Chase to Treat Plastiq as a Cash Advance?

Update:

Please see this newer article, Plastiq Will Not Be Treated as a Cash Advance by Chase, with clarifications from Plastiq.

Chase Gives Notice By Email of Upcoming Account Changes to Business and Personal Cards

Chase sent out an email on all of my Chase business credit cards this morning advising of several terms changes. Apparently, though I did not get this on any of my personal Chase cards, other MilesTalkers have reported getting it on theirs, so it seems like it will ultimately apply to all Chase cards.

(Check your email for Subject: Important information regarding changes to your Chase account)

These changes are effective April 16, 2021

One stuck out to me BIG TIME.

Cash-like Transactions

Cash-like transactions will be treated as cash advances. Cash-like transactions include, but are not limited to, the following transactions to the extent they are accepted:

First, check the first box, because you’ll need to avoid using your Chase Business card for crypto. OK, I get that – it’s like cash.

But see that last one?

The very definition of using a credit card to make a payment using a third party service including bill payment transactions not made directly with the merchant or their service provider is using a service like Plastiq or Melio.

I’ve reached out to Plastiq for comment and will update when I hear more, but it’s very possible this is a nail in the coffin for a very popular way of meeting minimum spend on a new credit card bonus offer by using Plastiq on a large charge that can’t be otherwise paid by a credit card.

I don’t frankly understand why Chase would make this change, given that Plastiq pays them their interchange fees so it’s hardly a churning play, but I may be missing some more nefarious play.

So far, I have only received this message about my business cards, not my personal ones. But I’m on the lookout…

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Thoughts?

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