Busting a stealth mileage cap?
 

I have a SW Visa card from First USA Bank. I just found out the hard way that they have an annual cap on mileage credit. I suppose I should have ignored the paragraph on the monthly statements which reads: "Every time you make a purchase with your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa card, you will earn Reward Dollars. For every 1,000 Reward Dollars, you'll earn 1 credit. The credits will be transferred to your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account within 30 days of this statement and will combined with all of your other credits."

It says "every time" and "credits will be transferred". Nothing about any cap in this paragraph or anywhere on the statement. I have no problem abiding by restrictions that are spelled out plainly, but this paragraph didn't carry any asterisk and footnote with restrictions like you see for fare sales. The only fine print points to the southwest.com site for info on Rapid Rewards, and that site describes 1 credit per $1000 without any mention of a cap either. This is downright sneaky.

I will write to FirstUSA and ask politely for an exception, and I suppose I could take it to Small Claims Court if they stonewall me. Has anybody had any luck in getting FirstUSA to waive the cap?

How did you find out about the cap? What did they say when you called customer service (as I assume you did)?

What about in your T&C's that you received with the plastic? - that booklet full of fine print.

That might help you determine your ability to make a claim. I bet it was disclosed, albeit in small print, at the time you applied for the card

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I Love New York

Yes, customer service told me about the cap when I phoned wondering what the heck was going on. Unless they goofed up, it was in the fine print issued with the card long ago, but the question is whether they can print something contrary to the official terms month after month on the statements and disclaim responsibility for misleading their cardholders. I really don't think so. Ccardholders have a right to rely on what's printed on the monthly statement: it's an official communication from the bank.

I expect that this will work out OK for me, but I'll let you know either way.

If you click here on FirstUSA's website (Southwest Airlines card):
http://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/webc...hwest_airlines

and then click on the "Pricing and Terms" button, it says the following about a Cap:

"3. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa cardmembers are eligible to earn up to 48,000 Reward Dollars per year on Southwest Airlines Visa Accounts."

same thing happened to me and my wife. we both upgraded to Platinum card, which has no cap.

First USA in my opinion has very questionable customer service. Others on this board have voiced the same complaint. Why Southwest and United continue to affiliate with this institution is beyond my comprehension.

Could be FirstUSA provides a greater kickback that they get on purchase made with their affinity cards. American has Chase, and Delta has American Express, one would think that they percentage those companies take for their cut (inverse of what they return to AA and DL) is probably higher.

Jeff

Actually AA is co-branded with Citibank.

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I Love New York

It could be that FUSA (note that it's initial start with "FU") was a default choice because other banks have strong relationships with specific airlines. Citibank has the American Airlines AAdvantage Card for many years. Chase is gung-ho on Continental. Smaller banks have American West, Midwest Express, etc. AMEX provides a huge cut to Delta.

MBNA just lost the TWA card due to airline's merger with AA. Maybe they'll bid on Southwest or United. MBNA certainly has better customer service.

Success! A very nice lady at First USA just called me and told me that the credits would be added to my new Platinum card. (I had figured that having the Platinum card was not only a good idea in its own right, but would allow First USA to give me the credits without reprogramming their computers.)

The moral of the story is that you have to go high enough in the organization to get someone who is allowed to use his or her brain power and common sense. I figured that Southwest's Customer Relations people would have the appropriate contacts, and they did. First USA responded immediately, and showed genuine concern toward fixing the problems with their system. They have earned my loyalty.