topic Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum in Credit Cards

US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

PullingMeSoftly — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 20:30:46 GMT

So now that I've been rolling with my 2 category selections this quarter, TV-Internet-Streaming and Cell Phone Providers, I'm seeing that the charges qualify, so good news there. However, when I try to find any information about what MCC codes US Bank is seeing on their end, I am struggling to find anything. I am only using this card for the 2 merchants that one would expect to qualify under my selected categories, one is a cell phone provider and the other is a local ISP.

In my online dashboard, I can select the card, then select "View Spend Analysis" and get a PDF listing that shows minimal info but with all charges being under the heading "Telecom Svc-Loc-Long Dist". Then I cross reference that with the Visa Supplier Locator tool showing that my internet service provider is likely coding under 4814 - phone services and equipment, which is the same for my cell phone provider. So I can conclude that my internet services are being treated as a phone service and qualify under the cell phone provider category.

To confirm/dispel my conclusion, I called in and spoke to two different CSR's who could not tell me anything about MCC's and cannot see anything above and beyond what is in my statement. They also could not refer me to any other department that might possibly have this information.

So that leaves me with really no other choice other than to test out my findings by switching one of my categories for next quarter. I have to take the gamble, but there's no other way to really know for sure. I'll keep cell phone providers and choose something else, then add it all up and see what qualifies at that point. If both cell phone and internet services are qualifying under cell phones, then that's great, like getting a third category choice for free. Problem with category selection is being locked in for 3 months if you choose incorrectly.

Anyone have any experience with US Bank and their interpretation of MCC's or what might be a better method to confirm qualifying expenses?

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Taurus22 — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:06:57 GMT

I've seen similiar irregularities. My Cash+ is set for Utilities/Internet. I use this for 4 payments: Power, Water, Spectrum Internet and YouTubeTV. (YouTubeTV I'm guessing falls under the Internet category somehow?)

Every single one of these is simply labeled as Bills & Utilities, and has a merchant description, but not an actual MCC code. I'm dropping a couple in to show you what I see....

Since they were all listed as Bills & Utilities, I have considered changing my Internet category to Cell Phone and trying it for a month, just to see if Spectrum and Youtube somehow defaulted to Bills & Utilities still. But then if it didn't I would be out cashback for that month....so I haven't tested it....lol.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Kforce — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:12:32 GMT

Closed my Cash+ a month ago, so can't screen shot - show you !

However they have a download to csv option and one of the fields is MCC code.

You can then view with text editor or import to excell, etc.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

UncleB — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:37:13 GMT

@Kforce wrote:
Closed my Cash+ a month ago, so can't screen shot - show you !
However they have a download to csv option and one of the fields is MCC code.
You can then view with text editor or import to excell, etc.

This ^^^.

Open in Excel (or other program) and look at the memo field... the last four digits will be the MCC.

The first transaction was for AT&T Internet service, and has a MCC of 4899 which is used for cable/satellite TV. The second transaction was for landline service, and has the MCC 4814 for telecom services.

Both of these were 'test charges' to see what MCC would be used. I used different dollar amounts on purpose to make it easier to see which (if either) would trigger the cellular phone category (since US Bank no longer shows a break-down on their website like they used to). For what it's worth, the landline charge did qualify.

(Note: I overtyped the reference number in this image with fictitious random digits.)

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

simplynoir — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:37:16 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@Kforce wrote:
Closed my Cash+ a month ago, so can't screen shot - show you !
However they have a download to csv option and one of the fields is MCC code.
You can then view with text editor or import to excell, etc.
This ^^^.

Open in Excel (or other program) and look at the memo field... the last four digits will be the MCC.

The first transaction was for AT&T Internet service, and has a MCC of 4899 which is used for cable/satellite TV. The second transaction was for landline service, and has the MCC 4814 for telecom services. (Both of these were 'test charges' to see what MCC would be used.)

(Note: I overtyped the reference number in this image with fictitious random digits.)

Question, @UncleB!

How did you pay this? With website or app to code like that?

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

UncleB — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:42:26 GMT

@simplynoir wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@Kforce wrote:
Closed my Cash+ a month ago, so can't screen shot - show you !
However they have a download to csv option and one of the fields is MCC code.
You can then view with text editor or import to excell, etc.
This ^^^.

Open in Excel (or other program) and look at the memo field... the last four digits will be the MCC.

The first transaction was for AT&T Internet service, and has a MCC of 4899 which is used for cable/satellite TV. The second transaction was for landline service, and has the MCC 4814 for telecom services. (Both of these were 'test charges' to see what MCC would be used.)

(Note: I overtyped the reference number in this image with fictitious random digits.)
Question, @UncleB!

How did you pay this? With website or app to code like that?

I usually pay on the app, since I'm often changing up what card is used (gotta make the SUBs, yo). Also, I should have specified that the AT&T Internet service is fixed wireless, which is kinda weird anyway and was the one I was most curious about. Now that I know it has the same MCC as cable/satellite providers I'll probably use my Savor for 4% and "free up" that Cash+ category for something else.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Hoben02 — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:43:03 GMT

The awardwallet app has a lookup tool that shows what cards offer the bonus reward for the vendor, now it only ties to major travel reward vendors but I've found it's pretty reliable across visa, and mc

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:44:40 GMT

@UncleB wrote:

(Note: I overtyped the reference number in this image with fictitious random digits.)

This is dedication above and beyond! Although maybe there are hackers who can find a way to exploit reference numbers...

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:48:37 GMT

In the past, didn't Cash+ have a way of seeing rewards per transaction (in a very confusing way, but still there!) Can't find it now or for the Altitude Reserve

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

UncleB — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:49:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@UncleB wrote:

(Note: I overtyped the reference number in this image with fictitious random digits.)
This is dedication above and beyond! Although maybe there are hackers who can find a way to exploit reference numbers...

Haha, I know, right? I'm not extremely paranoid about being doxxed (only standard paranoid), but since the forum rules require folks to redact their own personal info (regardless of how mundane) I figured the least I could do is practice what we're asked to preach.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

UncleB — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:50:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
In the past, didn't Cash+ have a way of seeing rewards per transaction (in a very confusing way, but still there!) Can't find it now or for the Altitude Reserve

Yep, but U.S. Bank killed it with the last web site redesign.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

PullingMeSoftly — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 02:00:03 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@Kforce wrote:
Closed my Cash+ a month ago, so can't screen shot - show you !
However they have a download to csv option and one of the fields is MCC code.
You can then view with text editor or import to excell, etc.
This ^^^.

Open in Excel (or other program) and look at the memo field... the last four digits will be the MCC.

@UncleB and @Kforce Thanks worked like a charm!

I wasn't sure how to find this feature, but am now aware. Now I can see confirmed that both internet service and cell phone do indeed code as 4814. Sweet, now i can confidently pick another category for next quarter in place of TV-Internet-Streaming. For anyone who might want to know where the download feature is located:

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Taurus22 — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 22:06:35 GMT

@PullingMeSoftly That's really odd. I wonder why they bother to separate the categories if they just code it together? Shoot.....I might have to take another look at how I'm using my categories now. I have a project for tonight!

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Kforce — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 22:22:26 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
In the past, didn't Cash+ have a way of seeing rewards per transaction (in a very confusing way, but still there!) Can't find it now or for the Altitude Reserve
Yep, but U.S. Bank killed it with the last web site redesign.

9 out of 10 times an upgrade is really a downgrade (YMMV)

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Taurus22 — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 22:22:02 GMT

And now that I think about it, it also begs the question of how Elan codes the MCP as well. If they use the same coding, I could combine cell phone/internet service into one category on the MCP and have 2 categories open to re-asign between the MCP and Cash+.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Remedios — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 00:18:18 GMT

Xfinity (cable, internet) and Xfinity mobile will not be in the same category.

I never looked at how either one codes, tried both under TV/internet blah blah blah and mobile got one baby point per dollar.

That was about two years ago, not sure if it changed since.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Remedios — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 00:19:35 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
In the past, didn't Cash+ have a way of seeing rewards per transaction (in a very confusing way, but still there!) Can't find it now or for the Altitude Reserve
Yep, but U.S. Bank killed it with the last web site redesign.

That's how US Bank rolls, remove everything that works to make room for things that don't work.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Taurus22 — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 00:53:31 GMT

@PullingMeSoftly Mind if I ask what Internet service you have that is coding as Cell Phone? I wonder if coding can sometimes be regionally different? I just checked mine with US Bank and I get:

Duke Energy 4900 - Utilities

Water Co 4900 - Utilities

Spectrum Internet 4899 - Cable Satellite and TV services

YouTubeTV 7372 - Computer Programming & Data Processing (this is really weird....is this the standard coding for Streaming Services? I went to my Amex BCP to see what Netflix is coded for and couldn't find anything there)

EDIT: And just to re-emphasize, YouTubeTV is counted as either Utilities or Internet according to US Bank, not sure which it falls into

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

Titans84 — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 03:28:41 GMT

@Taurus22 wrote:
And now that I think about it, it also begs the question of how Elan codes the MCP as well. If they use the same coding, I could combine cell phone/internet service into one category on the MCP and have 2 categories open to re-asign between the MCP and Cash+.

You can view the MCC coding the same way as US Bank using the Elan website. The coding looks to be identical as US Bank. I switched one of my Elan categories to my 2nd Cash+ and looking back at the older charges the codes are the same as now.

Re: US Bank Cash+ MCC coding conundrum

TryItAgain — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 05:44:50 GMT

@Taurus22 wrote:
@PullingMeSoftly Mind if I ask what Internet service you have that is coding as Cell Phone? I wonder if coding can sometimes be regionally different? I just checked mine with US Bank and I get:

Duke Energy 4900 - Utilities
Water Co 4900 - Utilities
Spectrum Internet 4899 - Cable Satellite and TV services
YouTubeTV 7372 - Computer Programming & Data Processing (this is really weird....is this the standard coding for Streaming Services? I went to my Amex BCP to see what Netflix is coded for and couldn't find anything there)

EDIT: And just to re-emphasize, YouTubeTV is counted as either Utilities or Internet according to US Bank, not sure which it falls into

I love the 5% back for my FPL utility & TMobile bill, max the 5% cashback every quarter for few years now is great.

However, when it comes to your YouTube TV wouldn't you be better off putting that on your AMEX BCP for the 6% Groceries & Streaming?