Big Changes for Barclays Uber Visa Card

Back in 2017, Barclays and Uber launches the Uber Visa card. It became instantly the best option for dining with 4% cashback. What was strange, is that the card didn’t really have an incentive for cardholders to use it for Uber rides. Now the card is being refreshed, and you will earn a great rate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, but other earning categories are being cut back, plus there’s a big change on the cashback you earn.

Changes

Here’s what the card currently earns:

• 4% back on restaurants, takeout and bars, including UberEATS
• 3% back on airfare, hotels and vacation home rentals
• 2% back on online purchases including Uber, online shopping, and video and music streaming services
• 1% back on all other purchases

With the upcoming changes, you will earn:

• 5% back on Uber and UberEATS
• 3% back on dining, hotels, and airfare
• 1% back on all other purchases

Another important change is that you will no longer earn cashback. You will earn Uber Cash that can only be used for Uber and Uber Eats. There’s no minimum redemption, but once you accumulate $50 in rewards it will automatically be converted into Uber Cash.

There was also a $50 credit for online subscription services after spending $5,000 on the card per year. That one is going away.

Other Benefits

• Signup Bonus – $100 Uber Cash after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days
• Up to $50 credit for online subscription services after spending $5,000 on the card per year
• Up to $600 mobile phone insurance for damage and theft when the card is used to pay the monthly mobile phone bill
• No foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

Guru’s Wrap-up

This is good news for those that use Uber often, as they can now earn 5% back on rides and Uber Eats orders. Plus it wouldn’t make much of a difference if it’s cashback or Uber Cash. (You can still do better than that though, as you can find Uber Gift Cards discounted by more than 5%.)

But for everyone else, this is very bad news. Dining, which was probably the main attraction, is going down to 3%, and that is 3% in Uber Cash, not straight cashback. At least those who have the card will be able to take advantage of the current earning categories until later in 2020.