The HfP chat thread – Sunday 27th December

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We have decided to run this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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General

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Swiss Jim says:

27 Dec27 December 06:45

Curve – HMRC payments. Been doing my tax return. Thinking about signing up to Curve Metal and switching on Curve Fronted – maths works for me. Just wondering, however, do HMRC payments definitely still accrue points (treated as purchases) on credit cards. Also payments to NS&I? I’m thinking specifically about IHG, Hilton & Virgin credit cards from my own selfish perspective…. Thanks.
- John says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 07:48
  
  Ns&I works on HH, but don’t need metal or fronted for that
- Paul says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 10:10
  
  See yesterday’s chat thread and be warned – not working for me & one other at HMRC. The maths worked for me too and took Metal specifically for this purpose. Not explicitly declined but always “payment unsuccessful” with the Revenue, with either Virgin or HH underlying. Very unclear why. Payment taken from underlying card and refunded a few days later. If you get them to accept the payment, I don’t think you’ll have a problem with getting the points.
- Nick says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 10:11
  
  Jim, look back through this chat thread over the last fortnight… there must have been discussion of every card combination in that time. But fiddly to go back through the threads but I’m certain you’ll find all the answers you need.
- rams1981 says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:10
  
  Ernie and HMRC worked fine on Christmas Day but not working since. Straight declines no matter underlying card
  - ambient says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 11:25
    
    All of this points to bugs with Curve, rather than the receiving institution barring such payments. There’s no way Ernie, HMRC and Fidelity etc. would have all taken the same action on the same day.
    
    Whilst its frustrating that Curve are having problems (especially since there is nothing on their support site), I’m hopeful that they’ll sort it out soon.
- Doug M says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 12:44
  
  @Swiss. The advice is always the same, try it and see. Don’t get metal, get regular. If it works, great. If it doesn’t try small amounts with ‘Fronted’ turned on, which is essentially the same as Metal. If that works then you can decide whteher Metal will be right for you.
  - LST says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 20:45
    
    I pay HMRC with HK underlying, took three attempts to go through today, otherwise it has been fine.
YC says:

27 Dec27 December 07:06

Where is everyone using their expiring IHG free night? 4 days to go
- Brighton Belle says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 08:16
  
  London.
  
  I can always find stuff to amuse and the IC Park Lane or Kimpton are always comfy although my regular preference is Hilton Bankside for the pool and lounge. Please suggest better alternatives : Useless Spire & Diamond
  - Chrisasaurus says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 08:37
    
    Depends whether you have confidence of travel being possible later 2021 – if so, European cities would be my choice and Paris too if that list
    - YC says:
      
      27 Dec27 December 12:41
      
      True – tempted by fringe (may be cancelled again) in edinburgh to stay domestic. Otherwise, Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux in H2. The new Kimpton Paris looks like it could rival the ICs but can’t seem to book yet despite it saying bookable from July 21
  - Anna says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 08:58
    
    I have a long “to do” list but even London feels like an impossibilty at the moment though! I’ve moved our IC O2 stay to Feb half term but I can’t see things improving much by then.
- Ian says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 08:44
  
  My 31 Dec 2020 voucher is only letting me book stays up to 31 Dec 2020, no 2021 availability showing (already booked up the “new” Aug 21 voucher). Anyone found a way around this? Sounds like for others this voucher is a book by voucher as per normal with uk credit card vouchers
  - Anna says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 08:56
    
    Did someone post that you have to use the older voucher first – try cancelling the newer voucher booking and starting again?
BS says:

27 Dec27 December 08:55

Datapoint: just cancelled my gold charge card. 2nd year fee had just been charged, and ~£10k put through in the year before (failed the £15k because of refunds). No retention bonus of any sort offered.
- Nick says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 10:14
  
  I’m waiting until later this week for Brighton office to go back to work after Christmas but plan to call then and cancel Plat… just doesn’t work at the moment. Will report back if I’m offered anything.
  - Harry T says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 11:18
    
    Thanks, Nick. I phoned late the other day, due to work, and just got the usual stuff about a year of free gold charge from a pleasant American lady. I will also try Brighton in Jan.
- Charlieface says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:50
  
  Moral of the story: cancel before new fee is charged i.e. just before first statement in the new year after renewal
  - Chris says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 12:14
    
    I tried that back in early Dec. Had spent nearly £100k on the card through 2019 and 2020. No retention offer at all, and I’d not had any earlier this year either.
    - Dick Steele says:
      
      27 Dec27 December 22:31
      
      Methinks Amex will continue to give incentives for as long as people can’t use the full benefits of the card…
Anna says:

27 Dec27 December 09:03

EasyJet cancelled our VIE flights about 3 weeks ago – after initially trying to push me towards a voucher (and removing any useful re-booking options), I’m very pleased to report a full refund showing this morning, a full fortnight before the date they told me it would be processed!
SCC says:

27 Dec27 December 09:50

Seasons greetings , Good morning crew , Any news on BA Sydney suspensions offering rebooking options yet for a Redemption tickets , assume only QR or MH would work now due to other transit options being cut (HKG/SIN) ? Any successes /good news appreciated
- Harry T says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:19
  
  I suspect you could ask to be rerouted on QR but there are so few seats open to Australia at the moment that I doubt they will force a revenue seat open for a cancelled redemption booking. There’s a difference between what you’re entitled to and what you can pragmatically achieve in a reasonable timeframe.
Lee says:

27 Dec27 December 09:56

We ordered 12 BA bread baskets in their recent sale and received six side plates instead. No one is responding to their customer service email – any tips for who else to contact? I know I could do a credit card chargeback but I really like the bread baskets and would like my set!
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 10:05
  
  The email address in the PayPal receipt worked for me.
  - Lee says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 10:11
    
    We didn’t pay with Paypal unfortuntately! Could you please share the email address?
- Charlieface says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:51
  
  rob ‘at’ headforpoints ‘dot’ com
  🙂
- Chris Heyes says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 12:21
  
  Lee very unlikely you’ll get them now unless someone ordered side plates and got your bread baskets (and as unhappy as you “swap”)
  - Andrew says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 14:33
    
    All the stuff is selling for a huge premium on eBay – so best to dispose of them there and take the profit.
    - Dick Steele says:
      
      27 Dec27 December 22:33
      
      People still have ****loads of money it seems. Can’t quite see the appeal myself of having dinner plates and no dinner parties…
Jan M says:

27 Dec27 December 10:05

Hi all, I need to fly to Berlin for work mid January for work and probably will need a PCR test or they won’t let me in. Any experiences with the Test and Rest packages offered by Heathrow hotels? What’s the turnaround on the tests like? I don’t live near London so it seems like it could be a good option to me.
- Nick says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 10:16
  
  The Sofitel isn’t a proper swab test so be careful, many countries don’t accept it for entry. Otherwise Rob recommended the company he used last week – it’s in central London but an easy HEx ride out to the airport and hotels likely to be very cheap for a while.
Jane says:

27 Dec27 December 10:24

Time to look at changing energy supplier – does anyone use Igloo and would you recommend ?
- Nick says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 10:44
  
  Just use whoever is cheapest!
- JL says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:21
  
  Octopus has quite good CS and rates, you get £50 if you use my link too share.octopus.energy/steel-peach-279
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:23
  
  Octopus is meant to be quite good
- Jane says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:47
  
  Octopus are about £15/month more, if anyone can post an igloo referral link that would be appreciated.
  - Bigmaggot says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 19:25
    
    Jane, have a look at Octopus Agile, I got paid to use electric for 8 hours today. During lockdown I halved my electric bill! You will need to switch to a regular tariff, then move to agile – share.octopus.energy/ready-sky-403 (£50 for each of us, there is no exit fees so switch way if u don’t like). You can pay with any card, and adjust your direct debit to £1
- Charlieface says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 11:52
  
  Don’t forget T@C@B
- JL says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 12:21
  
  Can always join get credit and move again in a couple months as no exit fees
- David D says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 12:22
  
  We have been with So Energy the past couple of years and find them to be pretty good both on price and service, due to renew next month too. Like Octopus they do a refer a friend scheme at £40 for the household referred and to the referrer. Our link for it is https://so.energy/r/SMIPINQHH
  - Jane says:
    
    27 Dec27 December 13:12
    
    Thanks for the So Energy Link, it’s them who I am switching away from though ! T@C@B is plan B if there is no-one to refer to Igloo but their referral is lower generally.
    - Grant says:
      
      27 Dec27 December 13:22
      
      I’ve no complaints with Igloo thus far. Switch was easy and they let you top up your account with Amex. You can also reduce your DD so you can effectively pay monthly with Amex top ups. They will pay interest on credit balance too.
      
      £50 for each of us if you use the referral link:
      https://refer.igloo.energy/grants1911
      
      😀
      - 747_Brat says:
        
        27 Dec27 December 14:37
        
        Thanks Grant. I just switched using your link. 🙂
- John Gallagher says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 13:29
  
  https://refer.igloo.energy/johng9425
  
  We both get £50 credit -)
  Thanks
  - Neil says:
    
    30 Dec30 December 12:19
    
    Just used your referral link so hopefully we’ll both get a credit. Thanks…
- Dick Steele says:
  
  27 Dec27 December 22:34
  
  I’d recommend Avro