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Picking up free money here and there is something that many travel hackers are fond of. So… when news of Quidco’s latest promotion hit my inbox, my thoughts naturally turned to what travel-related spend I can cancel and re-book…

We have grown accustomed to such promotions offering “spend X and receive an extra cashback bonus of Y”. It doesn’t really matter whether the merchant actually pays you 10p or £10 as cashback, as long as you spend the minimum amount required.

However this new Quidco promotion is slightly different. You must EARN £15 of cashback in order to receive an additional £5. You have until 9 December, 2019 and there is no need to opt in.

There is also a minimum spend of £20, although you’d be doing really well to earn £15 of cashback out of £20 spend.  (perhaps a gambling company or something…)

The T&Cs also exclude some of our favourite merchants, such as IHG hotels:

Purchases via the following merchants are not eligible: Match.com, O2 Free Sim, Graze, giffgaff, Search Lotto, Booking Buddy, I can have it, tastecard, icelolly.com, Pick My Postcode, 20cogs.co.uk, giffgaff recycle, My Gold Surveys, Experian Free Account and Switch Gas & Electricity, Gocompare Home, Car, Van, Motorbike & Travel Insurance, Confused.com Home, Car, Van, Motorbike, Travel, Medical, Life, Life Over 50’s and Pet Insurance, Confused.com Car Finance, Comparethemarket Car, Home, Pet, Van and Bike Insurance, Policy Expert Home Insurance, AA Loans, Direct car Excess Insurance, American Express British Airways Premium Plus card, American Express British airways Credit Card, Amercian Express Platinum Cashback Card, American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card, American express Platinum Card, American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card, American Express Gold Business Card, American Express Platinum Business Card, American Express Rewards Credit Card,The American Express Card, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts (IHG), Holiday Inn (IHG), Crowne Plaza (IHG), Holiday Inn Express (IHG), Hotel Indigo (IHG), IHG, Kimpton Hotels (IHG), Staybridge Suites (IHG), Candlewood Suites (IHG) and Even Hotels (IHG) and Disneyland Paris.

The Bottom Line

Earning 33% more cashback on a substantial amount of spend is certainly less appealing than an almost-free fiver.  Luckily you are able to accumulate various transactions to meet the £15 minimum cashback.

However, since this promotion is structured differently from normal, I wanted to draw that difference to everybody’s attention…