How can we help?

To get paid, make sure you:

1. Add your address. We use your mailing address to verify your identity (even if you’re getting paid via PayPal or American Express Membership Rewards® Points). On our website, you can add your address in Account Settings. If you’re using the App, go to Account then Choose How You Get Paid.

2. Earn at least $5.01. You need minimum confirmed earnings of $5.01 Cash Back before the next payment date to get paid. Cash Back must be confirmed by the store before the payment date to be included in your payment. If your Cash Back Balance is $5.00 or less, it will carry over to the next payment date.

Getting Paid

You’ll be paid for any confirmed Cash Back, bonuses and other rewards via the payment method you selected (check, PayPal or American Express Membership Rewards® points) every three months. Pending Cash Back will remain in your account until it becomes confirmed.

Rakuten Payment Dates:

• February 15
• May 15
• August 15
• November 15

How long does it take for pending Cash Back to be confirmed?

Once the store sends us your order details, your Cash Back will be pending. It will be added to your confirmed balance and included in your next payment, unless we receive new information from the store.

Online and in-store Cash Back typically takes 3 to 14 weeks to be confirmed. This waiting period exists in case of returns, exchanges, exclusions or other changes to your order.

Cash Back on Dining will be confirmed within 3 to 5 days after you dine.

Travel Cash Back is typically confirmed within 45 to 120 days after completing your booking.

Bonuses usually depend on an order and will be confirmed at the same time as the Cash Back. Your refer-a-friend bonuses will be confirmed once your friend makes a purchase and their Cash Back is confirmed.

Remember, your Cash Back, bonuses and other rewards need to be confirmed by the payment date to be included.

Want to track your next Cash Back payment? Track My Big Fat Check

There are three ways to receive your Cash Back payments:

• Big Fat Check 
• PayPal
• American Express Membership Rewards® points

Any method you choose is free. Payments are sent every three months on our payment schedule.

Want your Cash Back faster? Redeem your confirmed balance for a gift card and get it within minutes. Choose from dozens of stores. Learn more.

Big Fat Check

If you choose a Big Fat Check, you’ll receive a check issued to the name and address in your Account Settings. If you’re using the App, go to Account, then Choose How You Get Paid.

PayPal

Get your Cash Back sent to your PayPal account.

To update your PayPal account, go to Account Settings. If you’re using the App, go to Account, then Choose How You Get Paid.

American Express Membership Rewards® points

If you have a qualifying American Express credit card, you can switch your payment method to Membership Rewards points and have your earnings transferred to your Membership Rewards account every 3 months. Learn more.

Want to update your payment method?

You can update your payment method or payment details any time in Account Settings. If you’re using the App, go to Account, then Choose How You Get Paid.

Questions? Contact us.

How do I redeem Cash Back for a gift card?

Open the Rakuten iOS app or Rakuten Android app or visit rakuten.com to redeem any time before the next payment date. You need a minimum of $5 confirmed Cash Back. Choose your gift card and complete the steps to redeem your Cash Back. We’ll send your gift card to the email address associated with your Rakuten account within a few minutes. Learn more

What gift cards do you offer?

You can choose from gift cards at top stores including Grubhub, Ulta Beauty and more!

How long does it take for my gift card to arrive?

You’ll receive a confirmation email with your gift card details via email within minutes after redeeming at the email address associated with your Rakuten account. If you don’t receive it within 48 hours, let us know.

This email will include your order number, date, amount and other details for reference if you encounter any problems.

Be sure to save the email for future reference!

My gift card never arrived. What should I do?

Your gift card will be sent to the email address associated with your Rakuten account. Be sure to check your Spam folder.

If it’s been longer than 48 hours and you still haven’t received your gift card, contact us.

There was an issue redeeming my Cash Back. What should I do?

Sorry to hear that. Try redeeming again in a few hours. If you’re still having trouble, contact us.

Where can I find my gift card?

Your gift card details will be sent to the email address connected to your Rakuten account. Open the email to access your gift card number and instructions for using it. Can’t find it? Contact us.

How do I use my gift card?

Open the email with your gift card. Select See Card Details, then enter the gift card number and pin (if needed) at checkout. Be sure to save a copy of your gift card so you can access it later.

You can use your gift card to pay when you shop online or in-store. To use in store, open the gift card email and select See Card Details to open a barcode that can be scanned in store.

Can I cancel my gift card order?

Once you redeem your Cash Back for a gift card, we are unable to cancel your request. Double check to make sure that your email address and all other details are correct before redeeming.

I earn American Express Membership Rewards® points. Can I redeem points for gift cards?

At this time, members who earn in points are not eligible to redeem for gift cards.

Is this available for all Rakuten members?

Right now, only select members can redeem their Cash Back for gift cards, based on their shopping history and Cash Back balance. If you aren’t seeing the option to redeem your Cash Back in your Account now, check back again soon!

Why didn’t I earn Cash Back on my in-store purchase when using a gift card?

In-store purchases aren’t eligible for Cash Back when paying with your gift card.

Why didn’t I earn Cash Back on my full purchase when using a gift card?

Best Buy, CVS, Fanatics, Lowe’s, Marriott, Old Navy and Petco don’t allow Cash Back on the portion of the purchase made with a gift card. For example, if you get a $20 gift card and use it when purchasing a $100 item, you’ll still receive Cash Back on $80 of your purchase.

It’s important to us that you receive your payments. We realize that it is possible for checks to not make it to the right delivery address or to become somehow destroyed, and we’re here to help. If your Big Fat Check is ever missing, lost, destroyed or expired, we are happy to issue a replacement.

In addition, while our Big Fat Checks are valid for 90 days, we also have an additional 90-day grace period. So each of our checks is actually valid for 180 days (or 6 months) from the issue date.

Please Contact Member Services to tell us about your lost, missing, expired or damaged check.

Many banks offer a feature to deposit your Big Fat Check without going to the ATM or the branch. The feature can be found in most banking apps for mobile phones. Here are the steps you would need to follow:

1. Install your bank’s mobile app on your phone, if you haven’t already.
2. Find the mobile deposit feature.
3. Take a picture of the front and back of your check when prompted to do so in their app. You will need to detach the top part of the check and endorse it.