Beware new eBucks rules

INCENTIVISATION: EVEN ACTIVE, EARNING CUSTOMERS RISK BEING STUCK ON LEVEL 3

- Hilton Tarrant

A requirement that could easily be overlooked - it is explained in a footnote of its myriad earn rules that run close to 7 000 words - may see FNB customers participating in its eBucks rewards programme stranded at reward Level 3, regardless of any other actions they take during the month.

The programme incentivises account holders through various “behaviour change” actions that reward them with points that can be used to earn various levels of eBucks.

Over a decade ago, it used the programme to incentivise the uptake of its award-winning FNB app; it was among the first of the major banks in the country to launch one.

Recently, it has been pushing its insurance products, offering a significant number of reward points for taking them up.

Reaching Level 5 equates to rewards for customers of up to 15% back in eBucks at Clicks and Spar, 20% at Pick n Pay (or 30% via the on-demand delivery service Pick n Pay asap!), between 15% and 60% for the bank’s own products, and as much as R8 per litre for fuel purchases at Engen.

It announced some sudden changes in October, which were implemented in November - a strange decision given that changes have historically only been made annually from July.