The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 28th October

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• S says:

  28 Oct28 October 13:44

  OT: 7 months in with the covid and stuff and my business is completely done for and I’m about to file for bankruptcy (personal too)

  Is there any chance that Amex will let me keep my accounts with them? I don’t owe them anything, so they technically aren’t a creditor.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    28 Oct28 October 13:53

    Really sorry for how things have gone and thoughts are with you.

    Have you cleaned out any MR already in your account (if you collected via Gold/Plat)?

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    28 Oct28 October 15:32

    Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, given their clamp down on credit liability they are unlikely to have the flexibility to do that (even if you convince a customer service agent that it is safe).

    I would empty everything from your account (MR points, use any offers etc.). Best not to take the chance, particularly if you have a large points balance.

  • Number9 says:

    28 Oct28 October 16:03

    I’m fairly sure you can’t hold any credit cards as a undischarged bankrupt. Sorry that’s not what you want to hear.
    Many good websites out there for advice
    This is a good source of info and help
    https://legalbeagles.info/

    • Rob says:

      28 Oct28 October 18:02

      Not all Amex cards are credit cards, of course ….

      • Number9 says:

        28 Oct28 October 18:17

        Your accounts Credit, charge including bank account will be immediately frozen. Your current account bank account MAY allow you to keep your account, all depends if it overdraft is included in bankruptcy.
        As soon as it hits your credit rating any cards that have not been informed, say if you “ forgot one” they will be straight onto you.
        Doesn’t matter if they don’t owe any money on card, as soon as amex discover they have a undischarged bankrupt as a customer cards will be cancelled.
        I think given the poster false hope is not doing them any favours.

    • Lady London says:

      29 Oct29 October 00:11

      I believe moneysavingexpert dot com has sections and forums on this. Before you take any steps, have a squizz as generally they have a few good forum commentators and mse usually is really good at signposting to sources of help.

      Citizens Advice Bureaux used tobe very good at this kind of thing. It may be howling at the moon to try to get an appointment, but if you can before you take any steps you might avoid some pitfalls. I’m pretty sure Number9 (aka Spurs Debs) is right. My impression is that everything you have is shut down immediately, but that there is nothing to stop your bank opening you a basic account the following day. Apparently banks are obliged to offer this type of account to keep people operational.

      Very sad it is personal too. Please, if you possibly can, and I know this is even more difficult than usually, get some advice. There is life at the end of it – that’s the point of it – to allow you to start again – and I believe time periods are shorter than they used to be.

      • Number9 says:

        29 Oct29 October 07:34

        The Official Receiver won’t allow you to keep
        any kind of credit/charge card while you are undischarged. A basic bank account is it.

• Jan M says:

  28 Oct28 October 13:47

  Does anyone have any advice as to how to escalate a complaint with Lufthansa? I have exchanged e-mails with their customer relations team and they do not seem to be willing to pass my complaint to anyone who can actually help. Just received the third virtually identical e-mail from them in a row and it makes me want to scream… It concerns a flight from Italy to Germany, so I can’t take it to the CAA.

  Thanks!

  • ChrisC says:

    28 Oct28 October 14:02

    The German equivalent of the CAA or consumer protection organisations?

    Or the Lufty Chief Exec perhaps?

  • Lady London says:

    29 Oct29 October 00:15

    what’s the problem?

    do they owe you a refund?

    if so then much better if you can to do chargeback on your card, or Section 75 if you paid on a UK credit card, even if flight was from Italy to Germany they sold it to you as a UK resident so your UK credit card if you paid with it has that protection.

• George K says:

  28 Oct28 October 13:47

  Hey folks – what would the collective knowledge dictate on combing an FHR booking with a Marriott Platinum status? In the past I have been very lucky in getting the standard suites after booking the lowest category room directly, so I guess what I’m asking is whether I’d be shooting myself in the foot by booking via FHR, which only dictates a one-category upgrade (if available). Would I be able to do an FHR booking and add a loyalty number afterwards so that any Platinum benefits (and potential upgrades) don’t get ignored?

  All the best

  • Stu N says:

    28 Oct28 October 13:54

    FHR allow for hotel chain status benefits – they earn points/ elite benefits and you get the FHR benefits on top of hotel status. We’ve always done very well in upgrades with FHR where we also have status.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    28 Oct28 October 13:55

    Platinum benefits should be fully recognised.

  • MinR says:

    28 Oct28 October 14:18

    You can add your loyalty number when making an Amex FHR booking.

    I was able to add by World Of Hyatt # on a booking I made 2 weeks ago, and I can see the booking within my WoH app. The hotel also recognised my status in an email correspondence, and confirmed that elite status benefits would apply in addition to the FHR benefits.

  • Harry T says:

    28 Oct28 October 14:20

    Your status benefits should apply and be recognised. You will also earn points and elite night credits.

• Nick_G says:

  28 Oct28 October 13:49

  Does anyone know if the Lounge Club card that comes with Amex Gold follows the Card Membership Year or Calendar Year? I just want to know when will my quota of 2 lounge visits will get renewed.
  TIA

  • TGLoyalty says:

    28 Oct28 October 13:54

    Card year

    • Nick_G says:

      28 Oct28 October 15:31

      Cheers. Thanks mate.

• Maciek says:

  28 Oct28 October 13:56

  A month(!) after escalating the issue of earning VS tier points on >600mi KL/AF flights, I’ve got my response. Long story short: only VS-marketed flights will earn 100/200 TPs in business, KL/AF-marketed will earn 40 as per the earning chart that VS has but has been struggling to publish for the past 8.5 months.

  • Munch says:

    28 Oct28 October 22:32

    What does it mean by “Marketed”? If I book via the Virgin website then it does qualify for the higher TP’s? If I book via the KLM site but using my Virgin Flying Club number it only earns 40TP’s?

    • Maciek says:

      29 Oct29 October 02:58

      Marketed means booked under a given carrier’s code.

• Andrew says:

  28 Oct28 October 14:05

  Brighton have confirmed that the Harrods offer is going to be available to all Platinum cardmembers.

  • Harry T says:

    28 Oct28 October 14:21

    Thanks. Forgot to ask them earlier when I phoned about something.

  • Amar says:

    28 Oct28 October 15:53

    Is this supplementary cardholders aswell?

    • Amar says:

      28 Oct28 October 16:15

      Just called brighton to answer my own question – it won’t be available on supps

      • Harry T says:

        28 Oct28 October 17:42

        Unless they screw up again 😂

    • Rob says:

      28 Oct28 October 18:02

      They won’t make that mistake again.

  • dragonfly says:

    28 Oct28 October 20:33

    👍 Thinking of buying some chocolates from Harrods for Christmas 😄
    Do we wait for the letter in the post? Or, check the account next week?

• Carol says:

  28 Oct28 October 14:15

  I have just added my partner to my BAPP as a supplementary card holder but he hasn’t received the card yet. We are in the process of booking a return to the Great Scotland Yard hotel as we loved it so much. Does anyone know if offers are added to the card immediately as it would be great to get another Hyatt cash back offer – wishful thinking 😆

  • Harry T says:

    28 Oct28 October 14:22

    Generally I’ve found supplementary cards added after an offer is released will not receive the offer. It also takes a week or two for the supp card to receive any offers at all.

    • Carol says:

      28 Oct28 October 14:27

      Thanks – thought I was being rather optimistic!

  • Rob says:

    28 Oct28 October 15:51

    Travelzoo has been knocking out GSY at £169 inc breakfast for a while now. No benefits or points though.

    • Carol says:

      28 Oct28 October 16:11

      Thanks, but I am actually booking through Emyr again. It is a great deal with 1 free night, free breakfast, a room upgrade, $100 credit and early check in and late check out

      • Nick says:

        28 Oct28 October 22:25

        Looked today £174 incl breakfast at GSY direct with Hyatt

    • Harry T says:

      28 Oct28 October 16:14

      I think it’s still actually cheaper if you can use the Amex Hyatt offer and Prive 3 for 2.

  • Nick says:

    28 Oct28 October 22:23

    Carol did the restaurants open while you were there? Did you get a good upgrade?

• Darren says:

  28 Oct28 October 14:40

  With the speculation regarding HSBC charging for current acc’s any thoughts that this will be applied to the Premier acc?

  • Genghis says:

    28 Oct28 October 14:57

    Yes, no, maybe? It’s speculation on speculation with nothing really actionable. HSBC would have to be brave to be the first to start charging in the UK when it’s so easy to switch.

    • BSI1978 says:

      28 Oct28 October 15:37

      What is more than likely to happen (imho) here is for HSBC to be the first one to break ranks, but only on the basis they will already have a good idea that others will follow suit in very short order with very similar offerings / pricings.

      Floating this via the media now is a good way of covering off the potential claim/suggestion there has been any collusion….

      The UK has long been an anomaly as one of the few wealthy nations to offer free banking, and this will come to an end soon enough.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        28 Oct28 October 16:28

        Combined with Monsee (I think that’s the one) now being part owned by IAG, I can sense a fun time coming up for air miles!

        On the flip side, Monsee, Revolt etc. might be a reason why this doesn’t go ahead.

        (I can dream anyway)

        • TGLoyalty says:

          28 Oct28 October 16:43

          Monese used to allow referrals to go through as Avios but that stoped last year.

          Other than seeing my Avios balance in monese I don’t see the cross benefits.

    • Darren says:

      28 Oct28 October 16:28

      It would be the first if all accounts were charged, but Lloyds Gold switched to charged (for me) recently. But my thoughts are that the benefits from the account would justify a charge, whereas a bog standard current acc would remain charge free.

  • the_real_a says:

    28 Oct28 October 17:14

    It will work out the same way as banks suggesting they would charge £1 for ATM withdrawals back in the early 00`s. The competitive market will not allow it. If you look at the HSBC statement, its directly targeted at those with very large cash deposits. The “cost” of a regular current account for a bank will be less than the cost of postage for mailing annual statements.

    • Darren says:

      28 Oct28 October 18:08

      I’m thinking specifically about the Premier acc which is fee free and other banks charge for similar service.

      • rams1981 says:

        28 Oct28 October 21:38

        What services do you get from premier worthy of a fee?

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