The HfP chat thread – Friday 26th March

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• Ant says:

  26 Mar26 March 08:35

  My BA flights to Ibiza for the May bank holiday have been cancelled. These were booked last Aug. Is it possible to move them to June 2022(as bank holiday is later next year)?

  • Anna says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:07

    Have you tried doing it online (or via the app)? If that doesn’t work people have had various results on phoning BA.

    • Sam G says:

      26 Mar26 March 12:20

      Shouldn’t be possible – you are supposed to travel within 1 year of the ticket issuance. However their controls for this (apparently more so on the app) aren’t 100% so you might get lucky. Otherwise it’s a refund & rebook job

      • Nick says:

        26 Mar26 March 14:39

        You won’t be able to book for June 2022 yet, or even May, as flights aren’t available for booking that far in advance. You’ll have to wait until 355 days before the latest flight you want to take.

• Michael C says:

  26 Mar26 March 08:48

  Very leftfield: anyone any idea about a non-resident setting up an online service company in the US? One of my client there is now under union pressure to only employ US providers!
  Cheers!

  • James says:

    26 Mar26 March 09:25

    Stripe offer it as a service for $500.
    The biggest issue for non-residents is banking. Getting an LLC in Wyoming or Delaware is reasonably straightforward. But make sure you get a CPA to check everything out.

    If it’s just to check a box, may be best to do the Stripe option

    • Michael C says:

      26 Mar26 March 10:00

      Thank million James, just the sort of thing I was looking for. I already have an EIN, don’t know if that will make any difference, and sort of guessed Delaware. A w/end of research ahead!

    • Richster says:

      26 Mar26 March 10:40

      Thanks @James, this is of interest to me too – lots of research to do 🙂

• Craig says:

  26 Mar26 March 08:58

  For anyone interested, I’ve just finished another two half days of volunteering at a vaccine clinic. Mostly second jabs for the over 80s and key-workers we did earlier in the year but much easier with the improved weather. It was almost warm enough to wear my shorts but that plan was vetoed by Mrs S who was inside jabbing. Some of those being vaccinated hadn’t been out of the house since they came for their first jab and were delighted to be there. Once again a very high turnout with only one dose wasted at the end of the day. Mrs S is there again today and it’s starting to take it’s toll a little bit, she’s quite tired with very sore hands from drawing the vaccine from the vial, I feel a few gins will be on the cards tonight. The week wasn’t helped with a gas leak in the street right outside the house on Wednesday night with the repair team being there until 4am!

  • Tracey says:

    26 Mar26 March 09:08

    I’m also volunteering. One clinic of second jabs this week decided it was warm enough to put some of the post observation seats outdoors. The medics and younger patients were sent to the outdoor area and the elderly kept inside. It meant the area was far less crowded.

    • Craig says:

      26 Mar26 March 09:23

      Great idea, I might suggest that if we start to get a backlog in the waiting room. Very satisfying isn’t it?

  • Rhys says:

    26 Mar26 March 09:23

    Willing volunteer if you need a last minute jabbee in order not to waste any!

    • Craig says:

      26 Mar26 March 09:35

      Bit of a drive up to Lincolnshire Rhys? We are trying really hard not to waste any, it’s usually caused by a no show late in the day. They ring around those booked in the following day to see who can get there quickly.

      • Rhys says:

        26 Mar26 March 10:29

        Worth it for a jab!

        • David says:

          26 Mar26 March 18:01

          For now Rhys just celebrate coming 5th in Virgin Quiz last night (I was 42nd)

    • Tracey says:

      26 Mar26 March 12:27

      Try pharmacies that are offering the vaccine. Most have a list of people who’ve put their name down to be called at the end of the day with spares.

  • Mike says:

    26 Mar26 March 09:23

    I went through the vaccination centre in York for a first jab (over 50) last night after work – amazingly well organised and efficient everyone (staff / volunteers) so cheerful – only thing missing was a tip barrel on the way out ! Craig + Tracey thank you for volunteering efforts – very much appreciated

    • Craig says:

      26 Mar26 March 09:34

      I’ve thought about setting up a gin bar in the car park for those waiting, I reckon we’d make a fortune. I’m hearing positive things from almost every vaccination centre in the country.

      • Travel Strong says:

        26 Mar26 March 10:40

        a coffee cart and a mobile newsagent stand have set up in the car park of a vax centre near me! win-win for customers and supplier, everyone gets what they want.

    • Tracey says:

      26 Mar26 March 12:29

      Our tea room is full of boxes of biscuits kindly donated by patients.

  • Pete M says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:05

    Thank you for your service! (Said in a non-ironic way!)

  • Aston100 says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:49

    Thanks for volunteering Craig.

  • Colin MacKinnon says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:58

    Craig,

    I was more than very impressed by the set up when I had my jag. It gave me a great sense of pride in our community that we have been able to set all this up, and done it so well.

    This is the work of so many many people from under-appreciated managers to under-appreciated toilet cleaners. Quite remarkable. Sometimes, I don’t think we appreciate just how extra-ordinary some ordinary things are!

    Did anyone spot this story on the BBC (about finding out which drugs work best for Covid). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56508369

    But it didn’t ask, or answer, the obvious question: what were Prof Landray and Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust (one of the world’s biggest funders of medical research) doing on a London bus?

    I know London traffic is bad, but if they were politicians, or in other countries – like the USA – they would have been in a limo. Remember Two Jags Prescott?

    Quite heartening to know that some of the specialists at the heart of our crisis are not so remote that they couldn’t be the proverbial “man on the Clapham omnibus”.

    • Andrew says:

      26 Mar26 March 12:58

      Martin usually cycles everywhere.

      Although I wonder if there was a bit of artistic license in the Story. And it was really the X90 coach (which still ran at the time) and dropped off at Marylebone/Baker Street.

      • Nick says:

        26 Mar26 March 14:44

        London is not like the rest of the country, and many people at all levels use buses. For some journeys it really is the most convenient way to go.

        • Rob says:

          26 Mar26 March 15:24

          Margaret said you are a loser though.

        • Mouse says:

          26 Mar26 March 16:18

          Probably untrue Rob https://fullfact.org/news/margaret-thatcher-bus/ assuming that’s what you’re talking about

  • Jody says:

    26 Mar26 March 11:32

    Thanks to you and all the volunteers doing an incredible job.

    • ankomonkey says:

      26 Mar26 March 13:37

      +1

• Ian says:

  26 Mar26 March 09:13

  ALL – ACCOR PLATINUM

  I suspect that there are not too many Accor Platinums here. At last I have received an email telling me that the points scheduled to expire at the end of April will now be extended till 15 Decmber 2021. This is good news: I have points worth around €1400 that I would have lost. I will now probably cancel a mattress run I had lined up for late April.

  • Ambient says:

    26 Mar26 March 09:24

    Same email received for ALL Silver, thankfully.

  • Blenz101 says:

    26 Mar26 March 09:27

    I am Accor platinum. I’ve not had anything about my point being extended but then I have managed a few hotel stays this year so potentially not targeted.

    Guessing therefore the extension is only applied if you have had no activity and have points due to expire this year. Mine are showing as due to expire on the 3/6/22.

• James says:

  26 Mar26 March 09:29

  When does the IHG Black “£10k for a free night” reset?

  Last year my annual CC statement was dated 23/03/20 and the voucher in my IHG account was valid from 22.04.20.

  The amount I need to pay in April has shown on my account for a few days, but no official statement has been produced as yet. I have £2k that I need to spend in the next week or so and would prefer it went towards next year’s calculation rather than just increasing what I’ve spent this year if possible…

  • Joints&Piles says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:03

    My account anniversary is 22nd July
    The annual fee is charged on 21st July
    The statement includes transactions up to 22nd July (though it arrives and is dated a day or two after, it does state what transaction date it runs up to – that would be your account anniversary)
    I start spending my £10k on the 23rd July
    My free night cert is valid from 23rd July

  • TGLoyalty says:

    26 Mar26 March 11:08

    Sounds like on 23rd April.

• Daniel says:

  26 Mar26 March 09:33

  Any insights appreciated. A friend is scheduled (on 5th April) to come over to the UK from Sweden (Swedish citizen/resident) in order to stay for several months with their partner in London. Does he need a specific reason to enter the UK, or do the travel restrictions refer only to leaving the UK? Thanks in advance.

  • Pete M says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:08

    No issues coming in and no reason needed. Will need a Covid test before departure from Sweden, pay for the day 2&8 testing via the passenger locator form (which they need to fill in) and isolate at home for 10 days. After 5 days they can pay for a test to release test. Easily £400 total, depending on testing costs in Sweden. Depending on where they fly to, immigration may be a major pain – LHR is varying between minutes to 7hrs, personal average around 2hrs recently. eGates mostly closed.

  • Anna says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:10

    As long as Sweden isn’t on the red list at that point, from what I understand your friend would just need to to quarantine at the address they’re staying at and take the relevant tests before being allowed out.

  • Daniel says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:26

    That’s great – thank you both – that’s rather as I thought! Much appreciated.

    • The real John says:

      26 Mar26 March 14:06

      Now that we have properly left the EU, a Swedish citizen who lives in Sweden no longer has free movement into the UK, so he will need to satisfy the immigration officer that he has sufficient ties to Sweden such as a job or house there and will return after his visit. He may be asked for evidence of this.

      EU citizens who are not (pre)-settled are no longer allowed to work in the UK without a visa, including working remotely from the UK for a company elsewhere, so there is risk of being denied entry if he says this is how he will support himself while in the UK.

      I thought the UK would give a reciprocal 3 months to EU visitors, but it seems that they get 6 months.

      • Pete M says:

        26 Mar26 March 14:51

        I can assure you, John, this is the last thing immigration officers are asking at the moment…

• AnotherUser says:

  26 Mar26 March 09:43

  Minor moan about Hilton: I booked a cancellable rate with a 1 night deposit, at a UK hotel next month. I cancelled this a while back due to lockdown, and called yesterday to ask where my deposit was. Apparently Hilton need to speak to the hotel to process the refund, and the hotel is closed due to lockdown. It’s not a large amount and Hilton are hoping the hotel will be open in a week or two, but still annoying!

  • Anna says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:16

    I’ve noticed that Hilton are now asking for this 1 night deposit, I haven’t made any of these bookings after reports last year of Hilton refusing refunds and citing local laws to support this!

  • Travel Strong says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:59

    Choosing a flexible hotel rate with a deposit requirement is very much like entering a free trial that asks for your credit card number. ~ Swiss Toni

  • The real John says:

    26 Mar26 March 14:07

    All Hiltons outside the US (and Canada?) process their own payments and the central Hilton call centre cannot do anything

    • Nick says:

      26 Mar26 March 14:47

      A chargeback against the payment would work, assuming you have clear proof of your entitlement to refund (e.g. flexible booking conditions).

• Roger W says:

  26 Mar26 March 09:48

  I signed up to MyMail to exploit the subscription offer for Nectar points in February. Was turfed off the subscription like most HFPers but still receive emails against my best efforts.

  Have been offered 10,000 nectar points for a free equity release quote from Mail Finance. Considering it as would like to 10,000 points, dislike The Mail, and would consider Equity Release in 20 years. Imagine I will have to put in my real DOB.

  I am fifty eight and hope to spend all my ISAs and SIPPS out by 80 (if I live). Have a decent NHS Pension to keep me going and b…er the neices & nephews getting the house when I could have been on a cruise.

  Ignore the rant…. anyone received/tried this offer?

  • Red Flyer says:

    26 Mar26 March 09:54

    They offered me 12k nectar for Mail subscription when I called to complain about the constant marketing emails even though they had denied me the original offer. Took them up and will cancel after having paid the required 3 DD’s.

  • Yorkieflyer says:

    26 Mar26 March 10:32

    Yes indeed we presumably got the email on DOB? Can’t recall, but must have entered it. Need a code from Daily Mail I think, might have to pop to Waitrose as I ain’t paying for it! Doubtless we’ll have to fend off endless marketing calls but could be worth it? Can’t see T& Cs till signing up?

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