Santander123 Credit Card - 3% Cashback on Petrol Stations not valid for Supermarkets

choogle

I recently helped my mother open up various Santander accounts, and she also wanted to go for the 123 Credit Card thinking that she would be getting 3% cashback on petrol purchases.

However, yesterday I spoke to someone from Santander on the phone and they said that Tesco/Morrisons/Asda petrol stations are classed as supermarkets (i.e. only gaining 1% cashback).

I would imagine that quite a few folk may have been tricked into taking out this credit card without being fully informed about exactly what a 'major petrol station' is.

In my own experience I tend to avoid BP/Shell/Esso stations because they are usually more expensive and, certainly locally (i.e. Aberdeen), the best petrol deals are always at supermarket-affiliated petrol stations.

YorkshireBoy

choogle wrote: »

However, yesterday I spoke to someone from Santander on the phone and they said that Tesco/Morrisons/Asda petrol stations are classed as supermarkets (i.e. only gaining 1% cashback).

Did you ring because she'd only got 1% when she was expecting 3%?

Because the information you were given seems to contradict the information on their website...

http://www.santander-products.co.uk/credit_cards/cashback_search/home/search.html?store=tesco&location=aberdeen&rail=&x=43&y=22

The above shows Tesco fuel pays 3%. Entering Morrsions and Asda for Aberdeen also shows 3% cashback payable on fuel.

OllyM

I am 99% sure that the staff were talking rubbish - quite often they know very little about their own products.

I use an AA credit card which gives 3% back on fuel and it has always given me the correct amount of cashback at supermarket fuel stations.

Petrol stations have a different MCC (merchant category code) which identifies them as a petrol station (not as a supermarket) which is how the cashback is awarded.

choogle

I had originally phoned because the £24 charge for the credit card was showing up online where I was of the understanding that it was waived for the first year. (Re: this query I was told that it would be reimbursed 15 days later so I will check again mid-May).

I'm still thinking I may need to clarify which petrol stations are valid for the cashback as the woman was quite adamant that if they were supermarket-affiliated then they wouldn't accrue the 3% cash back. (I've just looked at a link to the 123 Credit Card and it clearly mentions supermarket petrol stations under the 3% cashback info, so somebody's misleading people - be it the telephone operator representing Santander, or the info blurb which definitely hints that supermarket-affiliated stations get the 3% cash back).

I'm also thinking that many people may also be thinking that they may be getting cashback in other stores that are commonly considered as 'major' nationwide. Here I'm thinking about places such as Homebase, B&Q, Dunelm Mill...none of these will accrue any cashback at all, hence I've had to advise my mother to just use her other credit card for these types of places

YorkshireBoy

choogle wrote: »

Here I'm thinking about places such as Homebase, B&Q, Dunelm Mill...none of these will accrue any cashback at all

Can't imagine anyone would think those outlets were either petrol stations, supermarkets, or department stores?

matttye

choogle wrote: »

I had originally phoned because the £24 charge for the credit card was showing up online where I was of the understanding that it was waived for the first year. (Re: this query I was told that it would be reimbursed 15 days later so I will check again mid-May).

I'm still thinking I may need to clarify which petrol stations are valid for the cashback as the woman was quite adamant that if they were supermarket-affiliated then they wouldn't accrue the 3% cash back. (I've just looked at a link to the 123 Credit Card and it clearly mentions supermarket petrol stations under the 3% cashback info, so somebody's misleading people - be it the telephone operator representing Santander, or the info blurb which definitely hints that supermarket-affiliated stations get the 3% cash back).

I'm also thinking that many people may also be thinking that they may be getting cashback in other stores that are commonly considered as 'major' nationwide. Here I'm thinking about places such as Homebase, B&Q, Dunelm Mill...none of these will accrue any cashback at all, hence I've had to advise my mother to just use her other credit card for these types of places

I would trust what it says on their website more than what a call centre worker says, for the simple reason that the website development would have been overseen by someone more senior.

anoncol

In the T&C it does state exceptions such as M&S is categorised as 1% because it sells food (supermarket), even though its a department store also.

Huwster

I found these Ts & Cs at the Santander Terms for Cashback website:

1.3. Petrol Stations, National Rail and Transport for London ('TfL') travel: 3% cashback on:

1.3.1. fuel purchases (which include petrol, diesel and LPG) made at petrol stations which are identified by Petrol Station Merchant Category Codes 5541, 9752 and 5542. Petrol stations within the Merchant Category Codes include, but are not limited to, BP, Esso, Texaco, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury's. Cashback may also apply to other supermarket petrol stations falling within the above Petrol Station Merchant Category Codes;

I think it's probably worth checking the merchant code on the receipt maybe just to be sure your local tesco petrol store is registered correctly? (if this is possible...)

New User, can't post the link sorry - go to the 123 card site and the Terms for Cashback are in the left margin (at date of positing this).

Huwster

Just did a follow-up call to Santander. The guy was really helpful. He said that when paying inside the petrol station that you have to tell the person at the till to put it through as a petrol purchase not a grocery one as they sometimes still do that - get the code right basically. He said paying at the pump will go through as a petrol purchase. I'll check old receipts to confirm this when I get a chance.

He also said that M&S is classed as a department store so even food bought there will earn 2%. He didn't think this was the case for M&S simply food though, but wasn't 100% sure.

reclusive46

anoncol wrote: »

In the T&C it does state exceptions such as M&S is categorised as 1% because it sells food (supermarket), even though its a department store also.

lol card companies love to not give points or cashback :P American Express do it the other way around on the gold. They class it as a department store so you don't get double supermarket points :P

adindas

Huwster wrote: »

I found these Ts & Cs at the Santander Terms for Cashback website:

1.3. Petrol Stations, National Rail and Transport for London ('TfL') travel: 3% cashback on:

1.3.1. fuel purchases (which include petrol, diesel and LPG) made at petrol stations which are identified by Petrol Station Merchant Category Codes 5541, 9752 and 5542. Petrol stations within the Merchant Category Codes include, but are not limited to, BP, Esso, Texaco, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury's. Cashback may also apply to other supermarket petrol stations falling within the above Petrol Station Merchant Category Codes;

I am planning to apply for Santander 123 credit card.
Could anyone who know well or have done so please shed the light.

If I buy annual travel card from transport for London (TFL) costing £1216 will I get 0.03x1216 = £36.48 cashback or just £9.00 on the month I buy the travel card ?

I have seen in MSE website Max cashback/year: £9/mth on petrol/transport here but can not find it on Santander website:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/cashback-credit-cards

Appreciate your time ...

Thanks