Chase temporarily honoring bonus rates from Ink Business Cash error email

A month ago, there was some brief consternation after Chase sent an e-mail to Ink Business Cash cardholders with an image at the bottom that showed bonus category rates very different from what we’re accustomed to:

• 3% at office supply stores (up to $2,000 per month)
• 3% at gas stations (up to $2,000 per month)
• 3% at restaurants (up to $2,000 per month)
• 3% at hardware/home improvement stores (up to $2,000 per month)
• 1% everywhere else

Some people thought that this meant Chase was changing the current categories and doing away with 5% back at office supply stores. In fact, they were from an old version of the Ink Cash card and were mistakenly included in the marketing email…no rates were changing. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and moved on.

However, Doctor of Credit reports that Chase has sent another email to Ink Cash cardholders telling them that, for a limited time, they’re actually going to honor the rates listed in the mistaken communication.

The Deal

• Chase has sent an email to some Ink Business Cash cardholders to inform them that the following earning rates will be applied to purchases made between May 27 and July 1:
  • 5% at office supply stores
  • 5% at internet, cable, and phone services
  • 3% at gas stations
  • 3% at restaurants
  • 3% at hardware/home improvement stores
  • 1% everywhere else
• 3% and 5% categories are limited to the first $25K in combined purchases during the cardmember year
• Doctor of Credit reports that they didn’t receive the error email, but DID get the second one with the temporarily increased rates

Quick Thoughts

This is a surprising move from Chase, but in retrospect, it makes sense that they would feel that they need to provide the mistaken rates that customers received for legal purposes. May 27th was the day that the first email went out, so they’re effectively providing around one billing period’s worth of increased rates.

I’m impressed that they aren’t limiting the temporary 3% categories to $2K like it says in the e-mail, instead lumping them into the same yearly $25K cap that applies to the current 5% categories…although folks who already max those out each year may say, “thanks, but no thanks.”

Doctor of Credit reports that they received the email about the bonus rates despite never getting the first one. Given that, if those bonus rates move the needle for you over that timeframe, it might be worth sending a secure message to Chase, asking them to honor those rates for you.

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