The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 9th March

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• PK says:

  9 Mar9 March 12:51

  Beware of Barclays Premier Account:

  I opened a new Barclays Premier account last Monday, and they have already blocked my account and put it under review. I have only performed 5-6 transactions all between my own accounts Barclays and Natwest, which is my main account. I did mo MS or financial cycling transactions, and this bit has left me thinking what made them block my account.

  I had transferred £5k to my Barclays Premier account. I was told to visit a branch to withdraw the money, which I did today. But the rude staff there made me feel like a criminal and refused to let me withdraw my own money!

  Has anyone here faced account blocks from Barclays? If yes, please could you guide on how to get my money back.
  Thanks.

  • Jonathan says:

    9 Mar9 March 13:32

    If the only activity is transferring money backwards & forwards to yourself that could trigger money laundering alarm bells or just make them think you are gaming the system for the switching bonus.

    Either way, you will get your money back once they’ve completed a source of funds check so give it a few days for them to contact you.

    Not aimed at you but it’s a timely reminder of the risks of cycling money through Ernie/Rev/Curve etc as when the music stops you can have a real liquidity problem!

    • PK says:

      9 Mar9 March 14:18

      Thanks Jonathan.
      A simple google search on topic “Barclays account under review” throws horrid stories of customers, who have been chasing money from Barclays after their account was put under review. Some people are chasing amounts as high as £750k.

      I certainly wasn’t gaming the system and was just setting up my new Premier account by linking it to my main account and Amex for future payments. I am now scared and frustrated looking at what lies ahead. 🙁

      • The real John says:

        9 Mar9 March 15:38

        Write to your preferred newspaper’s agony aunt.

        All banks do something similar.

      • KBuffett says:

        9 Mar9 March 20:37

        Type a simple Google search replacing Barclays with the name of any other bank.

  • Red Flyer says:

    9 Mar9 March 13:32

    I also joined Barclays Premier 2 weeks ago and have just had a message in the app that my Starling Bank switch has been refused but I can try again if I like?!

    • BJ says:

      9 Mar9 March 14:04

      If you have another account try switching it. If you’re with likes of Halifax or Nationwide you can open another account as a donor very quickly if needed.

  • Andrew says:

    9 Mar9 March 13:52

    Calm down and try reading this:-

    https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2021/10.html&query=(bristol)

    • PK says:

      9 Mar9 March 14:12

      Thanks Andrew for sharing this, but I can’t see how this is related to my case! Please could you explain.

    • Char Char says:

      9 Mar9 March 21:56

      Those 2 who lost 750k were plain and simply naive and fools

  • Charlieface says:

    9 Mar9 March 14:24

    £5000 transfer in, then take it out in cash? I’d agree that should trigger an investigation.

    • PK says:

      9 Mar9 March 14:32

      No, I wasn’t trying to take out cash. Just made the transfer to Barclays so that it was sufficiently funded for an upcoming Amex payment, which I obviously didn’t get to make because of the block on my account.

    • Lady London says:

      9 Mar9 March 14:33

      only for over £10k without good reason

  • Mo says:

    9 Mar9 March 15:51

    I have been blocked by Santander on 2 different occasions, basically for MS.

    1st occasion was asked to provide documents of where certain deposits had came from in branch, which I did, and then had a call with one of the people dealing with the case where I explained my MS. He seemed pretty interested and lifted the block on my account. Overall my account was blocked for 5/6 weeks.

    The 2nd time, I had not learned my lesson, apparently, I was sent some document to fill in with lots of questions about income etc. I did not see it as I’m a student and was at my uni address.
    My account was restricted, I called to ask why and they mentioned this document I needed to fill, which they emailed.
    As I was busy with exams at the time I did not do it straight away and eventually, my account just became blocked (before I could log in online but not do anything, now I couldn’t even log in).
    I raised this as an issue but straight away was told they could do nothing and would give me a deadlock letter to contact the ombudsman if I wanted to take the issue further, but in 1/2 weeks I got a letter saying they had closed my account as they could refuse to provide services for any reason and enclosed a cheque with the money I had in my account.

    Actually on the topic – does anybody know if this will be an issue for me going on (my account being closed by Santander)

    • Aston100 says:

      9 Mar9 March 16:05

      What kind of MS where you doing with Santander?

    • Blenz101 says:

      9 Mar9 March 17:05

      You would need to make a Data Subject Access Request to CIFAS to see if this is going to have serious long term implications on your ability to obtain credit in the future.

      Two blocks and a refusal to hold your account doesn’t sound great at face value.

• Uzi says:

  9 Mar9 March 12:58

  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?

  • memesweeper says:

    9 Mar9 March 18:13

    I’ve had very little luck with this kind of thing in the past.

    I did once manage a change that the agent refused to do but the airline was prepared to make by getting the agent to email the carrier allowing the change to be made.

• Nigel W says:

  9 Mar9 March 13:04

  Potentially having to move a Lloyds voucher booking I have for flights to Tokyo. All I know it can be moved to a different location in the same Avios ‘zone’. Does anyone have a link where I can view these zones?

  • pauldb says:

    9 Mar9 March 13:12

    Anywhere with the same avios cost as TYO on this list. https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2019/01/09/british-airways-avios-redemption-pricing-by-route-2/

    Off the top of my head: HKG, PVG, BKK, MRU, GIG. A flight of 5000-6500 miles I think.

    • BJ says:

      9 Mar9 March 14:00

      Also needs to be the same cabin.

• MadeUpName says:

  9 Mar9 March 13:23

  Hi, if BA cancel an existing flight and suggest another is there a deadline for when I need to accept or decline the alternative?

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    9 Mar9 March 14:58

    Don’t think so, other than a seat still being available and the date not being in the past!

    Also, if it isn’t convenient for you, ask them to change the flights. Under EU261 they have to reroute you at a convenient time under the same conditions, others can explain this better than me.

  • ChrisC says:

    9 Mar9 March 20:46

    Yes before the new flight departs else you risk being marked as a ‘no show’

    BA doing an auto re-book onto an alternative flight protects you in case you do want to fly. You don’t have to accept it but if you don’t want that flight the sooner you change it / get your refund means someone else could be offered it.

• GaryE says:

  9 Mar9 March 13:53

  Has there been any announcements regarding BA moving flights from LHR back to LGW. We have holiday booked to Kos in August and flights showing as LGW. Just wondering if I should book the pre flight overnight hotel at both airports on 24 hour cancellation.

  • Sarah says:

    9 Mar9 March 14:04

    Just received an email -got Kos flights in June – the outbound still shows as LGW but they have cancelled the return and put us on the LHR flight. Am not accepting it yet as would prefer both flights to be in and out of LHR

  • MadeUpName says:

    9 Mar9 March 14:04

    I got a notification today that our Thessaloniki flights have moved from LGW to LHR, but those are late May / early June.

  • pauldb says:

    9 Mar9 March 15:18

    Apparently lots of changes happening. My half term flights to Catania have been cancelled completely – not moved to LHR – so look like Palermo is my choice.

  • Sarah says:

    9 Mar9 March 15:49

    Have just received the second email for my flights in June – outbound and return flights both now from Heathrow

  • James Vickers says:

    9 Mar9 March 21:18

    Have a flight end of June that’s been moved to Heathrow but not one I have in July. I think that will be changed to Heathrow though as well

• Martha says:

  9 Mar9 March 13:56

  When do Capital on Tap points become redeemable? I have started the next billing cycle but they are still not redeemable

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    9 Mar9 March 14:05

    Your monthly points become available the day after your direct debit payment (the one that will pay off that month’s balance) is scheduled.
    This holds true even if you use other means to pay early.

  • kevbar says:

    9 Mar9 March 22:22

    It seems they have not become redeemable for me this month either…

• Benjamin says:

  9 Mar9 March 14:15

  A bit off-topic, but could someone here let me know how one can see how much spend one has left to hit the £20k spend on Virgin card to get the companion voucher?

  I cant see how this is done on the app.

  • Ash Raj says:

    9 Mar9 March 14:52

    Hi i had the same problem a few weeks ago – its seems the only way is to tally up all your spending from your first statement.

  • Alan says:

    9 Mar9 March 15:20

    Apologies if already posted.

    An improved referral link has just arrived on my BAPP card 14,000 points for me and 30.000 for the referee. First decent offer since Christmas

    Also got the £20 off the Craft Gin Club offer, is club membership worth trying.

• Scallder says:

  9 Mar9 March 15:28

  Anyone have an idea when Norwegian are likely to release their Winter 21/22 schedule (assuming they survive that long…)?

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    9 Mar9 March 15:33

    Probably once they have finished deciding which planes to keep. I would guess in a 2 or 3 weeks

  • Rob says:

    9 Mar9 March 17:14

    As they will only be flying intra-Norway, presumably, do you care?!

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