Using a rewards debit card to avoid PayPal fee?
 

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here, so forgive me if this has already been discussed, but I didn't find any relevant threads, so here goes--

I am thinking about getting a rewards debit card (likely citi AA) to use with PayPal so that I can get points for paying my rent. I usually just write a check to my roommate for my half of rent expenses, but it looks like PayPal will allow you to send funds fee-free as long as they come from your bank account or debit card.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Would this qualify as a signature-type transaction for points (as opposed to a PIN transaction)?

Any advice is appreciated!!

if they are letting you do it fee-free, then I'm guessing it's going to be a pin transaction, which I am going to assume does not earn any points.

i cannot guarantee this. otherwise, my wife and I should just ping-pong some $ back and forth on debit cards through paypal.

This page says:

Personal Transfer

Free when the money comes from PayPal balance or bank account.

2.9% + $0.30 USD when the money comes from a debit or credit card or PayPal Credit

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/ma...y-fees-outside

Somebody, either you or the roommate will have to pay the fee when you transfer using a debit card.

Depending on how much the rent is you may be more then happy to pay the fee to get the miles, though there are probably many other expenses you could put on the card without paying a fee.