U.S. Bank 5%/2% Cashback Visa Siggy

[BDK]

Most of my billpay I charged this week are showing and have posted the 5% billpay credit.

The only hold out is the Water & Sewer bill via LexisNexis (even though I called them to verify the MCC code).

 

I called CS to see what the deal was and it seems the clowns at LexisNexis told whooper.

Their MCC is 9399 which comes up as Government Services (Not Elsewhere Classified).

 

Not a happy camper today.

CS tells me to wait until the statement closes then call and ask to talk with a supervisor and maybe they can do something for me since its clearly a utility bill.

Otherwise, I'm out of $24.16. As it stands right now I dont have enough to reach $100 for the $25 bonus.

I do still have a two major utilities I need to pre-pay though.

 

 

 

 

Here's what the rewards summary:

 

 

01/30/2013 ELECTRIC COMPANT $1,200.00 $12.00

01/30/2013 US Bank Gold Package Bonus $1,200.00 $3.00

01/30/2013 5% / 2% CASH+ CATEGORY $1,200.00 $48.00

01/30/2013 WATER & SEWER (LexisNexis) $604.00 $6.04

01/30/2013 US Bank Gold Package Bonus $604.00 $1.51

01/30/2013 NATURAL GAS PROVIDER $300.00 $3.00

01/30/2013 US Bank Gold Package Bonus $300.00 $0.75

01/30/2013 5% / 2% CASH+ CATEGORY $300.00 $12.00

01/29/2013 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER $480.00 $4.80

01/29/2013 US Bank Gold Package Bonus $480.00 $1.20

01/29/2013 5% / 2% CASH+ CATEGORY $480.00 $19.20

01/23/2013 GROCERY STORE $20.20 $0.20

01/23/2013 First Use Bonus $20.20 $0.00

01/11/2013 Enrollment Bonus $0.00 $0.00

 

 

The extra 0.25% from the checking account is nice.

 

That's gettin' it done!

[KYBOSH]

BTW, checking account turned out to be a soft pull on TU.

[KYBOSH]

Good news! I got a supervisor to credit me $24 for the LexisNexis Water/Sewer Utility bill.

She was hesitant to do it at first but I urged her to help me out as the spirit and intent of the Billpay Promo means charges clearly marked utilities should be treated as such. She gave it to me but warned that it would not happen again.

 

Excellent service.

 

By the way, if anyone did a BT and you are still within your 0% promo period, be sure you aren't being charged interest.

I did a very small BT (to trigger future BT offers) and was charged the minimum interest charge fee of $2.

Somehow they didn't see the 0% grace period in their system so I had to fax the terms of my card member agreement.

Luckily I always scan them in as a pdf (just in case).

 

Total Cash+ earned this statement: ~$250.

[BDK]

Good news! I got a supervisor to credit me $24 for the LexisNexis Water/Sewer Utility bill.

She was hesitant to do it at first but I urged her to help me out as the spirit and intent of the Billpay Promo means charges clearly marked utilities should be treated as such. She gave it to me but warned that it would not happen again.

 

Excellent service.

 

By the way, if anyone did a BT and you are still within your 0% promo period, be sure you aren't being charged interest.

I did a very small BT (to trigger future BT offers) and was charged the minimum interest charge fee of $2.

Somehow they didn't see the 0% grace period in their system so I had to fax the terms of my card member agreement.

Luckily I always scan them in as a pdf (just in case).

 

Total Cash+ earned this statement: ~$250.

 

NICE! That reminds me, I still need to get MY pre-pays in...

[KYBOSH]

Here's a tip for all those who have a BOA debit card.

You can actually see the MCC codes on your transaction page.

 

When you click the arrow next to a debit card transaction on your checking account's activity page it gives you an expanded view which includes a lot of info.

 

Here's one of my actual purchases.

 

 

 

Type: Debit card

Purchaser: KYBOSH

Description: THE HOME DEPOT

Merchant category: Home Supply Warehouse Stores

Merchant category code: 5200

Expense category: Retail Stores

 

This way you can charge a small amount and quickly see what the MCC code is.

This will save you a lot of time and grief when planning out your category spend.

 

I dont know if they have this feature with other banks but BOA definitely has it.

Edited February 8, 2013 by KYBOSH

[gnarlywood]

Merchant classifications can differ between banks, actually. Target is a "Grocery Store" on my PenFed card, but obviously a "Discount Store/etc." on every other I've used there. (These are regular Target stores, we don't have Super Targets on the west side of Los Angeles.)

 

Also, debit card?

[KYBOSH]

 

Ouch, I think I messed up.

I just realized I used my Citi Forward to pay the $25 initial opening.

Any idea if that will be treated as a cash advance?

 

 

$10 Cash Advance fee for that $25 funding.

I'm kicking myself right now.

I'll call to see if I can get a pass then I will set my CA limit to $0.

 

I finally got Citi to refund the cash advance fee for this oversight.

 

I'm also going to transfer my balance over to Navy (0% 12 months, $0 BT fee) and take a whole year to pay off year's worth of utilities instead of the 6 months 0% Cash+ is offering.

Just made a few hundred dollars with no real work at all.

[BDK]

 

 

Ouch, I think I messed up.

I just realized I used my Citi Forward to pay the $25 initial opening.

Any idea if that will be treated as a cash advance?

 

 

$10 Cash Advance fee for that $25 funding.

I'm kicking myself right now.

I'll call to see if I can get a pass then I will set my CA limit to $0.

 

I finally got Citi to refund the cash advance fee for this oversight.

 

I'm also going to transfer my balance over to Navy (0% 12 months, $0 BT fee) and take a whole year to pay off year's worth of utilities instead of the 6 months 0% Cash+ is offering.

Just made a few hundred dollars with no real work at all.

+1

 

3 bonus redemption cards coming to me.

 

I'm STILL mad that dtv will not allow more than $100 overpayment...

[KYBOSH]

 

 

 

Ouch, I think I messed up.

I just realized I used my Citi Forward to pay the $25 initial opening.

Any idea if that will be treated as a cash advance?

 

 

$10 Cash Advance fee for that $25 funding.

I'm kicking myself right now.

I'll call to see if I can get a pass then I will set my CA limit to $0.

 

I finally got Citi to refund the cash advance fee for this oversight.

 

I'm also going to transfer my balance over to Navy (0% 12 months, $0 BT fee) and take a whole year to pay off year's worth of utilities instead of the 6 months 0% Cash+ is offering.

Just made a few hundred dollars with no real work at all.

+1

 

3 bonus redemption cards coming to me.

 

I'm STILL mad that dtv will not allow more than $100 overpayment...

 

 

You have to call in and speak to a CS Rep.

They can override that limit and charge/apply any amount.

 

I paid up the year ($2100)

 

You can do it!

[BDK]

 

 

 

 

Ouch, I think I messed up.

I just realized I used my Citi Forward to pay the $25 initial opening.

Any idea if that will be treated as a cash advance?

 

 

$10 Cash Advance fee for that $25 funding.

I'm kicking myself right now.

I'll call to see if I can get a pass then I will set my CA limit to $0.

 

I finally got Citi to refund the cash advance fee for this oversight.

 

I'm also going to transfer my balance over to Navy (0% 12 months, $0 BT fee) and take a whole year to pay off year's worth of utilities instead of the 6 months 0% Cash+ is offering.

Just made a few hundred dollars with no real work at all.

+1

 

3 bonus redemption cards coming to me.

 

I'm STILL mad that dtv will not allow more than $100 overpayment...

 

 

You have to call in and speak to a CS Rep.

They can override that limit and charge/apply any amount.

 

I paid up the year ($2100)

 

You can do it!

Thanks for the suggestion, I''ll give it a try today!

[BDK]

 

 

 

 

 

Ouch, I think I messed up.

I just realized I used my Citi Forward to pay the $25 initial opening.

Any idea if that will be treated as a cash advance?

 

 

$10 Cash Advance fee for that $25 funding.

I'm kicking myself right now.

I'll call to see if I can get a pass then I will set my CA limit to $0.

 

I finally got Citi to refund the cash advance fee for this oversight.

 

I'm also going to transfer my balance over to Navy (0% 12 months, $0 BT fee) and take a whole year to pay off year's worth of utilities instead of the 6 months 0% Cash+ is offering.

Just made a few hundred dollars with no real work at all.

+1

 

3 bonus redemption cards coming to me.

 

I'm STILL mad that dtv will not allow more than $100 overpayment...

 

 

You have to call in and speak to a CS Rep.

They can override that limit and charge/apply any amount.

 

I paid up the year ($2100)

 

You can do it!

Thanks for the suggestion, I''ll give it a try today!

Alright! That one's taken care of now as well, and fortunately the by-phone transaction fee was waived...

[KYBOSH]

You're paying them a year's worth service ahead of time... they should have GIVEN YOU $5!

[BDK]

You're paying them a year's worth service ahead of time... they should have GIVEN YOU $5!

I know, right?! They tried to make it sound like they were doing ME a favor!

[Ron1]

I didn't see any mention about $25 bonus gift card for redeeming $100 cash back. So $25 bonus gift is gone too???

 

 

Ron.

[TrevorHere]

I didn't see any mention about $25 bonus gift card for redeeming $100 cash back. So $25 bonus gift is gone too???

 

 

Ron.

Went to the rewards center and the option to redeem $100 and receive $25 bonus card is still there...

[CTSoxFan]

 

I didn't see any mention about $25 bonus gift card for redeeming $100 cash back. So $25 bonus gift is gone too???

 

 

Ron.

Went to the rewards center and the option to redeem $100 and receive $25 bonus card is still there...

 

I would guess that is going away as of April 1, when the new categories go into effect...

[BDK]

 

 

I didn't see any mention about $25 bonus gift card for redeeming $100 cash back. So $25 bonus gift is gone too???

 

 

Ron.

Went to the rewards center and the option to redeem $100 and receive $25 bonus card is still there...

 

I would guess that is going away as of April 1, when the new categories go into effect...

If that's true, and all my rewards are pending until next statement, I got burned badly.

[BDK]

.....

Edited February 22, 2013 by Bad Debt King

[CTSoxFan]

Another reason I am now even more pissed this card changed. The new heating oil provider I selected uses a 3rd party to process their billing/payments (for free). I just paid the other day and got the 5% cash back. This changing probably cost me $200/year in rewards...

[KYBOSH]

Another reason I am now even more pissed this card changed. The new heating oil provider I selected uses a 3rd party to process their billing/payments (for free). I just paid the other day and got the 5% cash back. This changing probably cost me $200/year in rewards...

 

Why dont you prepay?

[CTSoxFan]

I am going to look into it...

[qwerty4]

Good news! I got a supervisor to credit me $24 for the LexisNexis Water/Sewer Utility bill.

She was hesitant to do it at first but I urged her to help me out as the spirit and intent of the Billpay Promo means charges clearly marked utilities should be treated as such. She gave it to me but warned that it would not happen again.

 

Excellent service.

 

By the way, if anyone did a BT and you are still within your 0% promo period, be sure you aren't being charged interest.

I did a very small BT (to trigger future BT offers) and was charged the minimum interest charge fee of $2.

Somehow they didn't see the 0% grace period in their system so I had to fax the terms of my card member agreement.

Luckily I always scan them in as a pdf (just in case).

 

Total Cash+ earned this statement: ~$250.

Nice! So how did you pay these bills? We're they autopay/recurrent payment through the provider, customer initiated payment on provider website, or through the usbank bill payment site (don't have the link handy). Really curious, as I want to get this right next quarter. Many thanks.

[KYBOSH]

 

Good news! I got a supervisor to credit me $24 for the LexisNexis Water/Sewer Utility bill.

She was hesitant to do it at first but I urged her to help me out as the spirit and intent of the Billpay Promo means charges clearly marked utilities should be treated as such. She gave it to me but warned that it would not happen again.

 

Excellent service.

 

By the way, if anyone did a BT and you are still within your 0% promo period, be sure you aren't being charged interest.

I did a very small BT (to trigger future BT offers) and was charged the minimum interest charge fee of $2.

Somehow they didn't see the 0% grace period in their system so I had to fax the terms of my card member agreement.

Luckily I always scan them in as a pdf (just in case).

 

Total Cash+ earned this statement: ~$250.

Nice! So how did you pay these bills? We're they autopay/recurrent payment through the provider, customer initiated payment on provider website, or through the usbank bill payment site (don't have the link handy). Really curious, as I want to get this right next quarter. Many thanks.

 

I paid the bills directly online through the companies website.

The only company that limited the amount I could pay in advance was Directv ($100).

So you have to call them up and they have to do it manually.

 

I'm actually going back to pay more on my electric bill because I want to hit the next $100 cashback bonus.

I'm about $50 short.

[qwerty4]

 

 

 

Good news! I got a supervisor to credit me $24 for the LexisNexis Water/Sewer Utility bill.

She was hesitant to do it at first but I urged her to help me out as the spirit and intent of the Billpay Promo means charges clearly marked utilities should be treated as such. She gave it to me but warned that it would not happen again.

 

Excellent service.

 

By the way, if anyone did a BT and you are still within your 0% promo period, be sure you aren't being charged interest.

I did a very small BT (to trigger future BT offers) and was charged the minimum interest charge fee of $2.

Somehow they didn't see the 0% grace period in their system so I had to fax the terms of my card member agreement.

Luckily I always scan them in as a pdf (just in case).

 

Total Cash+ earned this statement: ~$250.

 

Nice! So how did you pay these bills? We're they autopay/recurrent payment through the provider, customer initiated payment on provider website, or through the usbank bill payment site (don't have the link handy). Really curious, as I want to get this right next quarter. Many thanks.

I paid the bills directly online through the companies website.

The only company that limited the amount I could pay in advance was Directv ($100).

So you have to call them up and they have to do it manually.

 

I'm actually going back to pay more on my electric bill because I want to hit the next $100 cashback bonus.

I'm about $50 short.

So this wasn't an autopay/recurrent payment setup, and you still got the bonus?

[BDK]

 

 

 

 

Good news! I got a supervisor to credit me $24 for the LexisNexis Water/Sewer Utility bill.

She was hesitant to do it at first but I urged her to help me out as the spirit and intent of the Billpay Promo means charges clearly marked utilities should be treated as such. She gave it to me but warned that it would not happen again.

 

Excellent service.

 

By the way, if anyone did a BT and you are still within your 0% promo period, be sure you aren't being charged interest.

I did a very small BT (to trigger future BT offers) and was charged the minimum interest charge fee of $2.

Somehow they didn't see the 0% grace period in their system so I had to fax the terms of my card member agreement.

Luckily I always scan them in as a pdf (just in case).

 

Total Cash+ earned this statement: ~$250.

Nice! So how did you pay these bills? We're they autopay/recurrent payment through the provider, customer initiated payment on provider website, or through the usbank bill payment site (don't have the link handy). Really curious, as I want to get this right next quarter. Many thanks.

I paid the bills directly online through the companies website.

The only company that limited the amount I could pay in advance was Directv ($100).

So you have to call them up and they have to do it manually.

 

I'm actually going back to pay more on my electric bill because I want to hit the next $100 cashback bonus.

I'm about $50 short.

So this wasn't an autopay/recurrent payment setup, and you still got the bonus?

You definitely do not need to setup autopay to receive the bonus.