Hack your way to 4 miles on everything

Edit (25/3/16): Imagine now dead. Oh well

Why do I need a prepaid card?

Prepaid cards were originally created for people who didn’t earn sufficient income to qualify for a credit card, but still wanted to make purchases online or overseas. You might think that this is of completely no interest to you- but read on, you’ll be surprised.

Remember our good friend the DBS Woman’s World Card (which, despite its name, is open to members of both sexes) and the 4 miles per $1 it gives on $2,000 of online spend each month?

dbs woman's card
DBS Woman’s World Card on the right- this one gives you 4 miles per $1 on online spend, but requires income of $80,000. The regular DBS Woman’s Card on the left only requires income of $30,000, but earns only 2 miles per $1 of online spend

As it turns out, reloading a prepaid card online DOES count as anย online transaction, which opens up some interesting possibilities…

EDIT: People have been asking whether or not UOB Pref Plat Visa will earn a bonus for topping up the Imagine/FEVO. Answer is no. See T&C in bold

* Online retail transactions are transactions for purchases of goods or services via the internet using the Card. Online merchants include merchants that fall within the categories of bookstores, cinemas, entertainment, electronics, fast food, music and retail shopping, but excludes all merchants that fall within the categories of airline, travel, transport,top-ups for any pre-paid card, government, utilities, telecommunications, brokerage/securities, insurance, education/tuition, online money transfers and online gambling websites and such other categories of online merchants as UOB may exclude from time to time.

AMEX Imagine

The AMEX Imagine card retails at $50, with a limited time promotion of $40 credit preloaded.

ameximagine

You make an initial load of maximum $100 and pay $3.50 for it to be shipped to your address. Subsequently though, you can top it up using your DBS Woman’s Card and earn 4X on that top up. You then slowly use the IMAGINE card to pay for your expenses that month.

So to illustrate- I top up $1,000 (the maximum balance at any time on the IMAGINE card is $1,000 ) to the IMAGINE Card, thereby earning 4,000 miles. I then use the card for whatever expenses arise- effectively earning 4 miles on spend which would not normally get any bonus. I then repeat this within the month to max out the $2,000 cap on 4 miles for the DBS Woman’s card.

There is normally a loading fee but it is waived if you load more than $50 at one go. Also, the IMAGINE card has an Ezlink function which means that you can carry it around without having to add another card to your wallet

FEVO Card

fevo

For those of you who want the convenience of Mastercard, you can look at the FEVO card instead. However, you’ll pay a bit more for it. The card itself retails at $28, without any stored value (vs $10 for the IMAGINE AMEX, after you take the $40 credit into account)

The FEVO comes in a few different options- you can put your own image on it, you can get an NFC version or an EZ Link version if you want. If you’re ok with paying $28 upfront in exchange for wider acceptance, the FEVO card might be better for you.

EDIT: Fevo used to waive the 1% top up fee for loads of $50 or more but that no longer appears to be the case

Conclusions

There are some who will say I am doing the travel hacking community a disservice by writing about this so publicly, which will lead the banks to close this loophole. My stance is this: the banks aren’t stupid- there is no way they don’t already know about this. But since the maximum “damage” that can be done per month is $2,000, and if it gets them a good number of people signing up and using what would otherwise be a very niche card (you don’t see a lot of men with the DBS Woman’s Card), what do they care?

Remember, the banks earn every time you spend using their card- so go out there and make them happy!

cover photo by robert donnovan

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

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Rio

Hi,

Does paying via mobile apps using DBS Woman Card will get 4 miles or paying must be via website ? If is not considered online very bad i just make huge purchasing using airasia and lazada apps also top up my FEVO and Imagine card using their own apps : (

YC

i’d be curious to know if this works on the UOB preferred platinum visa (which has a 12k annual limit on online spend)

Tyrhung

Hope someone who tried can let us know using uob ppv?
Only eligible for the woman card which is 2x only instead of uob ppv 4x.

R

Hi, are you taking into account the 1% convenience fee that is levied on each top-up transaction?

spk307

Hi, can the Fevo card be reloaded using Amex CC?

Peter

Hi! If you can only get 1 card, which one would you recommend? FEVO or Imagine?

Peter

thanks!

Ken

Hi Aaron, as per your advice, i have gotten myself the altitude and woman world card now. Based on this article, would the best strategy be to get an imagine card, reload it up to 2k a month using woman card, and only use the altitude card for expenses beyond 2k?

aaronwong

That’s correct. Technically uob prvi Is better for local spend because it is 1.4 vs 1.2 for dbs but yeah. First 2k through imagine

Ken

Thanks Aaron! Gonna forgo the 0.2 miles for the sake of consolidating dbs miles together. ๐Ÿ™‚

Rudi

Hi Aaron,

how about using credit card like debit card/nets?

Immediately pay the credit after each transaction? Will it affect the miles and points? or pay the credit before it is billed.

Rudi

Hi Aaron,

What I mean is whenever I pay with my CC, I will pay the unbilled amount immediately without waiting for the bill at the end of the month.

Example: Buy a ticket online using expedia using my CC and then immediately pay the amount without waiting for the bill.

Instead of pre-pay I use my CC like a debit card. I pay it manually and immediately. Will this affect my miles, points and credit score?

thanks

Rudi

Thanks for your reply.

I like to stop thinking about upcoming bill… So paying asap is something I like to do…

๐Ÿ™‚

anonymous

Hi Aaron

So is it better to pay via giro or pay at AXS machine/AXS online using Imagine/Fevo and earn 4 miles per 1 dollar to pay utilities bills and credit card bills?

Tyrhung

Hmm. If the above works, top up using DBS woman world to imagine. Use imagine to settle dbs woman world.. Free lunch?

invisible

You can’t use Imagine card or any AMEX card at AXS physical station. To pay bills you can only use DBS and Diners cards. So no free lunch.

Anonymous

Hi Aaron.

Can I confirm if this 4 miles imagine hack still working?

Cos I did a top up on the 1st and I didn’t get any of the bonus dbs point on the 16th?

Thanks

Rio

U will get bonus on the 16th of next month not the current month

Anonymous

Oh okie. I’ll Keep a look out

Thanks

Ethan

Hi Guys, I have a few concerns that I hope can be clarified.

1. Does topping up the M1 Prepaid Mastercard earns 4miles/$ using DBS WC now?

2. I see that if you top up through AXS, there will be no top up fees charged. Has anyone tried topping up the prepaid master card via AXS online? Does it earn you 4 miles/$ as well?

Look forward looking from you guys soon.

Thanks!

Anonymous

Is it possible to use the imagine card on a transaction >$1000?

@C

Not usually

Jian

@@C That’s too bad. Was thinking hard of max-loading 2 imagine cards over several months to foot a wedding banquet bill. Guess paying 12k at one shot would not work?

@C

Absolutely no chance for $12K unfortunately. Try search some similar threads in forum. U may have better idea on some strategies others adopt ๐Ÿ™‚

@C

Don’t forget to read this too

https://milelion.com/2016/02/03/2276/

Jian

Thanks for the reminder.

Tyrhung

Has anyone tried topping up the imagine using uob pp visa and rewarded 4x?

Tyrhung

Seems like imagine amex is gone. Just received an email from them that sale of card, topping and usage will be terminated at different period.

gabe

just received news that the imagine card is gonna be discontinued

Martin Gottschaldt

Hi there… is it possible to get the Woman’s World MasterCard twice in order to have the twice the rewards cap? I am booking hotels and such quite frequently for business travel, so I would easily max out twice the rewards cap.

I know, the alternative would be the Altitude with 3Miles / $, or the the Citi Premiermiles for Kaligo and Expedia (as long as it lasts…), but why make it more complicated…?

Any experience ?

Phil

I am afraid you cannot hold multiple copies of a card in your name. Any wife/gf/partner you can leverage?

Lionel

I dont think u can have two DBS Woman World Master Card. A few alternative options available 1) HSBC Advance CC earns you 10x rewards/4 miles per dollar spend for online, local restaurant, and local entertainment venue. There is no cap to the spending except transaction to Ez-Link Pte Ltd is cap at 200 per month (the company you paid to when you top up your imagine/fevo) The downside is that you would have to open an advance account with them which required a minimum deposit of 30k, alternatively, you can credit your salary to HSBC which would also meet… Read more »

Martin Go.

Called DBS today, it is true, you can’t hold the same credit card twice.

Thanks for the alternatives… for the sake of simplicity I will go for the Altitude as my 4th card. Then the miles game can begin.

Lionel Teo

Yes, you can get both dbs woman and dbs woman world mc. I had both of them. The dbs woman world mc is for MS. And the normal dbs is to be used with nets flash pay ATU, earning two miles per dollar on each top up. Many places like koufu, soup spoon, accepted only nets flash pay and no other cards. Flash pay is also useful for carparks and mrt gantry.

Tyrhung

Nets FP ATU eligible for the bonus earn rate? Just got my DBS WW even though i am below the ann. Inc.
Unlike the Citi and UOB, rejected due to not meeting the AI.

Lionel

Yes NETs FP ATU is eligible for bonus earn rate.

You can find the article here.
https://card-cow.com/knowledge-maximise-your-daily-commute-part-i-miles/

You can only link your CC to standard net fp card, as debit cards equipped with nets fp can only ATU from its own.

Also, I saw a foodie nets fp that gives you 10% discount at koufu, which makes it even better.

Tyrhung

Alright! Thanks! Cause i saw that ez link (atu) isn’t eligible. Probably openly affect ez reload. Gonna change to nets FP now using WW

Ethan Lim

We can now top up NETS FlashPay with DBS WC via mobile app. Anyone knows if this will allow you to gain 4miles/dollar?

Read the news here
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/motorists-can-now-top-nets-flashpay-autopass-cards-credit-cards-mobile-app

Tris

I’m new to dbs credit cards. What is the cut off date for spend? Is it 15th to 15th? Want to confirm to ensure that the $2000 falls within the correct period. Thanks!

Mark

I asked DBS. It is based on calendar month. 1-31.

Tris

Thanks Mark. This means that it’s not according to the statements?

Lionel

Yes its not according to statement, points is only awarded on 16th of the following month.

Ethan Lim

Hi Guys,

We can now top up NETS FlashPay with DBS WC via mobile app. Anyone knows if this will allow you to gain 4miles/dollar?

Read the news here
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/motorists-can-now-top-nets-flashpay-autopass-cards-credit-cards-mobile-app

Anonymous

Hi Arron,
here for me, there is one question regarding the FEVO prepaid card,as after I topped up $2,000, where can I spend it? how can i use it to pay my bills? thanks.

Anonymous

Aron,
sorry. here I mean credit card bills. because for telecom/utilities bills, it is OK. but the amount is not so big. for me, if i topped up 2,000 on FEVO, i need 3 months to use it up for daily uses.

Mark

Fevo can only hold up to 1k at any time so not possible to top up 2k one go.

You can use fevo via axs e-payment. I pay my telco, sp utilities, car park, S&C charges all via axs e-services.

NBscotch

I read somewhere that Fevo not eligible for the bonus recently. Is there a change in their rewarding category? By the way it’s for DBS WW top up to Fevo.. Anyone able to clarify who uses this methos?

Mark

I received 8000 miles this month for last month’s fevo top up. Where did u read that it is not eligible?

NBscotch

Heard someone saying at hwz..

Lionel

Cause points is awarded only at 16th of next month, and lots of people spreading rumors don’t read their T&C correctly or bother to test these out themselves. If your worried, get the 5x rewards DBS plat woman and topup some small amount yourself.

Daniel

Hi, I just got myself a Fevo card. Topped up the card and realised that biller is Ezylink Pte Ltd. Will still get my bonus miles for the DBSWWC? Please advise.

Anonymous

Does topping up fevo using woman card via fevo Mobile app get 10x?

Adam

Hi Aaron,

Do you think the UOB Visa Signature card is better than the DBS womans card? Since it has a higher cap at $4000?

Though it has a $1000 minimum spend.

Do correct me if I am wrong. =D

@C

To my knowledge , the visa signature is capped at $2K.

VS , u can bring overseas to swipe in foreign currency. WMC is strictly online to get 10x.

stajin

does dbs womens work with uber ie. does it count as online spending?

@C

Yes. It does.

Stephen

Say goodbye to womens mc. New t&c came out. Wont work on many thing including prepaid merchabts like fevo.

Another card bites the dust, along with fevo haha.
I generally find sg credit cards to be pretty shitty compared to other places around the world.

Peter

Does this FEVO trick work with any cards now? Or are they all gone?

Spk307

Works with a few other cards, but none with 4miles per $1.

Ethan

Can you share what other cards would reward points for FEVO top ups? Thanks!

Phil

I think HSBC Advance, though only up to $200/month. 4miles/$

Ethan

Thanks, I know that as well. Any other cards that you guys might know of?

Peter

Is there any difference between the FEVO $28 card and the M1 FEVO card which only costs $5?

Luke

I would like to know as well. Any kind souls out there to help?
Thanks in advance.

Anonymous

Does this still work?? Anyone getting points for sept or oct 2016?

Spk307

Works so far. Oct points will be in on 16th Nov.

Anonymous

thanks!

Spk307

Oct points in.

xcode

Hi, I have already maxed out my $2000 on DBS WWMC. What’s the next best card to top up my Fevo?

Spk307

DBS WMC, the scaled down version of the WWMC. Gives you 2mpd.

Eddie

can a person own both the WWMC and WMC concurrently ? Anyone ever tried ?

Spk307

They are not mutually exclusive. I have both cards.

A

Hi Aaron

When u make a hotel stay purchase on spg website, is the purchase also processed by points.com and hence considered non-hotel purchase?

Joel

Can someone confirm if DBS woman’s world card still given 10X for fevo card top up for Dec 2016?

Gilbert Ng

What he said! ^

moses

hi, for places that only accepts nets or cash, is there a ‘nets’ card that i can purchase which I can top-up through credit card?

Anonymous

any nets flashpay card, topped up by credit card through the MRT General Ticketing Machine will work.

Bernard

Hi,

I am currently testing out the following cards for online spending:
HSBC Advance Platinium
OCBC Titanium
Citibank Rewards

Do you think these will work for the FEVO topup?

Thanks in advance

Mark

HSBC Advance and Citibank Rewards doesn’t work for Fevo.

Not sure about OCBC Titanium.

Rio

I think HSBC Advance work up to 200 SGD Online Transactions means retail transactions made via the internet and processed by the respective merchants/acquirers as an online transaction type through the Visa Worldwide networks. For the avoidance of doubt, transactions made on brokerage/securities and/or money payment/transfer websites are not classified as retail transactions and are expressly excluded. For Online Transactions which involve any pre-paid card top-ups including but not limited to EZ-Link, Transitlink or NETS Flashpay, 10x Rewards points are capped at 2,000 HSBC Rewards points per Account per calendar month (i.e. up to S$200 spend). For OCBC Titanium Rewards,… Read more »

zac

For OCBC Titanium, is it confirmed that it will get 10x rewards up to $200? From the T&C it doesnt say that it will earn 10x explicitly, maybe 1x rewards only..?

Anyway I just charged my OCBC titanium for EZreload ATU..

Kris

Hey there,

How would the 3 cards stack up:

DBS Women’s World
Citi Rewards
OCBC Titanium?

Do the qualifying spend under “online transactions” differ much?

Bernard

Thanks Rio and Mark for their reply.

Guess I’ll just bite the bullet and apply for the DBS Women’s World MasterCard. Was hoping to consolidate the points… oh well

Swuu

Last I checked DBS WWC no longer awards 10x for Fevo top-ups. Can anyone confirm?

Kris

Hope someone can confirm this too!

Louis Tan

Still working as of 16 Jan (awarded bonus points for Dec spend).

Meng

That’s brilliant!

Jacky

It seems fevo party stops this Feb, can anyone cross check?

Tim

What do you mean? I checked today and it credited 10x.

Anonymous

I checked mine today and realized that 10x is credited! Thanks!

Spk307

I guess it’s more of a problem with those new to the miles game. Some are lazy and want others to spoon feed everything. At the minimum they need to read the omnibus pages on this site.

Peter

Maybe put in bold red letters the “updated as at XXX” date with a caveat that information is only correct as of that date and to check the bank’s website for changes.

Better than to do away with it completely. I still find the Omnibus very useful as a quick reference tool and supplement it by going to the bank’s site for confirmed details.

CDQ

I got mine for WWC but not WC for AXS transactions. Happened last month and this month. CSA said AXS not entitled but I told her that I was issued for WWC. She offerred to investigate but I declined as I didn’t want my WWC card AXS bonus points to be stopped as well.

Anyone having AXS bonus points not issued for Woman’s Card (green one)?

Louis Tan

…a good guideline when getting points awarded for stuff that is explicitly excluded in T&C is not to raise it to the bank.

Similarly, when not awarded such points, it’s probably best to cut your losses and move on.

LoJack

Amen to that. Don’t understand why some people just don’t get it.

woooo

bcoz ppl feel self entitled. or naive.

fevo still works? LOL

CDQ

i didnt get bonus rewards get for AXS payments on my WWC card for March’s spend. Anyone face the same?

spk307

DBS stopped issuing points for AXS payments long back. If you got some recently, you have just been lucky.

Dan

Hi FEVO card is out of stock. Is the M1 prepaid MasterCard equivalent to FEVO? Will we get 4 miles per $1 for topping up the M1 card?

invisible

It comes with MAJOR bugs – can’t log on online.

Jei

For the fevo top up using DBSWWC to get the 4mpd – are you guys topping up to the Mastercard purse or Ezlink purse?

Anonymous

Hi, do you have any clue if Citibank awards citidollars for Fevo card top ups?

Jason

I think the fevo top up using wwmc no longer have 4mpd. Anyone has a better suggestion to use which card for axa insurance and sp bill?