Consumer complaint received 2020-12-03
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: AZ
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Problem with rewards from credit card

Complaint:
Before making a {$50.00} XXXX electronic gift card purchase with my Discover credit card, I asked XXXX in Utah if it would receive 5 % cash back like all other XXXX purchases with my Discover card this quarter. 

He said, " Hello XXXX. This is XXXX in Utah. It's good to know what to expect with rewards on your purchases! 
Usually giftcard purchases come through as XXXX Gift Card rather than XXXX. 
For this reason the 5 % will not auotmatically be applied. You can reach out after the cycle date to have it adjusted though! 
It will take an additional billing cycle to update though. '' When I contacted Discover today to get that adjustment, they said, " I do apologize for any misinformation, gift card purchases are excluded from the 5 % quarterly promotion. Due to this I am unable to make that adjustment, I apologize for any inconvenience this causes. We are always looking for ways to improve our company. I would be happy to pass along your feedback for future enhancements.Did you have further questions in regards to your account? '' Even their website does not say XXXX gift cards are excluded from the 5 % quarterly promotion. It says : " Activate to earn 5 % Cashback Bonus at XXXX, XXXX and XXXX from XX/XX/XXXX ( or the date on which you activate 5 %, whichever is later ) through XX/XX/XXXX, and at XXXX XXXX from XX/XX/XXXX ( or the date on which you activate 5 %, whichever is later ) through XX/XX/XXXX, on up to {$1500.00} in combined purchases. XXXX XXXX purchases include only purchases made in-store at XXXX XXXX, online at XXXX, or through the XXXX XXXX app. Cell phone purchases only includes the portion of the balance amount paid in-store at XXXX XXXX, online at XXXX, or through the XXXX XXXX app. It does not include cell phone installment plans. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical XXXX XXXX locations, or on XXXX, may not be eligible in this category. XXXX purchases include those made through the XXXX checkout, including digital downloads, XXXX gift cards, XXXX XXXX orders, XXXX Local Deals, XXXX XXXX subscriptions and items sold by third party merchants through XXXX 's marketplace. Purchases also include those made in-store at XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX. The XXXX logo and the smile logo are trademarks of XXXX or its XXXX. XXXX purchases include only those made at XXXX and when shopping through the XXXX app ( including Grocery Pick Up and Instore Pick Up ). Purchases made through affiliates of XXXX are not part of this promotion. The XXXX logo is a registered trademark of XXXX XXXX XXXX purchases include only purchases made online at XXXX or through the XXXX XXXX. Purchases made through affiliates of XXXX are not part of this promotion, including, but not limited to, XXXX and XXXX XXXX  and the XXXX Design are registered trademarks of XXXX XXXX , XXXX. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program. 

Activate to earn 5 % Cashback Bonus at Grocery Stores ( stand-alone ), XXXX ( stand-alone ) and XXXX ( stand-alone ) from XX/XX/XXXX ( or the date on which you activate 5 %, whichever is later ) through XX/XX/XXXX, on up to {$1500.00} in purchases. Grocery Store purchases now also includes XXXX XXXX Pickup and Delivery purchases only ; other purchases at XXXX are not eligible. Purchases made at convenience stores, gas stations, warehouse clubs, discount stores, supercenters ( or at grocery stores associated with supercenters or discount stores ) are not eligible. XXXX purchases are not eligible. XXXX and XXXX purchases include only purchases made in-store at XXXX or XXXX, online at XXXX or XXXX, or through the XXXX or XXXX XXXX. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical XXXX or XXXX locations ( including health centers ), or on XXXX or XXXX, may not be eligible in this category. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program. 

Activate to earn 5 % Cashback Bonus at Gas Stations ( stand-alone ), Wholesale Clubs and Select Streaming Services from XX/XX/XXXX ( or the date on which you activate 5 %, whichever is later ) through XX/XX/XXXX, on up to {$1500.00} in purchases. Purchases made at Gas Stations include only merchants in the category that sell automotive gasoline that can be paid for either at the pump or inside the station. Gas Stations affiliated with supermarkets and supercenters may not be eligible. Check with your Wholesale Clubs to make sure your Discover card is accepted. Purchases of affiliated Wholesale Club services, such as delivery services, travel and cell phone purchases, may not be eligible in this category. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Wholesale club locations, or online, may not be eligible in this category. Select Streaming Services purchases include only the following select U.S. streaming subscriptions : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX+ XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX + XXXX XXXX+, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. If your subscription is bundled with another product or service, billed by a third party ( such as a digital platform, a cable or satellite provider, telecommunications, internet provider or a car manufacturer ), the purchase may not be eligible in this category. Add-ons associated with Select Streaming Services may not qualify for this promotion if they are not listed, billed in a bundle, separately or through a third party. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program. 

Activate to earn 5 % Cashback Bonus at Restaurants and XXXX from XX/XX/XXXX ( or the date on which you activate 5 %, whichever is later ) through XX/XX/XXXX, on up to {$1500.00} in purchases. Restaurant purchases include only those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias and fast food locations. XXXX qualifying purchases are those made through the XXXX wallet online, when you send money to Friends and Family via XXXX using your Discover Card, and point-of-sale transactions using XXXX Here. Payments made through the XXXX transfer service are not eligible for 5 %. Any restaurant purchase made using XXXX will only be awarded a total of 5 % Cashback XXXX. XXXX, the XXXX logo are trademarks of XXXX or its Affiliates. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program. 

Activate to earn 5 % Cashback Bonus at XXXX, XXXX and XXXX from XX/XX/XXXX ( or the date on which you activate 5 %, whichever is later ) through XX/XX/XXXX, on up to {$1500.00} in purchases. XXXX purchases include those made through the XXXX checkout, including digital downloads, XXXX gift cards, XXXX Fresh orders, XXXX Local Deals, XXXX XXXX subscriptions and items sold by third party merchants through XXXX 's marketplace. Purchases also include those made in-store at XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX. The XXXX logo and the smile logo are trademarks of XXXX or its Affiliates. XXXX purchases include only those made at XXXX and when shopping through the XXXX app ( including Grocery Pick Up and Delivery ). Purchases made through affiliates of XXXX are not part of this promotion. The XXXX logo is a registered trademark of XXXX XXXX XXXX purchases include only purchases made online at XXXX  or through the XXXX XXXX. Purchases made through affiliates of XXXX are not part of this promotion, including, but not limited to, XXXX and XXXX XXXX  and the XXXX Design are registered trademarks of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program. '' Based on the terms of the promotion and XXXX in Utah 's message, I should receive 5 % cash back for my {$50.00} XXXX electronic gift card purchase. Why is Discover denying me the 5 % cash back now?

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation