topic Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card in Credit Cards

Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Mon, 29 May 2023 15:33:58 GMT

I have the Comenity AAA Travel Advantage Visa Card. Nice card with annoying redemption problem for me. I generally maintain a zero reported balance on rewards cards, paying them off before the statement cuts. With this card one can't redeem one's rewards except (a) as a statement credit against the "statement balance" or (b) by making a phone call and requesting a direct deposit.

Since I never have a statement balance, I would have to make a phone call every month to redeem my rewards.

I know for some people this wouldn't be a problem but for anyone who likes to pay off their balances before the statement cuts, it is.

BTW there is no basis in their "terms and conditions" for this. They say the opposite, that you can get the statement credit against the current balance, and that you can elect "direct deposit".

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

coldfusion — Mon, 29 May 2023 13:47:20 GMT

In other words, they can/t/don't/won't automatically credit a reward so that the account would potentially show a negative balance? That's something that the AOD Visa does; if there's a negative balance on the account at statement closing time the card will be reported as with a $0 balance.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Mon, 29 May 2023 15:01:05 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
In other words, they can/t/don't/won't automatically credit a reward so that the account would potentially show a negative balance? That's something that the AOD Visa does; if there's a negative balance on the account at statement closing time the card will be reported as with a $0 balance.

Worse than that. They won't credit it unless you have a statement balance. I.e., even if you have a current balance they won't credit it against that.

BTW there's nothing in their terms and conditions which suggest any of this; it is all in violation of their terms and conditions. I'm supposed to be able to get a statement credit against the current balance, and I'm supposed to be able to select direct deposit on the website.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

coldfusion — Mon, 29 May 2023 15:18:52 GMT

That probably wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me but would definitely be annoying, probably less so for the Daily Advantage card as my yearly spend on groceries >> fuel.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

Tcal — Mon, 29 May 2023 21:28:55 GMT

That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Tue, 30 May 2023 03:28:49 GMT

@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...

That is weird. The same card? AAA Travel Advantage Visa?

And did you have a statement balance?

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

CreditCobra — Tue, 30 May 2023 04:31:38 GMT

@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...

Same, I just direct deposit anytime I notice that it's over $5.00.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Tue, 30 May 2023 14:07:11 GMT

@CreditCobra wrote:
@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...
Same, I just direct deposit anytime I notice that it's over $5.00.

I spoke to customer service. The rep said the inability to utilize the direct deposit redemption online is a known issue, and they are seeking to have it rectified next month. She could not understand why there was an issue on the statement credit, but she was able to input it without a problem.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

Guyatthebeach — Tue, 30 May 2023 14:24:13 GMT

SouthJamaica,

I have the exact same problem when I redeem the points on my Barclay View card. The system rarely lets me do a direct deposit, so I have to call in. It's so annoying to have call and wait.

I will let the rewards accumulate for a couple of months to get at least $50 dollars as a statement credit. I will keep a balance of at $60 when the statement closes. The day after the statement closes, I log in and redeem the points for a statement credit. Then I log back in a week before the payment is due, pay the balance off in full, and let it report with a zero balance.

There is no real negative impact to my FICO score since it reports either as 0 or 1% credit usage when the balance reports. I only let 4 to 5 cards report credit balances, so there maybe 1 or 2 point change to my FICO score.

Guyatthebeach

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

M_Smart007 — Wed, 31 May 2023 00:15:16 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
@CreditCobra wrote:
@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...
Same, I just direct deposit anytime I notice that it's over $5.00.

I spoke to customer service. The rep said the inability to utilize the direct deposit redemption online is a known issue, and they are seeking to have it rectified next month. She could not understand why there was an issue on the statement credit, but she was able to input it without a problem.

@SouthJamaica, Yep, the cash redemption had worked fine, anytime ..any amount.

Now can only use statement credit if you have a balance.

So I guess what your saying (reading between the lines) it is good for an AZEO card.

Except I am pretty sure you do not need an AZEO card.

Bet they'll have the cash redemption option fixed soon.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

Tcal — Wed, 31 May 2023 02:45:31 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...
That is weird. The same card? AAA Travel Advantage Visa?

And did you have a statement balance?

I just realized that you were talking about the 5% gas version—I have the 5% groceries version.

But that shouldn't make a difference in the interface, no?

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Wed, 31 May 2023 03:00:15 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
@SouthJamaica wrote:
@CreditCobra wrote:
@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...
Same, I just direct deposit anytime I notice that it's over $5.00.

I spoke to customer service. The rep said the inability to utilize the direct deposit redemption online is a known issue, and they are seeking to have it rectified next month. She could not understand why there was an issue on the statement credit, but she was able to input it without a problem.
@SouthJamaica, Yep, the cash redemption had worked fine, anytime ..any amount.
Now can only use statement credit if you have a balance.

So I guess what your saying (reading between the lines) it is good for an AZEO card.
Except I am pretty sure you do not need an AZEO card.

Bet they'll have the cash redemption option fixed soon.

No I wasn't saying that. Just as a general rule I like to pay my rewards cards down to zero before they report, since the more zero balances, the better.

It's been so long since I've had the ability to pay all my cards down to zero that I can't even remember how I felt about AZEO when it would have been achievable for me.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Wed, 31 May 2023 03:01:00 GMT

@Tcal wrote:
@SouthJamaica wrote:
@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...
That is weird. The same card? AAA Travel Advantage Visa?

And did you have a statement balance?
I just realized that you were talking about the 5% gas version—I have the 5% groceries version.

But that shouldn't make a difference in the interface, no?

Maybe it does make a difference. I have no idea.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

FormerCollegeDJ — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 11:53:50 GMT

@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...

Same here.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 18:36:05 GMT

Update. I still can't redeem my rewards, either as a statement credit or a direct deposit.

Every time I try to do it by statement credit I get an error message that I can only redeem up to the amount of the "statement balance".

It's supposed to be limited to the "current balance", not the "statement balance".

Since my statement balance is zero, I can't redeem.

They said they were aware of the bug, and that it would be fixed by the middle of June. But of course it hasn't been.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

Kforce — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 20:06:42 GMT

@SouthJamaica , lots of issuers have fun idiosyncrasies.

I hate the USAlliant one where If you have a monthly auto pay, you can't pay current balance because they see that auto pay 3 week away.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 21:07:37 GMT

@Kforce wrote:
@SouthJamaica , lots of issuers have fun idiosyncrasies.
I hate the USAlliant one where If you have a monthly auto pay, you can't pay current balance because they see that auto pay 3 week away.

Yeah that would be weird.

In the Comenity situation what makes it stranger is that some folks report that they have no problem making the redemptions. The customer service rep I spoke with on the phone told me it was a known issue, that it wasn't only me that was experiencing it. But a number of people have posted in this thread that they are not experiencing the issue. So it's pretty confusing.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

M_Smart007 — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:57 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
Update. I still can't redeem my rewards, either as a statement credit or a direct deposit.

Every time I try to do it by statement credit I get an error message that I can only redeem up to the amount of the "statement balance".
It's supposed to be limited to the "current balance", not the "statement balance".
Since my statement balance is zero, I can't redeem.
They said they were aware of the bug, and that it would be fixed by the middle of June. But of course it hasn't been.

@SouthJamaica, I am still experiencing the same problem.

Since I have been PIF. I am just letting the cash back build up. (for now)

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

CreditCobra — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:10:15 GMT

@CreditCobra wrote:
@Tcal wrote:
That's weird because I can redeem my rewards balance as a direct deposit right now through the website, and I've never had an issue doing so...
Same, I just direct deposit anytime I notice that it's over $5.00.

Just checked today, and I only have the online option of a statement credit, and since I have no statement balance I suspect that won't work.

I hope they get this figured out and returned to the way it used to be.

Re: Limited redemption options on Comenity AAA card

SouthJamaica — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:11:15 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
@SouthJamaica wrote:
Update. I still can't redeem my rewards, either as a statement credit or a direct deposit.

Every time I try to do it by statement credit I get an error message that I can only redeem up to the amount of the "statement balance".
It's supposed to be limited to the "current balance", not the "statement balance".
Since my statement balance is zero, I can't redeem.
They said they were aware of the bug, and that it would be fixed by the middle of June. But of course it hasn't been.
@SouthJamaica, I am still experiencing the same problem.
Since I have been PIF. I am just letting the cash back build up. (for now)

Well then, at least I'm in good company