Advice Please ... [my PC account is 'locked']

[Rick93]

Ok, it looks like I've really shot myself in the foot ( and both legs !! ) ...

I've just checked my PC account, and it's come up with a red box statement, indicating the account is not currently active.

Does this happen occasionally, or ... ( worst case scenario ) I've been cancelled.

A few of you will no doubt be shaking your heads, as you know what I've recently done.

So, I would be asking, what appeals process is available? How would the 'average Joe' know what can be done, and can't be done, when it comes to the various PC program offers and promotions?

I'm really going to feel 'sick' if I've lost 'tens of thousands' of points AND my RA status ...

GORDO

 

[markis10]

There is no appeals process, your account will be subject to an audit to see if any unfair advantage has been obtained, if there has it will be closed and status/points forfeited.

 

[Mal]

There is an audit process happening afaik. Probably certain points will be removed when its complete.

Probably the best source of info at this stage will be on flyertalk.com or milepoint.com in their priority club sections.

I haven't checked these sites though but know they will have. More info.

Good luck with the process.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[Rick93]

OMG !!! Noooooooooo !!

 

[markis10]

Priority Club Shopping Toolbar: a Glitch I Decided Not to Write About - View from the Wing

 

[Rick93]

On the phone to them now ...

 

[Rick93]

Thanks for that link Markis.
Wish I had of seen that FIRST. but as some of the respondants to that thread are saying, how would you know what is to be considered a 'sackable offence' ??

US Ambassador Centre closed at this time.

I'll be sweating until I get to talk to them ...

Gee, would have been great if someone had of mentioned, that PC account holders SHOULD NOT over attempt to use these type of promotions.

When I get to speak to someone in authority, is there an 'offer' I should make to them ... such as I will not enter any further promotions for X amount of time; or that I agree to forfeit X number of points etc.

Hell !! What am I going to do with my current bookings - especially the IC Club Room booked for our 20th. Wedding Anniversary !!! ( use of PC & RA privileges )

GORDO

 

[markis10]

Its just common sense that you dont over indulge, no one warned folks who took advantage of an ATM flaw in Perth to withdraw more than their balance recently, now they are all facing theft charges, no different to a flaw on a website that gives you more points than you should get, and in both cases those transactions are easily identified and tracked back.

 

[oz_mark]

If they are doing an audit of the accounts, then there is not much you can really do until they have completed the audit. Until then, it is not possible to know which way they will go. They may reinstate your account, less any excess points, or they may cancel it. Not sure offering them anything is going to sway them one way or the other.

Hopefully you stopped at 15!

 

[Rick93]

Why 15 ??

Actually, I had 17 credits posted.

To those who are 'critical' ...

Did any of you acquire more than a 'reasonable' number of points the the AMEX promo of a few years ago ??

How 'morale' was it for certain people who have racked up to ( was it ? ) 23 million AMEX Reward points, using a scheme of charging 1, 2 , or 3 cents to their credit card, in order to accrue 5,000 points with each transaction?? Was that what AMEX had intended??

Talk about 'throwing stones' ...

 

[markis10]

Why 15 ??

Actually, I had 17 credits posted.

To those who are 'critical' ...

Did any of you acquire more than a 'reasonable' number of points the the AMEX promo of a few years ago ??

How 'morale' was it for certain people who have racked up to ( was it ? ) 23 million AMEX Reward points, using a scheme of charging 1, 2 , or 3 cents to their credit card, in order to accrue 5,000 points with each transaction?? Was that what AMEX had intended??

Talk about 'throwing stones' ...

Difference was the activity was in the terms of the promotion, in that case such activity was not prohibited, more than one download of the toolbar in your case was clearly in violation of the terms, big difference. Surprised you cannot see that!

 

[anat0l]

Why 15 ??

Actually, I had 17 credits posted.

To those who are 'critical' ...

Did any of you acquire more than a 'reasonable' number of points the the AMEX promo of a few years ago ??

How 'morale' was it for certain people who have racked up to ( was it ? ) 23 million AMEX Reward points, using a scheme of charging 1, 2 , or 3 cents to their credit card, in order to accrue 5,000 points with each transaction?? Was that what AMEX had intended??

Talk about 'throwing stones' ...

Well if you want to you can take your case to IHG, e.g. try arguing a case wherever IHG are based, or join a class action if someone instigates one. Checking out FT may give you some vectors.

People did complain to Amex and OFTs around the country and Amex did cave in. But had Amex gone the other way and instigated other retaliatory measures (e.g. forcibly closing MR accounts, possibly credit cards and adding black marks to credit records), all those "nice" stories you hear about wouldn't exist and would be quite the opposite. As it stands, the latter did not happen, but may have.

Same thing here with PC.

Long story short, everyone who wants to do something which is clearly gaming the system accepts the risks and shouldn't be surprised if it carries negative consequences. Unfortunately in this case, the dice were loaded against you. If you don't like it, then consider your legal options.


P.S. I believe the maximum in that failed Amex promo was 2.3 million, not 23 million.

 

[oz_mark]

Why 15 ??

Actually, I had 17 credits posted.

Only because I thought that was the number you mentioned you were up to elsewhere. They may (or may not) look more favourably than if you had done it several hundred times.

The reality is, at the moment, there may not be much more you can do than await their decision.

 

[Rick93]

Now that I think about it ...

There has been a few occasions, where there seems to be a 'cone of silence' over certain practices, regarding 'lerks & perks' with reward programs.

Be it credit card points, airline points, or others ...

A few times I've been 'warned' not to 'talk' about things. Yes, I've then retracted / deleted cetain comments, as advised.

However, I'm wondering WHY there is no warning on any of these 'reward program' threads, that MAKES IT CLEAR to all players, just what some of the 'rules' are really like. If I had of noticed a thread on this forum, that gave warning to readers about 'over-activating' various promotional offers etc. then I would have accepted that warning, and not engaged beyond what was IDENTIFIED as being the limit.

( has this been discussed elsewhere ?? )

How many people need to 'pay dearly' for a lack of a WARNING NOTICE thread at the top of every promotional offer forum topic ??

I hope the owner / moderators strongly consider the cost to some forum users ... if I didn't read the post on this particular PC offer, I wouldn't be in the position I am now !!

Yes, I know there are going to be X number of people say, it's my own fault ... is it REALLY ??

GORDO

 

[medhead]

You mention over-activating. I think the use of that term suggests you were doing more that was intended or expected. That should have been the warning in itself.

Do you have 17 computers that need the PC toolbar?


Sent from the Throne

 

[Rick93]

I don't think you ARE ALL as innocent as you make out ...

Never downloaded a 'second' program, where you've only paid for one? Never ( somehow ) viewed something online - where you 'should' have paid for it? Never used a valid train ticket you found, just before you needed to buy one? Never picked up a coin or note from the street, and kept it? Never read the paper you found on your train seat - because YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR IT !!!!

Come on ...

This isn't about what's been paid for, or deemingly 'stolen' etc.

This is about clicking a button on a computer !!!

I've often 'tried out' things online - just to see what will happen. ( except paying for certain types of credit card downloaded material )

My position on the matter is, and will be, that if the system allowed me to do it - then it's not 'all' my fault. I DID NOT click onto any type of 'agreement' prior to entering the promo concerned, to say I would agree to enter ONLY ONCE.

I would still appreciate hearing about other's experience, in how PC / IHG / SCH deals with these issues. Or ... is that too going to be a 'taboo' topic that can't be spoken about ???

GORDO

 

[markis10]

This isn't about what's been paid for, or deemingly 'stolen' etc.

This is about clicking a button on a computer !!!

It is about whats stolen, when the rules say you can only get one lot of points per user, and you find a way to go around this, then its stealing.

People click a button on a computer when they withdraw cash from an ATM, does not change the principal, which is what we are talking about here, no one is personalising it but you.

Did you miss the part that said "by downloading the toolbar you agree to the terms and conditions" and the terms and conditions saying "Terms & Conditions. Must be a Priority Club® Rewards member to participate. 300 bonus points will be awarded for one toolbar download per member"

 

[medhead]

Personally, I didn't see this as a question of doing something or not. What was raised was a warning about the risks involved. IMO the risk of just clicking a button is well known, just as are the risks of doing the other things mentioned in the thread. People decide to proceed or not based on awareness of the risks. Hence I don't think a warning is required.

This is not an opinion about the rightness or otherwise of doing something.


Sent from the Throne

 

[fairhsa]

OK - so reading this, the OP tried to game the system by taking advantage of some technological loophole in an offer, got found out and is now banned. Why are we even trying to help him? Only got himself to blame! What did he THINK would happen?

 

[mannej]

I don't think you ARE ALL as innocent as you make out ...

Never downloaded a 'second' program, where you've only paid for one? Never ( somehow ) viewed something online - where you 'should' have paid for it? Never used a valid train ticket you found, just before you needed to buy one? Never picked up a coin or note from the street, and kept it? Never read the paper you found on your train seat - because YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR IT !!!!

Come on ...

That is a moot point in terms of the issue at hand.

I am sure if you search for the warnings, you will find them.