Money Moral Dilemma: Is it OK to earn cashback for friends' payments?

mai_taylor

My friend does this all the time, about 14 of us will go out for a meal and anyone who wants to pay by cash, he'll pay for on his card and have the cash. Doesn't bother any of us.

Kim_13

I have earned cashback on friends'/families' purchases in the past, but not in this scenario. I think if I was in this scenario and no credit card fees were in place in the restaurant, I'd simply ask if I could pay just my share by card. If the others then said why don't I take the cash and pay the lot by card, then I would.

Occasions I have earned cashback on purchases that weren't mine:

- My dad doesn't like using cards online and specifically asked to use one of mine and give me the cash. I wouldn't then go and get a non-cashback card to use.

- Cousin wanted to buy something. She found it for £23. She thought I might be able to get it cheaper online (she doesn't have the internet and lives quite a way from me.) I found the item for £5 less, paid for it on my CC and she sent me a cheque. In this case, if I didn't use my CC, I'd be tying up my own cash (she asked for three in the end) until the cheque cleared.

- My friend and I went to a buffet where there was a deal on. It was something like if two people dine you get a free drink. When we went to pay, intending to pay half each separately, the waiter said that we'd have to pay for the second drink (one of those bottomless glass deals) if we paid in two separate transactions. I used my card and my friend then paid for my drinks in the pub until it got to approximately the cost of her half of the bill. Essentially in that case I wasn't gaining any cashback, as if we'd paid separately in the restaurant, I'd have got cashback on my drinks in the pub anyway.

There's a difference between putting someone's purchases on your cashback card because it makes sense in the circumstances and actively fishing for them to allow you to put their transactions through your card so that you make money on them.

I once paid for a friend's items with mine so as to get her student discount. More of a moral dilemma than the 20 or so pence cashback I made on the transaction, I think.

glider3560

I do this often. Don't mention the cashback aspect, instead say it saves me visiting the cash machine later.

Sometimes it can really add up. Everyone at a work Christmas meal paid £30 by cash (which included a hefty tip). I was the only one wanting to pay by card (which kind of shocked me). Took all the cash and paid the full bill plus the tip at the bar by card.

25 people at £30 per head = £750 paid by card. 1.25% cashback (at the time) meant effectively a £9.38 discount off my bill.

cos_2

Many years ago I was at a works party. We all offered up cash except one guy who said he'd collect the cash and pay his share with his card. Most of us left a pound or two as a tip. When the guy went to settle the bill it was obvious it was fully covered by the cash including tips, so he got off with paying nothing.

Something to bear in mind as the "festive" season approaches

Sazzie23

loranius wrote: »

How is this a dilemma? If my friends are paying cash and then I take their cash and pay by cash back credit card, that's their loss and my gain! They don't "really" lose anything, and if they don't like it they can use their own credit card too!

I'm the friend who pays cash (I'm a credit free zone), I'd be happy for any of my mates to make a few pence out of it, isn't that what friends are for, cost me nowt, they make a little. If I'd credit card, I'd try to do it.

shortcrust

Me: Can I take your cash and pay for it all on my card? I get cashback from my credit card company.

Friends: Yes of course!


The stresses and strains of modern life.

[Deleted User]

I've done this many a time, it's been quite a good talking point actually. But then again, everyone in my circle knows I'm a moneysaver

Vortigern

Four colleagues go out for a meal. When the bill comes each tosses in a credit card and they ask for the bill to be split equally between the four cards.

Should the one with a cashback card pay a greater share?

PBA

Back when I was skint I'd offer to buy my mates' rounds on card and then have them give me the cash as it was cheaper than a credit card cash advance.

Fair enough about standard cashback cards offering 0.5% or so, but at the moment Natwest are giving 15% cashback at All Bar One or Santander offering 15-20% at different pub chains. If the cashback amount was that high I would feel it's wrong to ask friends to pay the full whack.