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Can anyone who uses TCB US for IHG bookings advise how long they take to pay out? I believe there are others out there who use it successfully.
For whatever cookie related or other unexplained reason TCB UK stopped tracking for me, so I started using TCB US which has been consistently tracking all my bookings (and almost always offers better cashback rates than the UK as well), and I now have half a dozen which have updated to Confirmed status within a few days of completing the stay. However none have yet become Payable.
The first completed stay was early May, so now well over the nine weeks suggested by TCB, but a data point or two would be appreciated to know whether I’m wasting my time or not.
My last one was a smidge over 3 months after checkout. It did get revised down though, not sure why and I thought it best not to pursue.
Thanks for that, I’ll sit tight for a bit longer.
What I’ve deduced is that US bookings correctly track at the given percentage of the net cost excluding taxes, but UK bookings initially track against the full cost including VAT. When they convert to Confirmed they get adjusted down to the net cost. I guess it’s down to different systems used in different places and what gets reported when.
Ta, that explains it. I’ve found the US site to be very reliable so far.
Ta, that explains it. I’ve found the US site to be very reliable so far.
Sadly I’m finding the opposite. Booking.com and Expedia were reliable but BW, Marriott and IHG all failed for the past year on TCB US.
On United’s mileage shopping I’m getting untracked/declines as well where it was previously reliable and I note in their reason list they’ve now added a “IP address must be in the US” excuse. So their users can’t book hotels whilst travelling then? Just gets silly.
I’m using the Windscribe add on for Chrome and connecting to a US site before booking.
I’ve not used TCB US extensively, but everything I’ve tried has tracked successfully using Microsoft Edge (which I use exclusively for that purpose to minimise the risk of ‘cookie conflict’) on Windows 11. Multiple IHG stays, a couple of BA Holidays bookings and one for booking.com.
I’m using the Windscribe add on for Chrome and connecting to a US site before booking.
I have never used the VPN and all transactions have tracked.
Ta, that explains it. I’ve found the US site to be very reliable so far.
Sadly I’m finding the opposite. Booking.com and Expedia were reliable but BW, Marriott and IHG all failed for the past year on TCB US.
Anything in the fine print? For example Hilton link says no cashback for elite members. Marriott often has exceptions based on region.
Anything in the fine print? For example Hilton link says no cashback for elite members. Marriott often has exceptions based on region.
No they were just normal bookings for US hotels. Nothing in the Ts&Cs just didn’t track. I keep Chrome clear for all my purchases. The only one where I did actually fall foul of the small print was that US Kimptons were specifically excluded.
@Strickers, thanks I’ll look at WindscribeTCB UK also fails to track for me, since 2022. I have not used TCB US, but I have got TCB Australia to track. They recently had a 15% rate for all IHG hotels so I rebooked everything, but not yet stayed on any of those bookings so can’t say how long it takes to pay.
My last 20 IHG stays were booked through Cashrewards Australia on a 10% rate on all IHG hotels, which they offer on a regular basis. 19 of the 20 paid out a few days after check out. The 20th stay took 10 months to pay (possibly because the cashback was very high at A$300, adjusted down from $350 for no reason I can see but didn’t argue since I treat it as a bonus anyway). However this site an requires Australian mobile for 2fa SMS and can only be accessed from an Australian IP, so requires a VPN from everywhere else. TCB Aus works from anywhere.
To get IHG to track, I untoggle the “Are you a travel agent?” button under Rate Preference and then click Search. This step has to be repeated several times, because the button turns itself on again at each stage of booking (choosing hotel then choosing room). I don’t know how strict you need to be but failing to do this has resulted in non-tracking.
To get IHG to track, I untoggle the “Are you a travel agent?” button under Rate Preference and then click Search. This step has to be repeated several times, because the button turns itself on again at each stage of booking (choosing hotel then choosing room). I don’t know how strict you need to be but failing to do this has resulted in non-tracking.
I’m not sure why you would want to be removing the Travel Agent box, that number is used by IHG to track the commission it pays to Travel Agents or in this case TCB probably via an affiliate program such as Commission Junction.
For example when using the US TCB site ‘qIta=99634986″ should be ‘injected’ into the booking as the TA number.I’m not sure why you would want to be removing the Travel Agent box, that number is used by IHG to track the commission it pays to Travel Agents or in this case TCB probably via an affiliate program such as Commission Junction.
For example when using the US TCB site ‘qIta=99634986″ should be ‘injected’ into the booking as the TA number.I am not sure why either, but all I can say is that it doesn’t track when I have it selected and it tracks when I remove it.
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