Discover Gas Credit Card 5% Reward

Posted On: July 29, 2006

Author: glenn21
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:55 am
Post subject: My Discover Gas Card to limit 5% reward to first $1200

First post here. Nice site.

Sorry if this information has already been discussed. I didn’t see it on a search.

I make most purchases with a Chase Amazon.com VISA card. But I have been using my Discover card for gas purchases since April 2005, when I got an offer from them to convert my dormant Discover account to the Gas Card program. Since then I’ve used the card exclusively for gasoline. In the past 12 months I’ve made about $2400 worth of gas purchases.

I just got a letter from Discover, notifying me of changes to the Cashback Bonus Gas Card program to take effect in October. It will now earn the full 5% on the first $1200 in gas AND automotive purchases each year. Of course, they spin this as a great thing because now oil changes, automotive repairs, tires, etc., will all earn the 5%, but they downplay the fact that they are limiting it to $1200, which cuts the rewards in half for me.

It also says that all other purchases will earn up to 1%, including gas and auto maintenance purchases over $1200.

I guess I’ve been expecting that they would eventually limit this program. But ironically I found this site today via a link in this online newspaper story about how credit card programs are being improved lately:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06176/700822-68.stm

It seems that the opposite is happening with Discover Gas Card, at least for me. Have others gotten this letter? Are there better alternatives I could pursue for gas purchases?

No, this wasnt posted here and a good thread to start. I am concerned that the auto. purchases will only be for select places (like the last “get more” promotion so I am not very excited about this.

There are a ton of cards that you can get 5% on gas (some are brand specific), but you should look at the Citibank cards including the dividend select….max of 300 in rebates per year (which if you used all on gas) would be 6000 in gas (and you can have multiple cards).

Chase has a rewards card but they’re starting to phase out the program for new customers. Do a search and see if you can get on before it’s too late. I especially like any deals involving a sign on bonus; I’ve heard of bonuses as high as $150! I only got $50 when I signed up Fatwallet.com also has huge on-going threads on this card.

Citibank’s gas card (”Dividends”; 5% back on gas and grocery purchases) is still going strong, as far as I know. I haven’t heard too much about any sign on bonuses for this card, although I have gotten $100 on two seperate occasions for signing up for two other Citi cards.

I really am quite thrilled to hear about Discover’s expanded gas card. I wonder if they’ll still give it to new customers? I didn’t apply because I don’t need a new gas card, however, it would be nice to get 5% back on any car repairs, impulse car purchases from Advance auto, etc.

My Discover gas card has been this way from the start. But its a fairly new account.

I already amxed out the rewards at 5% and I am well into my CITI card which allows up to 300.00 in rewards

Uh, are you folks really reading what was said? Your 5% on repairs/gas is limited to $1200 IN PURCHASES per year. In other words, you can get at most $60 back per year at the 5% rate. Cards like the Chase and Citi cards give you up to $300 or $600 back per year…