Everything you need to know about the Payback card, how to maximize point collection, and how to use them

The Payback card is a "unique" product of its kind. Normally stores and chains have their own affiliate program that is not shared with other brands, but in this case we are faced with a card that allows us to accumulate points on a varied number of activities, both physical and online. It has been operational in Italy since 2014 and has more than 180 partners.

Getting the card

Each official partner issues its own personalized card, but you can also request a generic one online and use it wherever you want.

If you are not yet an owner by clicking this link you can take advantage of the promotion that will give you 1,000 points on your first purchase.

Payback official partners

In recent years we have seen many insignias enter and leave the partnership, one example being telephone company 3, which is currently no longer a member.

Various sectors are covered: from large-scale retail trade to gasoline, from clothing to DIY. There are various financial partners, utilities and many others.

The main ones are: Carrefour, Esso, American Express, Mondadori, Maxi Zoo, BNL, Ebay, Groupon, Booking, Bricofer... the full list can be found here

Warning. A partner may not necessarily allow you to earn points both online and in the physical store. For example, the clothing chain H&M only allows you to earn points through online purchases, not in stores.

The distinction between official and online partners is just that: for the official ones, it does not matter where and how the purchase is made for the accumulation of points, but for all the others, only expenditures made online apply.

How to accumulate Payback points

Every time you spend at one of the partners you can accumulate points on your card account. The number of points varies from partner to partner. If with shopping at Carrefour you earn 1 point for every euro spent, at Esso you get 2 points for every liter of fuel. Then there are offers that allow you to get 10,000 points if you sign a contract with an electric utility or 8,000 for car insurance. The important thing is to show your card, physical or digital, at the time of the transaction or enter your card number if you are buying online.

Please note Very often for online purchases or hotel reservations on Booking, it is necessary to go through the card site or app to see points credited.

How to take advantage of coupons to maximize point collection

An interesting feature of the Payback collection is the presence of the coupons. Through the app or the site, you can browse the promos and activate coupons that allow you to get important multipliers of the points you accumulate.

There are often x3 on gasoline, x10 on spending on Ebay, or alternatively dry bonuses of hundreds or thousands of points to increase one's account.

Small tricks to collect more points

The first thing to learn is that each customer can have multiple Payback cards (registered at different signs) that can be linked together into a single account. The interesting aspect is that in this way the promotions and coupons will be different-or in many cases duplicate-giving the customer the opportunity to collect bonuses on multiple cards in different transactions. In addition, one can link cards for members of the same family and thus get an even larger nest egg when using the points.

The AmericanExpress Payback

There is also a dedicated credit card: theAmerican Express Payback, the special feature of which is that you earn points every time you use it (1 point for every 2 euros spent). The points double in case of purchases from Program Partners.

It works both as a traditional card and through a smartphone, offers protection for purchases and from fraud, and thanks to a partnership between American Express and Live Nation provides access to exclusive presales for top concert tickets. In addition, for those apply for the card through this link there is a free fee every year if you make at least one transaction every 12 months.

How to use and how not to waste Payback points

There is of course, as in all point collections, a catalog of awards. It will then be possible to convert the points into a set of cookware, an electric shaver and more. Needless to say, as mentioned at the Coop points collection, this type of conversion only makes the manager happy and not the customer.

Alternatively, points can be used to discount spending in partners, with the following conversion rates:

• At Carrefour, Maxi zoo, Bricofer and 101 Coffee, you can transform 1,000 points in 5€ off
• From Mondadori 1,200 points become €5 off
• If you book a flight or hotel on American Express travel, you can convert 1,000 points into 4€ (here is an example of using it to discount the 5* hotel)
• For gasoline at Esso, you need 960 points to get a 4€ off coupon

Then there is a third way: converting points into Alitalia miles. Normally the conversion rate is 2:1, meaning 1,000 Payback points become 500 Alitalia miles. Occasionally, however, there are Offers that allow for a better conversion rate.

• Payback