Life in Germany
When Do PAYBACK Points Expire in Germany?
PAYBACK points in Germany are valid for 36 months, but they do not disappear on the exact day they reach that age. Older points expire once a year, on September 30. A quick account check will show whether any of yours are affected.
Unused points credited on or before September 30, 2023
may expire on September 30, 2026.
Credit card exceptions may apply
The standard expiry rule
PAYBACK points stay valid for 36 months from the date they are credited. Points that have reached the end of that period are removed on September 30. In 2026, this may affect unused points credited on or before September 30, 2023.
Collecting new points does not protect older points in a regular PAYBACK account. You must use the older points before the deadline to keep their value.
The credit card exception
If a PAYBACK Visa or PAYBACK American Express card is linked to your account, the standard expiry rule after 36 months normally does not apply. The points may still expire if you neither collect nor redeem any points for three years. Either action keeps the account active. The American Express card currently has no annual fee. The PAYBACK Visa generally costs 29 euros per year, although older contracts may have different terms.
What to check before the deadline
Open the PAYBACK app or website and look for “Vom Verfall bedrohte °Punkte”, meaning points at risk of expiring. The same information may appear in a mailed point statement. If you do not see the entry, none of your points are due to expire this year.
Submit your redemption before September 30. The order date counts, not the date when the reward or payout arrives. Your balance may look different during the annual update. PAYBACK advises checking again from the middle of October.
How double points with PAYBACK American Express work
At a PAYBACK partner, first scan the PAYBACK barcode on the back of the PAYBACK American Express card or use the PAYBACK app. That collects the partner’s regular PAYBACK points. If you then pay with the same PAYBACK American Express card, you also receive 1 PAYBACK point for every 3 euros of card spend. Fuel purchases are excluded. PAYBACK describes this as collecting points twice from the same purchase.
If you pay with the PAYBACK American Express card without scanning the PAYBACK barcode first, the card-spend points are still collected automatically. However, the regular PAYBACK partner points require the PAYBACK card or app to be identified before payment.
How I use my points
From 200 points, worth 2 euros, you can request a bank transfer or use the points at checkout. Both give a clear value of 1 cent per point. Check the value before choosing a reward or gift card.
At PAYBACK partners, I usually scan the PAYBACK barcode on the back of my PAYBACK American Express card first, then pay with my Amazon Visa. This gives me the partner’s regular PAYBACK points plus the rewards from my Amazon Visa.
You can also collect twice with the PAYBACK American Express itself: scan the PAYBACK barcode first for the partner points, then pay with the same card for the additional PAYBACK card-spend points. I rarely use PAYBACK points for products. I normally let the balance reach around 50 euros and then transfer it to my bank account.
The PAYBACK American Express card also has a referral program. The cardholder and new applicant can both receive bonus points when the conditions are met. Occasional promotions offer a higher bonus, so check the current offer before applying.
- Check your account. Look for “Vom Verfall bedrohte °Punkte.”
- Use affected points. Submit the redemption before September 30.
- Check again later. If the balance looks wrong, check again from the middle of October.
This is an independent note by Munich Ajussi based on PAYBACK’s official expiry guidance, PAYBACK’s American Express double-points guidance, and American Express customer-service information, checked in September 2026. Expiry rules, card terms, referral offers, and redemption values can change, so confirm current details in your own PAYBACK account before the deadline.
Munich Ajussi is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PAYBACK.