Chase Freedom Card FAQs

Chase Freedom FAQ’s: Now that you’ve applied and been approved for the Chase Freedom Card, you may have some questions! Here is a list of the most common frequently asked questions that cardholders have.

Editor’s Note: Interested in a more in-depth review of a few of what Chase has to offer? See a few of our review below:

• Chase Bank Premier Plus Checking Account Bonus
• Chase Bank Savings Account Bonus
• Chase Bank Total Checking & Savings Account Bonus
• Chase Credit Card Referral Bonus
• Chase Freedom Cashback Calendar
• Chase Total Business Checking Review

Or see our full list of Chase Bank Deals here or an archive of anything Chase Bank related here.

Chase Freedom FAQs

Activating your 5% cash back

• How often and why do I need to activate my 5% cash back?
  • You need to activate new 5% cash back categories every three months. We ask you to activate because we want to make sure you’re aware when categories change and where you can earn 5% cash back. See our Chase Freedom Card Cashback Calendar.
• Can you remind me when it’s time to activate?
  • Yes! You can sign up for activation reminders at chase.com/freedom. Email reminders will be to all applicable customers prior to the start, and during, the quarter.
• Is it free to activate my 5% cash back?
  • Yes! It’s a benefit that comes with your card. All you need to do is activate your 5% cash back every three months at chase.com/freedom
• How and where can I activate my 5% cash back?
  • 1. Online – visit ultimaterewards.com or chase.com/freedom
    2. Email – provide your email address at chase.com/freedom
       We’ll send you an email when it’s time to activate.It takes just one click!
    3. Phone – call the number on the back of your card and let one of our specialists activate your 5% cash back.
    4. Chase location – visit any Chase bank and see a personal banker.
    5. ATM – Chase checking customers can activate their 5% cash back with one click via the ATM while making a cash withdrawal.There are 5 easy ways to activate. Just choose the one that’s best for you!
• When is the deadline to activate this quarter?
  • This quarter, the deadline for activation is March 14, 2018. So in order to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in the bonus categories from January 1 to March 31, 2018, you need to activate by then.
• If I don’t activate until late in the quarter, will I still earn 5% cash back?
  • Yes! In fact, you’ll earn 5% cash back for all category purchases you’ve made for the whole quarter (up to $1,500), no matter when you activate as long as it’s by March 14, 2018. So if you activate any day before then, you’ll earn 5% cash back for category purchases dating back to January 1.
• What if I forget to activate before the deadline?
  • If you do not activate by March 14, 2018, you will not earn 5% cash back in the bonus categories, you can activate the next quarter’s categories starting March 15, 2018. To make sure you don’t forget to activate, you can sign up for activation reminders via email at chase.com/freedom
• If I have multiple Chase Freedom cards, do I need to activate all accounts?
  • Yes, please activate 5% cash back on all of your Chase Freedom accounts to make sure you earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter (on each account).
• Are there any other restrictions around activating my 5% cash back?
  • Activation is free and easy! There are no other restrictions around activating your 5% cash back. Activate your 5% cash back each quarter, and you will earn bonus rewards as long as your account is open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.

Earning your 5% cash back

• How does the 5% promotion work?
  • You’ll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases. In addition, you’ll earn 4% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in combined purchases in the bonus categories between January 1 to March 31, 2018. That’s a total of 5% cash back, which means you can earn up to $75 cash back ($15 cash back plus your $60 bonus cash back). You must activate your 5% cash back by March 14, 2018 and use your card between January 1 to March 31, 2018 in the bonus categories to earn bonus cash back.
• What determines whether a merchant falls within a particular rewards category?
  • Merchants who accept Visa/MasterCard credit cards are assigned a merchant code which is determined by the merchant or its processor in accordance with Visa/MasterCard procedures based on the kinds of products and services they primarily sell. We group similar merchant codes into categories for purposes of making rewards offers to you. Please note we make every effort to include all relevant merchant codes in its rewards categories. However, even though a merchant or some of the items that it sells may appear to fit within a rewards category, the merchant may not have a merchant code in that category. When this occurs, purchases with that merchant won’t qualify for reward offers on purchases in that category. Purchases submitted by you, an authorized user, or the merchant through third-party payment accounts, mobile or wireless card readers, online or mobile digital wallets, or similar technology will not qualify in a rewards category if the technology is not set up to process the purchase in that rewards category.
• What happens if a merchant charges my Freedom card for a rewards category purchase after this quarter?
  • In order for a purchase to qualify for 5% cash back in this quarter’s rewards categories, the merchant must submit the charges to your credit card by the last day of the quarter. For example, if the merchant charges your card on a different date than you placed your purchase such as the shipping date, delivery date, or installation date, and that date is after the end of the is quarter, the purchase will not earn bonus 5% cash back.
• Where will I earn 5% cash back each quarter in 2018?
  • We’ll announce the categories each quarter when it’s time to activate, so you’ll know where you’re earning 5% cash back for the coming quarter. Activate now to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases at Gas Stations, Cable/Internet/Phone and Chase Pay/Android Pay/Apple Pay/Samsung Pay from January 1 to March 31, 2018. See calendar
• What types of purchases qualify for 5% cash back this quarter?
  • You’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases from January 1 to March 31, 2018 when you use your card for purchases at Gas Stations, Internet/Cable/Phone Services, and Chase Pay/Apple Pay/Samsung Pay/Android Pay.
• What types of merchants are in the Gas Stations category?
  • Merchants in the Gas Stations category sell automotive gasoline that can be paid for either at the pump or inside the station, and may or may not sell other goods or services at their location. Please note that some merchants that do not specialize in selling automotive gasoline are not included in this category; for example, truck stops, boat marinas, oil and propane distributors, and home heating companies.
• What types of merchants are in the Internet/Cable/Phone Services category?
  • Only purchases for internet, cable, satellite television, radio, cellular, wireless data, and landline services will qualify. Please note that purchases of equipment are not included. In addition, if you purchase or pay for your internet, cable and satellite television, phone or related services in a merchant’s store that is not classified by the merchant in the applicable services category, the purchase or payment will not qualify; for example, phone bill payments in a merchant’s store that is classified as a telephone equipment store.
• What types of merchants are in the Chase Pay/Android Pay/Apple Pay/Samsung Pay category?
  • Includes purchases made using your Freedom card with your Chase Pay, Android Pay, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay digital wallet during check out; excludes purchases already earning 5% in a current category.
• How much cash back do I earn in other places?
  • You always earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. See your Rewards Program Rules and Regulations/Agreement for details.
• Am I earning cash back or points?
  • “Cash Back rewards” are the rewards you earn under the program. Cash Back rewards are tracked as points and each $1 in Cash Back rewards earned is equal to 100 points. You may simply see “Cash Back” in marketing materials when referring to the rewards you earn. When you use points to redeem for cash, each point is worth $0.01 (one cent), which means that 100 points equals $1 in redemption value.

Earning your 1% cash back

• Will I always earn unlimited 1% cash back?
  • Yes. You’ll get 1% cash back on your purchases every day with Chase Freedom.
• How much do I need to spend on my card before I start getting 1% cash back everywhere?
  • Chase Freedom gives you unlimited 1% cash back on all your purchases from the very first dollar you spend.
• Will Chase Freedom give me unlimited 1% cash back at discount and warehouse stores?
  • Yes! You’ll earn unlimited 1% cash back at discount and warehouse stores. Chase Freedom always gives 1% cash back at stores like Target^® and Walmart^®.
• Will I earn 1% cash back on cash advances?
  • No. You will always earn cash back on purchases made with your Chase Freedom card. However, a cash advance is not considered a purchase.

Seeing your 5% cash back

• How does my 5% cash back add up?
  • You earn a total of 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases at Gas Stations, Internet/Cable/Phone Services, and Chase Pay/Apple Pay/Samsung Pay/Android Pay from January 1 through March 31, 2018. That means you earn 4% bonus cash back in addition to your 1% standard cash back you earn for a total of 5% cash back.
• How does my 5% cash back show up on my statement?
  • On your statement, you’ll see your rewards totaled as points in the Rewards Summary section. Your 1% standard cash back will appear as it normally does. Your 4% cash back will be broken out separately into categories with a description of “Bonus from 1Q 5% category”. And if you activate after the quarter has started, you will still get your 5% bonus cash back on all purchases made since January 1. It will show was “Retro(active) 1Q 5% cat(egory) bonus”.
• When will I see my cash back on my statement?
  • In most cases, once you activate your 5% cash back, you’ll see your rewards on the same statement you see your purchases. However, if your purchase was made within 1-2 weeks before your statement closing date, you may see your corresponding rewards on your next statement.

Author’s Verdict

If you’ve ever had any questions in regards to the intricacies of your Chase Freedom card, hopefully this Chase Freedom Card FAQs post helped you! Let us know if it did in the comment section below or help add onto our list! Let us know about your thoughts and experience with your Chase Freedom card in the comment section below! If you’re interested in more info regarding what Chase has to offer, check out our full listing of Chase Bank Deals or see our Chase Freedom Card Cashback Calendar to keep up with the cash back categories! Be sure to check back on BankDealGuy for more bank deals!