Additional information can be found here.
Background
Blast from the past. In September 2015, Discover launched a promotion to get 10% back on all Apple Pay purchases, up to $10,000 in purchases ($1k cashback). This would also be doubled for those who were in the Discover Match program, and most of us were eligible then for the Match.
After Discover realized that anyone can buy $10k in Visa gift cards with Apple Pay and get $1k/2k cashback, they went into damage control and sent out emails that no gift cards would earn the 10% cash back. Even third party gift cards would not be eligible.
This limitation was enforced to an extent; they sent out emails to many people invalidating select purchases from 10% rewards, barring proof that the purchase was not a gift card.
News
Just a few minutes ago, many, many Discover cardholders just got a peculiar email from Discover about the Apply Pay promotion:
Thank you for enrolling on September 19, 2015 in our promotional offer of 10% Cashback Bonus® on up to $10,000 in Discover® card purchases made with Discover card in Apple Pay from September 16, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Based on an internal review, we have decided to award you additional Cashback Bonus related to this promotion. It will appear on your statement within the next two billing cycles. Thank you for choosing Discover and enjoy your Cashback Bonus.
Sincerely, Discover Card Customer Service
It would appear that they are sending these emails to those who made gift card purchases, and they have now decided to pay up the 10% on those purchases. The cash back will appear within two business cycles.
Pretty weird they send out an email without explaining what it’s about. It’s possible that this is some glitch email. Time will tell.
Interestingly, just over a year ago there was a similar email sent out to some, but I think this one is being sent out more broadly than the last.
Wow I can’t believe this happened. I just received $1008 on one of my cards. And I’m expecting about 2x that amount on another family member’s card that I hit even harder during that promotional period. I dont know what prompted discover to do this, but what a surprise!
Like many others, I did a live chat an the rep confirmed I would see $1011.90 on my next statement – the exact amount for 10 $500 VGC purchases that I made ($505.95*10%) that got rejected and then doubled since I was additionally enrolled in that promo at the time.
Nice haul!
I smell a possible class action lawsuit had they not honored their original terms & condition.
If you call they will tell you. Called last and was told $750+ will be applied next statement.
Chatted with rep and she confirmed I would received ~$600 CB for Apple Pay promo adjustment. Already received full 1k in 2015. Nice surprise. Not compaining 🙂
This is awesome! Happy Cinco De Mayo!! Time to celebrate =D
Thank you to whomever got this rolling. Made a lot of noise (complaints and what-not) but didn’t actually go the legal route (even though I had intended to).
I made about 7k on this promo with only 2 cards.
I know max would be 4400 but discover pissed me off and made me make “real” purchases.
So i did make about 10k in gcs and 10k in real purchases. On these real purchases i used combination of return/price protection/reward apps/reward points to make additional 2600.
Sorry i will not go into details about those additional techniques publicly. That would just be too much and discover could go bankrupt :).
Btw I also got 2 emails although they paid me full 4400.
I did not receive an email nor did my spouse. But we both signed up for our cards after the gift card exclusion language was added.
I also got the email and my statement cut off was last night. I saw my CB has posted and I was only expecting $204.xx, but came up one thousand $ more. This bonus that was totally unexpected. This account has a few more months to double the CB, if that doubles later, that’s another bonus!
That doesn’t make any sense. If you received money from the AP promo that would mean that you signed up for the card in 2015 or earlier. How could you still have a few months for doubling when that happens after a year?
I have 2 Discover cards but only received this email for 1 of the accounts. Did any of you that have 2 accounts receive 2 emails?
I got 2 emails
The statement for the card that I received the email cuts early in the month. The other one cuts later in the month. Do you think I might receive the email for that account later this month?