The HfP chat thread – Saturday 3rd April

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Tarmohamed says:

3 Apr3 April 02:29

I might be looking to move some savings to Ernie. What’s underlying credit card should I use with bendy to do this? I usually travel with the 3 Middle Eastern airlines. Also open to moving savings to elsewhere but not into a long term ISA or investments. Anything risk free as we’re saving for our daughter.
- Genghis says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 06:20
  
  Note that over a long time period, cash is one of the riskiest asset classes as it’s almost certain to erode in value in real terms (post inflation). My son has a S&S JISA as he won’t be accessing the cash for another 16 years.
  - Vit says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 07:26
    
    👆 💯
  - The Savage Squirrel says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 07:41
    
    All true, but to be fair he gives a timeframe of “not long-term”; so he might well be saving for a fixed bill like her wedding in , say, 10 months time, in which case cash is the correct allocation.
    - Genghis says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 09:32
      
      True. I read it “not long term” as being related to an ISA product, not that timeframe was not long term. Anyway.
  - John Caribbean says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 08:03
    
    If it’s not too nosy, how adventurous have you been with the funds you’ve chosen?
    - Genghis says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 09:28
      
      Choosing a global fund is the only logical choice IMO.
      - Reney says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 10:33
        
        Ghenghis, a few days a go you suggested a few funds. Do you just invest in the same few repeatedly or do you suggest spreading investment out over many? I am guessing if you are striving for a particular allocation (geographic, industry etc) it is easier to just choose one or two and stick with it.
      - Genghis says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 10:41
        
        @Yener If you invest in a global fund, you only need one fund since it’s sufficiently diversified in itself. As your monies grow, consider spreading to different fund providers and brokers. My wife, son and I have different brokers and different accounts (pension, ISA, GIA, JISA) but each contains a global fund with some different providers.
      - Reney says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 13:05
        
        Thanks!
  - Chris Heyes says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:57
    
    Genghis I opened various CTF/ISAs over the years for each of my Grand Children
    (actually same same for my Children)
    Opened on their Birthday i pay in every month DD Plus Christmas, Birthdays, Easter send a cheque
    I use The Share Center and it all goes in Vod i carry on until each hits 18
    Simply because Vodafone as been good to me
    - Benilyn says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 11:42
      
      I don’t know quantum’s here but all in one name is crazy… the name you mentioned is one of my biggest single name holdings too so nothing against the name but not prudent IMO but don’t know financial situation etc….
      - Chris Heyes says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 13:01
        
        Benilyn I picked Vod 14 years ago, that’s when 1st Grandchild was born.
        I had planned on my strategy then of paying in monthly plus cheques other mentioned times.
        I needed a share that would pay dividends to grow but which was also very likely to survive until each Grandchild reached 18
        with a fair fund for them.
        The most important part was for me was that the company was still around and had potential for high dividend with possible growth in later years
        The cheaper it was for 17 years the more was bought
        After all its “ONLY” when you sell that the share price needs to be high
        Yes i could have used a fund, but a fund still needs to be monitored for various reasons
        A single “safe” (imo) share did not need the same monitoring
        That was my reasoning of my decision
        I watch Vod and if i thought anything was wrong that Vod couldn’t handle I would act
        I SHOULD ADD every time the share price goes down I’m happy
        so every world crisis is the best news for me, not the norm i agree
      - AndyGWP says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 19:49
        
        Crikey – it’s certainly a bold move!
        
        I’m not sure I could be so confident that any single stock is safe. Glad you didn’t go for “Phones4U” 🙂
    - Chris Heyes says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 20:41
      
      AndyGWP Bold Maybe But i remain just as sure
      Bytheway I also thought BT would be just as safe to survive but without the upside growth and dividends that Vod had/has.
      I think the way they are set up 6 months before each one reaches 18 they are sent a letter asking them what they want to do with it, before then they can’t touch it.
      But lets hope they are wise and not foolish by then ?
      But in any case will be up to each one of them.
      I Think first 3/4 Grandchildren had around £1000 added by the Government at opening and more 12/18 months but rest missed out. scheme alteration
- Yorkie Aid says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 08:25
  
  To answer the OP’s original question, Creation and Virgin cards work well in this scenario with no fees or other charges. A free bendy is all that is required.
  - Alan says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:57
    
    I thought the free version came with a 1.5% fee for curve fronting.
    
    Without fronting what’s the difference between using curve and just using the underlying card.
    - Memesweeper says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 10:41
      
      The underlying card will not be accepted.
@mkcol says:

3 Apr3 April 02:48

Will Air Transat survive now the merger/buyout with Air Canada is off?
ee says:

3 Apr3 April 04:07

Yesterday’s chat had some comments on M&S Bank and the closure of their current accounts/regular saver products.

I called a couple of weeks ago and asked if I was to close the regular saver now (but leave the Current Account open a bit longer) would I get the full years interest on the RS based on continuing max deposits. (The full years interest at 2.5% is roughly £45).

They confirmed yes, so I proceeded. A couple of days later the £1250 I had saved so far plus about £43 interest arrived in my current account.

Even though only £2 short I queried the interest calculation and they agreed that it needed to be sent back for manual recalculation (which is still pending at this point).

Probably petty to query over £2 but as this was the third “bank error in their favour” I’d had in the last 6 months (the other two on bonus point coupons) I wanted to have my voice heard!
- Anna says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 08:50
  
  Thanks – I think I’ll do the same now!
  - ee says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:21
    
    No probs – just realised I made a typo – the RS rate giving that interest was 2.75% not 2.5% as I said earlier.
    - Wally1976 says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 20:09
      
      Thanks for the info ee, very useful
John says:

3 Apr3 April 05:56

When calling to transfer from avios to nectar what questions are asked?

The accounts are already linked online but the details don’t match (as this was not required in the T&c).
- Roger* says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 07:44
  
  The unexpected one for me was the last 4 digits of the Nectar card. I could do the rest from memory
- Peter K says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 09:05
  
  You need the person who’s avios account the points are moving from to be there to give permission.
Mike says:

3 Apr3 April 06:28

When are they going to fix the avios to nectar online transfer – it has been down for ages – surely with BA introducing with great fanfare the tie up with Sainsbury’s and the ability to transfer avios to nectar I would have thought they would have sorted this before launch. I have circa 1.5 million avios I need to start transferring to nectar!!!
- Ian M says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 07:11
  
  You need to call to make the transfer (maximum 50k avios per month). Given BA’s history with IT, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for the online transfer service to return.
  - Peter K says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:10
    
    +1
    If you “need to start transferring” then you need to call. It was super quick to get through. It’s a dedicated phone line and didn’t sound crazy busy.
    Interestingly, I was told the maximum I was allowed to transfer and asked if I wanted to move the full amount. It seemed like that was the usual amount moved so the lady asked straight off the bat.
    - Andrew says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 09:44
      
      Agree, got through straight away to the dedicated line and were in my nectar account on the 5th working day, so quicker than the 10 working days quoted. Seems annoying and I hope they do fix it soon, but it does just take a couple of minutes on the phone.
  - kevbar says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:57
    
    Yes, very helpful via phone even though it is a pain. One guy I spoke to insisted Nectar were working on providing this, not BA, and the latest timeframe they had been told was ‘end of March’ 🙂
Michael C says:

3 Apr3 April 06:59

Couple of “if I take plunge for Amex Bus Plat 100k aviod” beginner’s Qs:
-what happens to the avios if part of my 10K spend = BA flights/hotels that are later refunded/trip isn’t taken?
-and can I refer myself from BAPP?

Thanks in advance, and Happy Green Traffic Lights to everyone!
- Ian M says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 07:17
  
  1. You don’t earn avios with the Amex charge cards, you earn membership reward points with which you can choose to transfer to Avios if you wish.
  
  2. Once the 100k bonus lands in your account it’s safe. If you have a purchase refunded, Amex will deduct the membership reward points for that purchase from balance. If you have already transferred the points out of Amex (for instance to BA avios), your Amex balance will become negative. Note you can close your account with a negative balance without problem but Amex may well make an internal note of this and consider it next time you apply for a card.
  
  3. You can try and refer yourself, but do you want a solid long term relationship with Amex or just take what you can in the short term and risk potential red flags on your account?
  - Genghis says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 07:31
    
    “ Once the 100k bonus lands in your account it’s safe.”
    
    If you refund the transaction that tipped you over the threshold to earn the SUB, IME the SUB is removed.
    - Ian M says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 07:55
      
      Ah I’ve not experienced that. In that case, simply ensure you’ve transferred the membership reward points out of Amex before the refund lands on the card. But do consider what kind of relationship you want to have with Amex long term
      - BJ says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 08:36
        
        No, definately not because if you do that and the SUB is reversed you end up in this case with a huge negative balance unless you have spent £100k+. Michael needs to ensure he transfers MR points out, cancels the card and only then allows the refunds to be made.
      - BJ says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 08:46
        
        To clarify..any net spend of £10k+ would be sufficient provided it was within the specified spend period for the SUB.
- Jonathan says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 08:15
  
  I really wouldn’t recommend self-referrals. Amex closed the accounts of everyone in the USA who had a history of this (even 3+ years previously).
  
  No reports of similar over here yet but I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if it happens at some point.
  - BJ says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 08:41
    
    +1, haven’t self-referred for about 2 years now. IMO anybody who has a problem getting friend or family referral should judt let Rob or Rhys have it for HfP.
    - Michael C says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 09:21
      
      Thanks BJ / everyone!
Dave says:

3 Apr3 April 08:43

Interesting that UAE will go from RED to GREEN skipping AMBER all together
- Anna says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 08:53
  
  Kind of proves there wasn’t much basis for having it as red in the first place! I should be at the IC Marina in Dubai today 😢 (Easter Plan B which also got cancelled), instead we have bought a fire pit so outdoor entertaining is feasible in the single digit temperatures we have here!
  - Navara says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 10:23
    
    If it goes to green that will just allow expats to come home without the hotel quarantine.
    Fire pit!! Thought you were a northerner
- Matthew says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 09:08
  
  When? I thought it’s still on the red list after latest review.
  - Anna says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:10
    
    Apparently BoJo is making some sort of announcement on Monday, bits of it seem to have been leaked to various media sources!
    - Andrew says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 09:50
      
      Indeed, nothing official yet, just media speculation, but looks likely which is good. Albeit by the time we could potentially travel in May, it’s the season to avoid the Middle East due to the high temperatures. And then late May will be Eid, also best avoided due to high hotel prices. So really it’s not a great deal of use until October probably. But of course helps for using EK for going further east.
- Rob says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 09:47
  
  It was purely for political reasons it went on Red. Vaccination rate is 3rd/4th highest in the world.
  - Andrew says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:52
    
    And because it’s a hub for travel – same with Qatar which is even more ridiculous as the country is closed to non-residents to enter anyway so is purely because of the hub airline activity and the melting pot of variants from around the world the airport can create.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 10:50
      
      Had nothing to do with being a hub for travel.
      
      Purely political as the papers were on about influencers (who in most cases earn their living from their influencing so it’s an allowable reason to travel)
      - Jonathan says:
        
        3 Apr3 April 12:45
        
        That’s a very valid reason IMHO. When people are being told to accept significant restrictions on their social activities & seeing family members etc. it’s insulting to see a load of “celebrities” living the high life in the sunshine. Their activities may not have directly moved the dial in terms of case numbers here but certainly led to a reduced compliance with restrictions in the U.K. same as Cummings and his Barnard Castle trip.
    - Rob says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 15:57
      
      As is Heathrow, but I don’t see transit flights being banned.
      
      It is simple enough for UK immigration to see where a passenger boarded an aircraft and quarantine those who started in, say, South Africa if they wish.
- kitten says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 11:12
  
  You’d think they’d make that politico-economic (and not health) decision less obvious. Oh, wait….
- Yuff says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 12:27
  
  I assume this is guessing what might happen.
  I should be going to Dubai on Thursday but have postponed until May half term but return is now via Doha, double trouble 🤭
  There is a possible cash alternative if I need to avoid Doha, I wanted to try suites as well but doesn’t look like it was on our DOH-LHR leg.
Bigmaggot says:

3 Apr3 April 08:54

Had creation a couple of statements now, how quickly do points/status post with IHG? Still waiting points from February and wondering if I need to chase customer services
- Yorkie Aid says:
  
  3 Apr3 April 08:57
  
  They normally post within a day or so of the statement. Only once have mine been delayed so definitely speak with CS.
  - Anna says:
    
    3 Apr3 April 09:09
    
    +1 – they might not have your IHG account number linked to the card so definitely contact them.
    - Bigmaggot says:
      
      3 Apr3 April 11:15
      
      Thanks both, will chase them. My IHG account number is correct when logging in online.