The HfP chat thread – Friday 13th November

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GT says:

13 Nov13 November 11:30

I’m obviously being pretty thick, but I keep seeing references to bendy in this forum and I have no clue what it is.

Can anyone enlighten me on what bendy is. I’ve googled it and nothing comes up.
- Chas says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 11:40
  
  Google won’t help you here. You just need to think laterally with reference to different cards. Naming things more clearly is a sure-fire why to things getting shut down…
  - S says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 11:46
    
    I love the amateur MSers here thinking they’re being so smart using totally transparent codenames and super simple methods. Meanwhile the real game is played elsewhere.
    - Aston100 says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 11:52
      
      I don’t think anyone here is thinking they are ‘smart’.
      It’s about avoiding internet searches for the actual card/company names.
      - Nick_C says:
        
        13 Nov13 November 13:25
        
        Worth noting that in the case of The Seagulls, people working at John Street and Belgrave House read this blog and the comments on a daily basis. Posting codes isn’t going to protect anyone. If you have found a way to game the system then well done, but talk about it on here and expect the loophole to be plugged pdq.
      - Lady London says:
        
        13 Nov13 November 13:33
        
        It’s naturally to be expected that the “subject” company will read key sources directly. They will make their own decision as to if, or when, they take any action.
        
        The “subject” company taking action, is inevitable if “random” search engines reveal things are being widely publicised outside of core set they expect and tolerate.
        
        I did a contract with one of the very best marketing companies in the world and it is truly amazing what web scraping products are on offer commercially. Nothing, nothing gets missed on social media and can be reacted to literally the following morning (or earlier if they wanted) if required.
        
        What code does is keep it within the “core” quite likely “tolerated” by the subject company extent and mediums. For one thing, it shows that (perhaps in a way they have to decide how much to tolerate) the company is able to target and reach its desired audience.
    - John says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 12:09
      
      PRAY SIR, TELL ME THE OTHER GAME YOU SPEAK OF?
    - Sam says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 12:12
      
      cheers for your input, The Joker
    - Aston100 says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 13:04
      
      There is no ‘real game elsewhere’. Provide some evidence or else you are no better than Donald Trump.
  - Jimbob says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 11:46
    
    I disagree, IHG are well aware of bendy. Their customer services told me to be careful using bendy as I might be stung with a cash withdrawal charge if using it , when I rang up a couple of months ago about something unrelated.
    It’s only a matter of time before it’s stopped, make hay while the sun shines.
- Amar says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 11:47
  
  Here’s a hint . . . Bendy = very curvaceous!
- ChrisBCN says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 12:36
  
  Bendy is the curve card.
  - Aston100 says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 13:10
    
    Chris, with all due respect, there is a reason people avoid using the actual names of the financial institutes, and no, that reason isn’t to avoid helping people with questions (or else the alternative names would be harder to work out).
    With barely any effort, it is quite simple (on most occasions anyway) to work out which cards and companies are being referred to.
    - Matt says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 13:26
      
      It makes no difference to the companies working out what’s going on – they see what you’re actually spending after all. It does make the chat threads here almost unreadable at times though.
      - Chas says:
        
        13 Nov13 November 14:06
        
        Matt – perhaps, but then just move onto the next set of comments. As Lady London points out above, it keeps the level low enough that companies have decided they are happy to tolerate. Once it gets out more widely (which not using code names facilitates) then the growth rate becomes much higher, tolerances are breached, and things get shut down permanently.
    - ChrisBCN says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 14:00
      
      Aston, will all due respect, you should be aware that companies are aware of their nicknames. It’s all rather pointless when you know how these things work.
      - Nick_C says:
        
        13 Nov13 November 14:51
        
        “companies are aware of their nicknames”
        
        I bet Voldeportal aren’t 😉
      - ChrisBCN says:
        
        13 Nov13 November 15:07
        
        Haha I’ll give you Voldemort!
      - CF Frost says:
        
        13 Nov13 November 19:26
        
        Absolutely Chas. My ‘Seagull 78’ remains my preferred card. And many others here too.
      - Lady London says:
        
        13 Nov13 November 21:35
        
        Yes but the nicknames make it much harder for scanners to isolate. It’s all about keeping it within bounds.
        
        I mean, imagine the results if seagulls is a search term. Yes combined searches and flags and all sorts of things can be set up, but that takes extra steps there has to be someone to identify, define in as exclusive way as possible to isolate, maintain, and alter regularly as nicknames used here tend to be dynamic.
        
        I mean, how many social media scanners have “sandy bondies” programmed in as something to scan for? Even if they do, then soon their scans will require reprogramming anyway so as to remove stuff as it becomes obsolete and reprogram with new codes… if they can be bothered when we’re few using.
        
        But the moment someone goes en clair then that loses so much ground between tolerated and all being stopped. Whispers vs foghorns…
Alex M says:

13 Nov13 November 11:46

Quick one – if I want to downgrade from Plat so that I then upgrade for 20 000MR points, do I choose The American Express Card (green, £60 fee), The American Express® Rewards Credit Card (light blue, free) or American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold CHARGE Card (was offered to be downgraded to charge card with 1st year free)?
Thank you all!
- Rob says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 12:03
  
  Must be a charge card, so a) or c).
- Another Nick says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 12:05
  
  I got the free gold for a year on downgrading but then cancelled. Opened a new green account and working up from there – anecdotal evidence green to plat works better
Peter Taysum says:

13 Nov13 November 12:42

Any news on what BA are going to do with Status as we’re back in lockdown, and can’t see how we’re going to be able to travel to maintain status?

Cheers,
Peter
- Rhys says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 13:12
  
  Nothing – BA extended status by a year this summer, and the pandemic has been less than a year so far….
Lady London says:

13 Nov13 November 12:49

@Nick_C @Peter K ? Metro Bank £50 has reached my account. Has it reached yours?
My code was 2CGV4719 if Metro Bank has included it in pay-in line on your account – they didn’t on mine. Amazed to use this… first time I’ve used a referral program.

Anyone else – There’s a conga – I think on yesterday’s thread – to join and put up your code once you’ve opened the account and setting about the £500 in 2 months and 10 direct debits Metro Bank will be looking for on your new account. meanwhile I shall give some thought to how I would be using the remaining referrals… I suspect Metro Bank might pull this offer soon if the number of people signing up on here is any guide…
- Lady London says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 12:50
  
  ummm sorry not 10 direct debits!! 10 debit card transactions… 🙂
  - Peter K says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 13:21
    
    I had it a handful of days ago, no specific reference given by the back. Thank you Lady London.
    - Lady London says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 13:24
      
      Thanks to you, @Peter K 🙂
      Have you used the other 4 referrals available on your own Metro Bank code yet?
    - Nick_C says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 13:29
      
      Not had mine yet LL. Satisfied all the criteria three days ago, so you should have another £50 coming your way soon. I’ll post when mine credits.
thehornets says:

13 Nov13 November 12:51

Not sure if already mentioned but I see the Virgin Money current account is available, with a free case of wine as an inducement to switch. No Virgin miles though!
- Nick_C says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 13:31
  
  You also need to put £1k in the virgin savings account at 0.5%, and leave it there till the wine voucher arrives. The v current account is currently paying 2% interest on up to £1000, so useful for easy access.
xcalx says:

13 Nov13 November 12:52

Quite a bit of MS talk today so thought I would ask. Beardy to Ernie via Bendy are any fees involved. I have seen it asked previously but cant find it . Thank you.
- Grant says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 13:02
  
  no
  - Charlieface says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 14:36
    
    Never works when I try it. It’s doesn’t say commercial on it so dunno what the issue is.
Benilyn says:

13 Nov13 November 13:05

Beardy = Necker Island?
- Aston100 says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 13:11
  
  He’s never had sex.
  - Nick_C says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 13:32
    
    He looks as if he’s never had a wash either!
  - Nick_C says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 13:33
    
    Reminds me of the old joke; “why would anyone fly with an airline that doesn’t go all the way?”
  - Benilyn says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 13:35
    
    haha thanks got it
marcw says:

13 Nov13 November 13:13

BA reopening Galleries North with grab&go items: “We have listened to your feedback and we’re happy to announce that from Monday, 16 November, we will be re-opening our Galleries North Club lounge as a customer waiting area with a reduced selection of grab and go items. “
- Anna says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 13:16
  
  So now you CAN take the mini tins of coke (officially). Yay!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  13 Nov13 November 13:46
  
  Except they never had to close anyway!!!!
  - Andrew says:
    
    13 Nov13 November 14:00
    
    Yup, just the usual cost cutting dressed up as covid-security.
    - Lady London says:
      
      13 Nov13 November 21:41
      
      Yup. Always a giveaway when British Airways opens a statement about a change they’re making by saying it’s based on customer feedback.
      
      For me that’s a trigger to “must read on, to find out what they’re taking away this time”