by PointsGuru | Apr 14, 2016 | 5% Cash Back, Business
Nothing is worse in rewards schemes than devaluations after you sign up or to see that your points magically redeem for less than half of their value. While PNC Bank is not as popular as Chase, Discover, and American Express they seem to get away with ripping their business customers off with these worthless rewards redemptions. This is one of the worst examples of a fraudulent claim on rewards since the U.S. Bank Edge Business Visa. We really do not know how it’s possible they can get away with this with such deceiving advertising. It goes to show you always have to read the fine print and study the rewards malls and redemption areas before applying for a credit card.
The claim from the PNC Points Visa Business Credit Card is 5% for ALL purchases, unlimited. You can see it here at (pnc.com/en/small-business/borrowing/business-credit-cards/pnc-points-visa-business-credit-card.html). We will not be linking to this worthless card.
A friend of mine messaged me saying “It looks like the Disney magic act. 50,000 points for $100. lol. That’s very deceptive. Rip off… deceptive to say you earn 5points per dollar.” We totally agree with this because when you sign up for a card and work to spend $3,000 on that particular card that is like an investment to get the bonus of say 25,000 points. You then would expect 25k on the PNC cardto redeem for 1:1 but there is a major catch.
We went over to the rewards mall and $100 check was 50,000 points. Should be 10,000
25k points should = $250 after 3k spend. Such a rip-off.
We did find one good thing to say about this Business Credit Card from PNC. You can get an introductory 0% APR for the first 9 billing cycles following account opening on purchases and balance transfers. Special limited time offer ends 6/30/2016.
PNC Claims: Earn 5 Points for Every $1 Spent
There is no limit to the number of points you can earn on qualifying purchases.
Reality: 5,000 Points do not equal $5 when it comes time to redeem.
by PointsGuru | Apr 14, 2016 | Virgin America Elevate
Virgin America was added as Starwood’s newest transfer partner with a solid 1:1 ratio. Compare that to the American Express Membership Rewards transfer ratio which is 2:1. To celebrate the new partnership, Virgin America is having a contest, along with Starwood, to win a trip to Hawaii and you can earn 250 Virgin America Elevate points just for entering.
1. If not in Virgin America take a minute to sign up for 500 bonus points here.
2. You can enter this promotion to get at least 250 points by filing out the form (takes 30 seconds) on MakeYourHawaiiscape.com by May 27, 2016. The prizes for the contest seem pretty solid as well including airfare and hotel for a trip to Oahu or Maui. Everyone who enters the contest gets 250 points. Tip: You don’t actually have to fill out a reason why you need a vacation, just select one from the list. Easy as that.
3. This should get you at least 750 points if you have not signed up yet.
Of course right now both companies are starting their merger process with the takeover companies such as Marriott with Starwood and Virgin America with Alaska so you can think of it as points for the new Alaska Air. The Virgin America points could be worth more after the merger goes through and turn into 250 or 500 Alaska miles down the road, depending on the final conversion of Virgin America points to Alaska MileagePlan miles.
by PointsGuru | Apr 13, 2016 | Virgin America Elevate
When you see an opportunity to earn extra bonus points or miles for doing almost nothing you should always take them up on the offer while it lasts. Even if you do not fly the airline often or if they are not in your city yet. You never know when Virgin America could be in your city. They are offering 500 free points just for joining their airline loyalty program.
Virgin America’s promotion is called “Flights With Benefits,” and through it you can earn 500 bonus points for joining their rewards program called Elevate. You can also earn 500 bonus points for referring your friends to Elevate up to a maximum of 2,500 bonus points or 5 people.
Sign up here for the promotion. Valid for new member sign-ups through May 31, 2016, with bonus points posting within 4-6 weeks. After you sign up make sure to go here for 250 more free points.
Virgin America Elevate points are worth around 2.2 cents each towards the cost of a revenue ticket on Virgin America, so 500 Elevate points are worth around $11. This is similar to the value of Southwest airline points which would be higher than American Airlines per redemption.
Once you get your free Elevate points from Virgin America keep in mind that they expire after 18 months of inactivity. One way to rack up additional points is through American Express Membership Rewards transfers with a current promotional transfer bonus of 50%. You can also earn with over 700 retailers in their Elevate Fly Store online earning up to 10 points per $1.
by PointsGuru | Apr 11, 2016 | Bank of America, Capital One, International Travel
When traveling internationally you really have to plan months ahead not just in booking your rewards points but be able to strategize what cards you will take with you. You need to know way ahead of time so you can make sure you apply for those cards and have them in your wallet in time for overseas travel. A good credit card and ATM/Debit Card are two of the most important things to carry with you right after your passport.
If you have traveled to foreign countries you should now that ATM cards that carry foreign transaction fees can really add up and sometimes be shockingly high. While I normally prefer to use my credit cards to earn points with a no international transaction fee credit card there are some situations you must use cash abroad. The best way to get cash is to use the ATM and not any kind of currency exchange that you see lined up near the baggage claim and along the streets of many tourist destinations.
Capital One 360 Checking Debit Card
You may remember this account which changed over from what used to be the ING Direct Electric Orange. Capital One 360 debit card no longer charges any Foreign Transaction Fees since the change. Comparable cards charge at least 3% charge to this 0%. Keep in mind that the ATM you use may issue a surcharge which is generally a flat fee. This tops our list for No Foreign Transaction Fee debit cards. (more…)
by PointsGuru | Apr 11, 2016 | Taxi Rideshare & Rentals
A new rewards program came out from Uber this year for their top riders. This program for the most loyal riders gives you the best treatment possible when you take a ride. You should receive exclusive Uber experiences with top quality cars, high rated drivers, special giveaways, and more.
How to Make the VIP List:
1. Sign up for Uber
2. Take 10+ trips this month
3. Enjoy the VIP perks next month
4. Continue this trip trend monthly to keep VIP access (more…)
