When you apply for a credit card there two types of bonus to look out for: Signup (and spend) bonuses provided by the card provider, and secondly money from cashback sites for applying for the card via them. Frequently both are available, but some good credit cards are notably absent from the cashback sites.
Currently the Virgin Atlantic credit cards have a great joining bonus, but if you look on cash back sites such as TopCashBack or Quidco you will notice they are absent. Similarly the Tesco credit card (a great non-Amex route to collect Avios points) is absent.
But there is a ‘Simple’ solution to get some cashback from applications…
CompareTheMarket.com
comparethemarket.com is a price comparison website with the added perk that anyone who applies for a product via their site may claim a collectible meerkat toy.
These toys tie in with their advertising campaign playing on the apparent similarity of the term ‘meerkat’ to ‘market’ – and resulting problems for the site: comparethemeerkat.com
Value of the toy:
Now you might have a child or relative who will value the toy directly, but if you don’t they do sell quite well on eBay! (eBay search results).
I’m usually seeing £8-10 minimum, more for limited edition or popular characters. The prices you see will vary with time you look. And general eBay variation. Allow ~13% overhead in eBay and PayPal fees – but better than nothing.
How to claim:
When you make your application for a credit card via comparethemarket.com, just before following the link from them you are invited to enter your email address.
You must use the same address you use with the credit card company.
After you have applied and been approved, you can then claim your toy by visiting: http://www.comparethemarket.com/rewards/how-to-claim/
Simples.
Note: Under the terms and conditions, after you have received your first toy selected at random, you may then choose a preference for which meerkat toy you receive on each subsequent claim. Also, within a 6 month period, you may only claim a maximum of two rewards in relation to credit card applications.
While you will find CompareTheMarket themselves on cashback sites, they do NOT offer cashback for credit cards. For other types of product (insurcance, etc) you will need to do the maths between their cashback + toy vs. the probably (signifincalty) higher cashback for going direct to the company if they are also on the cashback sites.
I mentioned the Tesco credit card at the top, this is a great non-Amex route to indirectly earn Avios points. This card does have a good (and odd) refer-a-friend scheme where both parties receive 1000 clubcard points (worth 2500 Avios). It is odd because you submit the referral form after you have made the application and been approved. This MIGHT stack with the Meerkat route above. If you would like (or prefer) a referral form some easy Avios let me know – happy to help.
E&OE. This post discusses credit card applications purely from the perspective of their loyalty points and cashback earning. These are financial services products, you should consider whether they are appropriate for you, taking advice is needed, no aspect of this post may be considered a recommendation of a product from a financial services perspective. This is a personal blog, with personal opinion.