Choice CC targeted bonus: 2,000 points for $500+ in hotels theme parks & car rentals
Seems okay, although the wording indicates only one 2,000 point bonus, so really double points on the $1000 spend. Most likely targeted (check your inbox!). From the email:
This summer, when you use your Choice Privileges® Visa® card for hotels, amusement parks, and car rentals, you can win big. Spend $500 each month between July 1 and August 31, 2012, and earn an additional 2,000 bonus points.*
And don't forget you'll still earn 2 points per $1
spent on all your purchases!
* This bonus is for select Choice Privileges Visa cardmembers and is not transferable. Qualified cardmembers will earn 2,000 bonus points when $500 in new purchase(s) at hotels, amusement parks, and car rentals (that are not later returned or rescinded) post to their account in each month from 07/01/2012 through 07/31/2012 and 08/01/2012 through 08/31/2012. Eligible hotel, amusement park, and car rental purchases are defined by merchant category codes. Each merchant designates a category code to assign purchases at its establishment. Although most hotel, amusement park, and car rental companies will use merchant category codes selected for this offer, it is possible that some hotel, amusement park, and car rental companies have designated a merchant category code that is not classified as a hotel, amusement park, and car rental. To be eligible for this offer, the cardmember's account must be open and in good standing. Purchases made during periods when the cardmember's account is delinquent, their balance exceeds their credit line or their account is otherwise not in good standing as defined in the Credit Card Cardmember Agreement do not qualify for this offer. The bonus will appear on the cardmember's statement within 10-12 weeks after the end of the promotion.
Interesting. I got a similar email offer--in fact, the same in all but one important respect: I need only spend $250 per month to get the 2000 bonus points. This clearly makes the bonus much more worth pursuing, especially since I already have a number of Choice stays planned for July. Meeting this target in August may be more difficult, but if a planned trip to Canada occurs, I should meet that easily as well in order to qualify for the lump sum bonus. I am reluctant to use this card on rental cars since I have insurance protection through Amex and my Chase UA card that the Choice Privileges card does not offer.
I'm wondering if there's another layer of loyalty reward going on here. I have participated in the last two bonus promotions the Choice card has offered. Is there any correlation between my earlier participation and the lower spending requirement imposed on my offer? Or, is it just the luck of the draw?
And, I wish they would write the terms more clearly. Although I agree with you that the T&Cs seem to indicate that the bonus results in a total of 2000 points earned, including the normal rate earned on purchases, I don't think it's hard to read the T&Cs as stating that you'll earn 2000 points plus the regular 2 points/$1 rate--therefore, a minimum of 3000 points for me (assuming no Choice hotel purchases) and 4000 points for you.
In fact, while writing the last paragraph, I realized that given the potential for satisfying the terms of this promotion solely through the purchase of Choice hotel rooms, earning the normal 5 points/$1, the bonus may very well be an additional 2000 points since I would earn 2500 for the Choice purchases anyway (and you would earn 5000 under the same assumption).
In any case, Barclays has certainly enticed me to use this card during 2012 much more than I would have expected. If they run a bonus for spending at golf courses, I'm really going to do well!
I'm wondering if there's another layer of loyalty reward going on here. I have participated in the last two bonus promotions the Choice card has offered. Is there any correlation between my earlier participation and the lower spending requirement imposed on my offer? Or, is it just the luck of the draw?
Definitely luck of the draw. I've used my card for precisely one purchase, and I was offered the $250/month spend offer as well.
Definitely luck of the draw. I've used my card for precisely one purchase, and I was offered the $250/month spend offer as well.
Figured that's the case. While I've used this card as mentioned, I've gotten no similar offers from Barclays on my US Airways MC, including the 15K bonus promo for $1250/month spend over three consecutive months that many have been offered since late last year.
As Sally Field would say, "They like me, they must really like me!"
Fourth promo with the Choice Privileges card I've been offered this year: spend $750/month in September and October and earn an extra 2000 CP points. No category restrictions.
Not a spectacular promotion, but since I'll have some available spend even after meeting the bonus requirements for a couple of recent credit card applications, not the worst way to spend $1500.
On a side note, still no offer from Barclays to me for similar bonus spending on my US MC.
