Bits: more on the HSBC Premier deal, Qatar Airways / HfP competition winner

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• Geoggy says:

  20 Jun20 June 07:19

  I hit the req spend on the hsbc premier card last statement.

  The points didn’t appear.

  I called the premier line and the assistant stated they were awarded on the anniversary of the card.

  When I read the terms they didn’t seem as clear as the article suggests – in fact from memory the awarding of the second 20k Avios (in my case) did seem to be in a section headed anniversary.

  After sounding sad and saying I was waiting to book a flight – which was true, the assistant added the points immediately to my account as I am a “valued customer”.

  • Danny says:

    20 Jun20 June 07:57

    Looking at the T&C again, it looks like sloppy work on HSBC’s part which works to our benefit. The section on the 2nd tranche of 40,000 bonus points is titled “First Anniversary Bonus Reward Points”, so clearly suggesting their intention was these points should only be awarded after 12 months. But the wording of clause 3 on the 2nd tranche of 40,000 bonus points has been copied word for word across from the equivalent clause 3 on the 1st tranche of 40,000 bonus points, so giving you an entitlement to receive them after 60 days whatever HSBC’s original intention.

  • Polly says:

    20 Jun20 June 09:34

    Groggy and Danny,
    Agree, sloppy t and c on HSBC site. However, it does depend on who you speak to in cs. I was well over the 12k spend and over 60 days from the spend,me hen l called up for them to be added. Adamnent they were due on the anniversary. I wanted them included in the BAEC bonus transfer at that time. Disappointing, as they were applied the day after the bonus date ended. Seemed fishy to me, but may have been coincidental.
    What l would like to know as l am approaching renewal date next week, is do we renewers get this years bonus too??? I have been negotiating for a few weeks now on this renewal, loyalty points, but they are NOT budging. Seems like they want Amex customers to come over, but don’t want to play the renewal, referral game.
    May try to move OH account over and benefit from this offer, if they don’t play ball with my card…

    • Genghis says:

      20 Jun20 June 09:41

      What is “this year’s bonus” for renewers?

      It’s only one bonus in the first year, “when you spend £12,000 or more on your Card within the first 12 months of card membership”, isn’t it?

      If it were me I’d complain about not receiving the points within 60 days, so as long as you still have the T&Cs you agreed to when you signed up (they might have changed). It’s important people understand the rules before playing the game

• Alan C says:

  20 Jun20 June 07:29

  Congrats on the Qatar win.
  Slightly o/t but we are a family of 4 travelling Edinburgh to Abu Dhabi via Doha in 5 weeks time. Any signs of the present Qatar dispute being settled and if not when will Qatar be in touch with options?
  Cheers.
  Alan C

  • Rob says:

    20 Jun20 June 09:01

    There are no options …. I have an identical booking but for November which I think will be safe. Qatar may rebook you on BA but remember that, until 14 days before departure, they can cancel your flight and all you are due is a refund, no obligation to reroute.

    You are actually safer within 14 days of departure as EU261 protections then apply.

    • Andrew says:

      20 Jun20 June 17:53

      I contacted QR regarding my similar booking. Options are: to get a refund now; rebook to Muscat instead of AUH; or 7 days before flying they will rebook you on a direct flight (with BA probably but didn’t say).

• Wally1976 says:

  20 Jun20 June 08:07

  Completely OT but hopefully useful…

  My guide to getting the 2 x 4500 Avios for referring for the Lloyds Avios cards:

  1. Change your email address on your Avios.com account to a ‘spare’ account that hasn’t been seen by Lloyds before (if you don’t have one then create one!).
  2. Send the referral to this ‘spare’ email address.
  3. Apply via the link in the email when it arrives.
  4. Give it a few weeks and if points don’t post keep sending emails to customeraccounts@avios.com until they sort it out (which they will, eventually).
  5. Change your Avios.com email back to what it should be.

  I’m not saying that this is completely fool proof (no guarantees) but it is based on my experience of having successfully gained 3 lots of 9000 points between my wife and I (I’ve had the card twice and she’s had it once).

• Robbie says:

  20 Jun20 June 08:30

  Congratulations Wayne L

  • zsalya says:

    20 Jun20 June 08:59

    I hope we will hear where he decides to go.
    Auckland?

    • Polly says:

      20 Jun20 June 09:45

      And hope they get an upgrade if they do chose AKL ! Congrats Wayne. Enjoy….even in Y, nice to think flights are free…

    • Rob says:

      20 Jun20 June 10:34

      Bit of a gamble if the ‘upgrade to business at check-in subject to availability’ doesn’t come off!

      • Alan says:

        20 Jun20 June 12:54

        Although hopefully the recent troubles may help Wayne’s chances, even if it has cut his destination choice down slightly!

• rams1981 says:

  20 Jun20 June 09:26

  Anyone think of a good reason to keep this HSBC £195 card in year 2? Just can’t see how the fee is worth it with no bonuses.

  • Genghis says:

    20 Jun20 June 09:34

    £195 for a card that earns 1 point / £1k spend is not great. So close to £20k spend just to recoup the fee not to mention lost earning potential elsewhere. I’d go elsewhere.

  • Polly says:

    20 Jun20 June 09:43

    Just commented above, agree, with you, you would think they had thought that part through. But they don’t seem aware of customer retention/ loyalty at HSBC. I did remind them how well Amex deals with loyalty, didn’t get the message,mor course!
    My option is to drop down to the Premier to retain my points, and wait for another transfer bonus, then cancel at the end of the year. Which is annoying as the earning rate is very good. The sting l have been told is that you must hold the elite card exactly one year in order to hold points, and then ensure your premier card is issued that day at midnight. Impossible without cs help. Unreal. Been three weeks getting this issue sorted.

    Genghis, just had a thought. Can’t see where they might ban us from re applying after a break having the card???!! Have you noticed? just thinking ahead here!

    • Genghis says:

      20 Jun20 June 09:59

      I noticed yesterday when I read the T&C but had to check:

      To be eligible for the Introductory Bonus Reward Points described below, the following
      requirements must be met:

      “you must not have not held an HSBC Premier World Elite MasterCard Credit Card within the six months prior to you applying and

      To be eligible for the First Anniversary Bonus Reward Points described below, the
      following requirements must be met:

      you must not have not held an HSBC Premier World Elite MasterCard Credit Card
      within the six months prior to you applying

      This means that they have thought about it and it seems churnable, you just have to wait 6 months a la Amex.

      • Polly says:

        20 Jun20 June 10:44

        Thank you, not too bad then…just harder to apply for, with their tougher criteria, which l don’t blame them for really….wonder if that applies if one has dropped down to the free Premier card in the meantime…interesting. Just have to work out if the Plat fee is worth it long term, if not using the guest options on the PP etc…

  • Rob says:

    20 Jun20 June 10:31

    1 mile per £1 – for a Visa / MC – is worth having, but you’d need to feel you were offsetting the fee via (for example) the Uber credits on flight bookings or the LoungeKey lounge access.

    Assuming you value the other card benefits at nothing, and that you value an Avios at 1p, you’d need to spend £28,500 before the extra 0.7 Avios per £1 (versus the free Tesco MasterCard) offset £195.

    • Genghis says:

      20 Jun20 June 13:00

      Or infinity if you have no preference for IHGs or avios on the IHG Black (valued at 0.5p ea.)?

      • Roger says:

        20 Jun20 June 19:30

        Genghis, would you recommend renewing Creation IHG Black card and pay £99 fees in second year?

        • Genghis says:

          20 Jun20 June 19:56

          I plan on doing so. Not as good as year 1 as no bonus but still 2.5% return on £10k spend. £250 hotel + £100 points – £99 fee.

• aliks says:

  20 Jun20 June 10:14

  I just called HSBC regarding the anniversary points. They agreed they should have been credited within 60 days of spending £12,000 and immediately gave me 40,000 points.

• JamesB says:

  20 Jun20 June 11:07

  OT bit: debate and vote on replacement of APD with new air departure tax in Scotland (to be effective April 18) will take place late this afternoon. Anything’s possible in current political shambles.

  • Joe says:

    20 Jun20 June 12:51

    Especially as the DUP (currently wheeling & dealing with the tories) want the (full) abolition of APD in NI.

    • JamesB says:

      20 Jun20 June 21:48

      Bill was passed. Rate will be set next year, in the budget I guess. It seems likely they will go for a 50% cut as nothing less would likely have the desired effect. If DUP can convert their demand for APD abolition in NI then hopefully these two changes together will underpin UK-wide changes.

• Joe says:

  20 Jun20 June 12:49

  Wayne’s World

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