the regular reward dollars) to your previous statements?
They said bonus rewards get posted 6-10 weeks after purchases or statements. I am curious as to how I can check whether they're crediting the correct amount....

Thanks in advance...

Cyn

 

[ceecee]

It's a mystery to me! I have called three times and still don't understand. Personally, I think it's kind of false advertising. Double rewards were supposed to be posted to my account since July. I have made $200.00 in TOTAL rewards since then and we charged $2000.00-5000.00 a month on this card. Not great rewards in my opinion.

 

[EdDome]

The bonus rewards are a mystery to me too. I see small amounts credited as bonus some month's but I surely can't figure out which / what charges they relate to.

 

[maggiew]

Another thing that confuses the matter is that your bonus rewards is based on the CALENDAR month and not the billing cycle. I think they make it confusing on purpose. I haven't tried to correlate my rewards with my spending. I am just crossing my fingers Disney got it right. I think they are counting on people thinking like me.

Also, you only get the bonus rewards on amounts OVER the number listed. Mine is $250. So, after I spend $250 I get bonus on the VALID purchases (drugstore, car expenses, restaurants, etc.)

Maggie

 

[thesmiths]

I had a similar problem with my Disney Rewards -- I'm slowly collecting points for a future vacation and I got a flyer in the mail saying they are offering double reward points starting last July to this June. The thing is you don't get double points on everything -- you DO get double reward points on certain things like: groceries, gas, utilities etc. HOWEVER - it must be coded as such in your visa statement in order to get the double rewards. This is done by the merchant - they choose what they will be labeled as. If you look at your statement, the category is listed in brackets next to the charge. I noticed on my last statement that I haven't gotten any double rewards in a while so I called -- All my gas purchases were listed as <vehicle expenses> Not as <gasoline> -- so according to Visa they were not elegible for the Double Rewards -- I argued a bit and they agreed to go over my old statements and credit me for all the Double Rewards I've missed. So if you're not getting your double rewards call the number on the back of the card -- and plead your case -- if you don't get anywhere say thank you and call back to request it from another customer service rep. It's not your fault the merchant didn't pick the right category for your rewards! Hope that helps.

 

[maggiew]

I had a similar problem with my Disney Rewards -- I'm slowly collecting points for a future vacation and I got a flyer in the mail saying they are offering double reward points starting last July to this June. The thing is you don't get double points on everything -- you DO get double reward points on certain things like: groceries, gas, utilities etc. HOWEVER - it must be coded as such in your visa statement in order to get the double rewards. This is done by the merchant - they choose what they will be labeled as. If you look at your statement, the category is listed in brackets next to the charge. I noticed on my last statement that I haven't gotten any double rewards in a while so I called -- All my gas purchases were listed as <vehicle expenses> Not as <gasoline> -- so according to Visa they were not elegible for the Double Rewards -- I argued a bit and they agreed to go over my old statements and credit me for all the Double Rewards I've missed. So if you're not getting your double rewards call the number on the back of the card -- and plead your case -- if you don't get anywhere say thank you and call back to request it from another customer service rep. It's not your fault the merchant didn't pick the right category for your rewards! Hope that helps.

Hmmm. I thought vehicle expenses counted. My gas purchases show up as vehicle expenses too. I might have to go back and do some investigating.

Maggie

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This confused me too - read the fine print - you only get double points AFTER you reach a certain minimum - I think it's $550 - So I think you only get the 2% back on what you purchase over that amount, and only in select catagories (I seemed to notice that department stores were excluded).

 

[poohj80]

I'm still trying to figure out why I never received a bonus rewards offer in the first place.

 

[doodlebug]

Oh I just had this argument with Disney Visa about not getting the double rewards and why was it my fault the merchants didn't sign up in the right catagory and why Disney Visa didn't go in and correct the error but it did no good...

 

[sandiegosusie]

I hate this card! We spent 15,000 on this card and earned a whopping 50.00 in rewards. It is totally a ripe off...the only reason we are keeping it is because of future perks for our DS cruise.

 

[cseca]

oh great... i don't feel so dumb now...

and thanks for the suggestions to check the categories on my statements.
I will do that...

Let's cross our fingers that they will give better rewards in the future.

 

[poohj80]

I hate this card! We spent 15,000 on this card and earned a whopping 50.00 in rewards.

1% of 15,000 is 150. If you have only received $50 in rewards, I would call and ask what happened to the other $100.

 

[ceecee]

Just checked mine. I spent $4200.00 and got 18 reward dollars and $2.00 bonus dollars, so you don't even get 1% let alone 2%. They also told me I had no limit to spend before getting the bonus. I must switch to a better card.

 

[gdulaney]

First of all, there are a number of various "double rewards" offers. For example, some folks have to reach a threshhold, some folks get double rewards for specific categories, and then some folks got the blanket double rewards offer. My offer was different from my husband's offer (we have separate accounts). His offer was to sign up to pay a bill (from a list of bills, such as cell phone) using his Disney Visa...do it x number of months and receive x in bonus rewards.

The rewards are based on a calendar month, not billing cycle. For my specific offer, it's double rewards on everything, with a monthly cap of $100 in bonus rewards. I wasn't sure if I was getting credited properly, so I did a quick excel spreadsheet. One column for billing cycle total, one for monthly total, one for regular rewards, and one for double rewards. I found that the double rewards amount usually credits 1-2 statements after the month earned. I did about six months worth and it was dead on.

Since I was getting double on everything...I put EVERYTHING on my card. Groceries, cell phone payment, haircuts, car tag (pretty much if they take visa, I paid w/ visa). At the end of the month, I pay my visa off from the checking account (keeping the money and not spending it was really hard at first). I've got around $400 in rewards (including regular and bonus) and I've learned that I really like doing my bills this way.

Hope this helps!
Ginny

 

[disney junky]

I have had the same frustration as most of you.

 

[mickeyluv]

I just called Disney Visa and was told that I do not even have the option of Double Reward Dollars!!!! She said that some people are offered them and some people are not!!! I think I'm going to use my rewards that I've accumulated so far and then cancel my card!!!! Are there any other cards out there that offer good rewards? What would you do????

 

[Mac and Us]

I'm as frustrated as you. I was pestered by Bank One for over a year. I kept throwing the offers away because the rewards are so low compared to other cards. I finally broke and applied for the card ONLY because I wanted the 20% discount on Alamo Rental Cars. That backfired because I could never get the codes to work and found that National was cheaper.

The worst part is that I didn't get the bonus points for signing up. The only thing I got was 0% financing for 6 months which does nothing for me since I pay the balance off every month.

Prior to getting this card I used my Carnival Capital One card (now called seamiles through Juniper Bank). We took a cruise in January and I had enough points to get $1000. off that cruise. I think I'm going back to the cruise card and my Chase Continental airlines card. At least I get decent rewards.

I may keep the Visa card so that I get movie screenings and other perks but I'm going to stop using it as my primary card.

Maybe we should all write a letter to Bank One/First USA/Chase or whoever now owns the card and complain about the rewards program.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I have found a better option. After suffering the same frustrations as you all have experienced I read a thread on here from someone who told me about the Citibank Platinum Card. I get 5% cashback from dollar one from purchases from groceries, drug stores and gas stations. When I shop at WM and such stores they have been giving me a full 5% on ALL purchases, food etc. Cash is easier to spend than a debit card (do not have to swipe, argue or sign anything) and it is adding up much faster. I will easily have enough to pay for at least one AP and possibly most of another this way. Had to get two cards, one for dh and one for myself as it is capped at $300 although I have read reports of people who are getting it extended when they get near their $300 limit. I do not charge all that much a month, maybe $500 average a month.

Put the Disney card, with its pretty picture, away as a souvenier and grab one of these cards to use instead. Much easier than arguing with Bank One and they will get the message and possibly change their evil ways.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[mickeyluv]

SlightlyGoofy....It must be Carma (spelling could be wrong). Anyway, I went to the mailbox today and you would not believe what was in there!!! An invitation for a pre-approved Citibank Platinum Card!!! They are offering balance transfers with 0% interest until June of 2006. I really could not believe this. The letter also states that the 5% cashback is for purchases from groceries, drug stores and gas stations and 1% for all other purchases. I was going to check into this after I read your post and now I have the letter right in front of me!! This must be a sign. I am really considering transfering my balance to this card and cancelling my Disney Visa!!! My husband has a Disney Visa that he just applied for because of the $50.00 Rewards dollars they were offering for new cardholders so I think we'll just keep his card for little perks that they may (or may not as the case is here lately)!! Thanks for posting this information. I feel really good about this Citibank card offer. I think I'm going to do it!!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

mickeyluv, as much good information as I get from these boards I am glad to be able to be of service. It was on the Budget board where I learned about this in the first place.

I saw another card that offered the same deal as Citibank but it offered 5% on home improvement stores as well. If it had not been for such a few months I would have gotten one of those as we spend massive amounts at HI stores. My Discover is offering the same deal so I may use it for that.

Good luck and enjoy watching your rewards grow a lot faster than Disney's card. BTW, they seem to be giving me credit for the whole amount each month rather than a two month hold back as well.

SG/Linda