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The HfP chat thread – Monday 8th March

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Comments (292)

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

  • Toby says:

    Does anyone know how I can top up HMRC Childcare account with an earning card? We spend over £1k/month on childcare and I’d love to earn from that.

    I have HSBC Premier CC, but HMRC won’t accept that – only accept debit card or bank transfer are acceptable.

    Curve doesn’t seem to work (perhaps as it says commercial on the back? Do I have the wrong type of curve?)

    Or do I need to sign up for revolut and find a way to top that up?

    • JD says:

      Curve works for me, and mine is a commercial one. Best bet otherwise would be Revolut as you say, although how long that lasts is debatable.

      • Toby says:

        Ok thanks JD.

      • Paul says:

        Interesting, I’ve tried and failed a couple of times with free curve backed by IHG.

      • Jonathan says:

        Unfortunately the Lufthansa Miles and More credit card account that had a debit card with a very good reward level has also disappeared for now, with people like Rob who’ve only got a matter of about a month or less before their cards become unusable. Getting rewards on debit card spending is extremely difficult these days !

    • John Caribbean says:

      I top up revolut with IHG, but you need to pay it off straight away because it attracts interest

    • Nadeshka says:

      If there’s any amount you are paying directly you could check what the nursery/provider accepts, you might be pleasantly surprised. I was pleased to find out mine takes non AMEX credit cards so at least earning Hilton points makes the bill more palatable.

      • Toby says:

        Oh that’s a great tip. Thanks. You reminded me I paid our deposit on CC. I’ll ring them tomorrow.

    • Genghis says:

      Rev virtual or Monese virtual

  • mutley says:

    In response to Baji Nahids question early this morning, I didn’t watch the Royal goons as I was in the land of nod at the time. It does appear through on International Womens Day that the Duchess has moved from being the Sweetheart of the Rodeo to presenting as a Grievous Angel, and is now living with her prince in the Gilded Palace of Sin. See what I did there?

  • HAA says:

    Are there any credit cards that doesn’t charge a fee when topping up Revolut?

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      Best to try the cards you have first with a small test transaction, that’s how must of us find out routes.

      • Suck My Points says:

        Can you withdraw from Revolut at an ATM? Without fees?
        Are there other ways that avoid fees?

  • Uzi says:

    Question on changing Virgin Atlantic booking (booked through travel agent). Virgin policy as of the time of my booking allows free seat changes with no fare difference payable if travel is before May-2021. I’m trying to defer the return flight by a week however the agent is telling me there is no availability on that date, however there is plenty of availability online. Is there any way to get Virgin to change the booking?

  • Fola says:

    I am planning to subscribe to Curve metal card in order to use it with Capital on Tap to pay HMRC.Is it still possible to pay HMRC with Curve linked to any points earning cards especially Capital on Tap? Also anyone pays a credit card bill with credit card via Curve recently?Putting money in Share ISA via HSBC Premier works for me even though I don’t have a Curve metal subscriptions but others like Virgin CC,Tesco CC don’t work. Any idea?

    • mark2 says:

      People seem to be having a lot of trouble with Curve at present, so may be best to wait a while before committing.
      My metal card has been blocked for the last month despite providing information asked for.

      • James. says:

        Mark what issues you had as Curve recently has blocked my account and telling me the underlying cards are not in my name though they are.

        • mark2 says:

          Mine is similar. They have asked to see the statements for two cards used to buy Premium Bonds but the ones they chose are supplementaries on my wife’s cards which seems to have foxed them. I have explained this several times but they just keep asking the same question. Are you dealing with Akhee?

    • Rob says:

      I’ve paid HMRC with Curve in the last few days.

  • Berneslai says:

    If I get a Amex Bonvoy card when I’ve had one in the last 24 months, do I still get the elite night credits? And when do they post?

    • NC says:

      My understanding is Yes, because it’s not a sign up bonus, it’s just a card benefit.

  • roberto says:

    My curve was declined today paying Amex with Virgin Money underlying. Seemed to be all OK but the 3DS appears to be the stumbling block. Deleted and reinstalled the app following a conversation with curve support but fell over again.

    Anybody else having similar issues?

    • Sina says:

      try the SMS instead of in-app 3DS?

      • Jimbob says:

        Is there an option to change the default 3DS option? Mine always uses the app, never get the option to use sms

        • TGLoyalty says:

          It pops up as very small text on the 3DS screen on the merchants processing screen

      • Chrisasaurus says:

        @Sina makes no difference either way

    • Peter K says:

      Yes for nearly a week. I contacted curve but they basically ignored the issue in their reply.

    • Chrisasaurus says:

      Yep, paying off. Irgun it just goes round and round and round forever

      Literally anywhere else it’s charging the underlying car and appearing to go through but merchant says declined.

      Shortly afterwards txn shows refunded in Curve. Hopefully will soon reverse original charge to card too!

      Very irritating, will leave curve card disabled til it Gets sorted

    • Tyler Durden says:

      you rang curve about failing to pay off another credit card with another credit card?? and we wonder why we cant have nice things…

      • Paul says:

        This comes up on here a lot and it annoys me. Look at Curve’s website, they literally use the example of paying off one credit card with another as one of their examples for why people might want to pay for Fronted / Metal: “There are some things you can’t just “pop on the credit card”. Like paying your tax bill, or paying off a credit card bill with another credit card. But Curve Fronted makes it possible, giving you the freedom to pay your own way, spread the cost if needed, and maximise your rewards program.”

        Why shouldn’t people complain to them if the advertised service they’re paying for doesn’t work?

  • Kevin C says:

    The book your vaccine website has just gone down one year to 55 and over.

    • ChrisC says:

      Just booked! Was expecting to have to wait weeks for it to tick down to 55 and over!

      Very quick and easy to do.

      You need to be quick to accept your chosen slot as they get nabbed quickly

    • Zoe says:

      Whoops a sign of getting old when you can’t accurately remember how old you are!

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