Best Ways to Earn Miles For Things on Exclusion Lists

Overview:
  • CardUp is another third-party site that lets you use your credit card to make numerous forms of payments. This allows you to earn credit card rewards for payments made to normally excluded merchant category codes (MCC). The goal is to minimize the cost per mile, which we accomplish by using the highest-earning general spending card.
  • Since this can be used to earn miles, do note that you’ll be getting the most out of this when you use the card that gives the lowest cost per mile; both the amount charges and the admin fee can earn you miles

Sample Computation:

Say, you pay for a S$1,000 transaction, given that there is a 1.5% admin fee, and an earn rate of 1.3 miles per dollar.

To get the cost per mile:

(amount x admin fee)

amount x (1 + admin fee) x earn rate

S$1,000 x 0.015 = 15

S$1,000 x (1+0.015) x 1.3 miles per dollar = 1,319.5

= 15/1,319.5 = 0.01136 or 1.14 cost per mile


Restrictions:

  • AMEX and Citi cards cannot be used for car loan or mortgage payments
  • AMEX cannot be used to pay:
    • Car loans
    • Miscellaneous
    • Renovation
    • Mortgage
    • Helper Salary
    • Electricity

Sign up promo:

Get $30 off for new sign ups using my code IJUSTTRYLAH or IJTLFREE

iPayMy

Overview:
  • iPayMy simplifies bill management and allows clients to earn frequent flyer points on regular expenses.
  • To clarify, iPayMy offers a ‘Points Guarantee‘ claim. In essence, if you follow its terms and conditions but do not earn the appropriate credit card rewards, ipaymy will reimburse the cost paid for that transaction. Overall, this will give you more confidence in making a payment using iPayMy.

 

Best card to pair with iPayMy to earn miles:

CardEarn Rate
Citi PremierMiles1.2 miles per dollar (local)
2 miles per dollar (overseas)
Citi Prestige Card1.3 miles per dollar (local)
2 miles per dollar (overseas)
DBS Altitude 1.3 miles per dollar (local)
2.2 miles per dollar (overseas)
DBS Vantage Card1.5 miles per dollar (local)
2.2 miles per dollar (overseas)
OCBC 90ºN Card 1.3 miles per dollar (local)
2.1 miles per dollar (overseas)
OCBC Voyage1.3 miles per dollar (local)
2.2 miles per dollar (overseas)
KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card 1.2 miles per dollar (local)
1.2 miles per dollar (overseas)

Which is not eligible on iPayMy:

Non-Eligible Miles CardsNon-Eligible Cashback Cards
Citi Rewards CardCIMB Visa Signature
DBS Woman’s CardDBS Live Fresh Card
DBS Woman’s World Card HSBC Advance Credit Card
HSBC Revolution Credit CardHSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card
HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card UOB EVOL 
OCBC Rewards Card
UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card

 

Pros:

  • You can receive points on bills and expenses where credit cards are not accepted
  • A single wallet to keep all your credit cards, allowing you to choose the right card for the right purchase.
  • You get an email confirmation when the payment has been made
  • iPayMy keeps the details for recurring payments


Cons:

  • There is a two day delay to pay your bills with iPayMy; although it can be expedite with an additional fee of S$25 ( only applies on Singapore domestic payments, excluding payments made with AMEX and UnionPay cards)
  • iPayMy does not accept American Express Cards
  • Does not support BPAY (but supports ATO)

Sign up promo:

Sign up to receive $30 off as a NEW user (if you sign up from the website itself, you only get $20 off as a NEW user)

Overview:
  • Citi PayAll is for anyone who has a Citibank credit card. In particular, you can earn Citi Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, or Cash Back when you use your Citi Credit Card to pay for expenses including rent, insurance premiums, education expenses, and taxes.
  • Miles Chaser? Flying in First and Business Class can be significantly cheaper with Citi PayAll than paying with cash! Your Citi Miles or ThankYou points can be converted through these transfer partners:
Transfer PartnerConversion Partner (Citi Miles)Conversion Partner (ThankYou Points)
KrisFlyer1:15:2
Asia Miles1:15:2
British Airways1:15:2
Etihad Guest1:15:2
Eva Air1:15:2
Flying Blue1:15:2
IHG 1:15:2
Frequent Flyer1:15:2
Qatar Airways1:15:2
THAI1:15:2
Turkish Airlines1:15:2

 
Which can earn miles:
CardRegular Miles Per Dollar Earn RateRegular Cost per Mile (with 2.2% fee)*Promotional Miles Earn RatePromo Cost per mile (Feb 2024)
Citi Prestige1.31.69 cents1.81.22 cents
Citi PremierMiles1.2 1.83 cents1.81.22 cents
Citi Rewards0.4 5.5 cents1.81.22 cents
*note that there will be a time difference between the time you use Citi payall and the time by which the bonus miles will be credited to you during promotional period.
 
Supported Payments:
CategoryMonthly Cap
InsuranceS$200,000
EducationS$100,000
RentS$30,000
Electricity BillsS$30,000
UtilitiesS$30,000
 
Restrictions:
  • loan or debt repayments (mortgage, credit cards etc.)
  • cryptocurrency-related transactions
    gambling and casino related transactions
  • can only be used to transact an amount not exceeding 95% of your permanent credit limit
  • In a calendar month, you can make a maximum of:
    • 3 Citi PayAll payments to the same beneficiary 
    • 10 Citi PayAll payments (excluding taxes)

*Unlike CardUp and iPayMy, this is only available with Citibank cards

 

How to Apply:

  • Setup your Citi PayAll on the Citibank Mobile App (Android | iOS)
  • After log in, click on Payments > Citi PayAll > Start Using Citi PayAll

Summary:

Citi PayAllCardUpiPayMy
Eligible CardsCiti Rewards Card, Citi Lazada Card, Citi Cash Back Card, Citi Cash Back+ Card, Citi PremierMiles Card, Citi Prestige Card and Citi ULTIMA Card (by invitation only)Selected credit cards from:
AMEX
Mastercard
Visa
Selected credit cards from:
AMEX
Mastercard
Visa
UnionPay
Supported PaymentsIncome tax
Property tax
Other IRAS fees and taxes
Insurance premium payments
Rent and rental deposit
Education expenses
Utility bills
Condominium management fee
Miscellaneous expenses (e.g. wedding, renovation, storage, donation or charity, parking and transport, domestic helper service fee etc.)
Mortgage payments
Income tax
Property tax
Stamp duty, GST, corporate tax
Rental payments or deposits
Condominium maintenance fee 
School or tuition fees
Insurance premium payments (except NTUC income)
Car loans
Electricity bills
Miscellaneous expenses (e.g. renovation 
Supplier invoice fees
Invoices for goods or services rendered
Taxes (Income, Property, and GST)*
Insurance (excluding NTUC Income)
School Fees
MCST
Renovation
Car loan
Mortgage loan
Processing FeeFee will be disclosed during application2.6% or promotional rate 1.99% local visa, mastercard, amex
2.25% local unionpay
3.30% international visa, mastercard, unionpay
Types of rewards earnedMiles, Citi ThankYou Points or cashbackMiles, rewards points or cashback Miles, rewards points or cashback 
Processing Time4 Business Days3 Business Days (you may choose to expedite the processing time by paying an extra 0.3% fee)2 Business Days

💳 Credit cards change their T&Cs every so often and it is difficult to stay updated. That’s why I created a Telegram Broadcast where you can receive timely bite-sized updates to get the most out of your spending.

💡 We believe in always paying our credit card bills on time and in full. It is only by doing that, can we fully maximise our credit card benefits.

Purchases made through links in this article may generate an affiliate commission that helps keep this site running. Found this post useful? Subscribe to our Telegram Channel for more updates!

lobangsis

Audz, your lobang sis shares personal finance to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for us all.

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Maybank Family & Friends

Get Samsonite ENOW SPINNER 69/25 EXP or S$200 cashback when spend S$1,300 within the first two months of card approval. Or, apply for CreditAble and spend S$1,200 within first two months of card approval.

Valid till: May 1, 2025

Citi Rewards

Get 2X Hinomi Q1 Ergonomic Office Chair or Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB or S$420 Shopee Vouchers or S$370 Cash via PayNow when you spend S$500 within 30 days of card approval

Valid till: March 31, 2025

SC Simply Cash

Get Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB or Apple Watch SE (GEN 2) GPS + Cellular 44mm or S$450 Shopee Voucher or S$400 Cash via PayNow when you spend a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval

Valid till: March 31, 2025

DBS Altitude

For AMEX, up to 38,000 miles (Promo Code: ALT38) or up to 28,000 miles with annual fee waiver (Code: ALTW28) when you spend S$800 within 60 days from card approval date

Valid till: April 30, 2025

Maybank Family & Friends

Get Samsonite ENOW SPINNER 69/25 EXP or S$200 cashback when spend S$1,300 within the first two months of card approval. Or, apply for CreditAble and spend S$1,200 within first two months of card approval.

Valid till: May 1, 2025

Citi Rewards

Get 2X Hinomi Q1 Ergonomic Office Chair or Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB or S$420 Shopee Vouchers or S$370 Cash via PayNow when you spend S$500 within 30 days of card approval

Valid till: March 31, 2025

SC Simply Cash

Get Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB or Apple Watch SE (GEN 2) GPS + Cellular 44mm or S$450 Shopee Voucher or S$400 Cash via PayNow when you spend a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval

Valid till: March 31, 2025

DBS Altitude

For AMEX, up to 38,000 miles (Promo Code: ALT38) or up to 28,000 miles with annual fee waiver (Code: ALTW28) when you spend S$800 within 60 days from card approval date

Valid till: April 30, 2025

Valid for new-to-bank credit cardholders or does not own any of the bank’s credit cards in the last 12 months, unless otherwise stated.

Gift confirmation are usually sent after you have completed rewards redemption form (sent to your email) & fulfilled qualifying spend within stipulated period.