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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 22nd April

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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.

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General

Comments (279)

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

  • Jimbob says:
    22 Apr22 April 09:29

    My switch to Octopus went very smoothly, 2 weeks to switch and then today, a week later, I’ve received my £50 credit.

    Just waiting to switch to Octopus Agile, for when the EV arrives.

    https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/hfp/octopus-energy-50-referral/ for anyone looking for a £50 sign up bonus with Octopus

  • The Lord says:
    22 Apr22 April 09:45

    Anyone with experience using Wynn Slots and myVegas app? Wondering how much time needs to be invested to get to a point where the prizes are actually worth iit

    • stevenhp1987 says:
      22 Apr22 April 09:45

      Check out the Vegas threads over on MSE.

      Plenty of people have been discussing myVegas over the years.

    • Mart says:
      22 Apr22 April 09:51

      Wynn slots has been constantly changing for the worse,but basically you need to pay £200 for 2 nights which may work for you.Under the old rules I had 8 nights for August 2020 booked for free but there has been multiple changes since then.

    • Travel Strong says:
      22 Apr22 April 10:35

      Discussed on Tuesdays chat thread (use link at top of page to access old chat threads).
      Wynnslots = months of autospinning plus £200+ spend to get be able to book 2 night blocks with nominal value of $600 per 2 night block. There is real value but do not underestimate the screen time required!
      MyVegas is good in vegas if you want to stay and spend in MGM properties but personally I think everyone can do better than that 🙂

    • MattB says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:16

      My Vegas used to be excellent, really easy to get free buffets, shows and rooms but as with everything the benefits erode and are made harder to use.

      We used to hammer the NYNY NFIM credit between us, genuinely could get almost $200 free credit towards food and drink with no restrictions. Went even further in happy hour

      • Sean says:
        22 Apr22 April 12:13

        As one of the original Beta testers for My Vegas I can confirm the opening offers were excellent – have seen most of the cirque shows for free and a couple twice, lots of free rooms, freeplay and food and drink (NFI and duelling pianos drink credit). I still have the benefit of being able to use 6 “premium rewards” each month – (although haven’t been for nearly 2 years now) and even with that I’m struggling to use up my 2millions points i have left.

  • stevenhp1987 says:
    22 Apr22 April 09:50

    News piece over on MSE about Nectar changing their app offer system.

    It seems they’ve removed all reference to weekly offers off their website/app.

    I have 0 offers today – I normally have 6 every Thursday (that I rarely use as I don’t often shop at Sainbury’s!).

    • Sam says:
      22 Apr22 April 10:09

      For the last two weeks, I’ve had spend more than £100 and get 2000 points. None of the normal offers

    • TGLoyalty says:
      22 Apr22 April 10:14

      I’ve had 0 offers for a couple weeks so they have had 0 money

      back to Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose I go (10% off GCs to burn anyway plus an extra 10% off M’s)

    • CH says:
      22 Apr22 April 10:15

      Oh no. Guess this explains the reports on here about missing offers for the past week or two. I guess I’m going back to Aldi for my shopping soon.

    • MD says:
      22 Apr22 April 10:53

      Oh dear. Explains my zero offers the last 2 weeks then.

      Super Secret Sainsbury’s Squirrel Stuff will be gutted. 🙂 (sorry, can never remember which of you is the Sainsbury’s evangelist…)

      Back to my old combination of Tesco and Waitrose then. I was gutted when BA went with Sainsbury’s tbh, really wish they’d picked Waitrose.

    • Scott says:
      22 Apr22 April 10:58

      My mother got 18 offers today ranging from 10-60 points.
      A couple went up, the rest much the same.

    • Patrick Cold says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:23

      Sainsburys/Nectar simply not worth it on value/quality grounds in my opinion. I have used the credit card and insurance offers and will now revert back to the combination of Aldi, Tesco and Waitrose which served me well in the past.

    • Scott says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:51

      What’s the easiest way of cancelling say pet insurance (ideally without speaking to anyone)?

      I’m mostly using Sainsbury for my bonus points offers, so as long as they keep them coming, I’ll use some or all.
      Handily, I have Tesco and Asda within a few 100m, do can use all 3 if need be with no much effort.

    • APB says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:52

      I’m not surprised really – they must be paying out Avios right, left and centre. Despite what some say we’ve found it lucrative – I reckon in the first 3 months (not including the initial conversion offer) we’ve doubled our Avios from shopping and fuel for minimal effort.

    • yorkieflyer says:
      22 Apr22 April 12:20

      au contraire, I have weekly offers today

      • IanM says:
        22 Apr22 April 13:18

        Been getting my weekly offers as usual

      • AJA says:
        22 Apr22 April 14:25

        I got 16 bonus offers yesterday which is only slightly fewer than I have been getting but this week I had 2 individual products with 180 and 200 bonus points, the rest were for 10 or 20 points. Still decent enough.

        • MD says:
          22 Apr22 April 16:15

          Lucky you AJA! I’ve now seen quite a few people on other sites saying they’re still getting their normal offers, and even that MSE news article says Sainsbury’s have admitted it has removed offers from ‘some’ people.

          Makes it even easier to leave Sainsbury’s if they’re discriminating against me/some others, but still offering loads to other people as before. What a bizarre way to manage a program which is supposed to generate loyalty.

    • Andy says:
      22 Apr22 April 15:05

      I had a handful of points offers made available for specific items yesterday. Not enough to make me go out of my way to shop there, but they were offers neverthless.

    • Jay-Marc says:
      22 Apr22 April 16:01

      They rested the weekly item-specific offers for a couple of months last year although that might have been driven by covid restrictions. As well as a 400 point for £20 spend offer I got a scratch card on the app for a purchase today.

      • GenX says:
        22 Apr22 April 16:55

        Nectar bonus point offers are still on my app but the amounts have dropped significantly to 10 or 20 points per item.

  • AviosNewbie says:
    22 Apr22 April 10:26

    Does anyone bank with Santander? They’ve been asking me for a lot of information & documentation that I frankly do not wish to share. Employment records, 3-month statements from other banks, previous employment salary slips, etc. This is my 3rd current account, and not my main account. I don’t even have their credit card and haven’t used Santander for any MS – it is just an extra account, so I am not sure what’s going on. I also have premier banking with HSBC, Citi & Barclays and nobody has gone through such level of info checks. Anyone else with the same experience? I will probably just close the account and move on, but anyone knows if they’ll put some mark on the credit file that I didn’t give them the info? Or is it safe to just call them and say goodbye

    • TGLoyalty says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:05

      I’d just transfer the account away if there are any offers or close it.

      Sounds like a way of getting you to close your account if you aren’t using it tbh

    • Doug M says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:12

      Why not ask them why they want the information. I you don’t like what they say offer that you’ll move elsewhere. If it’s a backup account just go for the best offer with a bank you don’t already use.

    • Chris Heyes says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:30

      AviosNewbie I’m afraid yes if they have asked you to supply them with info they have requested and you don’t it will be recorded one way or another.
      If you want to make absolutely sure it doesn’t go on your credit file give them a ring for an explanation
      If you close the account whilst you “maybe” under suspicion is not a good idea
      Ringing them is the best way to resolve any wrong perceptions of you they may have

      • Sam G says:
        22 Apr22 April 12:19

        Agree – they may put a CIFAS marker on which will cause you problems in the future

    • Andrew says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:55

      Give them a call directly using a published number to verify it’s a genuine request first to show engagement.

      There may be a reason behind it. You could be getting cloned! When did you last check your credit reports with Experian or Clearscore (Equifax)?

      • Phil says:
        22 Apr22 April 17:39

        Clearscore is not Equifax and remains independent backed by PE investment. Experian did try and buy it but the CMA put the kibosh on that.

    • kitten says:
      22 Apr22 April 13:34

      Can you let us know what is their excuse when you call them? Their requests for an existing account holder seem well over the top. Even for a new account, if they asked all that for someone who is eatablished in the UK already with other bank accounts I’d think they were pushing it.

  • YC says:
    22 Apr22 April 10:59

    Anyone willing to share their Addison Lee referral code? (if there is one)

  • @mkcol says:
    22 Apr22 April 11:43

    Mum used to use Azimo for money transfers, mainly to Norway, however they currently can’t serve that market.
    I’ve used my Starling account on her behalf but am wondering if there are any other reliable & good value services similar to Azimo she could use, or if it’s best to stick to Starling?

    We’re looking at maybe £5000/year.

    • Dubious says:
      22 Apr22 April 11:58

      I recommend Wise (formerly Transferwise) – I don’t know how their rates for GBP/NOK compare but they’ve been competitive for other markets.

      They are also upfront about the fx rate and fees – and you can agree a rate and then cancel/re-book if the market changes before you send them your funds…

  • bill says:
    22 Apr22 April 11:55

    I’ve had an Avios flight reservation cancelled. The reservation was made on BA.com. The refund was requested on BA.com. It looks like the £0.50 has been credited to my credit card accurately but the Avios redeposit isn’t correct. How do I get it resolved ?

    • @mkcol says:
      22 Apr22 April 12:01

      Contact BA

      • bill says:
        22 Apr22 April 12:04

        spent 30 mins waiting to be answered on the phone to 0344 493 0787
        I’ll use the customer relations form

        • Lady London says:
          22 Apr22 April 13:38

          Call. Do your knitting with the speakerphone on while you’re in the call queue.

          IME customer relations forms fall into a black hole.

          Call them if you want it sorted.

          • Genghis says:
            22 Apr22 April 13:50

            We filled in a BA form the other day. Response received next day with request actioned.

  • Andrew says:
    22 Apr22 April 11:59

    For those who enjoy a bit of PAW, they’ve brought back Merlin for Instore – so a 10% funds return at Thorpe Park, Chessington, Legoland Windsor, Warwick Castle and Alton Towers.

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