ccgegg,
Some cards do give back 5%, but it's only on certain items--like gas or groceries. The other stuff is usually 1%. But the kicker is, is that the place that sells you the gas or groceries HAS to mark the item as gas/groceries or you don't get the 5%, but only 1% Even if it says Pennzoil Gas Station, they still only give the points if the item column says GAS. If it's marked other or misc, you get 1%
Missypie,
Same thing happened with me. I was supposed to get double points and I noticed I wasn't. So I called. They said if the companies don't mark the items specifically as Gas, Groceries (or whatever items are supposed to be doubled), you don't get the doubled points. And it's not like you can call all these companies and tell them to change how they mark it on the credit card bill. It's a big promotional ripoff.
On the good side though---I just used $441 from Disney points at the parks for my PS meals and a few souvenirs and it was nice not to have to worry about a bill when I got home. It worked out fine---except for Rainforest Cafe who wouldn't take it-probably cause they're a franchise. A lot of the servers had no idea what the card was and would ask me if it was a Visa..and I'd tell them no it's reward points.
You'd also get a printout receipt after you spent points as to how much was left on your card.