Discover’s Deal of the Year results are in. The gift card rule IS being enforced.

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Quick background: Discover is currently running two overlapping promotions: an extra 10% cash back for Apple Pay purchases made through December 31st, plus double all cash back for a year.  Each promotion is amazing on its own. Taken together, they’re fantastic.  You can get 20% back on all Apple Pay purchases, in addition to your usual credit card rewards!  But… until now, we didn’t know whether or not gift card purchases would work…  You can find full details about the promotions here and here.

Results are in: no gift cards

I awoke this morning to a flood of emails, tweets, and comments from blog readers who had received emails from Discover.  It turned out that I got them too.  The emails came in two forms.  One said that 10% would be awarded as a one time courtesy despite the purchase of a gift card. The others said “no gift cards allowed”.

Version 1:

 

Discover

Access My Account

Account number ending in XXXX

Important info about extra rewards with Apple Pay

Future gift card purchases will not earn extra rewards

Dear Frequent Miler,

We’re writing to let you know that your gift card purchase made with Apple Pay at Rite Aid Store – 1234 for $505.95  on September 17, 2015 will be rewarded 10% Cashback Bonus® as a one-time courtesy. Gift card purchases are not currently included in this promotion, and any future gift card purchases will not qualify.

As a reminder, now through December 31, 2015, you’ll get an extra 10% Cashback Bonus® on up to $10,000 in purchases when you shop in stores and use your Discover card with Apple Pay, excluding gift card purchases.

Sincerely,

Discover Card Customer Service

Version 2:

 

Discover

Access My Account

Account number ending in XXXX

Important info about extra rewards with Apple Pay

Gift card purchases will not earn extra rewards

Dear Frequent Miler,

We’re writing to let you know that your Apple Pay purchase on September 18, 2015 for $505.95 at Walgreens #5678 included a gift card. The gift card portion of your purchase does not qualify for the 10%Cashback Bonus®  promotion.

As a reminder, now through December 31, 2015, you’ll earn an extra 10% Cashback Bonus® on up to $10,000 in purchases when you shop in stores and use your Discover card with Apple Pay, excluding gift card purchases.

If you disagree with our finding and contend that your purchase did not include a gift card or a portion of your purchase qualifies per the terms of the promotion, let us know with supporting documentation in the next 21 days. Documentation can include store receipts or invoices, but cannot include your Discover card statement. You can send documentation via email:

 

Scan and then e-mail to promoverification@discover.com


Sincerely,

Discover Card Customer Service

Stores listed

My emails from Discover included purchases from Walgreens and Rite Aid.  Others have reported Staples as well.  I’m curious… Did you receive emails about gift card purchases from any other stores?

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