The HfP chat thread – Thursday 31st December

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General

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Jody says:

31 Dec31 December 14:57

Seems to be a few people changing energy suppliers at the moment, so if anyone would like a Bulb referral please feel free to use mine: http://www.bulb.me/jodym7819

We both get £50 each if it’s a dual fuel switch, or £25 each for a single

Seems to be the best tariff for us, and I check quite often, although appreciate everyone has different needs.
- Nick says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 16:55
  
  Does anyone have a referral code for any company that’s actually at the cheaper end of the market? None of the igloo/bulb/octopus ones spammed here every day are anywhere near it, and I don’t really want to be reliant on joining in with the ‘referral spam’ to get a decent deal myself.
  - Doc says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 18:41
    
    Hi Nick, I would first of all do a comparison on one of the various comparison sites for your location using postcode and come up with a couple of providers you like and then maybe ask for referrals, if it works for you. I have always found that the price changes every year and occasionally the big ones have offers which work out cheaper. I pretty much swap my supplier ever year based on price rather than referral codes since like you I have found the igloo/bulb/ octopus are way more expensive in my home location but the maths might work for others.
  - Jody says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 19:02
    
    I regularly check, and for our usage (we have a hot tub) bulb is cheapest. I tend to find tariffs that have cheaper gas prices but more expensive electric, and given that the majority of our bill is made up of electricity usage it hasn’t made sense for us to change so far. Will keep on checking every couple of months to see if this continues to be the case.
  - John says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 19:55
    
    Well they have to fund the £100 bonus somehow.
    
    Actually Octopus is close to cheapest for me. I use the Octopus “tracker” tariff which is not available on comparison sites as it does not have a fixed price.
    
    When I include the £100 referral bonus (spread out over a year) this was actually the cheapest I could find at the time.
Charlieface says:

31 Dec31 December 15:11

@Rob in regards ticketing validity of 1 year, I back up my position that the ticket can be endorsed from BA General conditions of carriage, which is basically quoted from the IATA:

https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/legal/british-airways/general-conditions-of-carriage

3b2) If you are prevented from travelling within the validity period of a ticket because we could not confirm your reservation at the time you asked for it, we will:

extend the validity period of the ticket or
give you a voluntary fare refund.

IATA says:

When a passenger holding a ticket, is prevented from travelling within the period of validity of the ticket because at the time such passenger requests reservations Carrier is unable to provide space on the flight, the validity of such passenger’s ticket will be extended in accordance with Carrier’s Regulations.
Dsce says:

31 Dec31 December 15:16

I have a few questions and would really appreciate some help as I have not been tracking the comments for the past year or so.

1) I have two Etihad £250 rebates. How can I use this today in order to get a voucher for use later.

2) If I get a hotel to credit the charge today can I still use my Marriott £400 voucher?

3) If I upgrade to bendy metal does that allow me to use the card to:

a) Make deposits to AJ Bell / HL.
b) pay off other cards (Amex/IHG/Virgin) using the Bendy Metal

Thanks for any help.
Optimus Prime says:

31 Dec31 December 15:28

Hope everyone enjoys their NYE evening. Last year we celebrated in New York, today we almost end up in a hospital as our glass shower has shuttered while my OH put some shampoo on the shelf…
- Craig says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 15:53
  
  We were supposed to be in NY tonight, hey ho, there’s always next year.
  - BJ says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 16:00
    
    Supposed to be kissing the
    MIL in 1 hours … 😀
    - Polly says:
      
      31 Dec31 December 21:33
      
      Aaaw
Eric says:

31 Dec31 December 15:53

Singapore – Turkey on SQ J is at 40k 1 way, whereas if I book directly on SQ it’s 49k. Am I missing something? Or is availability a lot lower if I use Virgin miles to book?

Anyone also knows the tax/fuel surcharges for Virgin? Can’t price it as temporarily unavailable.
- SL says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 16:09
  
  I am seeing this as 49k. Where have you come across it being 40k?
  
  For rough idea of taxes check ita matrix website.
  - Eric says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 16:56
    
    https://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club/partners/airlines/singapore-airlines.html
    
    Meant to say 40k for Virgin miles, 49k for SQ Krisflyer. 80k for return in the link above, hence 1 way for 40k. Or does it not work this way?
    - memesweeper says:
      
      31 Dec31 December 19:03
      
      You can’t book SQ with Virgin points at the moment, so it’s moot really. Krisflyer points or bust I’m afraid.
  - Rob says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 18:43
    
    40k would be the price using Virgin Points off the Virgin chart, at a guess.
Mark says:

31 Dec31 December 15:55

Anyone got any decent IHG recommendations for a free night cert I need to book by tonight ? Europe would be ideal and preferably intercontinental brand.

Thank you
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 16:10
  
  I’ve been to IC Porto and loved both the hotel and the city. I haven’t been to the ones in Paris or Amsterdam but I believe other readers have said those 2 are probably the best in Europe.
  - BJ says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 16:20
    
    LeG is nothing to write home about.
    - Rob says:
      
      31 Dec31 December 18:42
      
      In the right rooms (Junior Suites with Opera View are the sweet spot) with lounge access it is. It is actually my favourite European city hotel, factoring in the location for the shops and museums and the ability to walk from the Eurostar terminal (or take the bus from CDG which is non-stop and stops literally outside).
- memesweeper says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 16:36
  
  Intercontinental Marseille Hotel Dieu — had a really great weekend there last year. I hear the sister hotel in Lyon is equally good.
  - BP says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 21:23
    
    Had a great stay there too however the upgrade to a terrace room overlooking the marina may have helped!
- Harry T says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 16:49
  
  Amstel Amsterdam is a very good hotel. That would be my choice.
- Alan says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 17:28
  
  Sofia is the best IC hotel I have been (it’s on a par with Porto) in a great location. If you haven’t been before a great city to spend a few days in.
  - Tom says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 21:30
    
    Really? It’s the worst I’ve stayed at! Breakfast was nothing to write home about and really nothing remarkable about the hotel. Location is good though – I accept that!
    - Alan says:
      
      31 Dec31 December 22:54
      
      Breakfast was good when I was last there in Feb, Lounge was nice and quiet with excellent food/drink. Rooms and general decor very similar to Porto. £8 cab ride from the airport and perfect location.
      
      What are you comparing it with, I haven’t been to the Paris or Amsterdam IC if they are that much better I will put them on my post Covid list of places to visit.
      - Rob says:
        
        1 Jan1 January 05:43
        
        Amsterdam is unique. Huge building, VERY small number of rooms, Michelin-starred restaurant, lovely pool overlooking the water. Decor is a bit old fashioned but part of the charm.
- Rachel R says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 17:31
  
  Depends where you want to go, really, but lovely cities with decent IC hotels I’ve stayed in are: Lisbon, Porto, Cannes, Ljubljana, Marseille. Closer to home, London O2 and Edinburgh also nice. But really depends whether you want to go to a place. No point staying in a lovely hotel in a place you don’t really want to visit.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 17:45
    
    Agree completely with this.
    - Mark says:
      
      31 Dec31 December 18:08
      
      Thank you all for your recommendations, I didnt mind any of the European cities where the ICs are located so I appreciate all the input.
      
      I’m going for the one in Lisbon (never been Portugal) and will combine with a few nights at the Conrad in the Algarve before heading home.
      Cheers 🙂
- Peggerz says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 18:04
  
  IC Sofia, we were very well looked after. And the cash costs are not bad either if you need more nights. Sofia is very inexpensive, but great for a visit particularly if you like a bit of Communist brutalist architecture and statues along with Roman and Euro faded elegance.
  - Alan says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 23:00
    
    Don’t forget the wine. We had some really excellent Bulgarian and Georgian wine tastings, following the recommendations on Jancis Robinson’s dot com site.
Grant says:

31 Dec31 December 16:08

Does anyone here use Trading 212, and if so do you want to post your referral link? I’m just about to open an account.
- SL says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 16:10
  
  Here is mine:
  
  Do you want to get a free stock share worth up to £100?
  
  Create a Trading 212 Invest account using this link http://www.trading212.com/invite/Fz1tN8yu and we both get a free share!
  
  Thanks
  - SL says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 16:12
    
    Pretty sure the link can be used for an invest or ISA account
  - Grant says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 16:19
    
    Thanks. Am I able to deposit funds with beardy et al or are they treated as money transfers?
    - mark says:
      
      31 Dec31 December 16:35
      
      Normally gets put back onto the payment card or card used to pay in when removing funds from account for money laundering purposes so don’t think it will work.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        31 Dec31 December 17:47
        
        Even after you’ve invested and perhaps pulled out some gains? Seems odd as a bank would be equally as worried about £k’s more going in as refunds than you’ve spent.
      - Mark says:
        
        31 Dec31 December 18:39
        
        TG couldn’t reply directly to you for some reason.
        Yes check 212s withdrawal terms and conditions.
        They are pretty on the ball with this.
      - Mark says:
        
        31 Dec31 December 18:43
        
        Also it’s a well known industry fact that most people don’t withdraw they lose all their capital and end up refunding in 90 days.
        
        90% of new accounts lose 90% of their capital within 90 days
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        31 Dec31 December 19:15
        
        I suggest HL then.
      - Grant says:
        
        31 Dec31 December 20:05
        
        Thanks. Not for MS purposes on this occasion. Wanted an account for ST trades where there is no fees to buy or sell.
      - Genghis says:
        
        31 Dec31 December 20:53
        
        @Mark. Doesn’t sound like proper investing to me. Sounds like people not really understanding CFDs.
      - Mark says:
        
        31 Dec31 December 21:17
        
        Genghis* I agree, most of 212s customer base is the short term retail market who trade most days/weeks and lose money hand over fist.
- John says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 17:33
  
  http://www.trading212.com/invite/FzFqYEKI is mine – get a ‘free share’ for using it 🙂
- Ste Cox says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 20:53
  
  damn, too slow. posted mine yesterday. guess I am too late now. 🙁
  - Ste Cox says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 20:58
    
    here is it anyway:
    http://www.trading212.com/invite/4KCL7AN
Matt says:

31 Dec31 December 16:30

RFS advice please… I’ve never felt I might want to cancel one before so I’m afraid I haven’t paid attention.
Does using extra avios to reduce “taxes” mitigate what I would lose if I do end up cancelling?
Thanks for any advice.
- memesweeper says:
  
  31 Dec31 December 16:37
  
  It used to, but not anymore AFAIK.
  - Matt says:
    
    31 Dec31 December 22:11
    
    Thank you for the reply.