Do your hard-earned rewards points vanish into thin air if you stop opening the app? Yes, they do. If your Fetch account sits completely dormant for 90 consecutive days, your entire balance wipes out.
Most users assume their points are safe indefinitely as long as their account stays open. That misconception costs active shoppers thousands of dollars in gift cards every year. Understanding how the expiration timer works ensures you never lose a single cent of value from your scanned receipts.
How the Fetch Expiration Policy Works
Fetch operates on a strict 90-day inactivity window. The moment you earn points, your account timer resets. Every time you scan a new receipt, complete a mobile game task, or refer a friend, the clock starts over from day one.
The danger lies in what doesn't reset the timer. Simply opening the app, browsing available brand offers, or logging into your account on a new phone does not count as activity. You must trigger a point-earning event to keep your profile active.
- The trigger: Earning at least one point through an approved method.
- The consequence: Losing your entire accumulated balance, not just older points.
- The recovery: Expired points cannot be restored by customer support once the system purges them.
What Counts as Account Activity
Protecting your balance requires knowing exactly which actions satisfy Fetch requirements. You don't need to scan groceries every single day, but you do need regular engagement within any three-month block.
Valid actions that reset your 90-day countdown include:
- Snap a receipt: Uploading any grocery, gas, or retail receipt that awards standard points.
- Redeem a reward: Cashing out points for a digital gift card.
- Play Fetch Play games: Earning milestone points through partner mobile games.
- Use GoodRx: Saving on prescriptions through the integrated app feature.
If you haven't performed one of these actions in nearly three months, the app typically sends an email or text warning before wiping your balance. Relying on those warnings is risky, since spam filters often catch automated alerts.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Lost Points
Shoppers frequently lose rewards due to avoidable habits. Recognizing these traps helps you protect your balance without spending extra time or money.
- Hoarding points indefinitely: Saving up for a massive gift card without intermediate redemptions stretches out your exposure. Cashing out smaller amounts locks your value safely into gift card codes stored outside the app.
- Confusing login with activity: Opening the app to check your balance gives a false sense of security. The system tracks earning events, not screen time.
- Ignoring seasonal shopping breaks: College students or frequent travelers often stop shopping locally for months at a time, forgetting that their receipt-scanning routine lapsed.
For alternative cashback strategies, you can review consumer resources like the Federal Trade Commission for tips on managing digital reward programs safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my expired points back from customer support?
No. Once the 90-day inactivity threshold passes and the system removes your balance, support agents cannot reverse or restore the points.
Do gift cards I already purchased expire?
No. Once you redeem your points for a retail gift card, that digital card lives in your account or email and follows the retailer's individual expiration rules, which rarely involve the 90-day Fetch policy.
Does referring a friend reset the inactivity timer?
Yes. Successful referral bonuses add points to your account, which counts as an earning event and resets your 90-day window.
Is there a limit to how many receipts I can scan?
Fetch limits users to 35 receipt submissions over a rolling 8-day period. Hitting this cap does not affect your expiration timer, but it regulates how fast you can build a new balance.
