US Bank Cash Back 5% category question

[raisemysc0re]

I'm looking to get this card as it is the last credit card on my wish list.

I'm interested in itt for the utilities gategory but I'm wondering if it will work for me.

The 2 main utilities are my cable and electric.

My electric company is National Grid and Cable company is Spectrum.

National Grid uses Western Union Speedpay for credit card payment so I'm not sure it will code correctly for the utility category.

It also charges $2.25 / payment... but my electric bill is always high enough to make it well worth it if it does qualify for 5%.

Does anyone have this card and use it on these 2 companies to make your payments to get the 5%?

[Anonymous]

Spectrum counts for 5%, not sure about national grid.

[Anonymous]

National Grid has coded correctly for me in MA (gas).   

I recently did my usual $600 prepay (the max for the lowest fee).   Turned out I put in my Altitude by mistake, earning a massive 1.5%!

[K-in-Boston]

Eversource (formerly NSTAR) is my electric and gas provider and uses Speedpay for credit card payments.  It definitely triggers the 5%, and like longtimelurker I'll often just pay $600 at a time and have some negative bills after to maximize the rewards after the fee.

[SpaethCo]

Spectrum would code under the "TV, Internet and Streaming" category, not "Home Utilities"

See example merchants for categories here: https://cashplus.usbank.com/merchants/index

[gdale6]

Spectrum is not considered a util in the utilities 5% of Cash+, you would have to select another 5% category for it (the internet, streaming service one)

[raisemysc0re]

Great news.

I like the idea of prepaying the max $600.00 to minimize the $2.25 fee... Thanks for the idea.

I did notice that Spectrum would be the other category as well.

I just applied and got the 7-10 day thing.

Perhaps because I just got a couple of new cards in the last 6 months?

All fico8 scores 777+

Fico9 score 790+

Income 165K

AAoA about 3 years

total Uti < 1% currently with AZEO 

[K-in-Boston]

US Bank has a fairly firm 1/12 anti-churning policy, sometimes 2/12 happens if the new accounts aren't recent.  And I believe the policy considers all credit products, not just revolving credit cards.

[raisemysc0re]

Should I call and try to Recon with them?

[DaveInAZ]

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@raisemysc0re wrote:

Great news.

I like the idea of prepaying the max $600.00 to minimize the $2.25 fee... Thanks for the idea.

I did notice that Spectrum would be the other category as well.

I just applied and got the 7-10 day thing.

Perhaps because I just got a couple of new cards in the last 6 months?

All fico8 scores 777+

Fico9 score 790+

Income 165K

AAoA about 3 years

total Uti < 1% currently with AZEO 

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Do you have a bank account with them? US Bank is known to give preference to their banking customers for their credit products.

I was approved for Cash+ 3/1/2019, they pulled TU and my Fico8 was around 734 then. I had just been approved for Amex Cash Magnet the week before, but that was a pre-approval so no HP and the account hadn't reported yet. Prior to that I had a new CC in 3/19 & 7/19. But I had a US Bank checking & savings accounts, since closed with no adverse affect.

I get 5% for my electric bill under "Home Utilities" category. They use a service call Smarthub, but the charge shows up under the name of the utility, no surcharge for CC payment. I also have "Cellular" category for my other 5% for my T-Mobile Home internet service. BUT if you get approved login your account and select your categories and then wait at least 24 hrs before making a charge. When I got my card I selected my categories and then immediately paid my electric bill. I only got 1%, they claimed my category selection didn't take effect until the day after my electric bill payment.