MBNA Amex cashback card

Eco-warrior-mum

Just to let other MSE users know - this card doesn't pay the 1.5% cashback on online supermarket shopping. It's counted as an online transaction, not a supermarket transaction, so you only get 0.75%. I phoned and checked the other day as my statement wasn't showing as much cashback as I was expecting. For me, this isn't as good a rate as I was getting on another card so I'm probably going to swap back.

Seft

Which online supermarket? The product page says

The higher cash back earn rate of 1.5% can only be earned at retailers categorised as supermarkets or petrol stations with the payment network on which the card is issued. At time of writing they included the physical and/or online grocery stores of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado, the physical stores of Iceland and Somerfield, and BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco, Q8, Jet and supermarket petrol stations, but excluded Marks and Spencer, Tesco Direct, Tesco Homeplus, Farm Foods and Spar and all other retailers, which will earn the lower cash back rate of 0.75%.

I'm definitely earning 1.5% at Ocado.

thegoodman

Get a capital one cash back at 1% it is a master card so work every where.

Eco-warrior-mum

Seft, I shop at Asda and when I checked with MBNA customer services they said that I was only earning 0.75% as it was classed as online shopping and not physical shopping. Are you quite sure they're giving you 1.5% on your purchases? I don't know why they're not doing so with Asda. Now that you've pointed out what's on their product page, I think another phone call might be in order so thanks!

Seft

From my statement:

OCADO LIMITED HATFIELD
Merchant category name: GROCERY STORES, SUPERMARKETS

Definitely getting 1.5%

malcolmffc

It's nothing to do with whether it's online or not. The merchant just needs to have a description of "GROCERY STORES, SUPERMAKRETS" in MBNA's database

Eco-warrior-mum

That's obviously the problem. Asda home shopping is listed as OTHER DIRECT MARKETERS (NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED). I think I will ring them again though as, as you pointed out Seft, it says in their product details that Asda online shopping should be included in the 1.5%. Thanks, both.

OllyM

malcolmffc wrote: »

It's nothing to do with whether it's online or not. The merchant just needs to have a description of "GROCERY STORES, SUPERMAKRETS" in MBNA's database

It's not actually MBNA's database, it's American Express's merchant classification that they will use. I agree that you should get the 1.5% in this case though, as it clearly states that Asda online shopping should attract that rate.

Eco-warrior-mum

I've spoken to MBNA again this morning and they've told me that it's nothing to do with them, it's how Asda have classified their online shopping. I can try to contact Asda to see if they will change it but I suppose it doesn't really make any difference to them what it says. It just makes me cross now that other people may take out this card thinking that they will get 1.5% on Asda's home shopping because that's what the product info says when in fact they won't so it's MBNA who'll be making the profit.

Eco-warrior-mum

Now I've just spoken to Asda who are apparently aware of the problem and have been for some time (the customer service guy I spoke to said he'd taken a call on the same thing the other day). The problem is that Asda's home shopping is registered to their head office, Asda House, and MBNA won't recognise that as a store. Asda have apparently already told MBNA that they either need to recognise Asda house and pay the cashback or they have to take it off their marketing - and given that I've had this card for almost a year, MBNA have obviously done neither. I'm starting to feel a bit greedy over trying to claim back cashback, but given that I've lost half of the cashback that they'd originally promised over the year, I'm disinclined to just let it go now, if only to help other people who might really need that money. I can feel another call to MBNA coming on ...

OllyM

Make a formal complaint, and make sure you keep a copy of the website as they have clearly made a mistake somewhere down the line.