Train ticket retailer charged my transaction under the MCC code of taxi / limousine

TheBanker

miklcct said:

TheBanker said:

miklcct said:

TheSpectator said:

Slightly off tangent but why do people use 3rd parties instead of booking direct, you would have probably got your cashback that way.

The only reason for me to use Uber is because it offers 5% credit for train bookings, which can then be used for future train bookings / takeaways / etc.

It is well known that Uber's train ticketing is defective, can't sell a lot of things, and has extremely poor booking experience and customer service. However, 5% cashback is enough for me to use a poor retailer as the product obtained is identical.

If you have a credit or debit card that gives cashback at particular retailers (e.g. the Natwest Reward Account or the Virgin Money account), they often have 5% cashback promotions for LNER but you get the Cashback regardless of which train company you're travelling with. 

It's not really a surprise that Uber are using the same (taxi) MCC for the additional services they offer. Probably don't want the cost or hassle of setting up a different set of accounts. 

I don't have these cards and I am not going to apply for any new credit cards soon, as I plan to buy a home in the coming months so I don't want to harm my credit rating.

That's fair enough but maybe the information will be of use to someone else.

adrich

miklcct said:

TheSpectator said:

Slightly off tangent but why do people use 3rd parties instead of booking direct, you would have probably got your cashback that way.

The only reason for me to use Uber is because it offers 5% credit for train bookings, which can then be used for future train bookings / takeaways / etc.

It is well known that Uber's train ticketing is defective, can't sell a lot of things, and has extremely poor booking experience and customer service. However, 5% cashback is enough for me to use a poor retailer as the product obtained is identical.

I totally get your point, Uber’s 5% credit makes it tempting despite the clunky experience. I’ve had issues too, especially with delays in ticket confirmation. But I still prefer booking directly through Transport for Wales. There is no booking fee, and their app feels more reliable, especially for regional services and support when things go wrong.

crumpet_man

Zilch card pay 2% cashback/rewards for Uber and Uber eats.  Worth considering for future purchases.

rollingwheels

This is a really annoying but common issue. The cashback category is based on the merchant category code (MCC) used when the payment is processed, and unfortunately, platforms like Uber Travel (especially via Omio) often code the transaction as “taxicabs and limousines” instead of “train travel” or “transportation services.”

Even though you bought a train ticket, your bank sees it as a limo or taxi purchase, which usually isn’t eligible for travel-related cashback.

You can’t change the code afterward, and most banks (including Chase) won’t adjust rewards manually for this type of issue. Uber support is technically right. They usually don’t handle MCCs directly, but Omio might be able to raise it internally if you press them.

Best option: do a small test purchase before your next big one and check how it shows up in your Chase account. Also worth asking Chase which MCCs do qualify, so you can confirm before booking.

Long-term, if cashback matters, it’s usually safer to book directly from the train operator or use a travel site like Trainline, which typically codes correctly.