GrabRewards To Be Nerfed On 14 October 2022: Zero Points For GrabPay Card Unless It’s F&B

We reckon it’s about time to retire your GrabPay card, unless you’re paying for transactions that are exempted for credit card rewards.

Still using GrabPay? Sorry, but we have some bad news for you.

Earlier today (28 September 2022), Grab announced a few changes regarding their rewards programme.

Source: Grab

Here are some major changes you’ll want to take note of:

1. GrabRewards points will now be randomised for each GrabPay in-store transaction instead of the regular 3 to 6 points per S$1 spent;
2. GrabPay card payments will not be eligible to earn any points except for 0.3% on F&B transactions

The new changes will take effect from 14 October 2022 onwards. 

Current VS revised GrabPoints earning structure

Previously, Grab allowed users to earn up to 6 points per S$1 spent, depending on their tier level. 

Current GrabPoints structure (until 13 Oct 2022)

In case you are unaware, these rates have gotten slashed before, multiple times in the recent years. 

You can read all about it here:

• GrabRewards Devaluation: Is It Still Worth The Hassle?
• Goodbye GrabPay: Which Credit Cards Are Most Affected?
• Grab To Slash Rewards For Rides, Food Delivery And Shopping

Also, as of 1 August 2022, GrabPoints will only be awarded if a transaction is made with your GrabPay Wallet. You will not get points when you pay directly with your credit or debit card. 

Revised GrabPoints structure (from 14 Oct 2022)

The revised rates mean that you will, thankfully, continue to be eligible for up to 1.2% rebate in GrabPoints if you conduct the following transactions via GrabPay Wallet: 

1. Engage Grab services such as rides and deliveries
2. Use PayLater GrabPay at Grab’s online merchant-partners
3. PayLater in-store

Source: Grab

Anything else, and you’ll be rewarded with ✨nothing ✨. 

GrabRewards points to be randomised

Come 14 October, Grab will be nerfing guaranteed points and replacing it with some sort of “lucky draw”. 

Users will get a random number of GrabPoints from 0 to 25,000 when they transact in-store via GrabPay Wallet (the one where you scan the QR code at merchants). 

While 25,000 GrabPoints may sound attractive, what are the odds of striking this jackpot? 

No points given for GrabPay transactions except for F&B

Random points aside, you will also not be able to earn any GrabPoints when you transact using your GrabPay card anywhere else except for F&B merchants. 

Even so, your purchases will only yield you a miserly 0.3% rebate. 

According to Grab, F&B merchants include the following Merchant Category Codes (MCCs):

• 5811 - Caterers
• 5812 - Eating Places & Restaurants
• 5813 - Drinking Places, Bars, Taverns, Cocktail Lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques
• 5441 - Candy, Nut and Confectionery Stores
• 5451 - Dairy Products Stores
• 5462 - Bakeries
• 5814 - Fast Food Restaurants

However, if you were to transact in any of these categories, I reckon you would be better off using other mile/cashback cards that offer you better points or rebates. 

I recommend using UOB Absolute (1.7% cashback), Amex True Cashback (1.5% cashback), UOB Lady’s card (4mpd when you choose dining as your bonus category), HSBC Revolution (4mpd and no annual fees) or Citi Rewards (4mpd when transacting online or paired with Instarem). 

Wait, so what do I do with my GrabPay card now? 

Probably lock it away in your desk drawer? Well, that’s really up to you! 

There is still one good use for your GrabPay Mastercard — and it’s to pay for transactions that are usually exempted for credit card rewards. 

This includes your insurance, income tax, town council fees and hospital bills. 

The only reason why I haven’t ditched my GrabPay card is because it allows me to earn rebates on the above transactions, albeit in a roundabout way. 

Here’s the trick: simply fund your GrabPay Wallet with credit cards which let you earn rewards for GrabPay top-ups.

Currently, only three credit cards in Singapore will let you do so. 

• 1.7% cashback
• No cap or minimum spend needed
• Get S$250 worth of Grab vouchers for first-time sign-ups

• 1.5% cashback
• No cap or minimum spend needed
• Get rewarded with S$80 in CapitaVouchers for first-time sign-ups

• Only open to individuals who have a registered business in Singapore
• 1.8% cashback or 1.8 HighFlyer Points per S$1 spent on eligible purchases
• Receive S$200 statement credit for first-time sign-ups

Enjoy them while they last. 

Conclusion

Despite the changes, GrabPay can still be useful to earn some rebates when you top up your wallet to transact in categories that are usually excluded from credit cards, as well as with merchants that generally don't accept credit cards such as coffee shops. 

Getting a 0.3% rebate in GrabPoints on F&B merchants and a chance to win 25,000 GrabPoints may sound sad, but it’s still better than transacting in — gasp — cash and not getting anything in return. 

Other than that, it doesn’t really make sense (and cents) to use GrabPay anymore, for there are other better options available out there.

Unsure of which cards to use? Allow us to point you in the right direction!

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