Diners-ropey start

[andye]

Hasn't been the best customer experience so far. Cards have worked fine and I wasn't expecting widespread DC acceptance.
but..
1. No supplementary card as requested on initial application (now received after repeat application)
2. When supp card came no sign of a PIN. I called diners and told need to request a PIN specifically!
3. No mention of rewards on initial statement or website-called to check was registered and told wasn't registered as rewards is an option with an additional fee. Pointed him to website saying no fee with combined DC/MC account. Reistered for rewards and asked to confirm first month will earn rewards - after a bit of hold time told to check next month as should credit (I'm not confident they will)

A million miles from Amex

 

[Hammando]

Welcome to Diners!

Seems like nothing's changed with their service then.

 

[andye]

I'll forgive if AA and Alaska don't devalue-I'm assuming these are the sweet spots.

 

[albyd]

If you can funnel enough of your spend to DC it is worth it for the wider range of reward partners, 2ppd Velocity earn & best SPG (outside of platinum edge Amex at supermarkets only).

I've been with DC a few months and gets better with time. Haven't had to call them in a while & points are showing up (albeit one month in arrears).

Worthwhile persevering with them IMO.

 

[kooky]

If you can funnel enough of your spend to DC it is worth it for the wider range of reward partners, 2ppd Velocity earn & best SPG (outside of platinum edge Amex at supermarkets only).

I've been with DC a few months and gets better with time. Haven't had to call them in a while & points are showing up (albeit one month in arrears).

Worthwhile persevering with them IMO.

It sounds good. Aside from Velocity, is transferring to SPG the best option in "most" cases for airline redemptions?
(Compared with Hyatt, Marriott and direct transfer to airline partners)

 

[albyd]

I'm only transferring to SPG as I plan to redeem accommodation. Otherwise predominantly Velocity or Krisflyer points collector here.

 

[andye]

The PIN did come the day after I rang so I guess it was just delayed in the post rather than needing to be sent on request. It did seem a bizarre thing to say from Customer Service

 

[andye]

All issues seem to be resolved now:
Supplementary card up and working with another PIN issued in post (the 2nd PIN was easier to remember whcih is good as you don't seem to be able to change a supplementary one online)
Letter from Diners saying they will credit the first month's points next statement (I was able to give additional feedback on the issue as was sent an email survey)
Website seems to be working well now with some reasonable functionality although transactions seem quite slow to post

Now that we've settled our differences, looking forward to a new start

 

[drron]

All the best but You almost certainly will have more problems.Their IT is pathetic.I persist because when it works it does give more options.
However triple point wednesday dining is going from 1/2/15.
Still have significant problems accessing my account.Need a new passport every 3 months.if I try and use my password at 3 months and 1 day it locks my account.The change password option wont work as it keeps saying I am using the wrong card or account number-hello I have them in front of me.So I have to ring.Great when you are overseas.
With my rants everytime I have to ring up to access my account I am a little surprised they continue to issue me a new card.

 

[albyd]

Have you had any annual fee concessions? Sounds like you have had some tenure with DC.

I got my first year's annual fee waived after a series of bungles at the beginning. Reasonably happy now with only a few bug bears. Bigger choice of redemption partners for their points warehouse is a distinct positive.

Acceptance not up there with Amex but I managed to put 1/3rd of my "ordinary" spend through it last month.

 

[andye]

....I persist because when it works it.....

At the moment if it were a car it would be an Alfa Romeo

 

[Hammando]

At the moment if it were a car it would be an Alfa Romeo

Brilliant!

 

[drron]

Have you had any annual fee concessions? Sounds like you have had some tenure with DC.

I got my first year's annual fee waived after a series of bungles at the beginning. Reasonably happy now with only a few bug bears. Bigger choice of redemption partners for their points warehouse is a distinct positive.

Acceptance not up there with Amex but I managed to put 1/3rd of my "ordinary" spend through it last month.

Basically I persist because mine is fee free.

 

[kpc]

Basically I persist because mine is fee free.

Ditto. .also gets you and ALL your supplementary card holders into a number of airport lounges worldwide. .none in Australia though.

 

[albyd]

Is your fee free card a professional association card? Do you have the MC companion & therefore the better earn rate across the board?

 

[drron]

I would think kpc and I have the same professional card.I don't have the MC as it would cost.I don't think the hassles make it attractive for me and as well can get similar benefits with similar costs with other card providers-again withprofessional group discount.

 

[andye]

I don't see 0.78 SPG (=AA=AS) as a bad option for a MC.Maybe not quite as good earn as a high end citi card but more flexible I see the DC earn (for flights etc) as a bonus.

 

[Keftetha]

So its been 4 weeks since I first applied to Diners and still no cards. The fact that I practically had to give out all my colleague's info to verify that I actually work where I do is not something I was impressed about. Call up every week only to be told I have no application then getting palmed off to another department who can see my application and status.

Getting very frustrated with this whole process and I was looking forward to pooling all my points into diners. Regardless of why people think you can't use it anywhere, but when you have the combined MasterCard with it and when you actually do use the diners it's 3 points per dollar everywhere, unlike Amex which varies its points depending on what you're doing with it, I'm thinking it may not be worth staying with diners because of their coughpy customer service...

If I do go to Amex what would be a good visa/mc to compliment it? I'm paying for all flights myself and don't fly regular enough to hold any status so I'm looking more at using points to upgrade. Am still VA gold but won't hold it when I drop to silver in March.

 

[albyd]

Amex doesn't have its own companion visa/mc but the major banks all have companion products. Best card for you will depend on what rewards you're looking to get out of it. Westpac altitude black has similar points earn to Diners and a similarly high annual fee. Only main restriction at this stage is points for ATO. If that's not your focus, then Westpac could be an alternative option.

I found Diners difficult at first. Now, a few months in, all settled down and I agree DC acceptance isn't too bad. If travel rewards is what you're after, have larger range of points partners including SPG & Hhonours which Westpac doesn't have.

 

[andye]

So its been 4 weeks since I first applied to Diners and still no cards. The fact that I practically had to give out all my colleague's info to verify that I actually work where I do is not something I was impressed about. Call up every week only to be told I have no application then getting palmed off to another department who can see my application and status.

Getting very frustrated with this whole process and I was looking forward to pooling all my points into diners. Regardless of why people think you can't use it anywhere, but when you have the combined MasterCard with it and when you actually do use the diners it's 3 points per dollar everywhere, unlike Amex which varies its points depending on what you're doing with it, I'm thinking it may not be worth staying with diners because of their coughpy customer service...

If I do go to Amex what would be a good visa/mc to compliment it? I'm paying for all flights myself and don't fly regular enough to hold any status so I'm looking more at using points to upgrade. Am still VA gold but won't hold it when I drop to silver in March.

The first thing I would say if you don't fly much and are looking to upgrade is don't choose a Qantas earning one.

Even though I have a Diners now (and am going to see how it goes), I will still keep my Amex Plat edge as you get a free return flight and statement credit offers that more than cover the fee.

Other potential complementary cards are:
Citibank-good earn rate (better the higher the annual fee you choose) with reaoanble flexibility. No ATO earn
Virgin High Flyer-very good earn (for Virgin only) and some flight discounts. No ATO earn
Westpac Black as per albyd
ANZ Rewards Black-combined Amex/Visa, some flexibility and currently some ATO earn but the Visa earn is a bit lower. Can also get decent points earn on utilities unlike Amex-issued card