The HfP chat thread – Saturday 30th October

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• Rich says:

  30 Oct30 October 08:54

  Pickpocketed in Barcelona last week, and lost my iPhone. Claim lodged with AXA/ Amex Plat Travel Insurance.

  To add to my bad luck, I bought a cheap replacement phone and promptly dropped it and smashed the screen, within 24h! I was also stung three times by a wasp, but that’s not relevant.

  Any reason not to claim once more from Amex? For context, these will be my fourth and fifth claims in 18 months, after years of no claims at all. First claim was the same iPhone under purchase protection for a smashed screen.

  (I’m not usually this clumsy!)

  • Jenny says:

    30 Oct30 October 09:00

    Pickpocketed (meaning stolen phone) or lost phone, which one? If your claims dont add up then they will get rejected.

    • Rich says:

      30 Oct30 October 09:02

      Clumsy wording on my.part. Pickpocketed, phone stolen.

      • Jonathan says:

        30 Oct30 October 09:41

        I wouldn’t claim for the smashed screen on a cheap replacement phone. Would be not much more (maybe less) than excess to get repaired yourself?

        5 claims in 18 months is probably flirting with the point they start questioning your claims & being more rigorous with T&C’s. I wouldn’t want to run the risk of them arguing the pickpocketing incident was loss rather than theft.

        What does police report say? May say lost ?pickpocket or just lost as you can’t actually prove it occurred rather than just fell out pocket & the local police may want to keep crime numbers low. I’ve had police in U.K. only issue lost property report if no threats, violence or witness.

        AmEx are generally pretty good at not being too fussy with issues like this but maybe less so in face of multiple claims.

        • Rich says:

          30 Oct30 October 09:52

          Thanks.

          I’ll have to get the report translated, as it’s in Catalan.

          Not sure exactly how much a screen repair would be, but local shop where I am currently in France suggested ~€90. Phone was €135 and excess would be £50, so maximum I’m getting from Amex would be £26 I guess.

          Better than nothing, of I’m entitled to it, but maybe not worth it if it causes a flag on my account.

        • The Savage Squirrel says:

          30 Oct30 October 10:08

          Personally I’d let it go – it likely allows the bigger iPhone claim to be crystal clear with no confusing factors so that it’s paid promptly.

        • Char Char says:

          30 Oct30 October 13:38

          Paying $90 euros for fixing a $130 euro phone makes no sense, sell it on ebay.

  • Anuj says:

    30 Oct30 October 12:45

    When I was staying in a hostel in Barcelona there was someone reporting a pickpocket every single day. I’ve never been anywhere else in Europe where it’s been so bad. Happened to me too and I claimed on Amex

    • lumma says:

      30 Oct30 October 16:28

      Went to Barcelona for a stag weekend a couple of years back and 6 of us had phones disappear during the weekend.

      Strange as I love visiting Barcelona on solo trips but wouldn’t do a “lads weekend” again

  • Babyg says:

    30 Oct30 October 13:42

    Sorry to hear you were pickpocketed, I often hear about this, but never from somebody who has had the bad luck. How did you get pickpocketed? Was it a simple case of you have your phone in your back pocket or somewhere easy to steal from, or were they much more clever and bumped into you etc, genuinely interested as i think i would never get pickpocketed, but i am probably wrong about that!

    • Rich says:

      30 Oct30 October 14:06

      It was a guy who came up to me in the middle of a crossroads. He kept asking questions, jostling and trying to get me to follow him. Classic distraction I guess. I’m usually pretty alert to these sorts of things too – first pickpocketing in my 44 years on this planet – but this guy was good. I just thought he was a nutter – it wasn’t until 5 minutes later I checked my pocket.

      Question I want to know is why? They must know that it will be locked, erased and bricked within an hour.

      • Tony1 says:

        30 Oct30 October 14:44

        Not too sure on this … but was told that the local Police do not prosecute for “minor” thefts up to about 300/400€ so that’s probably why this is so rampant in BCN. Metro system is best avoided if you look like a tourist …

      • Gary says:

        30 Oct30 October 17:32

        Sorry to hear. They are very professional in Barcelona. Had similar at Catalunya station whist buying train ticket years ago. Random guy distracted me asking for direction and an accomplice took my hand luggage. Really ruined the trip although was able to claim back some on insurance.

        • HughM says:

          31 Oct31 October 10:38

          Watch out for your baggage trolley when transferring to/from a hire car at El Prat. The pickings are more than pocket size!
          The police there are really efficient issuing theft reports. The small print is Catalan, but if the police know you are not from there, they will write Castilian Spanish.
          I would have thought it was their job (Amex, Axa) to translate it. Only claim I made on Axa, I had a German police report, but they just asked me to confirm its existence: no-one ever asked to read, still less translate, it.

  • Sarah says:

    30 Oct30 October 15:47

    Colleague of mine was pickpocketed in Barcelona recently and had his iphone taken too – it is absolutely endemic there, so be careful if you’re going.

  • Rich says:

    30 Oct30 October 18:37

    It has been an interesting exercise in data recovery. Thank God I had my laptop at the hotel and was able to sign into iCloud and erase the phone. And access my email/ Facebook / address book.

    A lot of apps, including Curve, Revolut, WhatsApp require an SMS sent to my original phone number, with seemingly no other option. Thankfully, my flatmate was around in the UK to receive my new SIM and pop it in his phone.

    NHS app requires 24h to change your mobile number.

    2FA is great at keeping people out, but that might include you!

    • Pete1968 says:

      30 Oct30 October 18:50

      Pickpocketers / shirtlifters – they are everywhere and you have to watch out for them. When I lived in Italy, the gypsy kids would bring a square of cardboard and confront you/ make you stop with the cardboard against your jeans top. Ask you a silly question. Without you knowing, they would be feeling in your jeans pockets for a wallet etc.

      I found a smart smack on the head usually worked, especially if they were only about 10YO. Go away. Owe, that hurt! Message received.

      • Bazza says:

        31 Oct31 October 23:36

        I never knew the Spanish had this sort of reputation!

• Jenny says:

  30 Oct30 October 09:02

  Anyone having issues with Day2 Tests on the cheapest listed suppliers?
  I see many £1-3 PCR tests but when it comes to payment a paypal error message comes up.. also proves the point there are many duplicate suppliers with new and differing names…

  Also if purchasing the collection one and payment is taken, but no code issued can this be claimed back as non-delivery. Payment should only be taken when a service is delivered to a customer.. appreciate any experienced responses

  • Toddy says:

    30 Oct30 October 09:35

    £1 for a PCR test?!

    If something seems too good to be true…..

  • George K says:

    30 Oct30 October 09:58

    Hi Jenny, I had this a few weeks back, where one of the providers didn’t deliver a code upon payment. I then went with someone else who did, fully planning on claiming the (very small) cost back, but the code came the following day during later working hours. This may be what’s happening with your provider?

    • James says:

      30 Oct30 October 10:09

      According to their terms. PLF should be issued after payment. My argument is if they withhold this after payment you technically haven’t been given anything in return and should be ABLE to claim. If you get the code after the payment. Happy days

      • Sandgrounder says:

        30 Oct30 October 10:15

        For 1-3 quid, any card provider will just write a disputed transaction off with zero investigation, unless your claim history raises red flags. Dishonest traders are often aware of this.

        • George K says:

          30 Oct30 October 10:20

          Agreed – you won’t have any trouble claiming back

• Michael C says:

  30 Oct30 October 09:04

  Just as an fyi we used Testing For All for day 2 (GBP19).
  Extremely efficient, code immediately, email saying it would be sent, message before arrival with a 1-hour time slot (put through letter box).
  Only slight downsides: a total data-mining exercise (aren’t they all?): needed gender/ethnicity but didn’t ask for means of travel or arrival port!
  Especially annoying was the fact that, for our son, we had to open a completely separate account with a different email: no option to just change details within same account.

• Paul says:

  30 Oct30 October 09:05

  Just a heads up that Ive just cancelled 2 x seats from LHR to BGI (BA0255) for Friday 17th Dec 2021 in Club. They might or might not drop back into inventory shortly.

  • Babyg says:

    30 Oct30 October 13:44

    Out of interest where were you staying, im heading there in Feb, but so far im drawing blanks on where to stay, its either too expensive, too corporate or abit daggy… (prob should have researched before i bought the plane tickets)

    • Sarah says:

      30 Oct30 October 15:51

      Babyg, February will be cheap compared to the Christmas period! What kind of property are you looking for? There are lots of nice rental properties if you haven’t found the right hotel.

• Andrew H says:

  30 Oct30 October 09:07

  Need to send a deposit for an Austrian hotel via bank transfer

  I see I could do this on Revolut (but best not to do it at the weekend to avoid surcharge).

  Is it Ok to fund Revolut with VACC+ for this?

  • Youllnever says:

    30 Oct30 October 09:33

    You can, but you’ll be stung the 5% cash advance fee if I’m not mistaken.

    • Andrew H says:

      30 Oct30 October 09:42

      Ok.. I don’t seem to have been charged cash advance from when I first set up the account with small VACC+ payments – maybe it’s changed since

  • John says:

    30 Oct30 October 14:47

    You can send it on the weekend, just not do the exchange to euros

• Marina says:

  30 Oct30 October 09:21

  Platinum travel insurance question
  New to Amex platinum & have looked at the travel insurance. I booked flight using my BAPP card before I got platinum so presume that’s ok to be covered but what do people do if they have existing medical conditions not mentioned as covered ? It’s raised cholesterol for one person & controlled with medication high blood pressure for another – do you just start from scratch and buy a whole new policy from elsewhere or is there a way to just add the existing medical conditions and pay a supplement ? We have Covid cover while away included as part of our Saudi visa application & staying with family so just need to make sure medical is covered. PS – excited about club suite

  • E says:

    30 Oct30 October 09:27

    I don’t rely on the Platinum travel insurance element at all and I’ve bought separate travel insurance. I don’t think you can add a supplement to cover conditions and I wanted to be sure I was properly covered.

  • Sukes says:

    30 Oct30 October 09:46

    https://origin-gem2.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/uk/benefits/UK_Platinum_Accepted_Conditions_and_Sports_Activities_list.pdf

    The above link provides the conditions covered automatically by Amex Plat insurance. If you have a pre-existing condition not included in this list you will not be covered for it and you cannot pay a supplement to add cover. In the case of my mother (heart & neurological conditions) we do ‘start from scratch’ & buy another policy from another provider. Also make sure you have GHIC/EHIC card.

    • Marina says:

      30 Oct30 October 20:42

      Thanks E & Sukes – Applied for GHIC/EHIC card just now & will source a policy

• Claire says:

  30 Oct30 October 09:27

  Amex / Morrisons update – they have extended the end date of the 10% offer to 10/11 and the countdown now says 12 days till expiry.

  • Swiss Jim says:

    30 Oct30 October 09:35

    Anyone got any money back on this? Spent £500 on Amazon vouchers right at the start of this offer and still no credit. Seems odd, but never had this offer on my card before.

    • Toddy says:

      30 Oct30 October 09:41

      Jim, my experience is that this offer always takes a long time (up to 10 days!) to post… but it will come through.

      I’ve used the offer about 10 times previously, FYI.

      • Swiss Jim says:

        30 Oct30 October 10:08

        Ok great thanks, I’ll just need to be patient I guess. Was wanting to see the credit before dipping my toes in again…

    • Andrew H says:

      30 Oct30 October 09:45

      Not appeared on Amex yet, but two incorrect credits have appeared on VirginSA for the one transaction…

      Unrelated: why do I always have to remove and renew bank connections on Nectar for ANY Nectar Connect transactions to appear. Has been the case for both Amex and VACC+

      • Andrew says:

        30 Oct30 October 14:03

        I have to remove and re-add Amex, but my LBG accounts are seemless renewals.

    • Brian W says:

      30 Oct30 October 11:13

      Same boat but £400 on vouchers, no credit yet.

  • Vish says:

    30 Oct30 October 10:23

    I’ve missed this. What is the Morissions/Amex offer thats available?

    • Peter K says:

      30 Oct30 October 13:06

      10% back available on some cards, not all. Stacks with Virgin points on sh0ps away.

    • Andrew says:

      30 Oct30 October 14:05

      It’s also on Barclaycard, BoS, Lloyds, Halifax And MBNA. They can be stacked with the 10% on PAW and 8pt/£ on Virgin.

• The Original Nick. says:

  30 Oct30 October 09:31

  I’ve been watching Premium economy prices LHR – JFK and EWR return for July/August. 2 weeks ago the prices were coming up at £680 – £780 with BA and Virgin. Prices for these to airlines are now above £800. I’ve looked into September today and the prices are above £700. Has anyone any experience in approximate prices for these flights at these times?

  • Oh! Matron! says:

    30 Oct30 October 10:03

    £700 for PE to NYC is excellent

    • Sandgrounder says:

      30 Oct30 October 10:18

      You could pay that for economy in the school holidays (in normal times).

  • Jonathan says:

    30 Oct30 October 10:24

    ~750 is a decent price for school holidays. £550 is a good ex EU price so adding the £180APD puts you in that ballpark. I’d say £900-1k is probably where it will settle if bought >3 months in advance with a Saturday night stay.

  • Mike says:

    30 Oct30 October 11:40

    Nick – buy now – any of those prices are excellent

    • The Original Nick. says:

      30 Oct30 October 12:00

      Thanks everyone

  • Babyg says:

    30 Oct30 October 13:46

    prices seem decent for PE, book, and if the price drops you have the BWC policy…

    • Louise K says:

      30 Oct30 October 13:59

      I thought BwC only covered trips up to end of April 22?

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