Bilt apologizes after erroneously sending scary emails to some members
Editor's Note
Bilt apologized April 10 after some Bilt Rewards members received an alarming email notice from Bilt Legal that their accounts were in jeopardy due to misuse. And there's good news for those who may have transferred their points out just in case.
If you're not familiar, the Bilt Mastercard® offers holders the opportunity to earn points on paying rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) and everyday purchases.
The information for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
More than one TPG staffer was a recipient of the email, which stated:
"We have reason to believe that behavior on your account demonstrates an intent to engage in sustained misconduct and wrongdoing in connection to the program. Pursuant to the legally binding Bilt Rewards Terms & Conditions, Bilt has the right to 'reject, revoke, cancel, terminate, or suspend any membership, benefit, and/or any and all points, or take any other action at its discretion... "
"We only ever use this account to pay rent and spend enough so we meet the non-rent spend minimum, so it was extra shocking because we only use it for what the card is made for. We also haven't even redeemed anything with our points yet," one TPG staffer said.
Around 2:30 p.m. Eastern time, Richard Kerr, vice president of travel at Bilt, posted a notice to Reddit explaining that the initial email was sent by mistake. Not long after, a corrective email was sent.
When TPG reached out to Kerr directly for comment, he said, "A small subsection of members received an email regarding loyalty program misconduct. This was sent in error, and members' accounts are currently in good standing. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and have added 250 points to any members who received the incorrect email."
Related: 5 ways to pay your rent or mortgage with a credit card
Unfortunately, the erroneous communication spurred some Bilt Rewards members to action, with one Redditor commenting that they had transferred their points "to avoid losing them," while several others noted they did the same.
But Bilt told TPG that any points transferred by mistake would soon be returned to users' accounts.
Protecting your rewards
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a similar notice in the future, you can take these steps in an effort to protect your points, and your sanity.
First, confirm that the communication you've received is actually from your reward program or credit card issuer. This may mean you have to call a support line and speak to a representative to get additional information.
Related: How the Credit Card Competition Act can affect your credit card rewards
Next, although the fine print in the terms and conditions you agreed to may be lengthy, they're worth reading so that you know exactly what you signed up for and what specific actions could jeopardize your earned rewards.
The more you know, the better prepared you'll be if you find yourself in a spot similar to this one.
And if you find yourself in a situation that you can't figure out on your own, don't hesitate to reach out to The Points Guy for answers. We have a special editor to help with consumer problems. You can email us at ombudsman@thepointsguy.com.
Bottom line
While the email from Bilt was no doubt scary, Bilt Rewards members will be made whole.
One Reddit commenter said that they received both the original erroneous message and the second "disregard" email but no notice about getting comped 250 points.
Bilt assures us those points are coming.
To learn more about the Bilt program, check out our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.
Learn more: Bilt Mastercard
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Unlimited up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Housing payments may include transaction fees, depending on the payment method
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.