InstaReM's AMAZE MasterCard

[revhappy]

Hi guys, have just started using the card. How does Amaze give back the 1%?

I am also not sure. There is a wallet, maybe they add it to the wallet? Although I dont see any way to topup the wallet.

 

[revhappy]

You need to have a better formula that suits best for yourself and not chase cards without a strategy in this card game. You would know a ballpark figure of monthly expenses and the most commonly used type or categories of spending. Everyone's game is different and if you have a low spending based on the past few post, would suggest you look into other cards that is frills free cashback unless your spending can hit a certain amount consistently.

Uni$ normally is more for the miles chaser. Same goes for points by other banks. Points to cashback valuation is by far poor value under normal circumstances.

Thanks. Given my spend is low, no matter what card I use, its not going to make a big difference. So my main card strategy is just keep applying cards and take the new signup promo and then cancel and reapply every year in a round robin fashion. The only cards I keep are those that dont have any sign up promo. So I have chosen ICBC and UOB. ICBC I had kept until now, mainly because the global mastercard gives 1.5% and it is best for overseas spend and also the 6 dragon points. UOB I kept mainly because of UOB absolute card. So right now I spend using UOB Absolute whereever possible and ICBC cards whereever Amex is not accepted especially for simplygo.

Now I plan to cancel the ICBC cards, because the spend on it is so low, it is not worth keeping them and the dragon points well, I am not even sure when we will travel again. Doesnt look like until one more year. So I plan to cancel the ICBC cards and then use only UOB cards. The UOB Absolute will be my main spending card and the UOB Prvi miles card+amaze will be used for simplygo and everything else where UOB Absolute cannot be used.

 

[hwmook]

Hi guys, have just started using the card. How does Amaze give back the 1%?

Nobody know, I am one of the first to have this card but even now have not reach 3 months so nobody really know it for now.

 

[silverbomb]

Hi guys, have just started using the card. How does Amaze give back the 1%?

This is explained in tnc. Next cashback back awarded on 25th Oct for this quarter.

Payment of cashback shall be made to You on the
25th of the succeeding month after the end of every
quarter (“Cashback Payout Day”). For the
avoidance of doubt, and as an example, the
cashback payable to You for the period between
April to June shall be made on the 25th of July.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQICBAC&usg=AOvVaw2NHtG1E_bMY4A0BJqNv2cq

 

[cassowary18]

I’m a miles chaser (yes even in these times!) so I value 4mpd more than 1% cashback. Also don’t forget the rather tiny hoops you have to jump through to get the cashback, including the $5 block and minimum spend of $500 per quarter. It’s a very minor annoyance at best, but to a miles chaser like me, it’s enough to sway me the other way. This is where I think we can agree to disagree.

For the time being you don't have to choose between 4 mpd and 1% cashback + no FX fees because you can stack both. But it's only a matter of time before banks nerf this, so make hay while it's possible.

 

[cassowary18]

Thanks. Given my spend is low, no matter what card I use, its not going to make a big difference. So my main card strategy is just keep applying cards and take the new signup promo and then cancel and reapply every year in a round robin fashion. The only cards I keep are those that dont have any sign up promo. So I have chosen ICBC and UOB. ICBC I had kept until now, mainly because the global mastercard gives 1.5% and it is best for overseas spend and also the 6 dragon points. UOB I kept mainly because of UOB absolute card. So right now I spend using UOB Absolute whereever possible and ICBC cards whereever Amex is not accepted especially for simplygo.

Now I plan to cancel the ICBC cards, because the spend on it is so low, it is not worth keeping them and the dragon points well, I am not even sure when we will travel again. Doesnt look like until one more year. So I plan to cancel the ICBC cards and then use only UOB cards. The UOB Absolute will be my main spending card and the UOB Prvi miles card+amaze will be used for simplygo and everything else where UOB Absolute cannot be used.

Why not use UOB Absolute to top up GPMC and then use it wherever?

 

[someusername]

IRT whether it is worth using this card without CC rewards. The Revolut card gives a better forex rate - but this is offset by the 1% Amaze cashback - which puts the Amaze card ahead. It depends on how the cashback can be spent. I used Instarem to do a money transfer - rates are worse than Transferwise and Revolut - but the $5 Instapoints I used to offset made it the cheapest. But Instarem is slow - slower than DBS, Transferwise and Revolut.

Funnily enough using the Grab Mastercard funded by Amex TCB introductory 3% offer and earning Grab points at Platinum level with the current 35% points back on Grab rewards worked out as the cheapest forex card!

 

[hwmook]

IRT whether it is worth using this card without CC rewards. The Revolut card gives a better forex rate - but this is offset by the 1% Amaze cashback - which puts the Amaze card ahead. It depends on how the cashback can be spent. I used Instarem to do a money transfer - rates are worse than Transferwise and Revolut - but the $5 Instapoints I used to offset made it the cheapest. But Instarem is slow - slower than DBS, Transferwise and Revolut.

Funnily enough using the Grab Mastercard funded by Amex TCB introductory 3% offer and earning Grab points at Platinum level with the current 35% points back on Grab rewards worked out as the cheapest forex card!

I just used Instarem to transfer some USD yesterday. Made the transfer at 5pm yesterday and the bank is in the bank this morning, that is fast enough for me. I got a $20 discount code that more than offset all fees and exchange rate. Instarem has been giving me $20 promo code every 6 months or so, basically free money.

 

[someusername]

I just used Instarem to transfer some USD yesterday. Made the transfer at 5pm yesterday and the bank is in the bank this morning, that is fast enough for me. I got a $20 discount code that more than offset all fees and exchange rate. Instarem has been giving me $20 promo code every 6 months or so, basically free money.

I transferred JPY and AUD on Friday. DBS and Transferwise were same day for AUD. Revolut arrived yesterday and Instarem arrived today. JPY arrived yesterday for DBS and Transferwise, still waiting for Revolut and Instarem.

 

[sazeeshan]

SPC Spending with Amaze/POSB Everyday Card

I have recently pumped petrol using the Amaze/Everyday combo and, to my surprise, only received a 0.33 rebate from DBS (Actual rebate supposed to be 6%)

Upon calling DBS, they claimed as the card is showing as Amaze, it attracted only 0.33%

I have raised a case with Instarem for their response, not sure if anyone has already answered or is aware of this?

 

[louist]

SPC Spending with Amaze/POSB Everyday Card

I have recently pumped petrol using the Amaze/Everyday combo and, to my surprise, only received a 0.33 rebate from DBS (Actual rebate supposed to be 6%)

Upon calling DBS, they claimed as the card is showing as Amaze, it attracted only 0.33%

I have raised a case with Instarem for their response, not sure if anyone has already answered or is aware of this?

This seems like the expected behaviour - similar to PayPal, the merchant is 'masked' as a charge by Amaze. Only the MCC is passed on.

 

[fr33d0m]

This seems like the expected behaviour - similar to PayPal, the merchant is 'masked' as a charge by Amaze. Only the MCC is passed on.

exactly.

unless it is by MCC, Amaze does not work.

The merchant name will change for those depending on merchants

 

[wira]

SPC Spending with Amaze/POSB Everyday Card

I have recently pumped petrol using the Amaze/Everyday combo and, to my surprise, only received a 0.33 rebate from DBS (Actual rebate supposed to be 6%)

Upon calling DBS, they claimed as the card is showing as Amaze, it attracted only 0.33%

I have raised a case with Instarem for their response, not sure if anyone has already answered or is aware of this?

hmm am also planning to use Amaze with posb everyday card.
pls update here how was the issue with Instarem on this as this will definitelty impact cashback earned

 

[silverbomb]

SPC Spending with Amaze/POSB Everyday Card

I have recently pumped petrol using the Amaze/Everyday combo and, to my surprise, only received a 0.33 rebate from DBS (Actual rebate supposed to be 6%)

Upon calling DBS, they claimed as the card is showing as Amaze, it attracted only 0.33%

I have raised a case with Instarem for their response, not sure if anyone has already answered or is aware of this?

hmm am also planning to use Amaze with posb everyday card.
pls update here how was the issue with Instarem on this as this will definitelty impact cashback earned

just a word of caution if more ppl file complains directly to DBS this will draw their card team more attention to this card and hasten the scrutiny of amaze (up to bank teams to decide the legitimacy, not our call though sadly). if you just want to get specific merchant discount/rebates (not MCC related) like in this case the merchant is SPC, just use the bank card to pay outright at the counter and not amaze

Instarem is not responsible for the banks promo, and the role of the card as we know currently is it passes down the MCC of the transaction as a middle ground. the final description will always starts with *amaze and the likely thing is DBS system lookout for the description starting with "SPC" spelled which is the regular description on top of the MCC to detect and award the rebates and not anything else added at the start cos it is not that difficult to pass down transaction with a SPC somewhere in the description

 

[x_men_naruto96]

Did anyone that encounter issues with adding ICBC cards reported to instarem amaze about the issue and if they have responded? Their response so far has been quite friendly and prompt, and can comprehend human language. Unlike Razer support, talk to them can vomit blood one

They told me that they cannot fix it. The issue lies within ICBC system. So if ICBC does not upgrade their system, we cannot add ICBC cards to Amaze

 

[silverbomb]

They told me that they cannot fix it. The issue lies within ICBC system. So if ICBC does not upgrade their system, we cannot add ICBC cards to Amaze

That's ICBC official response? Icbc cannot resolve it?

If u did spoke with ICBC, did they understood what you said? Iirc their hotline is PRC and sometimes it takes lots of explaining to tell the story to them.

 

[Trazora]

That's ICBC official response? Icbc cannot resolve it?

If u did spoke with ICBC, did they understood what you said? Iirc their hotline is PRC and sometimes it takes lots of explaining to tell the story to them.

Think he referring to Amaze

 

[CrashWire]

SPC Spending with Amaze/POSB Everyday Card

I have recently pumped petrol using the Amaze/Everyday combo and, to my surprise, only received a 0.33 rebate from DBS (Actual rebate supposed to be 6%)

Upon calling DBS, they claimed as the card is showing as Amaze, it attracted only 0.33%

I have raised a case with Instarem for their response, not sure if anyone has already answered or is aware of this?

Strictly speaking, the merchant that charged your Everyday card is now Instarem, not SPC.

Like the other replies here, I would suggest just learning the system (specifically how MCCs work), and don't try to be too clever for that extra 1% when it's merchant-specific cashback.

Also, thanks for being the one trying this out and reporting it here. Hopefully everyone knows better now.

 

[sazeeshan]

Response from Instarem :

"Thank you for using Amaze.

If the rebate is given upfront during the payment at the merchant where for example, the cashier has to verify the type of card, or if there is a check on the Card Type at the terminal, then the rebate by the linked card issuer is not applicable.

However if the rebate is applicable post transactions, example rebate is credited on a monthly basis, then the rebate will most likely be applicable.

Request you to please check with your bank if the rebate is applicable."

Instarem in above response says if its post transaction rebate, it should be applicable.
Whereas it did not.

In my opinion, where you have a store discount combined with an everyday rebate - this scenario might not work.

 

[Trazora]

Response from Instarem :

"Thank you for using Amaze.

If the rebate is given upfront during the payment at the merchant where for example, the cashier has to verify the type of card, or if there is a check on the Card Type at the terminal, then the rebate by the linked card issuer is not applicable.

However if the rebate is applicable post transactions, example rebate is credited on a monthly basis, then the rebate will most likely be applicable.

Request you to please check with your bank if the rebate is applicable."

Instarem in above response says if its post transaction rebate, it should be applicable.
Whereas it did not.

In my opinion, where you have a store discount combined with an everyday rebate - this scenario might not work.

how was the question phrased?