Choose Your Own Rewards FAQs
Choose Your Own Rewards (CYOR) Benefits and Categories
What are the benefits of selecting a CYOR category?
- Choosing a Choose Your Own Rewards (CYOR) category gives you the flexibility of choosing to be rewarded on a UCount Rewards category where you would typically spend the most per month to increase the value of Reward Points earned.
What is a Category Earn?
- Category Earn means the CYOR categories namely Grocery Rewards, Fashion Rewards and/or Lifestyle Rewards.
How do I qualify for CYOR?
- By being a UCount Rewards member, you will automatically be given the option to choose a specific CYOR category, from Grocery Rewards, Fashion Rewards or Lifestyle Rewards.
What are Participating CYOR Retailers?
- Participating Retailers are retailers from which you may earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points on qualifying purchases per CYOR category, when using your qualifying Standard Bank cards to pay for your purchases at any of their stores (including online) in South Africa. A list of Participating Retailers per CYOR category are set out in the UCount Rewards Programme Rules.
How do I choose a CYOR category?
- Choose between Grocery Rewards, Fashion Rewards or Lifestyle Rewards, based on your typical spending behaviour and way of life. For example, if you spend more on qualifying clothing at Fashion Retailers every month than on qualifying groceries at Grocery Retailers, you can choose Fashion Rewards. Grocery Rewards, Fashion Rewards or Lifestyle Rewards can only be earned at participating retailers within the selected CYOR category. These are selected retailers from which you may earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points on qualifying purchases when using your qualifying Standard Bank Card to pay for your purchases at any of their stores (including online) in South Africa. You will continue to earn Card Rewards of up to 1.25%*, on the remaining two categories. A list of participating retailers per CYOR category are set out in the UCount Rewards Programme Rules.
What is the Grocery Rewards category?
- The Grocery Rewards category allows you to earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points on your qualifying grocery purchases, when using your qualifying Standard Bank cards, at participating Grocery Retailers who have chosen to be a part of the programme. A list of participating retailers per CYOR category are set out in the UCount Rewards Programme Rules.
What is the Fashion Rewards category?
- The Fashion Rewards category allows you to earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points on your qualifying clothing/ fashion purchases, when using your qualifying Standard Bank cards, at participating Fashion Retailers who have chosen to be a part of the programme. A list of participating retailers per CYOR category are set out in the UCount Rewards Programme Rules.
What is the Lifestyle Rewards category?
- The Lifestyle Rewards category allows you to earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points at participating book stores, gyms, movies, fast food outlets and restaurants. This category allows you to earn up to 20% back in UCount Rewards Points on your qualifying Lifestyle Rewards purchases, when using your qualifying Standard Bank cards, at participating Lifestyle Retailers who have chosen to be a part of the programme. You also qualify for UCount Rewards Points for gym payments made via a qualifying Standard Bank card or via an electronic debit order from your transactional account. A list of participating retailers per CYOR category are set out in the UCount Rewards Programme Rules.
Fixed Cycles and Lock-in periods
What are the Fixed Cycle dates?
- CYOR UCount Rewards Points are calculated based on card spend (including online) in Fixed Cycles. A Fixed Cycle means the period of time that runs from the 16th day of one month until the 15th day of the following month. Members are locked in for four Fixed Cycle periods to a CYOR category. UCount Rewards Points for CYOR are calculated on POS spend made during each Fixed Cycle.
How does my CYOR category selection apply to Fixed Cycles?
- Your CYOR category selection is locked-in for four Fixed Cycles. Your Fixed Cycle is calculated as follows:
- For new members, the 1st Fixed Cycle for CYOR commences from the 1st day of registration until the 15th day of the Fixed Cycle.
- For existing members, once you select a CYOR category, this change will be effective from the 1st day of the commencement of the next Fixed Cycle following your date of selection. You may not change your chosen Category Earn for a period of 4 Fixed Cycles following such date. For example, if you make a CYOR category selection on the 1st of January, your new CYOR category selection will become effective on the 16th January (the 1st day of the next Fixed Cycle).
What is a Lock-In Period?
- A lock-in period applies to your CYOR category selection, where you will earn the applicable UCount Rewards Points based on your selected CYOR category. This period runs over four Fixed Cycles and would end on the 15th day of the calendar month of the 4th Fixed Cycle. You may only change your Category Earn from the 1st day of the commencement of the 4th Fixed Cycle, however such change will only be effective from the 1st day of the next Fixed Cycle. If you do not make a change, your Category Earn during this time will remain as is. For example, as an existing UCount Rewards member, if you make a CYOR category selection on 1 January, your CYOR category selection becomes effective on 16 January, and you may change your CYOR category from 16 April. Your new CYOR category selection will become effective from 16 May.
Getting Started for New Members
How do I as a new member make a CYOR selection?
- Upon registering for the UCount Rewards programme you will be requested to select one of the three CYOR categories; i.e. Grocery Rewards, Fashion Rewards or Lifestyle Rewards.
Can I change my CYOR selection after registration?
- Yes, there is a cooling off period of seven days, wherein you may change your selection by contacting the UCount Rewards Contact Centre. The seven-day cooling off period commences from the date of the 1st Fixed Cycle (your date of registration). Thereafter, you can change your selected CYOR category after four Fixed Cycles via the UCount Rewards Contact Centre or UCount Rewards website.
Is there a limit to the number of category changes I may make after registration?
- If you are within the seven-day cooling off period, there is no limit to the number of times you can change your CYOR category. However, after the seven-day cooling off period, you can only change it at the beginning of the 4th Fixed Cycle, and your selection becomes effective on the 16th day of the next Fixed Cycle.
How long will my CYOR category selection be valid for?
- Your CYOR selection will be valid for four Fixed Cycles. The 1st fixed cycle in the lock-in period for new members starts on the day you register for the programme until the 15th day of that Fixed Cycle. The CYOR category selection made during the cooling off period will be the applicable CYOR category for the current Fixed Cycle and the following three Fixed Cycles of the lock-in period.
What are the Fixed Cycle dates for CYOR category selection?
- A Fixed Cycle means the period of time that runs from the 16th day of one month until the 15th day of the following month. The 1st CYOR Fixed Cycle in the lock-in period for new members starts on the day you register for the programme until the 15th day of that Fixed Cycle.
As a new member, how do I change my CYOR selection, after registration?
- If you are within the seven-day cooling off period, you will be able to change your CYOR selection by contacting the UCount Rewards Contact Centre only. You can only make a CYOR category change at the beginning of the 4th Fixed Cycle, which becomes effective on the 16th day of the next Fixed Cycle.
What fees are applicable for CYOR?
- There is no fee to make a CYOR category selection when registering for UCount Rewards. You also don’t pay a fee for subsequent CYOR category changes, when you are able to make such changes.
Existing Members
How do I, as an existing member make a CYOR selection?
- As an existing member of UCount Rewards, you will be able to make a CYOR selection by logging onto the UCount Rewards website and clicking on the My Profile section and then on the Choose Your Own UCount Rewards tab. You can also phone the UCount Rewards Contact Centre to choose a CYOR category. Should you not select a CYOR category, then you will remain on Grocery Rewards, until such time as you choose a new CYOR category.
Can I change my CYOR category after selection?
- Yes, you can change your selection at any time during the 4th Fixed Cycle of your lock-in period. The change will be effective from the 1st day of the following Fixed Cycle (which is the 16th day of a month). There is a cooling off period of seven days, wherein you may change your selection by phoning the UCount Rewards Contact Centre. The seven-day cooling off period commences from the 1st day of the commencement of the 1st CYOR Fixed Cycle.
For how long will my selection be valid for?
- There is a lock-in period of four Fixed Cycles for CYOR category selection.
When will I be able to change my CYOR category?
- We will send you a communication, in your UCount Rewards newsletter via email, or SMS, to inform you that you can make a change to your CYOR category. You will be able to choose a new CYOR category at the beginning of the 4th Fixed Cycle, which is on the 16th day of the calendar month. The new CYOR category, which becomes effective on the 16th day of the next Fixed Cycle.
What will happen if I do not make a new CYOR category selection after the four Fixed Cycles of the lock-in period?
- If you do not make any changes to your CYOR category, your existing CYOR category selection will continue to roll-over until a new CYOR category selection is made. When a new CYOR category selection is made, it becomes effective on the 16th day of the next Fixed Cycle and will run for four Fixed Cycles.
What happens if I do not make a CYOR category selection once this enhancement is launched?
- The default category of Grocery Rewards will apply if a selection is not made and will continue to earn the applicable Grocery CYOR category UCount Rewards Points.
Is there a deadline to selecting a CYOR category?
- No, there is no deadline for existing members to make a CYOR category selection and the CYOR category can be updated at any time. The default category of Grocery Rewards will apply if a selection is not made and will continue to earn the relevant UCount rewards on qualifying Grocery spend. You will continue to earn Card Rewards of up to 1.25%*, on the remaining two categories (i.e. Fashion Rewards and Lifestyle Rewards).
Re-Registration
Do I need to make a CYOR category selection if I re-register for UCount Rewards?
- If you re-register for the UCount Rewards programme you will be required to select a CYOR category upon registration. If you had previously made a CYOR category selection, the old category selected will no longer be valid, and a new category will have to be selected. You will also be able to change your CYOR category, within the cooling off period of seven days which commences from the day of re-registration by contacting the UCount Rewards Contact Centre.
Which Fixed Cycles will apply should I re-register?
- Should you re-register for the UCount Rewards programme, the 1st Fixed Cycle in the lock-in period starts on the day you re-register for the programme until the 15th day of that Fixed Cycle. The lock-in period of four cycles will also apply.
Earn, Tiering and Points Earn
How will my current earning of UCount Rewards Points change?
- By introducing CYOR, you now get to choose the category on which you would like to earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points. We are expanding Category Earn where you could earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points when using your qualifying Standard Bank cards, for qualifying purchases, for Grocery Rewards, Fashion Rewards or Lifestyle Rewards. You may earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points on qualifying card spend on qualifying Standard Bank cards made at Participating Retailers only, on your single chosen category (i.e. Grocery Rewards, Fashion Rewards or Lifestyle Rewards). You will continue to earn Card Rewards of up to 1.25%* on the remaining two categories. If you are an existing member, and have not made a CYOR category selection, the default category of Grocery Rewards will apply, and you will continue to the earn up to 20%* back in UCount Rewards Points on your qualifying grocery spend. You will continue to earn Card Rewards of up to 1.25%* at Participating Fashion and Lifestyle Retailers.
What are the Earn Rates per CYOR category?
- Your Earn Rate is based on your tiering level and type of card you use. The CYOR earn rates (of up to 20%* of qualifying Standard Bank card spend) only applies to your single chosen category as set out in the UCount Programme Rules.
Will I earn up to 20%* on all CYOR categories?
- No, you will earn CYOR Earn UCount Rewards Points only on the category that you selected. The other two categories will continue to earn at the applicable Card Rewards rates as set out in the UCount Programme Rules.
Is there an earn cap on the new CYOR categories?
- Yes, the existing earn cap of 20 000 UCount Rewards Points (R 2 000) will apply for your chosen CYOR category. The remaining two categories will earn at the applicable Card Rewards earn rates, of up to 1.25%*. A earn cap of 30 000 UCount Rewards Points (R 3 000) per Fixed Cycle will still apply for Card Rewards.
Will all qualifying card spend on my chosen CYOR Category Earn Rewards Points at the CYOR Earn Rates?
- You may earn UCount Rewards Points of up to 20%* of qualifying spend at Participating CYOR Retailers, on the category that you selected, at the CYOR Category Earn Rewards rates. If your qualifying purchases from participating CYOR retailers, per chosen category, exceeds 20%* of your total qualifying monthly card spend, you may earn UCount Rewards Points at up to 1.25% of your remaining card spend, at the applicable Card Rewards earn rates.
Will I continue to earn Retailer Rewards if a Rewards Retailer is a participating CYOR retailer as well?
- Yes, earn rates at UCount Rewards Retailers remain as-is and you will continue to earn UCount Rewards Points irrespective of the CYOR category chosen.
Will I be able to redeem my UCount Rewards Points at Participating CYOR Retailers?
- You will only be able to redeem your UCount Rewards Points at Rewards Retailers. A list of Rewards Retailers are set out in the UCount Rewards Programme Rules.
What is qualifying Grocery Spend?
- Qualifying Grocery purchases means all perishable and non-perishable foodstuffs, substances that can be used to prepare food and all household cleaning products, beauty and health products that can be purchased from a participating Grocery Retailer and excludes non-foodstuffs such as clothing, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, liquor, airtime, bill payments, lottery and casino purchases, travel and entertainment, gift cards, financial services, payments made for delivery charges and payments made to the participating Grocery Retailer for payment of an account.
What is qualifying Fashion Spend?
- Qualifying Fashion purchases means any purchase for clothing, apparel, attire, footwear, jewellery, handbags and accessories excluding airtime, data, cellphones, electronics, cellphone accessories, courier services, retailer account and store card payments, baby items such as toiletries, food, dummies, nappies, feeding equipment, humidifiers, retailer’s financial and non-financial Services products & services, general merchandise such as chips, sweets, water, gift cards, health & beauty products such as make up, perfume, skin care products, home products including towels, sheets, duvets, blankets, cushions, pots, pans, kitchen equipment and appliances, outdoor products such as camping chairs, tents and equipment, all sports equipment such as balls, bats, weights, all children’s toys and travel products such as luggage and travel accessories.
What is qualifying Lifestyle Spend?
- Qualifying Lifestyle purchases means any purchase in-store or online for books, e-books / audio books, gift cards and non-book products including puzzles, gifts and stationery, gym memberships, personal training sessions, gym classes, sporting and gym accessories, move tickets, 3D Glasses, beverages, confectionary, food, and service gratuity at the participating Lifestyle Retailers.
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