The HfP chat thread – Sunday 13th June

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Maximus says:

13 Jun13 June 11:19

So thanks to everyone who commented on my self-assessment question a couple of days ago. Now wondering what the best way of paying HMRC (without Bendy metal) is? Would the Solihull -> Che route work?
- SteveJ says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 14:38
  
  If you’re doing that may as well go Solihull, via Bendy, to Ernie, to current acc, to HMRC. Don’t do it too often as will upset Ernie. Need to leave funds with Ernie for at least 8 days.
  - MJ says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 18:26
    
    Interesting idea. But which one was Ernie again?
  - Genghis says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 20:08
    
    Though the two events are not mutually exclusive.
Louie says:

13 Jun13 June 11:34

Not doing too well with Amex at the moment.

No sign of the bonus points for adding a (first) supplementary cardholder on the AERRC/rewards card. Anyone else having this issue?

Also, new Marriott card, first statement issued 5 June. No sign of the points in my Marriott account. I’ve checked the Marriott account number on the statement and it is correct. How long does it usually take for the points to reach Marriott?
- Harry T says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 12:10
  
  There was a targeted offer for adding a supp card on the ARCC but there isn’t normally a bonus for adding a supp – double check if you can still get that before you chase.
  
  Bonvoy points will go across but it’s not necessarily related to your statement date.
- NP says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 17:16
  
  There was a targeted offer on my rewards card recently, 2000 points for adding a supp. Credited quickly.
GERRY says:

13 Jun13 June 13:16

Can anyone recommend decent IHG hotel close to london with a spa ?
Booker1989 says:

13 Jun13 June 13:50

Just been to local cafe for Brunch, shown on Amex Shpp small ” Sorry we dont take Amex”
- the_real_a says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 14:00
  
  Google pay. Smile dont ask 🙂
- AJA says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 14:03
  
  Did they have the Amex logo displayed on or near the door or on the menu or credit card folder that they usually present the bill in? I always check and if they don’t I expect a negative answer to the question “Do you accept Amex?” If they did then you might have a case. Otherwise just chalk it up to experience.
  - RussellH says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 16:25
    
    For some strange reason several places round here that do work on Shop Small have no card scheme stickers anywhere on the premises.
    This time around my dentist has appeared on the Shop Small map, so I told them yesterday when making an appointment “that I understood that they now take Amex”, as they used to have big hand made notices in the waiting room – “Sorry, we do not take Amex”.
    Receptionist said that she would check before my appt.
    I shall try it and see!
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 14:27
  
  Don’t ask them. Just insert your Amex in card slot and you’ll be surprised how many shops it works.
  - Laura says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 15:06
    
    Local pub “no, we don’t take Amex”.
    
    Me “that’s funny, I used it in here yesterday”.
    
    Weirdly, I’ve found in some places that Amex doesn’t work for contactless but it does for chip and pin
    - Tarmohamed says:
      
      13 Jun13 June 16:02
      
      I always attempt via contacless even if they say they dont accept Amex. Usually goes through. Yes sometimes contactless on the physical card doesnt work but when you insert it, it does
- Booker1989 says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 20:08
  
  No card just wouldnt go through touch pay or other wise
Steve says:

13 Jun13 June 13:59

It looks like a lot of USUK flights on AA/BA in July+August (and maybe beyond?) got cancelled today. At least on the routes I’m flying they’ve roughly gone down from 7 flights to 3 per day.
- ChrisC says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 14:17
  
  Ugh.
  
  Have just checked the AA app and noticed some of my flights for early September have changed but no notification from BA Hols yet
  
  Will give it a couple of days and see what flights are running to see if I can reconstruct my trip. I really want to try and keep it as absent a CDG deal these were briliantly priced flights for SFO!
  
  Not much opportunity for date changes since I’m almost at the 1 year since booking limit.
  
  Anyone got experience of pushing that with BA Holidays?
  - rimmertown says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 14:48
    
    Sounds ominous, love SFO.
  - Rimmingtown says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 16:58
    
    just write it off to experience fella.
    - ChrisC says:
      
      13 Jun13 June 17:13
      
      Well that’s a very useful response – not.
      - Rimmingtown says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 17:20
        
        Always happy to help 🙂
- Phatbear says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 14:39
  
  My aa booked ba flight to NYC on 07/09 are still there annoyingly as want them to cancel it so i can get a refund
Tom says:

13 Jun13 June 15:26

Anyone have any experience of driving the so called ‘NE250’ circular driving route starting in Aberdeen? Looking for an impromptu trip for 4ish days next week. (Not interested in Gibraltar and don’t want to bother with Covid tests etc).
Any recommendations gratefully received!
- Numpty says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 16:20
  
  Argyl n Bute and Kintyre Peninsula. Lochgoilhead, Loch Fyne, Inveraray, Oban and ferry to Gigha to eat at Boathouse. Only works if u like seafood and stunning lochs.
  - Tom says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 17:04
    
    Thanks Numpty, although its not the NE250, it looks like a fantastic road trip. I just planned it in your suggested order in google maps and it looks like a great trip. Plenty of availability to GLA too. Might well do this instead!
    PS, I do like seafood and stunning lochs. Certainly more than I like covid tests and passenger locator forms!
    - Numpty says:
      
      13 Jun13 June 18:10
      
      I did it a few weeks ago, stayed at Drimsynie Estate, and did it as day trips. I wanted to do a run to Campbeltown on final day and then get ferry, but ferry timetable was a mess back then.
      
      Samphire seafood in Inveraray was pricey but worth it. Sitting outside at the Loch Fyne Oyster restaurant was great too. Duck Bay at Loch Lomond too.
    - Numpty says:
      
      13 Jun13 June 18:14
      
      After I got back they launched The Kintyre 66!
      - Jill ( Kinkell) says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 19:03
        
        We had afternoon tea at The Torridon hotel on Friday. We drove a very circuitous route from our Highland home that included bit’s of the NC500. We passed 99 motor homes/caravans/campervans enroute, not including the ~ 30 or so in a trailer park at Kinlochewe. ( yes… I was counting! ) . Enjoy the trip
      - Tom says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 19:07
        
        Thanks Numpty and Jill, much appreciated
Anna says:

13 Jun13 June 15:32

Hilton website seems to be back to normal.
The new Hampton (opening tomorrow) looks extremely convenient and very nice indeed for the price – £56 or 21k points per night for a King or twin room on a weekend in July!
- Anna says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 15:32
  
  *High Wycombe!
- SteveJ says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 16:06
  
  Not sure what there is to do in High Wycombe itself for a weekend! Unless you plan on driving around the Chilterns, in which case it’s good base.
  - Anna says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 16:30
    
    Lots of places to visit in the general area – need to get my money’s worth out of my newly re-joined NT membership!
    - Tracey says:
      
      13 Jun13 June 16:45
      
      Hope you joined the overseas branch of NT rather than here. There was a thread on MSE about this, I think New Zealand was the cheapest that was open to overseas membership.
      - Anna says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 16:58
        
        No, though we did join the Scottish one one year! I don’t begrudge paying the English price this year when we’ve hardly spent any money on days out over the past 12 months.
        
        I just saw Rob’s post about Smeg kettles in the Hampton rooms – there was a Smeg fridge in the artist’s impression room pictures on the website but I thought it was just someone getting carried away on a computer!
      - Rob says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 17:16
        
        No, see our Hampton Ealing review!
      - Sam G says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 16:59
        
        Any idea how this works though? Does NZ have to pay England when we visit ? I’m uncomfortable with the idea that the NT somehow loses out, if they aren’t funded then the sites won’t exist for us to go to !
      - Eugene says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 19:50
        
        Given lack of free parking with those options I went via KwidKo £16 sign up discount plus 2pct for NT plus free pair of bingos for direct debit. Think that trumps NZ or Malta..
    - The cyclist says:
      
      13 Jun13 June 16:47
      
      There’s a John Lewis next door, and tons of great countryside boozers, in fact the late Dame Barbara Windsor was the landlady of one in nearby Winchmore Hill.
      - Magic Mike says:
        
        13 Jun13 June 23:05
        
        I had to look up where it is, it is on the sports centre site, right? In which case it is Waitrose next door not JL and I hope you love the roar of the M40….
        
        Having said that the location is good for getting the hell out of Wycombe as quickly as possible…
Matt says:

13 Jun13 June 16:20

5000 MR for first platinum supplementary- the small print suggests this is a one time offer. Any real world experience of getting it a second time after a 2 year churn?
- Anna says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 16:29
  
  Worked for us recently.
  - Matt says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 18:49
    
    Thanks Anna.
- Andrew says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 16:57
  
  What’s the link for this?
  - Anna says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 16:59
    
    There’s an option in your Platinum account in one of the drop down boxes.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 19:22
  
  One time per platinum account not one time per person/lifetime.
  - Matt says:
    
    13 Jun13 June 20:44
    
    Thanks TGL. That’s what I was hoping as more interested in the MR than the actual card.
- Charlieface says:
  
  13 Jun13 June 23:41
  
  Once per account, public offer
  https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/benefits/supplementary-cards/