If you click a link in this article, it might be a referral or an affiliate link, meaning I probably get some money or some form of incentive if you register and eventually use the product. This never impacts my editorial recommendations or decisions – if it’s in, it’s in there because I independently rate it and any review or opinion, whether positive or negative, is not affected by any incentive I may or may not receive.
IMPORTANT NOTE – KATCHING IS CLOSING ON 31 DECEMBER 2023 – YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CASH OUT AFTER THAT DATE AND MUST REACH A MINIMUM OF 25 POINTS TO CASH OUT.
If you ever use Uber or Bolt in Manchester or London, you should get on Katching – strike whilst the iron is hot.
This cashback app rewards you with vouchers for your Uber and Bolt trips, making your rides even more affordable.
In this blog post, I’ll delve into what Katching is, how it works, and whether it’s worth downloading.
What is Katching?
Katching is an app that allows you to earn vouchers for your Uber and Bolt trips. It appears to be ran by a market research company who are gathering data on driver availability, trip estimates and fares in Manchester and London.
How does Katching work?
To start earning vouchers with Katching, you need to firstly download the app – there is a referral and make sure you enter mrdealsmanchester@gmail.com as the referral.
After signing up, you can see how easy it is to tick their boxes and start earning!
Is it complicated?
I have written a full blog post to make your life as easy as possible. However, all it boils down to is answering one question and uploading three screenshots. So in short, no, it isn’t complicated at all!
I do of course recommend you take a read through the rest just to make sure, but it is super easy, I promise!
What screenshots do I need to do?
This information is all available in the app. Given the first screenshot is required before you actually request the Uber/Bolt, it makes sense to anyway go to the app before you do to check you have what you need. However, here I set out the steps – note that my example screenshots are from Uber and I haven’t tried this out with Bolt yet.
Step 0 – First try?
I have called this step 0 because no screenshot is required, but the app will ask you whether or not you got a driver on the first try, so make sure you remember this.
Given you can save drafts, I actually just like to do each step as I go rather than saving it all for the end – this way I know I am doing each step correctly.
Step 1 – Pre-request screenshot
Not much I can add to the below photo – just make sure you have input your destination but not actually requested. When I have submitted, I also don’t select my Uber type, but in theory as long as the screenshot shows the estimated wait time and price, you should be fine. Below is also my example screenshot that was approved – I have blacked out personal information for this blog, but don’t do this when you upload!
Step 2 – After requesting
This one just requires you to keep an eye on the app for when your driver accepts, so try to remember to do this.
Step 3 – Receipt email
And this is the easiest one – no pressure, just wait for the email to come in. Note that Uber email receipts don’t show the estimated wait time – all trips I have submitted have been approved though.
What’s the catch?
As far as I can tell in my time using it, there is no catch.
One thing I would point out is the trip availability – when this reaches 100%, you won’t be able to submit a trip until the next month. I was very early to start using the app, so for the first couple of weeks I was using it this hovered around 2-3% trips taken. However, as the referral gained momentum, this quickly filled up so to be honest I would expect April’s trips to be gone by the end of this week in Manchester, and probably in the next couple of weeks in London.
I anyway recommend that you only use this app for trips you are going to make anyway – especially after the first trip, but given you can check availability in the app at any time, it is up to you what you do.
There is of course the chance that a submitted trip won’t be approved – I haven’t experienced that yet, and haven’t heard from anybody who has, so fingers crossed!
Is there a referral program?
Yes, Katching does offer a referral program. You can earn vouchers by referring friends and family to the app. When someone signs up using your referral details and takes their first ride with either Uber or Bolt, you’ll also receive a £5 voucher.
If you want to use my referral, please contact me on Instagram so I can grab your email address to refer you, or use mrdealsmanchester@gmail.com when you sign up.
What if I don’t live in Manchester or London?
Currently, Katching is only available for trips that start or end in Manchester and London. I have e-mailed support to clarify how they define these areas, but they aren’t being helpful at all
Therefore, if you are anyway taking a trip, there isn’t really anything to lose by trying to submit a trip and seeing what happens. Let me know on Instagram if you are approved or not approved and where the trip started and ended – I can then add information here to help others.
Personally, if I lived in a completely different city I would even be giving this a go (given it would only be on a trip that you are anyway taking), but the further away you are from either city, the less likely
What are the downsides?
Rather than getitng actual money back, you get vouchers. However, this isn’t limiting. Whilst I always choose Amazon, there are lots of other options available.
Remember that you can use Amazon gift cards to buy other gift cards too, including Uber!
Is there a minimum spend?
No, there is no minimum spend required to earn vouchers with Katching. The first trip at the time of writing gives you 10 points, enough for a £10 voucher (note you need to use my referral to get £10 – but the)
Is there a minimum cashout?
Yes, you need 25 points to cash out.
Given at the time of writing your first trip (assuming you use my referral) will give you 25 points, you will be able to cash out after your first trip is verified.
After that, you will only be able to cash out every 5 trips (assuming 5 points per trip.)
How long do trips take to be verified?
I find that usually, on working days, trips are verified the next morning. The last trip I took I submitted at 9.58pm i nthe evening, and it was approved by 10am the next day!
However, it seems as if Katching don’t verify trips over the weekend, so if you submit on a Friday evening for example, expect to wait until Monday for the trip to be reviwed.
This could also change as the app gets busier – if there are more trips to review, it will take longer to do so.
When will I get the voucher?
When I have requested vouchers, it usually comes through the same day or the next day.
Katching will send you a link where you can choose which voucher you want – you can mix and match too, but I always just go for Amazon vouchers.
How many vouchers can you really earn from this app?
I have earned £150 so far – £45 of this is from trips, and £105 is from referrals.
There is no limit as such to what you can earn – however you are limited by trip availability and also how many trips you take yourself. Even if you rarely take an Uber or Bolt though, at least grab the first £25 bonus, and then I would say given how low effort it is that its worth
Do you have to be a new Uber or Bolt customer?
No, you don’t have to be a new Uber or Bolt customer to use Katching. As long as you link your existing Uber or Bolt account to the app, you’ll be able to start earning vouchers.
Will this be around forever?
It’s difficult to say whether Katching will be around forever. I imagine the shelf life is pretty limited – it depends who is paying Katching to collect
I also imagine the referral scheme and introductory bonus will end soon too – once they have reached a number of users that they are happy with, they won’t need such a big incentive.
in one of the two cities where Katching is available, you might want to consider other cashback apps or services.
Any more questions?
Contact me on Instagram and ask me – I will answer you directly, and I will also update this blog post if there is a key bit of info I have missed.
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