Credit Cards That Give Points/ Bonus Points for Council Rates?

tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 18:02
Last edited 06/04/2021 - 23:11 by 1 other user

Done a few years of churn and burning and come across a couple of cards that don't really follow their T&C's completely.

Today I reached $3300 spend on my HSBC platinum card. Spoke to online chat and they said only $1700 is eligible for points.

They said my PayPal spends (which were council rates paid via post bill pay using PayPal as the payment) weren't eligible, neither were my water bills.

I asked them for what reason where they excluded? She sent me the HSBC T & C excerpt. It says BPAY (not 'B pay related which some are saying now) and government fees are excluded. I said PayPal / Post Bill pay are not excluded, and even if it was council rates they are normally excluded under semi-government payments. I think "Government fees' are ATO fines etc. As for SA water, they are a private entity.

I have been through this exact experience before with Virgin/ Citibank. I reported the complaint and AFCA found in my favour. So will do the same again.

So just wondering if there is a list of card providers who accept rates as eligible points earning spends?

Also, noticed banks are very good at not being transparent about which spends earned which points on your statement. Noticed I'm spending on average $2500k, but only half my spends are counting. But not sure which aren't. No reason they couldn't have points earn next to $value spent on your statement and surely should in this modern world of transparency?

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • Drakesy on 06/04/2021 - 18:11

    Sounds a little dodgy. I can understand if it's Bpay, which for most credit cards doesn't count towards spend, but for them to not be counting Paypal, that's questionable.

    Having said that i did stop using post billpay ages ago as the fees charged my my local post office for credit cards were the same as if i'd paid it myself through the utility's website.

    Pretty sure i've received points and it's counted towards my spend forever gas, water and power bill i've had. Would definitely be disputing it.

    Just my 2 cents HSBC in my experience probably have the most poorly informed staff on the planet.

    • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 18:35

      I still think Citibank take the chocolates for that category, followed by Telstra/ Optus in equal second and then maybe HSBC. But she ran it through their system apparently and the exclusions spends were " flagged by the merchants charge category"?

  • tsunamisurfer on 06/04/2021 - 18:12
    +2

    If you are on average spending $2.5 million then you should hit your spend target within 90 days rather easily.

    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 06/04/2021 - 18:33
      +1

      OP must have a credit limit of $2.5 million dollars on their credit card 😳

    • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 18:37

      Haha, whoops. Let's just say in this case I meant $2500 Krona. (I'll save you the hassle. … 1k is around 0.15 AUD on the exchange).

      Or

      ….My 2.5 million spend is all ineligible.

  • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 18:44

    I have an ANZ card as well. But not sure if the equivalent spends count either?

    I do know Qantas spends count for bonus points, but not for normal points.

    Need to add this info to the credit card wiki.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 06/04/2021 - 18:47

    even if it was council rates they are normally excluded under semi-government payments.

    There are three tiers of government. Local government/councils are the third level after Federal and State. Councils are definitely not semi-government.

    As for SA water, they are a private entity.

    No they are not.

    SA Water
    We are owned by the South Australian Government.

    Source:https://www.sawater.com.au/about-us/how-we-operate/about-sa-water

    • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 18:58

      SA water (formerly E&WS when it was a government entity) is now half an offshore corporation (United water). Infrastructure is still government owned, but operations are not. This includes billing.

      https://adelaideaz.com/articles/south-australia-s-e-ws-depar…

      AFCA found in my favour last time.

    • deme on 06/04/2021 - 21:01

      Council's are not defined in our constitution.

  • Neoika on 06/04/2021 - 18:57

    I always use prepaid debit cards(Coles Gift MC, Only 1 VISA) in NSW. Set amount payment available online, basically any amount, e.g. pay $1.52 that the remaining balance on one card.

    • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 19:01

      Good idea. So you buy giftcards to pay your rates. Don't really understand the $1.52 bit though (think you are saying you use up cards with crappy low balances)?

      • Neoika on 06/04/2021 - 19:02
        +1

        Yes, any cards with low balance that I just want to wipe out and throw away.

        • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 19:05

          I keep around $20 on each card for first time user ubereats bonuses, ie. You can only use a card once as a new user.

          • Neoika on 06/04/2021 - 19:22

            @tunzafun001: This is one of the best deals that can be used for this purpose in NSW, maybe other States. Not only earn pts, but also save a bit.

            • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 19:25

              @Neoika: Yeah, I traveled over town for this deal and only managed to find 4x $100 cards :( never seen a $250.

  • holdenmg on 06/04/2021 - 19:09
    +4

    Have a look @
    https://sniip.com/australia-post-pilots-sniip-bill-paying-ap…
    https://sniip.com/ Earn points

    You can now scan BPAY biller codes!
    Over 60,000 billers Australia wide use BPAY, which means you’ll be able to enjoy Sniip’s effortless bill payment experience when you pay:

    Energy bills
    ATO tax bills
    Rent (DEFT) and Body Corporate
    Phone & internet bills
    Insurance – car, health, home and contents etc
    School fees
    Rates and water
    Car rego
    …and more!

    • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 19:22

      Like it…but have you tested it fully.

      Since Paypal payments are excluded (though not in the T&C's) and essentially the same concept?

      Any downsides? (Credit checks or anything stupid like that)?

      Got 1k of bills sitting next to me ready to go.

      • daft009 on 07/04/2021 - 05:33
        +2

        Yes sniip is the way to go though there is a 1.5% incl GST surcharge.

        No downsides otherwise, I've done about $100k with then in the last 2 months

        Fees are worth it for me with Amex but not mc/visa

        • tunzafun001 on 07/04/2021 - 11:55

          I'm going for the Citi PayAll option as there is no charge.

          I also read in the sniip thread here that someone still didn't get points on their council rates even using sniip (as the header still says 'city of x rates' or something like that).

  • Shadowsfury on 06/04/2021 - 19:37

    I've used Sniip - 1.5% fee stings a little but I use it when I have a minimum spend I need to hit.

    Biggest guinea pig might be right now - waiting on Westpac to hand me my points - if Sniip counts, I've hit it easily as I put $3k in via Snip, but if it doesn't I'm $250 short and too late to spend within 3 months. They gave me regular points for these purchases.

    If I don't get it by next month I'll ring them.

    I actually had a Westpac card I was confident I hit the minimum spend on a few years back but they were adamant I didn't. Closed the card that day out of spite. 6 months ago got a letter in the mail from them apologising that they were wrong and giving me $700 cheque for the 60,000 points I should have gotten. Wonder if this is going to be the same situation all over again.

    • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 20:00

      Ahhhh, I see… 1.5%…

      As for Westpac, if the spend earned normal points, the bonus will count. ANZ and Westpac have been alright for bonuses for me. But definitely normal points that haven't got through, but not sure which ones.

  • tunzafun001 on 06/04/2021 - 22:13

    Just started looking at my good ole Citi Signature (now premier).

    They have a fee free 'pay all' feature that earns points on every spend until Oct 2021. Then it will be a fee payable service.

    https://www1.citibank.com.au/offers-benefits/PayAll1

    Apparently you can swap between rewards programs once per year as well? Will try and swap it to qantas.

  • endotherm on 07/04/2021 - 01:01
    +1

    If government fees are ineligible, then GST on all your purchases would also be ineligible. I don't see them taking 10% off your "normal" eligible purchases.

  • Contopaxi on 01/10/2022 - 23:12

    Does sniip still work when using it with westpac for rates etc?

    Just got my westpac card and looking to tick off the minimum spend right away

    • Yola on 02/10/2022 - 11:12

      Beem it works.

      • Contopaxi on 02/10/2022 - 21:17

        Thank you I will look into Beem

  • Poolprouk on 05/10/2022 - 10:03
    +1

    Hey OP, if you're still reading this. How did you go with your complaint about HSBC?

    I had the same issue a few years ago but made the 3K spend without the rates payment via Post bill pay /Paypal anyway.

    I tend to make a small payment in month 1 of having the new card via this method and then check to see if it earned points before making bigger payments. Although I usually use my Amex Qantas ultimate for such payments via this method as i know that will work.

    • tunzafun001 on 05/10/2022 - 11:27
      +2

      Yeah all good..well sort of. I was on hold for hours to get through (didnt mind as I was doing a 4hr drive). As a side, customer service couldnt tell me the exact date my annual fee was due.
      Ended up getting a call back from higher up in HSBC. Got the points + gave me an extra year no annual fee.

      Discovered the real gem with this card is the free lite version of the entertainment book. BOGOF at KFC, movies, golf courses etc. Probably saved myself $200+ over 8 months.

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