Elan Max Cash Preferred & PayPal Bill Pay

[ocheosa]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

Ah, that is indeed a pickle.  Hopefully the store brand socks issue gets straightened out then.  The MCC for gas, electric, water and sewer is 4900 for both Visa and MC.  So the MC transactions are not being shown on statements as Utilities, or just not triggering the extra 4%?

I'm still annoyed that Verizon FIOS (in city of Boston at least; this differs elsewhere) comes up as Calls Placed Through Magnetic Stripe-Reading Phones for US Bank.

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This is also for FiOS.   I paid $200 to VZ Fios in Nov (via paypal billpay) and got $10 rewards.   Did the same in Jan and got $2.  Both show as 04814 and yes, "CALLS THROUGH USE OF MAGNETIC STRIPE - READING TELEPHONES"   so Paypil Billpay does get the right MCC

ETA: this took ages to post as I had to transcribe it onto magnetic tape and put it through the special telephone.   And I thought FiOS was meant to be fast!

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@Anonymous 04814 is the same code used for sprint/tmobile. I have the cell phone category on my 2nd MCP and I've received 5% cb this year without issue. Of course I have my account set to auto pay from the card so there is no PayPal middleman. My set up:

Bank of CA MCP MC=Utilities and Dept Stores

Valley MCP Visa=Cell Phones and Dept Stores

[Anonymous]

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@ocheosa wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

Ah, that is indeed a pickle.  Hopefully the store brand socks issue gets straightened out then.  The MCC for gas, electric, water and sewer is 4900 for both Visa and MC.  So the MC transactions are not being shown on statements as Utilities, or just not triggering the extra 4%?

I'm still annoyed that Verizon FIOS (in city of Boston at least; this differs elsewhere) comes up as Calls Placed Through Magnetic Stripe-Reading Phones for US Bank.

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This is also for FiOS.   I paid $200 to VZ Fios in Nov (via paypal billpay) and got $10 rewards.   Did the same in Jan and got $2.  Both show as 04814 and yes, "CALLS THROUGH USE OF MAGNETIC STRIPE - READING TELEPHONES"   so Paypil Billpay does get the right MCC

ETA: this took ages to post as I had to transcribe it onto magnetic tape and put it through the special telephone.   And I thought FiOS was meant to be fast!

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@Anonymous 04814 is the same code used for sprint/tmobile. I have the cell phone category on my 2nd MCP and I've received 5% cb this year without issue. Of course I have my account set to auto pay from the card so there is no PayPal middleman. My set up:

Bank of CA MCP MC=Utilities and Dept Stores

Valley MCP Visa=Cell Phones and Dept Stores

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Interesting.   It does show up as the magnetic stripe thing in the the description, but that could provide a simple explanation for the behavior I saw.   I think that in 4Q 2022 my categories were Streaming/Internet  and Cell Phones.  In 2023 I dropped Cell phones as a category.   If FiOS was really coding as cell phone rather than internet that would explain why 5% no longer works.   I thought I had tried FiOS with cell phone coding before and it didn't work, but probably I was wrong

[K-in-Boston]

FIOS around us codes as cell phone with Amex (I get a $10 statement credit monthly with Biz Platinum), so that would make sense that it might also trigger Cell Phone with others.  Users in some other geographic areas have had success with it getting pegged (correctly) as Internet.

[markbeiser]

I guess I'm fortunate that none of my utilities charge a fee for auto-paying with a CC, as I never have to deal with this sort of problem.

[UncleB]

For what it's worth, AT&T landline also codes as 4814 and triggers the 5% on the Cash+ for the cell phone category.

Notably, AT&T Fixed Wireless codes as 4899, which is the same as cable/satellite TV, Netflix, etc.  So that one goes to my Savor MC, since it triggers the entertainment/streaming category (4%).  I take the 1% loss to free-up another 5% category on a Cash+.

So much trial-and-error with figuring this stuff out, but for 5% back it's worth it!

[yoda42]

I paid a gas bill via PPBP without issues and got the 5% on my Elan (Visa) card.  The MCC is correct with "Merchant Category
UTILITIES-ELEC/GAS/HEATING OIL/SANITARY/WATER".   I know it is 5% as the rewards summary has "

Rewards Earned Since Last Statement"  as the 5% value plus a $10 credit from insurance bill from Frebruary.   :-) 

Bill was charged on 04/04. 

[ocheosa]

@cws-21 , 5% rewards posted this morning. @longtime_lurker , may want to give a call to rewards department to find out what happened? Rewards Center at 888-229-8864

[cws-21]

Thanks for all the posts and information, @ocheosa. They have helped a lot and I feel more confident applying for the Max Cash Preferred a bit later in the year.

[credit8502020]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

Ah, that is indeed a pickle.  Hopefully the store brand socks issue gets straightened out then.  The MCC for gas, electric, water and sewer is 4900 for both Visa and MC.  So the MC transactions are not being shown on statements as Utilities, or just not triggering the extra 4%?

I'm still annoyed that Verizon FIOS (in city of Boston at least; this differs elsewhere) comes up as Calls Placed Through Magnetic Stripe-Reading Phones for US Bank.

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@K-in-Boston Hi! I wanted to check in to see if you wouldn't mind sharing where you're getting the most cash back for your Verizon Fios spend. I'm dealing with the same issue. It's coding as 04814 and not allowing 5% for TV internet category on my Elan card. 

[credit8502020]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

Ah, that is indeed a pickle.  Hopefully the store brand socks issue gets straightened out then.  The MCC for gas, electric, water and sewer is 4900 for both Visa and MC.  So the MC transactions are not being shown on statements as Utilities, or just not triggering the extra 4%?

I'm still annoyed that Verizon FIOS (in city of Boston at least; this differs elsewhere) comes up as Calls Placed Through Magnetic Stripe-Reading Phones for US Bank.

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This is also for FiOS.   I paid $200 to VZ Fios in Nov (via paypal billpay) and got $10 rewards.   Did the same in Jan and got $2.  Both show as 04814 and yes, "CALLS THROUGH USE OF MAGNETIC STRIPE - READING TELEPHONES"   so Paypil Billpay does get the right MCC

ETA: this took ages to post as I had to transcribe it onto magnetic tape and put it through the special telephone.   And I thought FiOS was meant to be fast!

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@Anonymous Thank you for sharing these details. I've never used Paypal Bill Pay so I want to make sure I understand how this is done properly to still get 5% for your Verizon Internet bill. Mine is currently coding as 04814 and not allowing 5% for TV internet category on my Elan card. So do I setup Paypal Billpay and use my Credit Card to pay the Elan Bill through Paypal? I just want to make sure there are no specific instructions I need to follow. Were you using an Elan Card or a card from US Bank? 

I'm a bit confused though...you said you did the same in January and got $2...by the same are you referring to using your Elan card and only getting 1%? 

Thank you in advance.