The HfP chat thread – Saturday 13th March

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General

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Roger says:

13 Mar13 March 10:48

I’ve just received my Council Tax bill. Historically I’ve paid by direct debit. However, this year I’d like to pay by AMEX in one go. I can’t do this through the councils online system (visa/MasterCard only). However it says payments can be made “at any post office or PayPoint”. I know post offices accept AMEX. If I go to a post office can I pay by Amex for this bill?
- Anuj says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 15:03
  
  You can pay by credit card using pay point at co op. However you may have to pay it in chunks as it won’t let you pay it all in on transaction
- Genghis says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 15:22
  
  If you tell the cashier to ring up the max on paypoint, they can do this multiple times on the same transaction until payment made in full then you pay once. But you can’t actually pay more than once in a day. If that makes sense.
- PJJ says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 18:52
  
  I’ve done Car Tax at the Post Office.
  As long as your Council Tax bill has a barcode, I think you will be alright
  Well worth it to pop into your local Post Office to check
Craig says:

13 Mar13 March 11:08

Just switching from HSBC to Barclays Premier. I have a HSBC WE credit card with renewal in September. Will this be closed down because I no longer hold a Premier current account?
- Benilyn says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 11:12
  
  Don’t switch! I hold both so just switch another account if possible
  - Craig says:
    
    13 Mar13 March 11:13
    
    I didn’t have another account to use and couldn’t be bothered to open one just for this.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      13 Mar13 March 11:18
      
      You can open an additional hsbc account within a few mins
      - Craig says:
        
        13 Mar13 March 11:20
        
        Too late.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        13 Mar13 March 11:32
        
        Is it? Has the switch completed?
        
        If not an extra hsbc account should still be a premier account so you can keep both.
        
        Technically your CC should be closed as you don’t have the current account but never know when they will get round to connecting the dots.
      - Craig says:
        
        13 Mar13 March 12:04
        
        It says to open a current account your salary must be paid in?
- Benilyn says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 12:21
  
  They don’t check I reckon…
  - Fm says:
    
    13 Mar13 March 13:08
    
    Which one do you pay your salary into? Do you just transfer across to the other one then? Thinking of doing this…
Scottydogg says:

13 Mar13 March 11:13

I cancelled a Amex Gold on the 06/03/19 , so 2 years has now passed .
I had a BA PP card in between this .
Am i still elligible for the sign up bonus if i take out another gold card ?
- MilesOnPoint says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 11:20
  
  My understanding is that you would *not* be eligible for Amex Gold sign up bonus (“not held ANY personal Amex card in last 24 months) but you would be eligible for the Amex Platinum bonus (not held a personal Amex which issues Membership Rewards points in the previous 24 months)
  
  An option would be to sign up to Amex Plat, spend to trigger bonus then downgrade to free Gold charge card for pro rata refund of £575 fee.
  
  If you are referred for Amex personal Platinum at the moment the sign up bonus is 50,000 points (spend £4k in 3 months). Drop Rob an email if you want a referral link and I can pass on.
  - Anna says:
    
    13 Mar13 March 11:50
    
    50k – is that targeted?
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      13 Mar13 March 12:16
      
      Yes it’s targeted
      
      32k on gold too for some.
      - MilesOnPoint says:
        
        13 Mar13 March 18:15
        
        Sorry yes, it’s a targeted promo for 50K points on Amex personal Plat (usual sign up is 35,000 when referred).
        
        I have the referral link that would give you the 50K personal Amex Platinum offer, feel free to email Rob if you would like it
Roger says:

13 Mar13 March 11:16

Has anyone managed any better deal with billhop?
I will have a large HMRC bills to pay soon.

May be as HfP collective we can provide a lot of business to billhop if priced more competitive or even @1.5-2% I can take a bite.
- Memesweeper says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 11:24
  
  If you have a large bill you can negotiate directly with Billhop (or at least they used to be open to this).
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 11:42
  
  Wonder why there is no competitor to Billhop
  - The real John says:
    
    13 Mar13 March 12:56
    
    Set one up
TGLoyalty says:

13 Mar13 March 11:33

Reports that Etihad will retire its A380 fleet. Shame as the residence was a lovely product I wanted to try one day soon.
- Benilyn says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 12:22
  
  Do you know dates?
  - meta says:
    
    13 Mar13 March 12:32
    
    Immediately. Discussed yesterday actually. No A380s are flying anyway right now.
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      13 Mar13 March 15:21
      
      You mean EY A380’s as EK are flying them.
- marcw says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 12:43
  
  Regardless, Etihad is in the UCI anyway. I can’t see a prosperous Etihad in the near future. Much smaller route network and operations. No place for an 380.
Tubbs says:

13 Mar13 March 12:01

This may have just passed me by somewhere along the way but has BA permanently removed First from the London – Las Vegas service, or is it a temporary/COVID change? Thanks.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 12:17
  
  Since the 747 has been retired i imagine it’ll be a permanent change but things will need to find their new level once the world gets flying again.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 13:20
  
  With only 1 VS and 1 BA option per day to Las Vegas (at practically the same time) – hopefully each airline will be highly motivated to get the new Business class products are on the route at least. I guess the BA 777’s aren’t guaranteed to have Club Suite, and the VS 787’s will continue to be the old coffin seat only.
  I’m ready to make 2022 bookings but will be waiting to see how things develop, with aircraft assignment and refurbishments.
Josh says:

13 Mar13 March 12:56

Hi all,

Wife just called to try downgrade her plat biz to basic biz or gold biz, was told it’s not possible. Only way to get those cards is with a brand new application as biz cards cant be downgraded like personal.

Is this actually the case? Seemed a bit weird.
- Jay says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 20:55
  
  As the business has joint & several liability along with yourself, my thought is that they are belt and braces the process to ensure a clear audit trail of applications.
Rachel R says:

13 Mar13 March 13:00

Does anyone know if Ceation treat curve cash withdrawals as a purchase or cash advance? Thanks!
- Yorkie Aid says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 13:13
  
  I haven’t made an ATM withdrawal in over a year but when I last did via the method you describe it just went through as a purchase – no fees or interest charges.
  - Rachel R says:
    
    13 Mar13 March 13:18
    
    Thanks
- Genghis says:
  
  13 Mar13 March 13:21
  
  Via Curve? Purchase.
  - Rachel R says:
    
    13 Mar13 March 13:25
    
    Yes via curve. Thank you.
- Kevin says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 12:14
  
  Purchase, however I only did it up to £200 and not sure how would it when limit is exceed.