The HfP chat thread – Friday 1st October

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• Swiss Jim says:

  1 Oct1 October 08:47

  Given all this talk about Curve. Has anyone who had a £9k daily limit but which was reduced to £2k managed to get it increased back again? Anyone been bold enough to ask? My entire £2k is MS …

  • Rui N. says:

    1 Oct1 October 08:56

    Yes, I did that in early August, when my card was renewed. Was reduced from £4.5k to £2k, I asked for it to come back to where it was. They asked for a payslip and current bank account statement showing how I paid the credit card (I blocked almost everything else, including money in from Ernie). They accepted this and increased my daily limit to £9k, which I never had before. But hey, I made good use of it before Creation blocked Curve!

• Alex says:

  1 Oct1 October 08:50

  Seems like some may have gotten an extra quarter of mileage protection out of the M&M CornerUK credit card. The 1 mile posting in September looks to have extended the expiration deadline for my first lot to expire to 31/03/2022 instead of Dec 31 this year. Here’s hoping for another similar posting this quarter…

  • NFH says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:19

    I’m seeing the same. Thanks. But Cornèrcard will be launching a new card in early Q4.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:38

      Do you have some info regarding Q4 launch?

      Rob thinks any card launch is unlikely.

      • Algor says:

        1 Oct1 October 10:13

        I just burned my miles 3 days ago on suboptimal flights with a prospect of the hard expiry …

        It’s part of the game, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. In June last year I checkened out with Virgin miles, clearly need to play more risky.

• Keely says:

  1 Oct1 October 08:51

  Morning all ….way off topic here but wondered if any of you canny people have a hybrid car? In the market (annoyingly) for a new car, looking to buy something around 4 years old and cautiously considering the Kia Nero. I know the obvious advantages but any disadvantages or downsides to hybrids ? The obvious one being the battery failing but I don’t know how likely this is ….I don’t know anyone that has a hybrid car and I’d really like to get real life reviews and not salesman patter….

  • Zoe says:

    1 Oct1 October 08:56

    Kia niro was known for their engine to go on fire

    • Keely says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:02

      Oh dear…..

  • TGLoyalty says:

    1 Oct1 October 08:57

    It is the PHEV or the self charging HEV?

    • Keely says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:01

      It’s self charging

      • TGLoyalty says:

        1 Oct1 October 09:15

        It’s a small battery (1.5kwh ish) so very little electric range and won’t be eligible for any PHEV/EV parking discounts etc

        But I’m sure the system in a 4 year old car will be good for another 3-4.

        • Keely says:

          1 Oct1 October 09:46

          See that’s potentially the problem …we don’t generally change our cars that frequently..more like 6-7 years …wondering if this will force us to change sooner to keep up with things…?

  • Rhys says:

    1 Oct1 October 08:58

    Given hybrids are the car of choice for most Uber drivers etc I imagine they are reliable. Those are mostly Priuses of course.

    • Keely says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:03

      That’s what I was thinking …although I really don’t like the look of the Prius !

      • Rhys says:

        1 Oct1 October 09:08

        I’ve never understood why people don’t like it!

        • mike says:

          1 Oct1 October 10:09

          Makes you look like an Uber driving …..

    • HAK says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:22

      Toyotas are the most reliable. They will do 300 to 500k no problem. Just buy a RAV4 or a Prius and keep it for twenty years. Done.

  • Anuj says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:00

    Hybrids are very reliable, the Prius easily does 100k miles without any battery issues.
    My dad’s had no major issues on his Prius which he kept for 8 years and had about 125k on it when he sold it on, However they’re very expensive and the interior and tech is old.
    He’s now bought a Hyundai Ioniq and for a much lower price the specs are better and the car looks a lot classier inside and out. He’s so impressed I think next year he’ll be getting a 2020 model full electric. Look for the premium se trim.

    I think if hybrids weren’t reliable, 99% of taxis wouldn’t be hybrids.

    • Keely says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:04

      Thanks…Hyundai was the other car manufacturer we were considering

      • Sam says:

        1 Oct1 October 09:26

        A good friend of mine has an Ioniq from circa 2015…very happy with their Premium spec model, they bought it after their PCP term was up and say they don’t plan to change until they want to go full electric.

        • Keely says:

          1 Oct1 October 09:42

          Thanks Sam

        • Dan says:

          1 Oct1 October 09:51

          I had an Ioniq hybrid. I thought the petrol engine cut in necessarily too often and would have preferred more user adjustment on when to use / not use the battery. Otherwise, the Ioniq premium SE was loaded with gadgets but an unremarkable ride.

        • Dan says:

          1 Oct1 October 09:53

          *unnecessarily!

      • Michael C says:

        1 Oct1 October 14:47

        The Hyundai 5-year guarantee includes immediate roadside coverage.
        Even for when OH locks keys inside of the boot, for example…

  • Ikaz says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:50

    We have a Lexus IS and a Hyundai Ioniq at our household. Both from ~2018 and neither have had any issues with any systems (lexus has 60k miles I think, Hyundai has fewer).
    Toyota and Lexus have a relax guarantee, look into that! Every service in an official service provider adds one year guarantee (up to 10 years or something). Both are self-charging
    On the lexus, we get 50-55 mpg, which is good for a petrol car this size, not sure about the other one

    • Keely says:

      1 Oct1 October 10:31

      Thanks both , useful to know

  • Tom says:

    1 Oct1 October 10:52

    Hybrids are a waste of time and a tax dodge. Buy a fully eletric car you wont regret it. Charges overnight whilst you sleep, full charge every morning, incredibly cheap to run, whats not to like??

    • Faran says:

      1 Oct1 October 11:03

      Why are Hybrids waste of time, I have corolla hybrid I dont have any problems and it saves me money every month.I am also looking for another car as electric I do have a charger at home now which one would you recommend and does it impact your monthly electric bill alot, would appreciate your help.

    • Ikaz says:

      1 Oct1 October 11:12

      I don’t have assigned parking at home, so can’t have a electric car (and I regularly drive between Scotland and London)

      • Memesweeper says:

        1 Oct1 October 13:33

        I’ve driven London to Edinburgh several times on pure EV, plus runs to the Alps.

        Depending on local infrastructure home charging may not be required. Nevertheless you should start lobbying the car parking owner for charging facilities now, in a few years they will be essential. Pod point can help.

    • Keely says:

      1 Oct1 October 13:05

      I do long distance to see family v regularly 200 miles each way . I’d have mileage anxiety on fully electric ! I also don’t think the infrastructure is quite there yet ….

  • Alan says:

    1 Oct1 October 11:20

    Far better to go full EV rather than hybrid. I’ve done 20k miles now with no home charging option without an issue.

    • Toppcat says:

      1 Oct1 October 11:53

      Also gone full EV and very happy with the decision, despite not having off-street parking to charge it. But most of my driving is in/around London, so charging frequency is low due to the regen braking. YMMV.

  • elguiri says:

    1 Oct1 October 13:28

    Have a new Hyundai Tucson Hybrid (SUV-size). Compared to ~35mpg Skoda Karoq petrol (also SUV) we used to drive until this summer, we are now getting ~48mpg with the Tucson.

• Marie says:

  1 Oct1 October 09:01

  I have all loyalty with BA and IHG but am pricing up a Virgin Holidays trip to Cuba with family . Any way of getting a discount? Even a few percent would be good .

  • Rob says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:10

    Don’t VS status holders still get a discount? They might match your BA or other status, although a flight is usually required to get a match done.

    Bonus points when you pay for a Virgin Holiday on a Virgin credit card – and 30,000 points on the paid card at the moment as a bonus (see the article pinned to the top of the home page).

    • AL says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:14

      We do…

      7% and 1 point per £ in Red
      7% and 2 points per £ in Silver
      10% and 2 points per £ in Gold

      There are black days for the discount (I assume their busiest peak season), but VS Holidays will be able to tell you 🙂

• Jas Gill says:

  1 Oct1 October 09:03

  My flights to Porto have been moved to Heathrow and the timings have changed. The return was originally a late evening flight so we would have sufficient time to make it back to Porto from SSDV. The new flight is a 10.35 am departure from Porto. There is only one BA flight back that day; Am I able to force BA to book me onto a TAP flight which has more convenient timings ?

  • Richie says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:23

    Others have mentioned getting a flight changed to TAP is very difficult. Is the flight the next day at the same time?

    • meta says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:33

      Impossible. I rebooked myself and took BA to MCOL and won last year. Currently at MCOL for the second time for the same route.

      Ask them to put you on the flight the next day and stay another night on BA’s expense. Alternatively, if you have to get back that day due to work is to tell them you don’t want any refunds or rebookings and you’ll be rebooking yourself on TAP and will take them to MCOL/CEDR. Then book TAP for cash. The important thing is not to request any refunds!

      • Jas Gill says:

        1 Oct1 October 12:51

        Many thanks for your reply; There is no flight on the next day so I really do need to get back that day and will go down the MCOL route. If I accept the outbound change which is fine for me, just Heathrow instead of Gatwick, does this compromise my position in relation to the return ?

        • Memesweeper says:

          1 Oct1 October 13:34

          Not if you put the acceptance of one and not the other in writing.

• Fazzy Bear says:

  1 Oct1 October 09:05

  Almost forgot about it so was pleasant surprise to see a bonus 10k MR points land for spending £20k per quarter on business gold.

  On a side note – I would be probably be deterred even more from upgrading to Business Platinum as it doesn’t have this same bonus incentive.

• Bigmaggot says:

  1 Oct1 October 09:18

  Just had a letter from Solihull without warning, my account is being closed beginning of December. Anyone else? My account went into credit with an Expert Medical chargeback 🤦‍♂️

  • Reney says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:26

    What was the reason for closure?

  • TGLoyalty says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:32

    The free white or chargeable black?

    • Bigmaggot says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:34

      Free white card. Nothing in the letter to suggest why, just says we are closing your credit card

      • Anna says:

        1 Oct1 October 09:41

        They need to at least give you a reason – are you going to take it up with them?

  • Anna says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:36

    +1, what reason have they given? It would be unreasonable to sanction you for going into credit for what’s effectively a refund.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:42

      They can cease doing business with you for any reason they wish.

      • Anna says:

        1 Oct1 October 09:48

        I appreciate that, but using that specific reason seems perverse if the card holder hasn’t deliberately put themselves in credit.

    • Bigmaggot says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:42

      Absolutely no reason given, just says we are closing your account.

      • Lady London says:

        1 Oct1 October 14:46

        And have you been being naughty BigM?

  • BP says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:42

    Rob did hint that the Creation days may be over soon.

    • BP says:

      1 Oct1 October 09:42

      I’ll be expecting my free night for this year!

      • Bigmaggot says:

        1 Oct1 October 09:44

        I see Tom h on page 3 is having his Solihull Marriott closed 🙁

      • stevenhp1987 says:

        1 Oct1 October 10:09

        +1 One month away from renewal and I’ve spent far more than £10k this year on the card…

  • Ikaz says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:53

    Same here, black card, never paid off card before spending and not paid off card until charges hit since their changes. Absolutely zero background from them on the letter. Annual fee was charged weeks ago

  • Paul Pogba says:

    1 Oct1 October 10:02

    Unusual because it looks like they’re still taking applications for the free card. You weren’t one of the people making regular payments to NS&I via Curve were you?

    If they start closures of the black card I assume we should get our last free night voucher?

  • Andrew says:

    1 Oct1 October 10:05

    Got the letter as well for my free white card. Closing on December 3rd. I haven’t been up to any shenanigans using it with Curve.

  • d4ve says:

    1 Oct1 October 10:20

    2x Black and 1x White letters today. All 3 Dec.

    • dickieducker says:

      1 Oct1 October 10:26

      2 white, 1 black cancelled on 3 Dec. limited MS on black only. seems like it is an ex-parrot from that date.

      • Crafty says:

        1 Oct1 October 10:36

        My wife has had it on her White card, no reason given, and there are two letters addressed to me waiting downstairs so presumably one White and one Black. End of a really quite excellent party.

        Quite out of the ordinary to get an account closure letter with no reason whatever offered.

        Are they exiting the UK entirely?

  • Froggee says:

    1 Oct1 October 10:46

    Yep – same letter. Black. A fair amount of Ernie last year (only enough to get Spire) and very little if any this year plus quite a lot of genuine spend. I assume they need to reimburse annual fee?

  • Peggerz says:

    1 Oct1 October 11:20

    I have the letter for white, but not black.
    Only got it for sign up bonus, then put in a drawer. So no MS on it etc.
    ‘We note that your account hasn’t been active for a while……’
    No loss, as long as black stays active.

    • Peggerz says:

      1 Oct1 October 11:34

      However my letter does state ‘Therefore, we are providing 60 days notice for you to make transactions on your account OTHERWISE it will be closed after this period has elapsed’ (my capitals). So that sounds as if they are willing to keep me as a customer if I use the card. I received this 23/9/21.
      I have done no MS/Ernie/Bendy/Beardy/Che stuff etc. So are they only closing the perceived MS folk? Or is this preparation for Creation to clear off?

      • Dave says:

        1 Oct1 October 15:13

        I got that letter yesterday about the white card, not a cancellation like some are getting

      • Peggerz says:

        1 Oct1 October 15:19

        Aargh! The postie has just been with two letters, cancelling both White & Black cards. That’s that then……..

  • Tracy says:

    1 Oct1 October 12:41

    +4 here, 2 white, 2 black 🙁

• Louise K says:

  1 Oct1 October 09:24

  Looking for your recommendations for a good European Christmas market.

  Been to Cologne, Nuremberg, Brussels and Bruges.

  Have 2 free IHG nights to use so ideally a destination where I can use them.

  • Anna says:

    1 Oct1 October 09:40

    I went to Vienna in December 2019 and it was lovely. Several different markets, an ice skating rink and lots of food options. We stayed at the Hilton Vienna Plaza, but there is an IC. We were booked to stay there earlier this year, which didn’t happen, but we got upgraded to a suite with lounge access and seem to treat status guests very well. I was gutted that trip was cancelled!

    • Louise K says:

      1 Oct1 October 10:02

      Thanks Anna. Will take a look at Vienna 👍

      • Anna says:

        1 Oct1 October 10:25

        I am definitely going to return but EJ has now cancelled the route, which doesn’t make it easier! We’re going to Berlin (hopefully) this year as that also seems to have a good combination of Xmas markets plus museums and sightseeing.

      • Michael C says:

        1 Oct1 October 14:52

        Another vote for Vienna – this year, we’re basing ourselves in Munich, but also doing Salzburg/Innsbruck on a Bavarian railpass.
        Although not seen as being as traditional, we’ve had a fantastic time in Paris a view times. Various markets large and small, funfair, Montmartre gorgeous, and the Galeries Lafayette displays breathtaking.

        • Louise K says:

          1 Oct1 October 17:41

          Thanks! Will look at this also.

  • Lyn says:

    1 Oct1 October 11:25

    Vienna or Munich although no recent experience.

  • Gruntfuttock says:

    1 Oct1 October 12:39

    Salzburg, went December 2019, delightful, even if you don’t like Julie Andrews et al.

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