The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 30th June

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C says:

30 Jun30 June 11:27

Apologies if I missed it somewhere, but my most recent IHG Creation Black card did not award 2x points for overseas spend (some online payments in the US). Has this benefit been dropped?
- Doug M says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 12:13
  
  Isn’t this about 4x for overseas spend, not other non-GBP spend. So on-line non-GBP is not overseas spend.
  - C says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 14:13
    
    The vendor is in the US, billed in USD, and has no non-US presence. Historically I have received 4x points for these purchases (indeed, for purchases with far more tenuous overseas linkages).
Clive says:

30 Jun30 June 11:35

Rob can we expect something soon regarding the Amex Bonvoy?
- Rob says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 11:49
  
  Possibly ….!
  - YC says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 14:15
    
    Is it advisable to cancel the card now and take it up again later? Or just hold?
    - Jonathan says:
      
      30 Jun30 June 14:33
      
      Any sign up bonuses will need way more than a couple of months break so just wait & see. Changes could be worse for you eg. Remove 15 nights credit & give Gold.
    - Rob says:
      
      30 Jun30 June 15:33
      
      Wait and see ….
Super Secret Stuff says:

30 Jun30 June 11:40

A (mostly) comprehensive and sickening report into the treatment of disabled people during Covid from BBC News. Well worth a read…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57652173

Although note it doesn’t get onto things like how the general public have treated those that are exempt and a few other topics but overall very good piece of research. Wish they would release the full data set
- mutley says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 14:30
  
  SSS, Interesting read, when the DNAR scandal broke earlier in the year, I was so angry about this that I wrote to my local MP (Daisy Cooper Lib Dem) who was kind enough to reply, she has tabled some questions to the secretary of State for Health and Social Care to confirm whether any blanket DNAR notices remain in place and what progress he’s made in reviewing this practice with a view to ending it. It goes to the heart of what sort of society we want to live in.
  - Jonathan says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 14:42
    
    As a doctor the DNAR issue is overblown. It’s not a Do Not Treat order just a statement that if you are so ill that you have a cardiac arrest they won’t start CPR.
    
    Outcome statistics are awful for in hospital cardiac arrest unless you’re a child or it’s predictable (eg. You’re in hospital for treatment for a cardiac arrhythmia). It’s less than 10% but if you remove the above 2 groups then way below that. CPR is also not a pleasant process. I’d have no issue with being given a DNAR if I was unwell enough that cardiac arrest was a possibility. The ship has long since sailed by the time you reach that stage.
    
    Clearly there’s an issue with communication & next of kin should always be informed but it’s a million miles away from euthanasia.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      30 Jun30 June 16:17
      
      @ mutley it is at the core of what society we want to live in, unfortunately disabled people have and continue to be at the bottom of the pile for a variety of reasons. Disgusting behavior by the government but unsurprising. They find it easier to ignore the problems and delay them than actually deal with it. I am not too familiar with the DNAR scandal but I do think that too is out of order. Unless you do not have the capacity or family to make the decision for you if you are unable too, you have the right to decide
      
      @Jonathan in the nicest possible way, I interpret what you have just said as “people with severe health situations cant live a happy life”, which is totally wrong. Many people have and do live happy lives
      - Jonathan says:
        
        30 Jun30 June 16:35
        
        That’s not what I’m saying at all. You get full treatment until you have a cardiac arrest. If you have a cardiac arrest in hospital you’re already dead. If your one of the minority who they are successful in getting the heart beating again & you survive then you won’t be living a happy life. It’s not like on the television where a quick zap & your back.
        
        You are at least twice as likely to survive a cardiac arrest at home/in the street as you are in hospital as it’s much more likely to be caused by something treatable ie. an MI causing an arrhythmia (for which defibrillation works).
        
        In hospital it’s invariably the end of the line of whatever has put you there (sepsis, Covid etc) & you’re dead. Defibrillation doesn’t work when the heart is doing nothing (asystole – flat line) or PEA where the electrical stimulus to the heart is normal but the heart itself has given up.
        
        Talk to people involved in hospital resus teams & they will all tell you they’d accept a DNAR.
      - Jonathan says:
        
        30 Jun30 June 16:38
        
        For the record, I’m not denying people with disabilities or chronic health conditions have worse outcomes, opportunities or support in healthcare & other areas but the DNAR thing is a red herring.
      - The Savage Squirrel says:
        
        30 Jun30 June 19:49
        
        “@Jonathan in the nicest possible way, I interpret what you have just said as “people with severe health situations cant live a happy life””
        
        I can only assume you didn’t read what he wrote.
        Jonathan is quite correct. If you are already in hospital, which means you have been assessed, your health is being monitored, and are under active treatment for whatever ails you, yet you still have a cardiac arrest, it’s almost certainly because it is the end. You are dying. Now. You can either slip away now, or have your chest smashed in for a chance of a few more wretched days that you won’t even know about.
        The DNAR scandal IS to me scandalous, but the scandal is a wider one. It is a symptom of how poor hospital communication with relatives often is. If you want to make an argument that hospital communication with relatives about the status and prognosis of their poorly relative is abysmal then I’ll fully agree with you – sadly.. If you want to argue that it’s involountary euthanasia of those deemed unsuitable for life then you’re wrong.
Anna says:

30 Jun30 June 11:44

Gibraltar seems to have removed the option to provide proof of recovery from COVID from its entry requirements, it’s starting to get too complicated as a viable destination tbh! It was definitely there when we booked and when Rob went.
- Rimmingtown says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 13:51
  
  Or more likely, you have realised its a bit shit there and there are better options out there.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 13:53
  
  I believe you are mis-remembering, wherever you read that – it was not for Gibraltar. The Gibraltar entry requirements are the same as when Rob went – test before departure or upload vaccine cert, and free test on arrival.
  - Anna says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 14:42
    
    No, proof of recovery was definitely an option, I have the screenshot! There’s an explanation now on the Visit Gibraltar website that they’re worried that someone could recover then become re-infected with a new variant.
    
    Rimmingtown – actually there aren’t any better options unless more places go on the green list or the quarantine requirement is removed for vaccinated adults & their kids!
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      30 Jun30 June 15:45
      
      They’ve fully vaccinated their whole adult population ( that wants one) and the daily workers from Spain
      
      Wtf are they worrying about!
ATP says:

30 Jun30 June 11:50

Charged 575 renewal for Personal Plat yesterday. Rang 2x in last 2 months looking for retention offer and nothing. Rang day after renewal and 50k points. Highest I’ve ever been offered (seen posts for 75k retention but my spending is quite low ~3k/month) so perhaps worth a try for those with renewals coming up!
- HeadingForNoPoints says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 13:02
  
  When was your last batch of points?
- Chas says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 14:03
  
  I had that too – rung several times over a few months ahead of renewal and nothing was forthcoming (last retention offer was cMay 2020 when I got either 25k or 35k). Rang last week and was given 50k immediately.
  - ATP says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 21:16
    
    Same as me Chas, was offered the same amount cMay 2020. 50k offered no qualms this time.
Tiger says:

30 Jun30 June 12:24

O/T We moved to a new home recently and we need leads for someone who can do the blinds and curtains for the whole house. Any leads are welcome and gratefully received.
Thanks.
- Tiger says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 12:40
  
  I should add that I am not looking to break the bank over blinds and curtains, so please suggest something reasonable and value for money. Thanks.
  - Andrew says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 12:57
    
    You’ve essentially got a choice to either go for local independent or a national franchise.
    
    I’d tend to go for the former if it’s a whole house, but where you live matters for recommendations…
  - Chris Heyes says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 14:15
    
    Tiger cheap and cheerful plenty around Manchester area ?
    National chains dearer make sure you get 3/4 quotes and play them against each other when they ask you how much you have to spend “Don’t tell them”
    Two in Blackburn are ok
    My Daughter new 4 bedded house lounge. dinning ,kitchen, bathroom, utility, patio-doors. toilet down-stairs, on-suite every window in house lol
    She used Hiliary’s Blinds, for what she picked they wanted £4000
    But she got them down to £2100 after a lot of neg.
    she did have a cheaper quote off another comp saving £150
    But settled at the £2100 Because she liked the quality and style
    They also agreed to take AMEX but not on the deposit
    I paid using my card, I was in Blackburn overseeing
    I can tell you 3/4 years later they are still as happy with them
    and the fitters did an excellent JOB (I was there)
    - Doommonger says:
      
      30 Jun30 June 14:22
      
      My stepmother was called Hilary, she left me £500 in her will, which was nice….. until I found out that she was worth £857K. She didn’t live in Blackburn (who would want to) not that it’s relevant.
      
      The Doomster
  - BP says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 17:27
    
    Local independent but shop around. Massive variations in the price – usually the ones with flashy marketing cost more!
    - Magic Mike says:
      
      30 Jun30 June 20:18
      
      Holy cow, last blind I bought from Dunelm was £30. Their curtains are quite reasonable too.
- Louise K says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 23:40
  
  If you can measure yourself, I’d recommend blinds2go / Tuiss.
  
  Very very reasonable and branded fabrics.
thehornets says:

30 Jun30 June 12:43

Is anyone struggling to top up Revo with Creation today? Managed a small top up (£700) but a larger one (>2k) was rejected, although this has never been a problem in the past?
- Reney says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 13:41
  
  see earlier in the chat about my experience with 2FA
  - Reney says:
    
    30 Jun30 June 13:55
    
    on page 3
    - thehornets says:
      
      30 Jun30 June 14:13
      
      Thanks! Just trying to fix it now 👍
      - Reney says:
        
        30 Jun30 June 15:33
        
        How are you fixing it? I normally just wait it out…
      - thehornets says:
        
        30 Jun30 June 17:04
        
        Short answer: I’m not able to fix it. I received a new card today which I thought would work (it didn’t). Then I added the new 2FA number on the website which I thought would work (it didn’t). So I’m now just going to have to be patient.
TGLoyalty says:

30 Jun30 June 12:56

For those having issues with creation have you noticed they are asking you to set up a 5 digit pin on the app? Probably a prompt somewhere online too.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 12:56
  
  On website not online*
- ankomonkey says:
  
  30 Jun30 June 13:54
  
  Yes, was prompted for this on the website yesterday.