Card Promotions Westpac Altitude Black (80,000 Velocity, $4000 min spend)

[Melburnian1]

One condition in the above offer concerns me.

Not only are 'BPay' transactions excluded, but 'BPay equivalent transactions' are also not counted towards the minimum required spend in the first 90 days.

The latter term isn't defined. Does this mean if one pays a utility or local government rates bill through (for instance) Australia Post BillPay over the phone (or online, or even at the Post,Post Office, the spending would not count?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Got the term or a link to it? Without this I'd be guessing.

 

[Melburnian1]

Dr Ralph, you may have to click on 'see what doesn't count...'

Altitude Black

Pick up our Altitude Rewards Black credit card to earn uncapped Westpac Altitude points as well as enjoy additional rewards benefits. Apply online.

www.westpac.com.au

 

[Dr Ralph]

Dr Ralph, you may have to click on 'see what doesn't count...'

Altitude Black

Pick up our Altitude Rewards Black credit card to earn uncapped Westpac Altitude points as well as enjoy additional rewards benefits. Apply online.

www.westpac.com.au

This appears to be the term:



'Eligible purchases do not include fees, cash, cash equivalent transactions, payments to the Australian Tax Office, BPAY, BPAY equivalent transaction, refunds and balance transfers debited from the card account. The bonus Altitude Points, Qantas Points or Velocity Points will be added to your points balance within 12 weeks once you meet the eligible spend criteria. Existing Westpac customers who currently hold an Earth Classic, Earth Platinum, Earth Platinum Plus, Earth Black, Altitude Classic, Altitude Platinum or Altitude Black credit card, or who have held one in the last 12 months, are not eligible for this offer. Qantas or Velocity Points earned during a statement cycle are added to your Qantas or Velocity Points balance on a monthly basis.'



You are right that 'BPAY equivalent transactions' are not defined. For me the definition of this would flow from how 'BPAY' is understood. According to Wikipedia:



'BPAY is an electronic bill payment system in Australia which enables payments to be made through a financial institution's online, mobile or telephone banking facility to organisations which are registered BPAY billers.'



I take that to mean a third party processer of payments that has a direct arrangement with the business you're making the payment to. So Australia Post could well fit that definition. So to be clear, you ask "Does this mean if one pays a utility or local government rates bill through (for instance) Australia Post BillPay over the phone (or online, or even at the Post,Post Office, the spending would not count?" I say it is likely the answer could be yes it does not count.



I cannot see how paying the bill directly with the merchant could fit the definition of 'BPAY equivalent transactions'.



Given the games that seem to be afoot as discussed in the St George thread recently, I think you are right to be cautious.



Note also that eligible purchases likely only applies to the bonus point offer, not to regular spend, which may attract points.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Given the games that seem to be afoot as discussed in the St George thread recently, I think you are right to be cautious.

Note also that eligible purchases likely only applies to the bonus point offer, not to regular spend, which may attract points.

Great advice. I was thinking of applying but given you've confirmed my 'fears', I won't bother.

A number of these offers seem to be extremely attractive at first glance - and Mattg is correct to featue them - but when one reads the 'fine print', there are onerous conditions that can make qualifying for the 'bonus FF points' harder (depending on one's spending patterns.) Thank you again!

 

[blacksultan]

Does anyone know if they are strict with the exclusion periods i.e 18 month exclusion period for altitude amex?
I closed my qantas altitude card about 2 months ago. Has anyone received/not received the sign up bonus if they have not served exclusion period?

 

[blacksultan]

How are the velocity points on this card transferred across? Is it automatic at the end of statement period or can one transfer anytime like anz rewards?
Also in reality how long does it take for the sign up bonus points to be received post meeting minimum spend?

 

[Kangol]

Does anyone know if they are strict with the exclusion periods i.e 18 month exclusion period for altitude amex?
I closed my qantas altitude card about 2 months ago. Has anyone received/not received the sign up bonus if they have not served exclusion period?

They are strict with the exclusion period. No idea about Altitude points - only ever had QFF.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

They are strict with the exclusion period. No idea about Altitude points - only ever had QFF.

When it comes to FF Programs adultery is a better option

 

[Kangol]

When it comes to FF Programs adultery is a better option

Agree, have had Velocity/SQ KF with other cards but the circumstances at the particular times over the years led me to choose QFF with Westpac.
Also from memory I think the earn rate for KF using Westpac wasn't as good as others.

 

[blacksultan]

In reality how long after meeting minimum spend of $4000 is the sign up bonus points of 80 k velocity points awarded? any experiences here? thanks in advance.

 

[nightelves]

In reality how long after meeting minimum spend of $4000 is the sign up bonus points of 80 k velocity points awarded? any experiences here? thanks in advance.

Awarded quite quick. Mine was in my Velocity account one week after the statement was issued.

 

[sudoer]

This seems to be the only Westpac Black thread going at the moment, but I thought I'd share my ridiculously good application experience albeit for the QFF variant. I had a relatively large purchase to make so I thought it was time for an easy sign-on bonus. Here's how my Friday went...

Applied: 3:52pm (conditionally approved)
Payslips provided: 3:55pm (PDFs, not the online verification system)
Income verified/approved: 5:47pm
Digital Mastercard available in Westpac app and added to Google Pay: 6:53pm
Minimum spend reached: 9:44pm

Let's see how quickly they can get my cards to me now. I held the Westpac Earth card 3-4 years ago, and also currently hold a Westpac Low Rate card (bonus points exclusion only applies to Westpac Rewards cardholders) but that's the extent of my relationship with Westpac.

 

[blacksultan]

Awarded quite quick. Mine was in my Velocity account one week after the statement was issued.

thanks.

 

[Obi-run Kenobi]

Westpac is currently the only bank with whom I don't have a card (or am waiting out an exclusion period) but they need to lower their annual fees or offer some juicier sign up bonuses.

$250 annual fee for only 80k velocity/QFF seems a bit steep, considering other banks are offering similar or larger bonuses for half this fee (or less). Not worth it for something I'm wanting to churn.

 

[brettd]

$250 annual fee for only 80k velocity/QFF seems a bit steep, considering other banks are offering similar or larger bonuses for half this fee (or less). Not worth it for something I'm wanting to churn.

They have a no annual fee promotion until the 31st of March ($50 reward fee for QFF or Velocity though):

Altitude Black

Pick up our Altitude Rewards Black credit card to earn uncapped Westpac Altitude points as well as enjoy additional rewards benefits. Apply online.

www.westpac.com.au

 

[Obi-run Kenobi]

They have a no annual fee promotion until the 31st of March ($50 reward fee for QFF or Velocity though):

Altitude Black

Pick up our Altitude Rewards Black credit card to earn uncapped Westpac Altitude points as well as enjoy additional rewards benefits. Apply online.

www.westpac.com.au

Now we're talking! Thanks for the share.

 

[Obi-run Kenobi]

Just applied. Got knocked back for the ANZ Black recently, so let's see if this one goes through. I've opened several accounts in the last 2 months, so I might be pushing my luck with applications.

 

[Obi-run Kenobi]

Approved. Looks like Westpac want my business more than ANZ at the moment.

I like that you can start using the card right away by accessing it through your banking app. Shame that the only digital wallets supported are Fitbit and Garmin Pay. I'm on iPhone, so Android pay is no use.

 

[Kangol]

For those who are *pushing it* with the 12 month exclusion period, I've been informed that Westpac's system recognises this using the calendar month.
So if you cancel on 1 December one year, then apply on 13 December the following year and fulfil the requirements, the system will see this as "within 12 months" and not credit you the bonus once qualifying spend has been reached.

This may be of consideration if you don't want to waste time with AFCA.
If you do go ahead with that (where an agreement is not attained), you should have evidence that you incurred a financial loss due to not having the points by the given date. As in, that will help your claim.