Cash back app Ibotta has hundreds of offers, rewards, and bonuses available to customers at any one time. Once an offer is activated, all the customer has to do is scan the receipt, and the smartphone app will match them together and credit the customer with the advertised rebate. It is a simple process, replacing the use of coupons in grocery stores. However, Ibotta now has so many different types of offers the matching process has become complicated and open to fraud. Ibotta has strict rules and conditions around using receipts to earn cash. In this post, we will review some of the most important rules that consumers need to know.
Ibotta is a popular cash back and receipt-scanning app that focuses on groceries. As such, it offers some of the best cash back rates for these types of purchases. However, earning cash back on Ibotta through receipt scanning can be a bit tricky, as there are many rules involving Ibotta receipts. In this post, you’ll learn all there is to know about the Ibotta receipt rules to ensure you get your money every time.
Ibotta Receipt Rules: Submitting Receipts Appropriately
The rules around the submitting of receipts are strict and offers may not be authorized if there are any discrepancies. Repeated issues on an account may result in it being locked.
In the following sections, you’ll find five important Ibotta receipt rules followed by an example of when each rule applies.
Receipt Rule #1
You can only submit a receipt once for the same product. If you think the item might reset then you need to buy the second item separately on a different receipt.
Similarly, you cannot purchase an item a second time if the offer renews. Unless otherwise specified, offers are unique and can be redeemed only once.
| Problem Related To This Rule | Example |
| I cannot submit my receipt for a second purchase even though there is a current offer. | There is a unique offer for a type of toothbrush. You buy two and upload your receipt earning cash back for one of them. The next day the offer resets. Rather than buying another item, you upload the receipt again to claim the offer against the second toothbrush. This won’t work. |
Receipt Rule #2
Regardless of how long the offer is for, you cannot redeem more than one free after offer. It’s a Unique Offer.
| Problem Related To This Rule | Example |
| I want to redeem a free after offer more than once but can’t. | You find a free after offer and make a purchase. Later, you realize the offer is still available but the system won't let you make a second purchase. |
Receipt Rule #3
To be properly verified and matched to the activated offers, receipts must be clear in the uploaded scan. If there are creases, wrinkles, or smudges on the receipt then the software may not be able to read it. Repeated issues may lead to suspicion that receipts are being tampered with. Receipts should always be kept in good condition until the offer has been completed.
| Problem Related To This Rule | Example |
| My receipt has been refused. | You have followed the correct process in activating your offers, purchasing the correct items and scanning your receipt but you get a message refusing your receipt. |
Receipt Rule #4
In order to withdraw funds you must satisfy the following conditions:
- Balance over $20.
- Redeemed at least one offer.
- Wait at least seven days after your first redemption.
| Problem Related To This Rule | Example |
| I am a new account holder. I cannot withdraw my earnings. | You have redeemed several offers and your balance is over $20 but you cannot withdraw any funds. |
Receipt Rule #5
You have to buy the item at the designated store. Check the store when activating the offer. You cannot redeem an offer if:
- You do not activate it before the purchase.
- You buy it at a different shop than the one where you activated the offer.
| Problem Related To This Rule | Example |
| My cash back has been refused. I have checked the item and it is correct. | You have purchased a Ban Deodorant from your local pharmacy and uploaded your receipt but the app couldn’t match it to a current offer. |
Related: Learn how to scan receipts on Ibotta successfully every time.
Other Rules To Know About When Using Ibotta
#1 Offers Redeemed Online Are Subject To Longer Pending Periods
Online purchases are more complicated because they involve delivery and possibly returns. The waiting time for an offer to be accepted and credited may be much longer to ensure the order has been fulfilled correctly.
#2 There Are Maintenance Fees For Dormant Accounts
A condition of holding an Ibotta account is that it is used regularly. If an account is dormant for six months, Ibotta will deduct $3.99 from any account balance each month. If you start using the account again, this charge will cease.
#3 Customers Cannot Have Multiple Accounts
Having multiple accounts is a quick way to lose them altogether. Ibotta monitors accounts to ensure customers only receive cash rebates in accordance with offers’ terms and conditions. Multiple accounts are an indicator of fraudulent activity in order to access additional cash back.
- The Welcome Offer can only be claimed by customers new to Ibotta with no previous or current accounts.
- Only one account can be used on any one mobile phone or computer to ensure the integrity of the data received around offers and receipts.
This doesn’t just help Ibotta avoid people abusing the app and earning multiple times on the same purchases, but it also avoids people abusing the Ibotta referral program.
#4 Ibotta Receipt Dates
You can only upload receipts to Ibotta that are up to seven days old. Therefore, you can submit a receipt any day within the week you made the purchase. For example, if you bought an eligible item on Monday at 3:00 p.m., you have until the following Monday at 2:59 p.m. to upload it to Ibotta, else lose the opportunity to earn cash back on that purchase.
How Does Ibotta Verify Receipts?
The scanning of receipts must result in a clear image that has no hint of being altered. This is because the software Ibotta uses involves text recognition. Any problem with the clarity of the receipt could mean it has been tampered with and offers refused.
In Summary
Ibotta has many offers, rewards, and bonuses for its customers to take advantage of but they come with a lot of terms and conditions. These are needed to ensure offers are accessed appropriately and the program is not abused. It’s important for you to be familiar with the general dos and don’ts of Ibotta to ensure success in redeeming offers. In addition, you should always check the specific terms relating to all individual offers. If you need help with any aspect of their account or with any of the Ibotta receipt rules, you can contact the Care Team for advice. At help.ibotta.com, customers can complete a support ticket outlining their problems.
However, if this all seems like too much hassle, there are several apps like Ibotta that offer much simpler earning schemes, albeit for lower earnings. Some examples include Fetch Rewards and Swagbucks.
