5000 points for a $150 donation to MS

[markis10]

Just popped up on Ozbargain, bit of a win win for all!

https://www.americanexpress.com/australia/personal/cards/rewards/partners/sclerosis.html

 

[NM]

Terms and conditions exclude some cards:

Offer commences 1 April 2013 and ends 30 June 2013. Bonus Points only available for donations made for Multiple Sclerosis in NSW, ACT, VIC & QLD. Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available at membershiprewards.com.au/termsandconditions. Membership Rewards Bonus Point offers are valid for purchases made in Australia and charged to an eligible Membership Rewards enrolled American Express Card. Enrolment in Membership Rewards is required (an annual fee may apply). Please allow 8 to 10 weeks for Bonus Points to be credited to your account. The Qantas American Express Card, the Qantas American Express Premium Card, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, the Qantas American Express Business Card, the Qantas American Express Business Credit Card, pharmac_ Business Cards, ALM Business Cards, IGA-D Business Cards, Campbell Business Cards and Best Western Business Cards are not eligible for the Bonus Partners. David Jones American Express Cards and Cards not issued by American Express are excluded from this promotion. Promotion periods may vary. Partner participation is subject to change without notice. Please check each offer for more details. For full Terms and Conditions please visit americanexpress.com.au/bonuspoints. Offer subject to change at any time.

 

[NM]

The Terms and Conditions make no mention of whether this bonus payable multiple times.

 

[whatmeworry]

Mmmm I wonder if my Qantas Discovery Card is eligible? Plus forget that donations are tax deductible!

 

[whatmeworry]

The Terms and Conditions make no mention of whether this bonus payable multiple times.

Found this at the bottom of the donation page.

*Offer is only redeemable by donating online. Offer commences 1 July 2012 and ends 30 June 2013. To be eligible for the offer, Cardmembers need to donate $150 or more in a single transaction. Only eligible Cards will receive Bonus Points. For full offer details visit www.americanexpress.com.au/bonuspoints.

This offer has been around for nearly a year.
My card is a "Qantas American Express Discovery Card", making me think I am not eligible.

 

[oz_mark]

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s/new-platinum-card-bonus-partners-41017.html

 

[newformula]

You can most definitely get the bonus multiple times on one card.

 

[WLG]

You can most definitely get the bonus multiple times on one card.

Is this based on personal experience?

 

[newformula]

Yes, absolutely - you can see screenshots of my Amex account statement and some more info at http://www.pointhacks.com.au/buying...s-points-contribute-good-ms-society-australia

 

[k3nnis]

Just thinking whether 5000 MR points is worth $150 or not....

 

[newformula]

In my view, it depends on 1) whether you have a specific use for them that gives you a reference points for buying them, and 2) how much of a tax deduction you can claim to discount the cost at tax return time.

 

[NM]

Just thinking whether 5000 MR points is worth $150 or not....

When including the tax deduction and the fact I believe its a worthwhile charity to support, the value proposition looks attractive.

I just wish the other charities I support (and obtain a tax deduction through) would offer me bonus points as well.

 

[quokka77]

I am not sure whether the MS amex donation offer has been updated to close this "loop hole". When I looked at the links a few days ago it seemed like it was much more obvious than previously in the terms and conditions that they only wanted to give extra points for the first donation, so perhaps someone can comment with recent experience. When I first saw this on AFF and the pointhacks site, I looked into it, but I personally wasn't comfortable gaming multiple charity donations, even though at my tax rate, those MR points would have been a bargain. Everyone's different, and there are certainly arguments that such donations are worthy and noble, as well as lucrative. For the record, I did make a single 150 dollar donation.

 

[Mal]

The thing is... if Ms are paying between 1c and 2c per bonus point, what a huge waste of charity funds.

Although i suppose it is better than wasting money on stupid chuggers..

 

[leemin]

The thing is... if Ms are paying between 1c and 2c per bonus point, what a huge waste of charity funds.

Although i suppose it is better than wasting money on stupid chuggers..

It's still a net positive result for them for each donation (donations they may not have otherwise had at all)

 

[newformula]

It's still a net positive result for them for each donation (donations they may not have otherwise had at all)

Exactly. I made 8 or so donations to get me to a point where I had enough points for 3 J class SYD-LHR redemptions.

Assuming a 1.5c per point cost for MSA, this is a $75 cost per acquisition - CPA. It's a marketing cost. Granted, expensive relative to other marketing maybe, but paid for in full by my donation, which they otherwise would not have received, netting them 8 x $75 in donations from me.

 

[Mal]

It's still a net positive result for them for each donation (donations they may not have otherwise had at all)

But overall?

Person paying $150 gets a tax deduction. MS are a charity, so pay very little tax. Amex moves income offshore and pays little tax. In the end, it's the taxpayer who pays for this little expedition.

I'm not against it at all, just want people to know my views on what a waste of money it is.

 

[newformula]

Fair point well made.

For example -
1. I make $150 donation
2. Amex receive $75, MS Society receive $75
3. I get 30% (example) tax deduction on that behaviour, so I receive $45 back - net donation cost to me is $105
4. $45 deduction is given back by government - it's tax I otherwise would have paid

MS Society aren't likely to be 'funding' that with their tax paid as a charity - whether Amex reduce their tax burden by moving income offshore or not, I have no idea, but it's a little irrelevant to this transaction as they aren't directly connected to my tax rebate.

Grand scheme of things though - it doesn't worry me personally.

 

[Cynicor]

I haven't made this donation yet but I'm sure the government would just figure out a way to waste the extra money anyway. Go for it, I say, to prevent $900 handouts to every man and his dog (excluding working people).

 

[Spizz]

Are the multiple donations still working? Anyone tried recently?