Customers prompt ASB to rethink card plan

ASB has backed down from its plan to significantly increase the amount of money customers have to spend on their credit cards to earn rewards.

It said it had listened to customer feedback and decided to rethink its approach.

ASB announced this week that it planned to downgrade its credit card rewards scheme early next month. The scheme allows cardholders to earn either AA Smartfuel discounts or ASB True Rewards points.

The True Rewards points can then be spent at stores including Farmers, Noel Leeming, Pascoes and Rebel Sport, but they can also be used to top up ASB KiwiSaver accounts, or to make donations to charities.

Each True Rewards point is worth $1, but ASB said people would have to spend more to earn each point, and each extra cent off the pump price of petrol.

Someone with an ASB Visa Rewards card would have to spend $275 to get one True Rewards dollar, instead of $150 at present.

Customers with a Visa Platinum Rewards card would have to spend $150 rather than $100 at present.

ASB said yesterday it had changed its mind about the plan.

‘‘[We] won’t be going ahead with the planned earn rate changes we communicated this week.

‘‘Please note, the proposed changes were due to come into effect next month, so no earn rate changes have been made.’’

It had been suggested that other banks might have to follow suit because of new caps on merchant fees, which retailers pay to accept credit card payments.

The new caps will take effect on November 13. Retail New Zealand chief executive Greg Harford said the interchange rates funded rewards programmes.