You may have noticed that the same transaction amount earns different reward points when paid with a credit card.
Have you ever wondered why, or what causes this?
The points a card will earn are managed within the card bank's authorization system.
At the card bank, earning points varies based on:
- Whether the transaction was processed through the card's own bank's POS (banks generally give higher points for transactions processed through their own POS)
- The type of transaction made (Mail Order, Sale, Installment Sale, etc.)
- Whether there is a points agreement with the merchant where the transaction took place (for example, giving an extra 1% points on 100 TL spent at Migros, etc.)
- Whether points were redeemed in the transaction (banks generally do not give points on points; points are only earned on the amount charged to the card), etc., based on these and similar criteria.
Attention should also be paid to whether earned points have an expiration period. Otherwise, the points you earn may be clawed back after a certain period, and you may not be able to use them.
Tips for understanding the points difference
Campaign descriptions on your statement and the points table in your card agreement show the source of the difference. The same amount may yield different points at different merchants or with different installment options.
Some banks reflect points a few days after the transaction date, so it is normal for points not to appear immediately. Campaigns requiring participation may also require prior registration.
If you see a suspicious difference, you can request details from the bank's customer service.
