1500 FlexPoints Offer for Setting up an Automatic Payment

Today I got an email from US Bank titled ” Earn a bonus – just for paying your company’s bills”. The essence of this offer is that you get 1,500 FlexPoints for setting up an automatic payment, for example telephone and cable TV.

The Fine Print

Promotion period for requesting a monthly recurring bill payment is from July 21, 2017 through August 31, 2017 and the date by which your first monthly transaction must post to your account is September 30, 2017. To receive 1,500 FlexPoints, you must use your U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Business Edge™ Travel Rewards card to set up one monthly recurring bill payment by August 31, 2017. The first monthly transaction must post to your U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Business Edge™ Travel Rewards card account by September 30, 2017. The 1,500 FlexPoints will be applied to your account within 10-12 weeks after the end of the promotion period. This offer is not transferable. Your account must remain open, have available credit, and be current (no minimum payment past due) to qualify. This offer may not apply if your credit card has changed to a different type of card within the last 12 weeks or changes before the 1,500 FlexPoints is applied. This offer is accurate as of July 10, 2017. If you have any questions, call Cardmember Service at 800-374-7979‍.

My Thoughts

This offer is great except for the fact that my annual fee is due in 2 months. I believe this offer was sent to me as an standard over the email “retention offer” that US Bank is known for.

Notice how the fine print says that “FlexPoints will be applied to the account within 10-12 weeks after the end of the promotion period [which is August 31st]”. In other words if I close the account I won’t get the bonus.

Now you’re probably thinking “why not downgrade to no AF FP card?” but apparently US Bank covers that in fine prints as well “This offer may not apply if your credit card has changed to a different type of card within the last 12 weeks or changes before the 1,500 FlexPoints is applied”.

Anyway, if you get this offer around annual fee renewal then also try for retention offer over the phone. US Bank sometimes flat out waives annual fee and occasionally offers points retention offer.