The HfP chat thread – Monday 11th January

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• Kai says:

  11 Jan11 January 13:54

  Does Curve+Virgin work for Vanguard top-ups usually? Just tried mine and got declined.

  • bazza says:

    11 Jan11 January 18:09

    no

• ChrisC says:

  11 Jan11 January 13:59

  there were a few comments about ‘crypto’ last couple of days.

  Hope people buying have assessed all the risks

  https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/11/bitcoin-be-prepared-to-lose-all-your-money-fca-warns-consumers-risk-productis-cryptoassets

  “Consumers should be prepared to “lose all their money” if they invest in products that promise high returns from cryptoassets such as bitcoin, the City watchdog has warned.

  “The Financial Conduct Authority urged consumers to understand what they were investing in and the financial risks involved, given they were unlikely to be protected by UK schemes that help investors reclaim cash when companies go bust.”

  • babyg says:

    11 Jan11 January 14:17

    add te$la to that… mega bubble…

    • kitten says:

      11 Jan11 January 18:54

      glad it’s not just me that thinks that. Love the company but a path of too much volatility for me.

  • Doug M says:

    11 Jan11 January 14:34

    Been a lot of comments about Trading 212 in the last few days, and cypto too. I looked at the site and was amused that they state, presumably because they’re required to, that 76% of retail investors lose money on CFDs.

    • Anuj says:

      11 Jan11 January 16:41

      Trading212 has both cfd and normal stock trading, the 76% is clearly only referring to the cfd. In fact for buying etf funds, trading212 can be a great choice due to no isa management fees, trading fees.

      • Doug M says:

        11 Jan11 January 19:35

        What part of “76% of retail investors lose money on CFDs.” was unclear as referring to CFDs?

        • Anuj says:

          11 Jan11 January 20:20

          Some people might have taken your comment to mean they only do CFDs, and I wanted to highlight the scenarios in which the app makes sense to use. Ofc if you want to invest in Vanguard then it won’t necessarily be cheaper and it depends on which vanguard investment you choose.

        • Doug M says:

          11 Jan11 January 21:40

          Who mentioned Vanguard? This is so random.

        • Char Char says:

          12 Jan12 January 01:42

          It states this IG too, just glad I’m one of the lucky ones!

  • Gavin says:

    11 Jan11 January 14:43

    If you want exposure to Bitcoin, it’s probably best to just buy some and keep hold of it securely yourself, then you are not at risk of any companies going bust etc.

    • Genghis says:

      11 Jan11 January 15:11

      There was an interesting FT article on BTC over the weekend
      https://www.ft.com/content/af686b47-dbb8-426c-b530-27898891bd16

    • Gavin says:

      11 Jan11 January 22:16

      I always think of this scene from Industry now whenever anyone mentions Bitcoin

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rxxNeALWtg

• David says:

  11 Jan11 January 14:19

  I currently have a problem with Creation and my Marriott Rewards credit card. My points earned for December (credit card statement dated 7 December) have not been transferred to my Marriott Rewards account but my rewards for January (credit card statement dated 7 January) have been transferred. I have contacted Creation Customer Services on three occasions but they have just passed the problem to their admin department who appear to just ignore my complaint. I have spoken to Marriott Bonvoy Customer Services who say there is nothing they can do. Has anyone experienced a similar issue with Creation and does anyone have any advise on how to deal with this issue?

  • RussellH says:

    11 Jan11 January 16:18

    I posted on this the other day.
    The following is an e-mail I got from a contact at Marriott in Cork. The contact has so far sorted out every problem I have had with Marriott points not posting or posting incorrectly.

    Yes, there was a problem with the December file and these
    have not yet posted.
    After being in communication with HQ and BNP for the last 2
    weeks on this matter, I was told on Wednesday that these
    points will post over the next few days.
    I am going to check Tuesday again to see if these have
    posted otherwise, I will need to reach out again.

    • David says:

      11 Jan11 January 16:58

      Thanks for that info.

  • David says:

    11 Jan11 January 17:00

    Thanks for that info.

• Venturelog says:

  11 Jan11 January 14:44

  How long does it take to transfer Amex reward points to Virgin?

  • dezbez says:

    11 Jan11 January 15:26

    It’s pretty much immediate in my experience and others on here

    • Venturelog says:

      11 Jan11 January 15:40

      Thank you

• Rum says:

  11 Jan11 January 15:53

  Amazon Prime

  A while ago I read on here about how some readers have haggled with Amazon over Prime membership.

  Any recent success stories of getting reduced membership, additional (free) months or other?

  Thanks in advance!

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    11 Jan11 January 16:16

    Only after you let the sub expire. Friend of mine got 4 months free.

    • Rum says:

      11 Jan11 January 18:16

      Thanks for that.
      Did your friend get contacted by Amazon after their membership expired and if so which method? How long after expiry were they contacted?

• George K says:

  11 Jan11 January 16:09

  Good start from Bonvoy. More free night credits and reduced redemption rates. The former coming, the latter now live in quite a few properties!
  **

  This February, we’re depositing into your account 50% of the Elite Night Credits (ENCs) based on your 2020 Elite status. You’ll be halfway toward achieving your goals. That’s in addition to the ENCs awarded to Marriott Bonvoy™ Credit Card Members.

  Plus, we’re reducing the $20,000 spend threshold for attaining Ambassador Elite status to just $14,000 for 2021.

  You can also earn rewards faster with our Better Two-gether promotion. Get double points and double ENCs for stays of two nights or more between February 16 and April 27, 2021. Keep an eye out — registration starts soon.
  One more exciting benefit: We’re reducing redemption rates at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Save up to 40% when you redeem points for Free Night Awards by February 21, 2021. Rates start at just 4,500 points per night. It can take a little time for our new rates to distribute through all our systems, so the new redemption rates are now bookable, but may not show up in the online booking experience for the next few hours.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    11 Jan11 January 16:28

    Glad I gambled

    Platinum earned already this year then 🙂

  • Harry T says:

    11 Jan11 January 16:42

    Pushed for Titanium in 2020 largely because I was banking on this. Glad to see my loyalty has been rewarded. I will be on 53 nights in Feb without a single night in a bed.

    • Rob says:

      11 Jan11 January 17:16

      It’s interesting. I will be on 40.

      The question is whether I should mattress run a few nights before late April to ensure I get very close to 50 for 2022 status. I will have some Marriott nights later in the year (I have 5 suite night awards to use!) but 10 may be a push. 3 nights somewhere dirt cheap would take me to 46 and take the pressure off for 2022.

      • BJ says:

        11 Jan11 January 17:35

        Any reason to spend a weekend in Aberdeen … Marriott, Moxy, Aloft, Residence Inn …four articles for slow news daysif morning else plus 2x BA sectors.

        • BJ says:

          11 Jan11 January 17:37

          *if nothing else

        • Rob says:

          11 Jan11 January 18:03

          I was thinking more of the new Courtyards at City and Heathrow!

      • Matthew says:

        11 Jan11 January 18:34

        The global promotion is double elite nights too if staying 2 or more nights Feb-Apr so you’ll only need 5 nights Rob. Paid ones though not award stays.

        • Rob says:

          11 Jan11 January 19:56

          Apparently reward nights count as long as you add 1 paid night.

        • Matthew says:

          11 Jan11 January 20:27

          Great good spot Rob.

      • John says:

        11 Jan11 January 18:47

        Not very knowledgeable on Marriott. I have gold in 2021 due to previous Amex platinum. I have been credited 15 nights this month with my spg amex credit card. Thus presumably will have 27 nights. Says need 50 for platinum.
        If I book a couple of cheap stays with my points to get to 50: am I right in thinking I would get free breakfasts when platinum and a free 5 night suite award certificate?
        Also, when would I become platinum – on 50 nights? Also, how long would I keep platinum for?
        Sorry for so many questions!

        • TGLoyalty says:

          11 Jan11 January 19:01

          I thought the rounded up so 15+13 I think you’ll have 28 but I was Plat last year and got 25.

          If you book some 2 night stays then yes you’ll get double nights.

          Yes On 50 nights you can choose 5 SNA’s

          With platinum until 31/12/22 you’ll get free breakfast in lots of Marriott brands but not all (Edition and Ritz Carlton are notable exclusions for example)

        • YC says:

          11 Jan11 January 19:04

          Yes platinum @ 50 nights and gives free breakfast (at most brands) + 5 SNA. You will keep platinum till early 2023

  • YC says:

    11 Jan11 January 19:01

    Glad I didn’t push to get Hilton/Hyatt status as Marriott plat is almost safe till 2023

  • Dave says:

    11 Jan11 January 22:08

    Was their any point to stay 50 nights in 2020 for people who were already platinum?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      11 Jan11 January 22:40

      Trigger the 50 night choice and a gamble that this would be repeated and you’d need to earn platinum to get 25 nights.

      • Rob says:

        11 Jan11 January 22:49

        Yes, that was my view. Moved 3-4 nights to Marriott to get the Suite Night Awards and, as it turns out, I have now got the 25 nights again.

• 747_Brat says:

  11 Jan11 January 16:29

  Has anyone who recently upgraded to HSBC Premier received their credit card? I applied in mid December and have already received my debit card, but the Premier Credit Card still eludes me.

  I called the customer care, and the agent informed me that I will have to wait until the end of January, before someone can approve my Premier Credit Card application. Apparently, that happens when one upgrades from Advance to Premier. It sounds weird to me but has anyone faced a similar scenario?
  Thanks.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    11 Jan11 January 17:06

    Apparently Hsbc claim they are understaffed due to COVID causing delays. Read somewhere they stopped accepting applications for premier.

    • 747_Brat says:

      11 Jan11 January 17:22

      Yes, that was the case for most of 2020, but they started accepting applications for Premier sometime in late November. I wonder how long would I have to wait to get my Premier Card. 🙁

      • Dan says:

        11 Jan11 January 18:50

        They’ve been using that line since the very start of the pandemic – have you tried going into the branch? I would keep pestering. When I upgraded to Premier, they made a hash of my Credit card – I didn’t get the physical card for ages. When I phoned two to complain I got £50 compensation the first time and £75 the second time. The more noise you make – the more likely someone will do something about it.

      • Doug M says:

        11 Jan11 January 20:06

        On my experience you did well to get the upgrade. HSBC awful customer service, but I’d set my mind to getting that WE card.

  • Sina says:

    11 Jan11 January 22:34

    Email your relationship manager? I upgraded my card from HSBC Rewards to WE today and was told to expect a call from someone and that it would take 14 days!

  • 747_Brat says:

    12 Jan12 January 10:10

    Thanks everyone for the replies. I will chase HSBC again! 🙁

• YC says:

  11 Jan11 January 16:34

  Reported by other sites: Bonvoy – same as last year, 50% of nights deposit. + double points/double nights global promo. Got to be happy with that?

  • YC says:

    11 Jan11 January 16:40

    Oops mentioned already

  • Venturelog says:

    11 Jan11 January 17:42

    Double elite nights is definitely a highlight

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.