The HfP chat thread – Thursday 14th October

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General

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Kevin says:

14 Oct14 October 08:39

Does anyone know what is the max. travel days is allowed in Amex platinum insurance as considering to do an abroad trip that more than 30 days. TIA
- ChrisC says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 12:11
  
  You could try the novel approach and read your policy!
  - Kevin says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 13:46
    
    Thought would be a quick knowledge sharing from the experts here 🙂
- GeorgeJ says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 14:17
  
  There isnt just one policy, it depends which platinum card you have.
Red Flyer says:

14 Oct14 October 08:41

Off to Paris on Eurostar later this month on first business trip since March 2020. Am I right thinking I need French self-cert form and NHS COVID pass for entry and day 2 test plus PLF for return? Also, any on the ground experience – are masks still being used indoors like in restaurants and on public transport? Thanks in advance.
- Rich says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 08:44
  
  I think technically you need the declaration d’honneur to leave France as well, though unlikely anyone will want to see it.
  
  Worth downloading the Tous Anti Covid app (in English) and you can scan your NHS QR code into it to get a French one.
  
  Day 2 test – leave as late as you can before you book it. It will be switching to Lateral Flow later this month
  - Red Flyer says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 08:47
    
    👍😎
- Sanya says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 10:32
  
  I am travelling weekly on the Eurostar to Lille for work, masks are being used everywhere (hotels, restaurants etc.). I even have to use them all day in the client office.
  
  Correct on the travel requirements – though the Eurostar are definitely very relaxed. They just ask me if I have the self-cert form but never check it. The vaccine cert is more important and they scan it at check in.
  - David says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 11:19
    
    This is why France’s covid rates and deaths are far lower than the UK. Good for them.
    - Rob says:
      
      14 Oct14 October 11:30
      
      Having been there for a few days last month, it’s not hugely pleasant. If you have an unvaccinated kid (or indeed adult) they need to be tested every 3 days in order to retain access to restaurants, cafes etc.
John Caribbean says:

14 Oct14 October 08:42

Is it ok to use Dragon Pass in the Terminal 5 Plaza Premium?
- Rob says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 10:46
  
  Yes
The Original Nick says:

14 Oct14 October 09:11

Morning all. I’m flying to Spain tomorrow with BA. So I need to fill in the Spth Health form?
- TheOtherN says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 09:13
  
  Yes.
- Andrew says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 09:22
  
  You’ll need a QR code to show them after passport control.
  - The Original Nick says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 10:40
    
    Thanks.
- ChrisBCN says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 09:29
  
  Yes. It’s quite simple and painless. Have the QR code on your phone ready to show after you land.
  - Jane says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 10:11
    
    Does the QR code get generated from the sPLF ? I assume we can use printed copies as we are going with aging parents who don’t have (or rather do have but don’t use!) smart phones 🙂
    - Craig says:
      
      14 Oct14 October 10:19
      
      We had a right faff with the app, ended up using printed copies which were fine.
      - Jane says:
        
        14 Oct14 October 10:29
        
        excellent, thanks. To be honest I quite like having printed copies of most things, phones can generally be a faff.
Dan says:

14 Oct14 October 09:11

Anyone with IHG creation card worth checking your statement carefully – I noticed a £12 late payment charge on mine, having paid on time several days ago.

After half an hour on hold, customer services said they’d had payment issues this weekend and are “pleased” to reverse the charge. I should hope so….!
- meta says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 10:04
  
  Discussed yesterday at length. They had issues longer than that. It’s been 8 days for me now!
  - Ben says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 14:47
    
    Me too. They had the same issue back in January ( payments taking over a week to be credited ) – since then I always have made sure I paid my Creation cards well in advance to save any hassles. They are getting closed on Dec 3rd in the famous “cull” so I guess not a problem for much longer!
- Lady London says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 11:54
  
  Ask for compo, and for them to prove that they advised every credit agency they report to (monthly, I believe) that late payment was due to Creation’s own processing error and was not a late payment.
  - meta says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 12:21
    
    Of course, I am going to do that. I am just giving them an opportunity to rectify things before it gets nasty.
barnaby100 says:

14 Oct14 October 09:18

Totally off any travel theme. Does anyone know of any mansion blocks/flats in SE1 or SW1 that allow dogs? Looking to buy a 1 bed flat to use whilst working but have a small dog who would be an occasional weekend visitor. Would prefer a block but looks like I may have to go for a house conversion.
- Memesweeper says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 09:42
  
  Might want to ask a concierge at any block you’re interested in. Some rules are ignored for small pets.
  
  I’ve seen small dogs leave the Dolphin Apartments, no idea if it’s permitted though.
  - barnaby100 says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 09:52
    
    Thanks. I have seen dogs at some of the blocks that say no dogs- Estate Agents don’t seem to know and so have to check each time. There are hundreds if not thousands of flats within our price range but so far only a handful that allow a dog. Also wouldn’t mind Fitzrovia/Russell Square which is dog central-so they must all live somewhere!
  - barnaby100 says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 09:56
    
    He is small- could fit him in a bag for life!
- Zoe P says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 09:49
  
  As someone who works in housing there is no clear answer to this. It depends on the rules from the freeholder in whatever block you buy in.
  
  I would not buy a street conversion in London unless very well done. The noise issues can be horrendous. I deal with complaints about this too regularly.
  - barnaby100 says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 09:54
    
    Thanks. It seems a blanket no at most blocks-but I regularly see the same dogs coming out of at least 2 that have a blanket no. Some if the flats have pet beds/bowls in the pictures but the response is no.
    - Richie says:
      
      14 Oct14 October 10:04
      
      It sounds that your dog would be an occasional visitor and not a resident.
- Michael AC says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 09:59
  
  Whitehouse Apts allows dogs. Or at least, I saw plenty there.
TheOtherN says:

14 Oct14 October 09:21

There’s a weird block of no train transport whatsoever between France and Spain 10th-14th November this year. I’ve tried Paris to Girona and Figueres, even local trains from Perpignan over the border, and nothing is available.

Could this be demand around Armistice day, or is there some odd strike action or track engineering planned? Can’t find anything in the planned works pages.

Any insight from the great minds at HfP?
- John says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 09:26
  
  Try railforums UK
- kitten says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 11:24
  
  Narbonne?
  - TheOtherN says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 16:26
    
    Rien!
- Sukes says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 12:09
  
  You might want to email help @ raileurope dot com and ask for advice. They helped me in <24hrs during last week’s Spanish Renfe strikes.
- TheOtherN says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 16:24
  
  An update for the locomotively enthused:
  
  Raileurope say tickets “haven’t been released to them yet”, which is somewhat at odds with all the tickets they are offering either side of the block. SNCF also don’t show any availability in that block, but plenty either side. I’m blaming Armistice demand and giving up!
  - Lady London says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 17:27
    
    You could see if renfe has info
    - ChrisBCN says:
      
      14 Oct14 October 21:28
      
      I checked Renfe for you and haven’t been able to find anything. It remains a mystery!
Mick S says:

14 Oct14 October 09:22

Reading all the chat about Creation and the appalling way they have handled the last couple of weeks, even if they completely reversed the closing of cards I would be inclined to simply say “stuff it”. On face value this is a toxic company that is bankrupt of customer service.
- Crafty says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 10:28
  
  +1
  
  It’s always been a shit company, but very exploitable.
  - BuildBackBetter says:
    
    14 Oct14 October 10:41
    
    There’s a limit to that too. Don’t want to be maxing the card until end of Nov, only to realise payments to card don’t go through and you get a missed payment update on your credit profile.
- David says:
  
  14 Oct14 October 11:23
  
  Er, no. Its Curve that is toxic along with various strands of MS or MS-like activities.