The HfP chat thread – Thursday 29th April

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

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.

Category

General

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

Optimus Prime says:

29 Apr29 April 12:38

Second time in two years that an Amex supp card is stolen and activated before we receive it…

I got an email about the mobile number for such card being updated. Immediately called Amex and while I was waiting a £3560 charged popped up.
- Genghis says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 12:46
  
  Don’t you have to enter the primary card holder’s DOB? So person stealing the card also has this info?
  - Optimus Prime says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 12:54
    
    Can’t remember, it’s been long since I last activated a supp. Will pay attention when replacement arrives.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 12:54
    
    not when registering on an existing account.
    
    it does ask for a DOB or memorable date as security information
- Andrew says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 12:47
  
  The crooks sound very organised.
- A says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 13:37
  
  I have had eight replacement PIN codes from amex just not arrive. They keep re-sending, not arriving – something is definitely amiss. Cards arriving fine.
  - Chas says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 14:57
    
    If you add the card to your online account you can see the PIN there, so no need to wait for the PIN to arrive through the post. Once you’ve seen what it is, you can then go straight to the ATM to change it. I did this only last week for my wife’s new card, and the PIN eventually arrived a week after the card.
Youllnever says:

29 Apr29 April 13:21

For any iOS users out there, the new Amex app update today includes support for dark mode. It isn’t pitch black but rather dark blue, but still better than nothing.
- Lady London says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 18:28
  
  Kindle app on Android just updated to use dark mode too anytime your Android phone is set to darkk mode.
SM says:

29 Apr29 April 13:21

Quick question, planning to use 175£ Amex Plat credit towards buying an Apple Watch, however, neither Selfridges or Harvey Nichols sell them online, wondering if I bought 175£ worth of JL gift card at Waitrose would that trigger the credit from Amex? Thanks.
- Rob says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 13:35
  
  Works fine – no-one has ever said otherwise with Waitrose.
  - SM says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 13:45
    
    Thanks.
- James says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 13:40
  
  Yes. Used mine this way.
- A says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 16:10
  
  Used multiple credits this way and always worked fine for me.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 22:49
    
    My fav way was JL price match as the resulting refund posted as a separate transaction that didn’t affect the cash back
Peter K says:

29 Apr29 April 13:26

Not seen this already but just had an email from curve updating their terms of service:

As we continue to grow and introduce new features, our Terms need to grow and change too. So we’re writing to let you know that we’re making some changes to our UK Terms of Service.

We’re asking you to keep the Curve app up to date. We make important information available to you via the Curve app, and the security of the app depends on it being up to date, so it’s important that you update it as soon as updates become available.

We’ve clarified the wording of Curve Cash. There have been no changes to the way Curve Cash works. We’ve just made it easier for you to understand what it is and how it works, including in relation to our new Curve Rewards feature.

Minimum subscription periods. We’re introducing minimum subscription periods to our paid subscriptions, Black and Metal. If you upgrade from Blue to Black or Metal and you choose to pay monthly, your minimum subscription period will be 6 months. If you choose to pay annually, your minimum subscription period will be 12 months.

If you’re an existing Black or Metal subscriber, the minimum subscription periods won’t apply, as long as you continue on your existing subscription.

We’ve scrapped our downgrade fee. Because we’ve introduced minimum subscription periods, we no longer charge you a fee to downgrade from Black or Metal to Blue.

Violation of our Fair Use Policy. We’ve included violation of our Fair Use Policy as one of the express reasons why we might immediately suspend or close your Curve account. While this has always been the case, we wanted to make it clearer.

The changes outlined above won’t apply until 60 days from the date of this email.

What do I need to do now?
If you don’t tell us otherwise within 60 days of the date of this email, we’ll simply assume you accept and are happy with the changes we’ve made.

If you’re unhappy with the changes we’ve made, you can close your account before the changes come into effect (and there’s no fee for doing so). Please get in touch and we’ll take it from there.
- JonD says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 13:53
  
  A pointed mention of the sanctions regarding violation of their Fair Use policy…
  - Peter K says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 14:07
    
    That is what I picked up on most as well.
    - Raveon says:
      
      29 Apr29 April 14:30
      
      60 days to fill your boots then! After that, need to play more carefully!
      - Anna says:
        
        29 Apr29 April 15:58
        
        The fair use policy hasn’t changed, they are just drawing attention to it. I read this as it being already in force.
  - Andy says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 15:25
    
    I actually didn’t realise some of the things in their policy were forbidden until I just read it!
    - Polly says:
      
      29 Apr29 April 15:48
      
      You didn’t? Often discussed under cover on here!
Graeme says:

29 Apr29 April 13:28

Amex referrals, would I be pushing it with Amex to get 2 x referrals / cards in short period of time from my partner before the deadline in mid-May for the extra MR points from her PRG? Thinking PRG and Marriott cards. I’ve not had PRG for 6 months and 1 long term BA free card.
- Rob says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 13:33
  
  As long as you’re not planning to apply for a mortgage or loan in the next 6 months, no harm in trying.
  - Graeme says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 14:58
    
    Thanks everyone, no concerns with mortgage, loan or credit searches, more to do with Amex seeing 2 new applications in 2 weeks.
- Benilyn says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 13:34
  
  it is fine
- Jimbob says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 14:10
  
  None of my recent amex applications have left a hard search on any of my credit reference reports.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 22:49
    
    While it does t leave a hard search it does. Flag up as a new credit product in your accounts.
Steven says:

29 Apr29 April 13:48

Thanks AJA. I’ll give it a try.
MCO says:

29 Apr29 April 13:50

Is there anyway to use a cash FTV to pay taxes on an award?
- Anna says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 15:59
  
  I’ve done this but it was 12 months ago so the policy might have changed. I had to book an award flight & pay the cash element, then email BA with my FTV details and they refunded the amount of the FTV back to my Amex.
  - MCO says:
    
    29 Apr29 April 18:54
    
    Thanks!
r* says:

29 Apr29 April 13:53

BA have cancelled my outbound and inbound short haul flights on same pnr, but moved the return flight to a different day so theres no outbound. I called BA to tell them I wouldnt be taking the return as theres no outbound and Id reschedule them at a later day.

BA rep says thats fine and nothing needs to be done as if the outbound is cancelled, the inbound wouldnt be flagged as a no show.. anyone know if thats true? 🙂
- ChrisC says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 14:11
  
  Yes that’s correct
- Anna says:
  
  29 Apr29 April 16:01
  
  This has happened to me and I was told the same, the inbound actually dropped off my account after a few weeks.