Can I cancel Barclays Avios Plus Card after receiving voucher?

[mskrfttt]

Hi there!

I met the spending target for the Barclays Avios Plus account and received the upgrade voucher. I redeemed the voucher and it’s added to my BA executive account.

I’m wondering if I can cancel the card now to not pay for it anymore and I’ll be able to use the upgrade voucher within 24 months still.

I can’t downgrade the card because apparently, I viewed the pin, which doesn’t allow me to downgrade the card for the next 30 days. This is pretty ridiculous and I just don’t want to deal with it anymore.

The customer service is not very helpful either.

[AndrewT]

mskrfttt wrote:

I can’t downgrade the card because apparently, I viewed the pin, which doesn’t allow me to downgrade the card for the next 30 days.

I apologies for laughing out loud at that ‘feature’, which hasn’t been highlighted before. Absolutely no problem cancelling the card if you wish, providing you’re happy the voucher is definitely showing in your BA account (as opposed to Barclaycard saying it should be, which as some have learned the hard way is not quite the same).

[mskrfttt]

AndrewT wrote:

I apologies for laughing out loud at that ‘feature’, which hasn’t been highlighted before.

You have no idea what my reaction was when I heard it and how ridiculous it is. Also, each agent said to me something completely different.

I double-checked my BA account and I can definitely see the voucher there. I just wasn’t sure if it works in the same way as with AMEX that I need to have a Barclays card in order to use it.

[AndrewT]

Not that I doubted the original post, but as I’ve obviously got too much time on my hands I thought I’d give it a try.

1. Check in the app that I currently have options to switch cards – I do.
2. View my pin.
3. Check back to view my switch options – sure enough they’ve all disappeared!

BA IT Dept eat your hearts out.

[yonasl]

You will have to wait 30 days but should be able to downgrade and use the voucher (I have a downgraded card and a couple of vouchers I got before).

[mskrfttt]

AndrewT wrote:

Not that I doubted the original post, but as I’ve obviously got too much time on my hands I thought I’d give it a try.

1. Check in the app that I currently have options to switch cards – I do.
2. View my pin.
3. Check back to view my switch options – sure enough they’ve all disappeared!

BA IT Dept eat your hearts out.

It makes me feel a bit better that it’s actual behaviour and nothing wrong with my account. But it’s so awful…

yonasl wrote:

You will have to wait 30 days but should be able to downgrade and use the voucher (I have a downgraded card and a couple of vouchers I got before).

I just don’t want to keep paying for the credit card just to use the voucher eventually.

[JDB]

mskrfttt wrote:

AndrewT wrote:

Not that I doubted the original post, but as I’ve obviously got too much time on my hands I thought I’d give it a try.

1. Check in the app that I currently have options to switch cards – I do.
2. View my pin.
3. Check back to view my switch options – sure enough they’ve all disappeared!

BA IT Dept eat your hearts out.

It makes me feel a bit better that it’s actual behaviour and nothing wrong with my account. But it’s so awful…

As it’s only £20 it’s not really “so awful” after you have got a voucher with a floor price of £70. I understand that you have decided to cut and run so want to save every last cent and are therefore a bit brassed off, but I’m afraid it’s actually quite funny and good business, a tiny fight back vs churners. Bit like peep shows of old.

[AndrewT]

I don’t see how it’s got anything to do with churning, and hard to believe it’s intentional. It also prevents you upgrading from the free card (as I happen to have at present) to the paid one.

Can’t see any security related implications as any change doesn’t take effect until the next statement date anyway.