Cash back card for utilities?

[SouthJamaica]

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@arkane wrote:

Besides the VantageWest Connect Rewards Visa and US Bank Cash+ (sorta, for cell phones at least), does anyone know of any cards out there that gives more than 2% on utilities? This is a guaranteed $1500+ annual expense, so it'd be great to claw back a few more $0.01's, and also a great way to help meet any spending requirements for sign up bonuses (if any exist).

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The utilities I deal with all charge a surcharge for credit card payments which wipes out any cash back benefit.

[longtimelurker]

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

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@arkane wrote:

Besides the VantageWest Connect Rewards Visa and US Bank Cash+ (sorta, for cell phones at least), does anyone know of any cards out there that gives more than 2% on utilities? This is a guaranteed $1500+ annual expense, so it'd be great to claw back a few more $0.01's, and also a great way to help meet any spending requirements for sign up bonuses (if any exist).

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The utilities I deal with all charge a surcharge for credit card payments which wipes out any cash back benefit.

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Right, but this seems to really vary.   Here they all charge a surcharge, but many report either none or a flat fee, which can be worth it if you prepay a few months.

[longtimelurker]

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@SBR249 wrote:

If you have an in with Vantage West, their Connect Rewards card has utilities ("water, cell, electric, etc.") as a 5x point category. But AFAIK, it's pretty much limited to areas of AZ and certain other groups. 

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I briefly looked at that the other day and think you can join a certain zoo group for about ~$40 and then be eligible.   But didn't apply so not sure!

 ETA:  Checking the site:  PCOA is $25

Our current associational partners are:
contentGABA – Greater Arizona Bicycling Association 
https://reidparkzooPCOA – Pima Council on Aging
https://reidparkzooRPZ – Reid Park Zoological Society

[arkane]

Regarding utilities surcharges, Comcast accepts CCs without any additional fee, while PG&E charges a flat $1.35 regardless of the dollar amount, so I definitely plan on preparing for the quarter if I were to use a credit card

[DaveInAZ]

Interesting, I thought you had to live or work in their geographic location. The zoo I membership is $37, the other two are $25. VW is my main cu. Be aware the Connect Rewards is s Visa Signature only, so you'll have to qualify for at least a $5k CL. They pull EX.

[SBR249]

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@SBR249 wrote:

If you have an in with Vantage West, their Connect Rewards card has utilities ("water, cell, electric, etc.") as a 5x point category. But AFAIK, it's pretty much limited to areas of AZ and certain other groups. 

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I briefly looked at that the other day and think you can join a certain zoo group for about ~$40 and then be eligible.   But didn't apply so not sure!

 ETA:  Checking the site:  PCOA is $25

Our current associational partners are:
contentGABA – Greater Arizona Bicycling Association 
https://reidparkzooPCOA – Pima Council on Aging
https://reidparkzooRPZ – Reid Park Zoological Society

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Thanks I hadn't looked into this too much. Apparently these ins are not listed on their eligibility page or I didn't read it carefully enough. An individual 1-year membership to the bicycling association is $15 which suits me fine as I am also a cyclist. 

And apologies to arkane, I didn't read the OP carefully enough and didn't realize it asked for cards besides the Vantage West Connect Rewards. 

[longtimelurker]

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@SBR249 wrote:

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@longtimelurker wrote:

---

@SBR249 wrote:

If you have an in with Vantage West, their Connect Rewards card has utilities ("water, cell, electric, etc.") as a 5x point category. But AFAIK, it's pretty much limited to areas of AZ and certain other groups. 

---

I briefly looked at that the other day and think you can join a certain zoo group for about ~$40 and then be eligible.   But didn't apply so not sure!

 ETA:  Checking the site:  PCOA is $25

Our current associational partners are:
contentGABA – Greater Arizona Bicycling Association 
https://reidparkzooPCOA – Pima Council on Aging
https://reidparkzooRPZ – Reid Park Zoological Society

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Thanks I hadn't looked into this too much. Apparently these ins are not listed on their eligibility page or I didn't read it carefully enough. An individual 1-year membership to the bicycling association is $15 which suits me fine as I am also a cyclist. 

And apologies to arkane, I didn't read the OP carefully enough and didn't realize it asked for cards besides the Vantage West Connect Rewards. 

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Some of the site seems to have navigation issues, but the links above are on their Who Can Join page:

https://vantagewest.org/help/who-can-join/

[arkane]

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@SBR249 wrote:

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@SBR249 wrote:

If you have an in with Vantage West, their Connect Rewards card has utilities ("water, cell, electric, etc.") as a 5x point category. But AFAIK, it's pretty much limited to areas of AZ and certain other groups. 

---

I briefly looked at that the other day and think you can join a certain zoo group for about ~$40 and then be eligible.   But didn't apply so not sure!

 ETA:  Checking the site:  PCOA is $25

Our current associational partners are:
contentGABA – Greater Arizona Bicycling Association 
https://reidparkzooPCOA – Pima Council on Aging
https://reidparkzooRPZ – Reid Park Zoological Society

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Thanks I hadn't looked into this too much. Apparently these ins are not listed on their eligibility page or I didn't read it carefully enough. An individual 1-year membership to the bicycling association is $15 which suits me fine as I am also a cyclist. 

And apologies to arkane, I didn't read the OP carefully enough and didn't realize it asked for cards besides the Vantage West Connect Rewards. 

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Not a problem. This would've been my next card were it not for the overwhelmingly negative reviews about Vantage West CU, mostly to do with their customer service and their horrible site. Also the lack of a sign up bonus is a major bummer, plus the $15 one year GABA membership fee to join means I'll be net negative until I run through $300 in utility charges (not hard, just annoying). 🤔

[Anonymous]

For the record, I have the Vantage West Connect Rewards VS and while the application process was a little complex, I have had nothing but positive experiences since. I actually love their website. You can link your external accounts with it and view everything on one screen.

I joined GABA to qualify for the card since I live in Alabama and have no ties whatsoever to Arizona.

[arkane]

Thanks for sharing. Do you remember what counted as "utilities" exactly? I imagine gas/electricity/water most definitely. But what about internet or cable?

Also am I correct in assuming that as long as I don't pick a different category, I can stick with 5% utilities forever? Or do they force you to rotate after a set period?