Export or estimate twelve months of spending by merchant category, then apply each card’s current earn rate, exclusions, caps and redemption method to the same dataset. For cashback, count only cash actually credited or statement value you can use. For points, use the redemption route you realistically choose and subtract redemption fees, taxes and any annual fee. Run a second scenario in which one major reward category is capped or devalued. If the points card wins only because you assume premium travel redemptions you rarely make, use the conservative value instead. The better card is the one that creates more net value without changing your normal spending behaviour or forcing you to chase thresholds.
← Full guide: Cashback vs Reward Points Credit Cards: Real Value Calculator
Run the comparison with last year’s real spending
Export or estimate twelve months of spending by merchant category, then apply each card’s current earn rate, exclusions, caps and redemption method…
Start here
Export or estimate twelve months of spending by merchant category, then apply each card’s current earn rate, exclusions, caps and redemption method to the same dataset. For cashback, count only cash actually credited or statement value you can use. For points, use the redemption route you realistically choose and subtract redemption fees, taxes and any annual fee. Run a second scenario in which one major reward.
What applies to this exact problem
Check these first
- For points, use the redemption route you realistically choose and subtract redemption fees, taxes and any annual fee.
- If the points card wins only because you assume premium travel redemptions you rarely make, use the conservative value instead.
Fix it in this order
- For points, use the redemption route you realistically choose and subtract redemption fees, taxes and any annual fee.
- If the points card wins only because you assume premium travel redemptions you rarely make, use the conservative value instead.
Evidence to keep
- Issuer statement and current outstanding — keep it with the evidence for “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
- Payment/refund reference and bank debit/credit proof — keep it with the evidence for “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
- Merchant or payment-channel confirmation — keep it with the evidence for “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
- Complaint/ticket number and written response — keep it with the evidence for “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
Do not make it harder
- Paying repeatedly without preserving the first reference For “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”, that can hide whether the underlying issue is actually resolved.
- Assuming a merchant refund means the card issuer has posted it For “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”, that can hide whether the underlying issue is actually resolved.
- Ignoring the due date while a dispute is open For “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”, that can hide whether the underlying issue is actually resolved.
How you know it is fixed
- The next action has an owner and a traceable completion record for “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
- The official status changes to the expected final state, not merely “case closed” for “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
If this still isn't resolved
- Issuer grievance officer or nodal officer State the unresolved issue explicitly: “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
- Payment-system complaint route where relevant State the unresolved issue explicitly: “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
- RBI CMS for an eligible unresolved complaint against a regulated entity State the unresolved issue explicitly: “Run the comparison with last year’s real spending”.
Parent-guide references
These references support the parent guide and escalation context. Verify provider-, model-, policy-, or jurisdiction-specific details before an irreversible step.
Need the complete context?
This page solves one branch. The parent guide covers the full decision, edge cases, alternatives, and related checks.