> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.omneo.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Credits

> How Credits work in an Omneo incentive program and when to use them.

Credits in Omneo are a payment object, not a discount. When a customer redeems a Credit, it replaces a payment method at checkout rather than reducing a price. This distinction matters for accounting, tax (GST implications), and for how Credits appear in transaction records.

## Credit types

| Type                   | Typical source    | Example                                                                     |
| ---------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Store Credit**       | Product return    | Customer returns a $150 item and receives $150 store credit instead of cash |
| **Promotional Credit** | Marketing budget  | New member receives \$20 credit as a welcome incentive                      |
| **Gift Card**          | Customer purchase | Customer buys a \$100 gift card for someone else                            |

## How credits differ from rewards

|                      | Credit                                              | Reward                        |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Accounting treatment | Payment (replaces cash)                             | Discount                      |
| GST/tax              | May have GST implications depending on jurisdiction | Typically treated as discount |
| Transferable         | Gift Cards can be transferred                       | Not transferable              |
| Partial use          | Yes, use $30 of a $100 credit                       | Yes, use $10 of a $25 reward  |

## The redemption hierarchy

When a customer has both rewards and credits available, the order of application is:

**Benefits → Rewards → Credits → Payment Type**

This means Benefits (discounts) are applied first, then Rewards reduce the remaining balance, then Credits pay what's left, and finally standard payment (EFTPOS, card) covers the remainder.

## Gift cards

Omneo Gift Cards are stored against the purchaser's profile until the recipient claims them. Unclaimed Gift Cards can be configured to revert to the purchaser after a defined period.

Gift Cards are well suited to:

* Corporate gifting
* Birthday gifts between customers
* Referral rewards (gift the recipient a credit to try the brand)

## When to use credits vs rewards

Use **Credits** when:

* You are processing a product return and want to issue in-store credit
* You want to issue a gift card
* The financial instrument needs to be treated as a payment for accounting purposes

Use **Rewards** when:

* You want to discount a purchase as a result of customer behaviour
* You want the incentive to expire and create urgency to return