Community Forums

oatmeal · 10-05-2022, 06:39 PM

I have a USAA credit card with cash rewards--the kind that you redeem for a statement credit. I just happened to be looking at the FAQ for the rewards program, and it says:

Quote:

Qualifying Purchases do not include Payments, Balance Transfers, Cash Advances (including Convenience Checks), ATM Cash Disbursements, Money Transfers, Truck Stop Transactions, Gaming Transactions, Tax Payments, Finance Charges, Fees, and purchases of other cash equivalents, even if used to purchase goods or services.

https://www.loyaltygateway.com/rewar...amInfo/usaafaq

The rewards are only like 1% or so, so it's not a big deal, but I had no idea "truck stops" were excluded. I keep close track of my money, but I've never done any sort of calculations to confirm what I'm getting in the rewards program--just sort of looked at it as free money--so I never noticed some relatively big transactions weren't being "rewarded."

And yes, I know there are credit cards that give more cash back, or that would include truck stops, so we don't need to get into that. But I thought I'd give a heads-up in case others have USAA credit cards and aren't aware of the truck stop exception.

Old-Biscuit · 10-05-2022, 06:52 PM

I have a USAA CC but rarely use it.........got it years ago cause it was for Vets

My BOA Visa ...get 5% cash back on Fuel purchases (any where), 3% onl-line purchases
Her Visa ....get 3% on Fuel and or grocery

Use mine for fuel/on-line and hers for grocery

Never carry a balance and cash back. Works for US and beats carrying Cash (which many places don't take anymore)

Not sure why I keep the USAA....backup I guess

twogypsies · 10-05-2022, 07:10 PM

Our Visa Freedom Unlimited also gets 5% cashback on fuel. We also pay it off monthly - always have.

oatmeal · 10-05-2022, 07:32 PM

As I said,

Quote:

Originally Posted by oatmeal

And yes, I know there are credit cards that give more cash back, or that would include truck stops, so we don't need to get into that. But I thought I'd give a heads-up in case others have USAA credit cards and aren't aware of the truck stop exception.

Cat320 · 10-06-2022, 07:38 AM

Call USAA and ask for clarification.

oatmeal · 10-06-2022, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat320

Call USAA and ask for clarification.

What clarification is necessary? It clearly says qualifying purchases do not include truck stops.

And frankly, I haven't had the best experience with calling USAA. I was being assessed some bogus interest charges (I always pay my bill in full, on time) and one representative told me they'd changed their policy, and purchases accrue interest from day they're made. I said, "Really?? That's a HUGE change in policy," and she said yes, really. "So even if I pay my bill in full every month, I still get charged interest?" She said yes.

Of course she was wrong. Interest doesn't accrue if you pay your bill in full. It was a screw-up on their end.

darrellr · 10-06-2022, 01:39 PM

I think USAA is attempting to prevent having to pay out rewards for what is, for the vast majority, a commercial purchase rather than a consumer purchase. Obviously, RVers might be an exception, and we are definitely not a majority.

Warhorse6 · 10-06-2022, 01:50 PM

I have been a USAA member for 48 years and have had a USAA credit cards for decades and never an issue from disputing claims to cash back. And there is no annual fee. I do not use it as truck stops, but exclusively for everything else and pay in full each month. As for their customer service, first rate.

Psneeld · 10-06-2022, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warhorse6

I have been a USAA member for 48 years and have had a USAA credit cards for decades and never an issue from disputing claims to cash back. And there is no annual fee. I do not use it as truck stops, but exclusively for everything else and pay in full each month. As for their customer service, first rate.

My experience too....WAY better customer services than most companies these days (not so much back 30-40 years ago during their growth spurt).

They quickly just fixed a huge issue with my Cigna dental plan where Cigna was unbearable.

Sweetbriar · 10-06-2022, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrellr

I think USAA is attempting to prevent having to pay out rewards for what is, for the vast majority, a commercial purchase rather than a consumer purchase. Obviously, RVers might be an exception, and we are definitely not a majority.

I'm thinking the same. When you consider the high cost of over the road diesel combined with a prime mover with twin 150 gallon tanks I can see truck stops fitting in with the rest of the list.

Gary RVRoamer · 10-07-2022, 12:01 PM

I wonder what they consider a "truck stop"? Many such are now "travel centers" and have 10-20 automobile fuel pumps, convenience stores, etc. Is it by brand name? Location? Or maybe they can distinguish it by the pump used or billing code - commercial fueling is seldom "pay at the pump". It might be worthwhile to call USAA and ask that question.

oatmeal · 10-07-2022, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrellr

I think USAA is attempting to prevent having to pay out rewards for what is, for the vast majority, a commercial purchase rather than a consumer purchase. Obviously, RVers might be an exception, and we are definitely not a majority.

You might be on to something.

I just noticed that USAA is changing its terms and conditions starting October 14. The current definition of "qualifying purchases" is what I quoted above. Here's what it's changing to:

Quote:

Qualifying purchases do not include:

Balance Transfers, Cash Advances (including Convenience Checks or any other checks that access your Account), ATM Cash Disbursements, money orders, transfers or similar cash-like transactions (including person-to-person money transfers through services such as Venmo®, PayPal® and Cash App®), gaming transactions (including the Purchase of lottery tickets, casino gaming, race track wages, sports betting including online activity, or similar betting transactions), tax payments, finance charges, Fees of any kind, unauthorized or fraudulent transactions, travelers checks, Purchases of cash equivalents (even if used to Purchase products or services), Purchases of gift cards or cryptocurrency, Purchases made for business-related purposes, certain other Purchases, and Purchases determined by USAA to be made to generate rewards but otherwise receive limited or no other value from the transaction.

https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/cred..._rewards_terms

They took out the specific exclusion for truck stops, but put in "purchases made for business-related purposes." I wonder how they go about determining that, and if they notify the cardholder. Also, henceforth "certain other purchases" will also not be considered qualifying purchases. That gives us consumers a lot of guidance.

I did find a place in my online USAA account interface that shows how much rewards I earned for each transaction, but it goes back only four days. But next week I might be going near a Love's, and it will still be when truck stop purchases are specifically excluded. Maybe I should detour and buy a small amount of gas by paying at the pump, and then go inside and buy a candy bar or something, also paying with the credit card. Then I can look online to see if either one earned rewards.

(I'd prefer to pay for the gas inside, to take "pay at the pump" out of the equation, but I'm just not willing to put $2 on the credit card for gas, and then come back in and buy a $2 candy bar with the credit card.

And then if I go by a Love's again in the future, I can test it to see if it changes when the new T&C are effective; there should be nothing about my candy bar and $2 in gas that ping "business related" at this truck stop.