Bits: Hilton / Amex cashback, bonus Avios with stationery, Avios debit card now available again

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• Wally1976 says:

  11 Apr11 April 09:06

  Completely OT – was down in London with the family at the weekend and used Uber for the very first time (using £15 free first journey as advertised here :-)).

  Felt very strange not handing over any cash at the end of the journey but it set me wondering – what is the etiquette regarding tips for Uber?

  • John says:

    11 Apr11 April 09:08

    The same etiquette as for tips in any other situation in the UK

    • Rob says:

      11 Apr11 April 09:16

      You do not tip Uber drivers. It used to be specifically noted in the T&C’s that you shouldn’t although that wording has now been relaxed.

      • Genghis says:

        11 Apr11 April 09:37

        The only extra I give Uber drivers is my great chat…

        • CV3V says:

          11 Apr11 April 10:23

          Yes you need to keep your Uber rating up, dont the drivers get to rate you?! I always chat about experiences with Uber in other countries, they seem interested in that.

        • Genghis says:

          11 Apr11 April 10:33

          Yes. First time I’ve ever checked and I’m 4.58. Perhaps my chat isn’t as good as I thought 🙂

        • the real harry1 says:

          11 Apr11 April 10:51

          out of 10?
          not so hot, Genghis 🙂

        • Graham Walsh says:

          11 Apr11 April 13:00

          Just checked mine and I’m 4.63. Time to up your chat Genghis 🙂

          When I was in Orlando a few weeks ago, the driver had a notice on the back of the headrest saying tips are welcomed. I love being able to get out and not worry about having to tip etc. Also knowing that you haven’t been taken on an extra 5 mile journey is a bonus.

        • Rob says:

          11 Apr11 April 13:07

          Even that seems a bit poor, I’m on 4.59 and my kids cause chaos in Uber cars, including once throwing up (luckily into a bag), on a regular basis 🙂

      • Graham Walsh says:

        11 Apr11 April 13:23

        LOL Rob, good shot from your child.

        Uber ratings are out of 5.

• Matt says:

  11 Apr11 April 09:12

  With the Tesco accounts, do the direct debit need to be set up, or actually pay out each month?

  • Rob says:

    11 Apr11 April 09:15

    Looks like 3 payments need to go out, as I read it. Could be £1 charity donations of course.

    • Matt says:

      11 Apr11 April 10:17

      That;s annoying – I managed to open one account before they shut it, but was going to open another 3 – think I’ll have to give it a miss though

      • Cate says:

        11 Apr11 April 11:25

        Paypal direct debit to yourself?

• Gill says:

  11 Apr11 April 09:32

  For the Hilton offer:
  4 of us are having a few days away so need 2 rooms, currently selling at £140 each.
  Staying for 3 nights Is it feasible for 3 of us to each book a night with the offer? If I rang up would the hotel be likely to link the bookings to avoid checking in & out each day? Or would that be too difficult to organise?

  • Sam says:

    11 Apr11 April 09:50

    Hotels can usually do this fine. I’ve done similar with my girlfriend and I booking separately using points. Hotels have always been able to keep us in the same room so far.

    • Genghis says:

      11 Apr11 April 09:55

      I’ve also done this many times. Good for combining say a Hilton free night with a paid stay or if you want to remain flexible by booking a fully refundable (cash or points) stay in one night batches so you can chop and change nights etc.

  • Rob says:

    11 Apr11 April 10:18

    Easy to link bookings. I have 3 separate bookings here in Tokyo for 3 nights (because middle night required a Premium Room Hilton redemption) and in HK we had 2 separate bookings over 4 nights. Very easy for hotel to link.

• Lou says:

  11 Apr11 April 10:07

  Oh man, I’ve already done the lump sum payment for my council tax and service charge. Oh well, there’s always next year

  • Genghis says:

    11 Apr11 April 10:15

    You mean you’d like to have paid using the Tesco debit card? 0.3 avios /£ is not great. Note you can ‘accidentally’ overpay your council tax and then ask for a refund (to your bank account).

  • James67 says:

    11 Apr11 April 10:38

    You can ask for a refund minus amount already due, and then pay all over again with a method of your choice.

    • Lou says:

      12 Apr12 April 18:48

      Thanks guys. I can’t be bothered with installments/DD, and just pay the whole lot as a lump. My council charges for CCs, so DC is my only option.

      Yes, weird people like me do exist 😀

  • Oliver says:

    11 Apr11 April 12:23

    Santander 123 lite does 1% back on council tax direct debit don’t forget

    • Alan says:

      11 Apr11 April 12:41

      Or 3% c/back with RBS/NatWest…

• Liz says:

  11 Apr11 April 10:22

  OT Fingers crossed my points transfer problem with Lloyds Avios credit card has now been resolved. Points for the missing 4 months were transferred manually last week – received a refund of the £24 fee, £275 comp and £13 for phone calls – total £312. Proof will be on18/4 if the next statement points transfer automatically. Points to date were 12818 – been told that once the issue has been resolved completely by Lloyds I will receive all those points again (within 26 wks)

  • Genghis says:

    11 Apr11 April 11:57

    The 2.5 avios/£ might just continue past six months as well if you’re lucky…

    • Nick_C says:

      11 Apr11 April 12:07

      Sounds interesting! Could you elaborate on that?

      • Alan says:

        11 Apr11 April 12:42

        Some folk have been lucky and it has continued, for most of us it stopped though – don’t think there’s anything you can do to change it though!

    • James67 says:

      11 Apr11 April 13:36

      Mine was still going great ar 2.5 after 9 months then following issues with my card they sent me a new one sans doubld points. In the end it didn’t matter as I no longer have great interest in avios so cancelled the card. Now focussing on MR and SPG points (for LH F, nig yet sure) or hotels. Clubcard points I will likely use for Hilton in the UK by cherry picking good value stays.

      • Genghis says:

        11 Apr11 April 13:38

        There’s value in Intrepid travel too at 3x for Tesco cc vouchers.

      • the real harry1 says:

        11 Apr11 April 14:02

        good spot http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ie/

        somewhat niche but interesting

      • James67 says:

        11 Apr11 April 20:59

        Right up our street Genghis, thanks. We much prefer independent travel but this is still worthy of exploring although I cannot see us earning any more than about 10k clubcard points a year excluding bonuses.

      • Genghis says:

        12 Apr12 April 04:19

        I’m an independent travel kinda guy too but I used them to book a tour in Kruger next Feb. Might use them more if we like this one

  • Alan says:

    11 Apr11 April 12:42

    Nicely done, Liz 🙂

  • Alex W says:

    11 Apr11 April 22:02

    I thought the every day offers were just for the Lloyds debit card. I thought the credit card cash back was only through Amex connect?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      12 Apr12 April 00:00

      Amex connect are only for the registered AMEX.

      The lloyds offers are for any card you have linked to your online account

• Liz says:

  11 Apr11 April 10:25

  OT I have received an alert on my Equifax credit file showing a company called SYGMA Ltd for a credit card – is this part of Creation – just recently taken out the IHG Creation Card.

  • Genghis says:

    11 Apr11 April 10:30

    Yes. Not sure precisely of the nature but looks like Creation Finance were previously known as Sygma Bank, all part of BNP.

    • Liz says:

      11 Apr11 April 10:42

      Thanks Genghis – makes you nervous when you don’t recognise the name.

    • Peter K says:

      11 Apr11 April 14:34

      Or up north the SNP 😉

• Leo C says:

  11 Apr11 April 11:51

  Hi Rob
  I have had 2 Tesco bank accounts for a couple of years with 2 direct debits- do i have to increase it to 3 or is that for new applicants?
  Thanks
  Leo

  • Leo C says:

    11 Apr11 April 18:12

    Thanks Nick

    Leo

• Genghis says:

  11 Apr11 April 11:53

  Earning 3 avios / £ on the BAPP?

  • h1tvd says:

    11 Apr11 April 12:07

    the 3 x avios were for making a purchase through avios.com. I’m hoping for 600 virgin miles for buying john lewis gift card in waitrose instore, 450 miles for spending said giftcard at john lewis online through avios.com, 225 avios for spending £150 on my BAPP to buy the giftcard. Sound right? Only waiting on the virgin miles…..

    • TGLoyalty says:

      11 Apr11 April 20:35

      Virgin say gift card purchases are excluded so keep us updated

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