Boycott: Discover Card

Do you use a Discover Card?  Do you use this card because of the 5% cashback bonus offer?  Well, you may not be getting what you think you are getting.  This month's 5% cashback bonus with Discover Card applies to categories in Home and Fashion.  More specifically, they say "Home Improvement Stores, Fashion Stores, and Department Stores."  Well, I needed some new clothes and went on a shopping spree this past weekend.  I went to Express, Benetton, Lord & Taylor, GAP Outlet, and NY&Co.  Every one of them a clothing store or department store.  Yet, they were categorized as "Merchandise" by Discover Card.  When I inquired about this, Discover's response was, "we don't make the categories, the merchants do."  A chain of e-mails later, I completely lost faith in Discover Card's integrity.  They seem to have no intention of rewarding points as would be expected by the typical consumer.  I reckon most women, and probably men, recognize those stores I went to as a clothing store but Discover Card doesn't.  I began to wonder if any of the purchases are categorized correctly (one restaurant was categorized as Travel/Entertainment), but it's difficult to tell what percentage cashback you got because there's no statement for rewards.

Btw, for those who use Discover Card thinking you at least get 1% back on other purchases, read the fine print.  DiscoverCard gives 1% cashback on other purchases ONLY after you have made $3,000 in purchases.  The reward is only 0.25% for the first $3,000 in purchases.  After the poor responses I got from Discover Card, I was left to feel that they mislead customers into using their card with false advertisements and they are doing everything in their power to pay out the least possible in rewards.  Their customer service also tries to avoid answering your questions.  They even had the galls to write in one e-mail response that "someone already called you and discussed this with you" when I had spoken to no one. I am much better off using my other credit cards who always at the least give you 1% back for purchases, and don't seem to be categorizing cards incorrectly.  I would urge you to do the same.  (My favorite is AMEX btw.)