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The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 10th November

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Comments (462)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • Benilyn says:
    10 Nov10 November 13:16

    VA whatsapp service is now gone right? I do not see it, nor can find my chat history with them. What is the best way to do VA to Hilton points transfer, not in a rush.

    • QFFlyer says:
      10 Nov10 November 13:20

      Don’t believe Virgin Australia ever offered a WhatsApp service 😏

      But no I think you’re right, still comes up on Google, but no trace of it on their site (VS that is) – this was the number Virgin Atlantic Customer Service WhatsApp Number: +44 (0)344 8747747

  • Simon says:
    10 Nov10 November 13:40

    Europcar one way rental is back again.
    https://www.europcar.com/offer/one-way.step

    • MinR says:
      10 Nov10 November 14:00

      Keep getting ‘Sorry, an error occurred, please try again or contact us.’ after picking the date/time and clicking on ‘confirm my one-way’

  • Tracy says:
    10 Nov10 November 13:45

    QQ, I had an IHG reservation, I thought it was a fully flexible booking so cancelled it 3 days before checkin. Turns out it was a special rate with a 7 days before checkin cancellation period 🙁
    Hotel did not take a deposit 7 days in advance and I was able to cancel on the app. Hotel have contacted me to say I cannot cancel and must pay and have sent me a payment link. I have no credit card linked to my IHG account so they can’t take payment from there. Do I need to pay for all 3 nights of the booking or just the first night or not at all? Thanks

    • Tracy says:
      10 Nov10 November 13:49

      should also have said on my cancellation confirmation email it states Cancellation policy: Cancelling your reservation or failing to arrive will result in forfeiture of your deposit. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation.

      • John says:
        10 Nov10 November 13:51

        Ok, did it say a deposit was due at the time of booking?

        • Tracy says:
          10 Nov10 November 13:52

          that’s the issue, I can’t remember, I honestly thought it was a fully refundable rate so probably didn’t even read it properly

        • Tracy says:
          10 Nov10 November 13:57

          trying to recreate the booking it looks like I booked an advance saver rate – free cancellation until 7days before check in, deposit required. Under description, enjoy extra savings for booking early. Deposit and cancellation penalties apply. Deposit charged prior to arrival date.

          • Anna says:
            10 Nov10 November 14:03

            So you’ve paid the deposit – what is the cancellation penalty?
            IHG have been putting these rates at the top of the page in recent months and it’s quite easy to miss the Ts and Cs when you’re used to seeing the refundable member rate first. I think it’s a bit sneaky tbh. I even booked one of these rates (knowingly) for the summer and the hotel took the full amount (over £1000) from my card straight away! I contacted them and they refunded it all except the first night.

          • Tracy says:
            10 Nov10 November 14:18

            no deposit paid, they couldn’t take one as there is no card on file…

          • Anna says:
            10 Nov10 November 16:14

            OK, guess it depends on whether you think it might damage your relationship with IHG!
            I’ve found of late that I can only make an IHG booking if I give them details of a functioning card, it’s quite annoying!

    • John says:
      10 Nov10 November 13:49

      If it’s in the UK you probably should pay whatever the cancellation penalty was (sometimes it’s in full and sometimes just the first night) or they could take you to court, another country they may not bother and worst case is they’ll get IHG to cancel your account

      • Tracy says:
        10 Nov10 November 13:51

        its Spain

        • John says:
          10 Nov10 November 16:21

          Well, you should have had a card on file for them to charge the deposit.

          If you don’t pay then depends whether you think there will be any consequences with IHG. I think a hotel in Spain is less likely to try international debt recovery. No idea how IHG would respond but if it was Hilton they could suspend your account and take away all your points

          • Tracy says:
            10 Nov10 November 17:40

            Might just have to pay up, I have some intern points rates booked for SS Douro Valley next March and don’t want to lose them…..I will contact IHG first complaining that the t&cs were not prominent enough….

  • BLT says:
    10 Nov10 November 13:51

    Sorry for another Creation IHG question. I’ve raised a complaint re: free night and not awarding points, but my year ended 23/10. I’ve not used the card since the letter (never did Ernie, but did use curve with HMRC) so called to cancel as didn’t want to pay the fee.
    The card in now cancelled but they haven’t removed the 99 pound fee. Payment is due on Friday and so not sure what to do as don’t want interest accruing/ black mark against credit. Do I dispute the charge, ignore it or pay it??

    • Anna says:
      10 Nov10 November 14:06

      If the fee was applied before you cancelled the card you should probably pay it off as Creation could come after you for late payment/interest and you don’t want to be giving them a penny that you don’t need to. Also, if you’re claiming for the free night which hasn’t appeared, you will be in a stronger position if you’ve been charged, and paid, the £99.

      • EwanG says:
        10 Nov10 November 14:19

        I disagree. £99 fee was paid last year to allow BLT the opportunity to get the free night for that period. This new £99 fee is for the new year and no opportunity to get the free night.
        Personally I would pay and then complain to get the £99 returned plus the outstanding free night (as I’m interpreting that is the case).

        • Harrier25 says:
          10 Nov10 November 14:28

          I feel that demanding both the free night voucher and the return of the £99 fee is pushing it somewhat.

          • QFFlyer says:
            10 Nov10 November 14:35

            Not at all, you’ve always been able to wait until the end of the year, get the voucher, then cancel, without paying a second fee. Why should now be any different?

          • Char Char says:
            10 Nov10 November 22:11

            If there was no cancellation letter, then getting the free night and a refund of the fee wouldn’t be an issue, just because they sent a letter with no details other than the cards being cancelled doesn’t make it obvious that he wouldn’t be able to get the free night nevermind a refund on a service that isn’t going to be provided.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          10 Nov10 November 14:37

          The free night was only payable if you were still a paying member when it was due to be posted. Therefore if you cancelled before that you’ve forfeited the night / points.

          • Harrier25 says:
            10 Nov10 November 15:21

            Yep, which is why people shouldn’t be cancelling their cards at this time because you are just weakening your position.

          • Froggee says:
            10 Nov10 November 15:37

            The terms are pretty clear here. You need to be an active cardmember on the anniversary of your account opening (and on an annual basis thereafter) to qualify for the voucher whereas they apply the fee in the first month of the new year. So timing is everything. In the past they have refunded the fee if you asked nicely and hadn’t used the card in the new year but they aren’t playing nicely any more.

          • BLT says:
            10 Nov10 November 17:31

            Thanks for the responses. I was an active card member on the anniversary – I only cancelled last week so creation didn’t get another £99 of me for providing nothing. I’ve had the IHG creation card since the beginning and always received the free night when the annual statement was generated, so I have done nothing different to any other year. Creation have shifted the goal posts.
            I will pay the fee but that’s another complaint heading their way (I haven’t received the triple points on my Marriott either!!)

        • Anna says:
          10 Nov10 November 16:17

          I’m not disputing what BLT said, I just think it makes Creation look worse if they have rescinded all benefits AND then charged another year’s fee (not to mention then telling people they won’t get a pro-rata refund!)

          • Anna says:
            10 Nov10 November 16:20

            So –
            They’re cancelling your card but not had the courtesy to tell you why
            They’re not giving you any more points
            They’re not honouring free night certificates earned
            They’re still charging an “annual” fee (in some cases), but will only give you a few more weeks use of the card
            I think they are going to find it rather difficult to convince the FOS that they have behaved impeccably.

  • Triath5 says:
    10 Nov10 November 14:00

    Any recommendations for decent accommodation (ideally with a sauna or steamroom) for a long weekend in Palma de Mallorca soonish? Not too fussed about being in the city centre as we’ll have a rental car.

    I’ve read the HfP reviews for both Castillo Hotel Son Vida and the Sheraton Arabella, and although I came close to going with Hotel Son Vida, I’m not convinced of either at the current price point + limited room wifi connectivity as confirmed by the hotel.

    There’s a myriad of hotels in the old town, but they all look so dated and cramped…I assume people pay for the location, but I don’t mind a bit farther out in a nicer, more modern spacious place with decent facilities. The several Melias in the city look a bit strange as well, like an Ibis on steroids…

    Any tips greatly appreciated!

    • Birdy says:
      10 Nov10 November 18:17

      We stayed at Concepcio by Nobis last week for the second time this year and would really recommend it. It’s a Design Hotel in the old town and opened this summer so is brand new with a beautiful pool area. It has a small spa which includes a sauna. Standard rooms are quite small but we stayed in an Executive the first time which was very spacious and a Superior last week which was also nice. Good breakfast, nice bar and restaurant and the staff are really friendly and helpful.

  • Sussex bantam says:
    10 Nov10 November 14:11

    I’m just ending my 10 day isolation period after a positive PCR and noticed that my COVID pass is no longer working. The domestic pass says it has “expired” and the international one says “no records found”. My vaccination record still shows in the app

    Is this normal ?? How / when does it come back ?

  • xcalx says:
    10 Nov10 November 14:12

    Need an RT PCR test for Barbados anyone any experience of DAM health £69 or Express Test £80 or others in Leeds area. Thanks.

  • Paul says:
    10 Nov10 November 14:45

    Does anyone have the WhatsApp number and the Goldline Tel# for Virgin Atlantic? I can’t seem to find either, or at least the WhatsApp# I have doesn’t seem to be connecting

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

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