topic Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services in Credit Cards

Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

okurosetta — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 03:55:50 GMT

I've had my MCP for a little over a month and put everything that might get 5% on there to test if it would get 5%.

I don't see anywhere that spells out which charge earned what, so if I'm missing something obvious I apologize.

My cable bill (Spectrum) definitely got 5% as my first statement cut with just it on it. My utilities bill (National Grid) also definitely got 5%, was about 2/3 the purchases, so no question if 5% or not.

That leaves streaming, with the following netting the remaining $3.38 in cash back:

Apple TV - $4.99 - $.25 at 5% -or- $.05 at 1%
HBO Max - $14.99 - $.75 at 5% -or- $.15 at 1%
Hulu - $12.99 - $.65 at 5% -or- $.13 at 1%
Netflix - $17.99 - $.90 at 5% -or- $.18 at 1%
YouTube Premium - $17.99 - $.90 at 5% -or- $.18 at 1%
YouTube TV - $64.99 - $3.25 at 5% -or- $.65 at 1%

Edit: I found another possible combination, so major edit here. The math shows YouTube TV had to earn 1% (would be over $3.38 otherwise) and that another service or two services around $18 received 1%, thus leaving the following possible combinations:

Apple TV, HBO Max, Hulu, & Netflix at 5% - YouTube Premium & YouTube TV at 1%
Apple TV, HBO Max, Hulu, & YouTube Premium at 5% - Netflix & YouTube TV at 1%
HBO Max, Netflix, & YouTube Premium at 5% - Apple TV, Hulu, & YouTube TV at 1%

Does anyone else have any DPs? Or is there some easy way to check this that I'm unaware of?

And if anyone has the US Bank Cash+ instead, do you notice any differences in eligible streaming services?

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

OmarGB9 — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 01:42:31 GMT

If Elan's list is anything like Amex's found here, then by my calculations, all of your subscriptions should qualify. Maybe there is some sort of similar list for Elan?

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

okurosetta — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 03:46:26 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
If Elan's list is anything like Amex's found here, then by my calculations, all of your subscriptions should qualify. Maybe there is some sort of similar list for Elan?

There is a small list of sample merchants but it is not meant to be comprehensive. Elan/US Bank (and Cardless) are terrible with defining which streaming services are covered, everyone else seems to be decent.

It also cannot be accurate anymore - basically the math behind my cashback this past statement period shows that everything got 5% back except for YouTube TV plus a service or two services around $18. That could be Netflix or YouTube Premium alone (either are $17.99) or Apple TV + Hulu ($4.99 + $12.99). Elan's list shows they cover Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube, but there has to be one of those three actually earning 1%, based on cashback this statement.

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

xenon3030 — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 03:58:07 GMT

I have annual streaming credit on two USBank cards (Connect, Go) and I placed Netflix and YouTube Music monthly on both of them. Both are coding correctly

I have also HBO Max (got annual promo) and Hulu (monthly promo for a year, ~1$/m). I do not have further streaming while I guess the best cards for such monthly or annual bills are Amex BCP (6%) and USBank Cash+/Elan (TV/Internet/Streaming are as a single category). Anyway, it depends whether USBank Cash+/Elan would code them correctly.

I had YouTube TV service for a few monthes but I cancelled it (very expensive, limited new programs).

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

SpaethCo — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 06:51:22 GMT

Most of the streaming sevices code under 4899 "Cable and other pay television (previously Cable Services)"

Youtube TV and Youtube Premium code under a bunch of seemingly random things. I've seen 5968 (Direct Marketing – Continuity/Subscription Merchant) and 7372 (Computer Programming, Integrated Systems Design and Data Processing Services) for Youtube services, maybe some others. I haven't had Youtube TV for a couple years, but when I had it I think it only coded under MCC 4899 one or two months out of a year of charges.

For the Cash+ card you can confirm the MCC codes by downloading transactions in CSV format and looking at the data in the "Memo" column. I'm uncertain what transaction data is available for the Elan card issued through other financial institutions.

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

Taurus22 — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 04:14:48 GMT

Just for your reference, I have all of the below and they all code correctly on both US Bank Cash+ (and my AMEX BCP....for what it's worth)

YouTubeTV, Netflix, HBO Max (we also have Amz Prime and Paramount+, but my girlfriend pays for those on her account so I don't have any DP's on how they code)

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

okurosetta — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 22:54:37 GMT

@SpaethCo wrote:
For the Cash+ card you can confirm the MCC codes by downloading transactions in CSV format and looking at the data in the "Memo" column. I'm uncertain what transaction data is available for the Elan card issued through other financial institutions.

Thank you, this advice was perfect. Both YouTube TV and YouTube Premium coded 5816 - Digital Goods: Games. Since the math in my first post shows YouTube TV had to have received 1%, that means YouTube Premium must have too.

Just for DP sake, here are the other codes, which all got 5%:

Apple TV - 5735 - Record Shops
HBO Max - 5815 - Digital Goods Media: Books, Movies, Music
Hulu, Netflix, & Spectrum - 4899 - Cable and Other Pay Television Services
National Gird - 4900 - Electric, Gas, Sanitary, Telephone, or Water Utilities

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

Bockrocker — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 04:10:46 GMT

Amazon Prime codes as "Direct marketing-continuity subscription merchants" on the Cash+. If anyone cares. Also Patreon did not qualify for the 5% under internet/streaming, codes as "Bands, orchestras, misc entertainment".

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

xenon3030 — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 04:50:26 GMT

Amazon Prime is typically by annual subscription (not a streaming service). Do you refer to Amazon music unlimited service?

You may try Amex BCP, giving 6% on streaming services.

Re: Elan MCP Eligible Streaming Services

Bockrocker — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 06:49:17 GMT

Taurus mentioned Prime and I had tested it since the subscription includes access to Prime Video. Just providing some DPs.