A loyalty programme that costs you money defeats the purpose. Yet many programmes have fees buried in the fine print. Here's what to watch for.
Common Hidden Fees
Membership Fees
Some programmes charge monthly or annual fees for "premium" membership. Calculate whether the rewards you'll realistically earn exceed the fee. If you need to spend S$500/month just to break even, it's not a deal.
Redemption Fees
Watch for programmes that charge a processing fee when you redeem points. A "free" reward that costs S$5 to claim isn't free.
Inactivity Penalties
Some programmes deduct points or charge fees if you don't transact within a certain period. This punishes casual users who might still be loyal — just not frequent.
Transfer Fees
Converting points between programmes or transferring to a friend sometimes incurs a percentage fee. Check before you transfer.
What Good Programmes Look Like
Zero membership fees. Zero redemption fees. No inactivity penalties. Points that don't expire. That's the baseline — anything less, and the programme is taking back value it promised you.
Experience Zeno charges no fees to consumers — no membership cost, no redemption fees, no inactivity penalties. Merchants pay a small transaction fee; consumers pay nothing.