Reward-stacking checker and campaign checklist
A layer-by-layer validation method that rejects false stacks and tracks campaign eligibility.
For each layer, confirm merchant eligibility, the exact funding source, the exact contactless rail, campaign entry, remaining cap, coupon rules, refund risk, and expiration — and reject any stack where two rates both include the same base.
Key points
- Merchant: does the store award points with this payment method?
- Funding/rail: is the exact source and contactless rail eligible?
- Campaign: was entry completed before the deadline? Is cap remaining?
- Coupon/refund: does it reduce eligible spend or reverse the bonus?
- Reject a stack when two rates both include the same base reward.
The layer-by-layer checker
For every stack, validate each layer before counting it. Merchant membership: does the store award points with this payment method? Card or wallet: is the exact funding source eligible? Category bonus: does the exact contactless rail qualify (network touch vs iD vs QUICPay)? Campaign: was entry completed before the relevant deadline? Cap: is monthly or campaign capacity remaining? Coupon: does it prohibit another discount or reduce eligible spend? Refund: will a partial return reverse the whole bonus? Expiration: will the bonus remain usable long enough? The checker must reject a stack when two rates both include the same base reward — for example, adding a base 0.5% on top of SMBC’s seven-percent route, which already includes it.
Campaign eligibility checklist
For campaigns, record the official campaign page, entry timestamp, application window, spending window, eligible merchant, minimum amount, transaction count, excluded payment sources, coupon requirement, cap, award date, point type, and expiration. In Japan, completing the spending requirement without first entering the campaign can produce no bonus, and campaigns frequently issue limited-time or limited-use balances rather than ordinary points. Lottery campaigns are worth their expected value (using winning probability), not the top prize. Screenshots are useful for personal recordkeeping, but the current official terms govern, and operators can exclude or claw back abuse.
Who this is for
- Advanced optimisers validating stacks and campaigns
What this is not
- People who count rewards without verifying eligibility
- Never count a campaign without confirming entry, cap, and point type in the current official terms.
Frequently asked questions
How do I avoid double counting rewards?
Determine whether each quoted bonus already includes the base rate and whether all layers can legitimately coexist. For example, do not add a base 0.5% on top of SMBC’s selected-store seven-percent route, which already includes it. Reject any stack where two rates both include the same base reward.
Do I need to enter Japanese point campaigns?
Many require an entry or activation step, and in Japan completing the spending requirement without first entering can produce no bonus. Never assume automatic enrollment. Record the entry timestamp, spending window, eligible merchant, cap, and point type, and note that campaigns often issue limited-time or limited-use points rather than ordinary ones.
Why did my campaign bonus not track?
Common reasons include no entry, the wrong funding source, the wrong merchant, the cap already reached, a refund, an app-cookie/tracking failure, or a delayed award date. Check the official campaign terms for the exact eligibility conditions, and remember that many awards are credited later rather than at the point of sale.