Coles gift card offers

[wombatcountry]

AFA

I tried them all for the usual $99.80 (so $100 after the fee) and when that was declined, I dropped it to $50 to see if that made a difference (which it didn't - $50 was also declined).

I haven't paid anything at the ATO for ~2 months. I was trying to pay a new quarterly instalment.

All 5 cards went through immediately for $100 at my health insurer and energy provider.

 

[exceladdict]

AFA

IIRC there were some recent reports (here or ozbargain) about people not being able to retrieve "accidental prepayments", which leads me to believe the ATO are aware of these cards being used for that purpose and possibly blocking their use for payment

 

[lahlee]

AFA

I've just encountered the same problem with the $250 card.

'Your payment has been declined. Please contact your financial institution'​

 

[kpc]

I've just encountered the same problem with the $250 card.

'Your payment has been declined. Please contact your financial institution'​

Sadly posters on OzB are reporting the same issue.

 

[TripleB]

I bought 5x $250 cards yesterday. They have all just been declined at the ATO (initially for $249.50 (so $250 after the fee)) and then for $100 in the hope that might have made a difference).

I've just successfully used 3 of them at my health insurer - so there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the cards...

Ahhh well it was great while it lasted. I've had a couple of family holidays using the bonus flybuys points I earnt (converted to Velocity). Not to mention all the 10% off promos.

 

[levelnine]

So are all gift cards dead for ATO payments? Or just particular brands/types?

 

[luckypierre]

I bought 5x $250 cards yesterday. They have all just been declined at the ATO (initially for $249.50 (so $250 after the fee)) and then for $100 in the hope that might have made a difference).

I've just successfully used 3 of them at my health insurer - so there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the cards...

Ahhh well it was great while it lasted. I've had a couple of family holidays using the bonus flybuys points I earnt (converted to Velocity). Not to mention all the 10% off promos.

Still ok for use with local council rates, used 5/100 yesterday

 

[VantageXL]

From Wednesday 3 Jan 2024:

 

[Tiki]

From Wednesday 3 Jan 2024:

View attachment 362764

Looks like a good time to finally get a 15 Plus! $1650 x 20x is 33,000 Flybuys = 16,500 Velocity. Do I have that right or am I missing some hidden gotcha?

And TRS rebate because we are leaving end Feb, then 2 people coming back would be $1800 duty free so we are good for a 10% rebate as well?

 

[luckypierre]

Looks like a good time to finally get a 15 Plus! $1650 x 20x is 33,000 Flybuys = 16,500 Velocity. Do I have that right or am I missing some hidden gotcha?

Looks ok to me , best to buy the $20-$500 variable load cards to make up the $1650

 

[VantageXL]

From Wednesday 10 Jan 2024:



See here for a list of where these gift cards can be used:

Airbnb gift cards can be used for any stay or experience around the world.

Celebration gift cards can be used at Barbeques Galore, City Beach, Cotton On, H&M, JD Sports, Luxury Escapes, Officeworks, T2, The Iconic.

Gift to Dine gift cards can be exchanged for vouchers that can be used at selected restaurants only.

Luxury Escapes gift cards can be used on Luxury Escapes holiday packages (excluding airfares).

Restaurant Choice gift cards can be used at “Eating Places and Restaurants (5812), Hotels, Caterers (5811), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, coughtail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques (5813) Fast Food Restaurants (5814) Motels & Resorts, Central Merchant (7011), Amusement Parks, Circuses, Carnivals, and Fortune Tellers (7996).”

Uber & Uber Eats gift cards can be used for rides and orders within Australia. It is also possible to retroactively apply Uber credit to purchases made within the last 30 days.

Ultimate Eats gift cards can be used at Ben & Jerry’s, Boost Juice, Chatime, Crust Pizza, Donut King, Gloria Jean’s, Grill’d, Hogs Breath, Mad Mex, Menulog, My Muscle Chef, Nandos, Ribs & Burgers, San Churro, Schnitz, Subway, Sushi Hub, The Bavarian.

 

[VantageXL]

From Wednesday 17 Jan 2024:

 

[levelnine]

MCGCs are such duds now.

• Don't work at the ATO.
• 5 per account for the entire offer period.
• You can't check if the bonus has tracked (in comparison with the 10% off where you can confirm at check-out). And if your FlyBuys doesn't track for any reason (and FlyBuys is notorious for 'forgetting' to attach bonus offers), you have to chase the bonus points up.

 

[Happy Dude]

MCGCs are such duds now.

• Don't work at the ATO.
• 5 per account for the entire offer period.
• You can't check if the bonus has tracked (in comparison with the 10% off where you can confirm at check-out). And if your FlyBuys doesn't track for any reason (and FlyBuys is notorious for 'forgetting' to attach bonus offers), you have to chase the bonus points up.

All that you say is true, although the ATO is not a concern for me and I've never had any tracking issues, but you could add "seems to be target of hackers" too.

However, with a few accounts the 2000 points version still represents a decent points opportunity for a relatively low cost. 15k VA points, plus 1,500 Amex points, for $75 isn't too bad. I often get the wife (a VA Red) a VA J reward CBR-MEL for that plus ~$68 tax. At times the cash fare can be as low as $99, but never when she needs to fly of course. I like using VA points for domestic redemptions in general.

 

[aikman]

MCGCs are such duds now.

I just need the rest of Australia to realise this so I don't have to struggle to find stock. I bet my local stores will still sell out within a couple of hours of opening on Wednesday.

 

[luckypierre]

All that you say is true, although the ATO is not a concern for me and I've never had any tracking issues, but you could add "seems to be target of hackers" too.

However, with a few accounts the 2000 points version still represents a decent points opportunity for a relatively low cost. 15k VA points, plus 1,500 Amex points, for $75 isn't too bad. I often get the wife (a VA Red) a VA J reward CBR-MEL for that plus ~$68 tax. At times the cash fare can be as low as $99, but never when she needs to fly of course. I like using VA points for domestic redemptions in general.

Still fair value if you can use the $100 cards to pay off council rates and utilities bills

 

[Blackswan]

Still fair value if you can use the $100 cards to pay off council rates and utilities bills

Strata fees do it for me . . .

 

[Happy Dude]

Still fair value if you can use the $100 cards to pay off council rates and utilities bills

I do this with them too, or health insurance. It's not as though the ATO was the only place to use them. Having them hacked is my biggest problem with them. Paying those bills off early, aka loaning them money, doesn't quite sit right though.

 

[Mtchrs]

Are you able to buy gift cards (TCN/ Ultimate etc) with the Coles Mastercard?

 

[MooTime]

Are you able to buy gift cards (TCN/ Ultimate etc) with the Coles Mastercard?

That loopty loop had closed as far as I understand.