ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

[legroom]

I lost about 38,000 points because I put through tax at the start of March not knowing Citi had changed their policy.

I've lodged a complaint about it with Citi and I was offered 12,000 points in full and final settlement because I am a "valued customer". I declined and have told them I either want the full points or I'll be seeing them at the FSO.

Even now (6/4/13), there is no official communication sent to Selectors about this policy switch.

It's arguable to anyone being affected to adopt the same response like Stephen65.

Sure, if you call up, you could be given an explanation.

But that is, IMHO, materially different from a mass mail-out to all Selectors, many of whom are not AFFers.

 

[cove]

In a weird sort of way I am now pleased that our next lot of income taxes will be paid before July 21st.

 

[Pukka]

That may be the next of the dominoes to fall. Although 1pt/$ is still not all that flash with Amex CC surcharge. Bank issued Amex cards still offer better value. And who knows how long they will last. We can only hope that there are contractual issues between Amex and the banks which make it difficult for them to unravel (enhance) benefits.

Well I think there were contractural issues with Qantas or so the RM told me but they seem to have got around that now

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

EDR QANTAS MASTERCARD & JETSTAR MASTER CARD = 1 point for dollar

 

[cove]

The Jetstar CC has a 100k cap I think.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

The Jetstar CC has a 100k cap I think.

Yes but then use the EDR CC

 

[oz_mark]

Well I think there were contractural issues with Qantas or so the RM told me but they seem to have got around that now

Well, there are always opportunities for them to renegotiate, or perhaps changes when renewing the contract, etc....

 

[cj0325]

I lost about 38,000 points because I put through tax at the start of March not knowing Citi had changed their policy.

I've lodged a complaint about it with Citi and I was offered 12,000 points in full and final settlement because I am a "valued customer". I declined and have told them I either want the full points or I'll be seeing them at the FSO.

Interesting. Did you speak to someone in Citi's customer advocacy unit before being offered that settlement, or just someone in their overseas call centre?

 

[PLANT]

Look I got a couple of cards to help you out buddy:
Cookies must be enabled | Herald Sun
[h=1]George Williams' alleged tax debt of more than $700,000 is set to have him face the Supreme Court[/h]

 

[wafliron]

I lost about 38,000 points because I put through tax at the start of March not knowing Citi had changed their policy.

I've lodged a complaint about it with Citi and I was offered 12,000 points in full and final settlement because I am a "valued customer". I declined and have told them I either want the full points or I'll be seeing them at the FSO.

I assume this was for personal tax? Good luck - and good on you for fighting back against Citi's dodginess. Please do let us know how it goes.

 

[Stephen65]

Interesting. Did you speak to someone in Citi's customer advocacy unit before being offered that settlement, or just someone in their overseas call centre?

I complained to the call centre girl and she said she would escalate it. I got an email from a case manager at the Customer Advocacy Unit in Australia offering me the 12,000 points. I wrote back insisting on the full entitlement. I got a telephone call from him last week saying that wasn't possible. I asked him to put the refusal in writing so I could pursue it with the FSO. As of today no written refusal but I see he tried to telephone me earlier today so I will chase it up on Monday.

 

[legroom]

I complained to the call centre girl and she said she would escalate it. I got an email from a case manager at the Customer Advocacy Unit in Australia offering me the 12,000 points. I wrote back insisting on the full entitlement. I got a telephone call from him last week saying that wasn't possible. I asked him to put the refusal in writing so I could pursue it with the FSO. As of today no written refusal but I see he tried to telephone me earlier today so I will chase it up on Monday.

We are all interested to hear of the progress of your case.

Thanks to you, at least one member (me) now know of the existence of the Customer Advocacy Unit at Citi

 

[drross]

We are all interested to hear of the progress of your case.

Thanks to you, at least one member (me) now know of the existence of the Customer Advocacy Unit at Citi

make that at least 2 members now

 

[cove]

I thought about this and I am leaving it to you two as I don't currently want to transfer my Citi Rewards points out of the Citi warehouse. If I change my mind and transfer the lot to Kris Flyer then sure I will join you. I lost about 180,000 Citi Rewards points in March but it could have been far worse. Citi could go back if you rile them.

 

[Beta4Me]

I thought about this and I am leaving it to you two as I don't currently want to transfer my Citi Rewards points out of the Citi warehouse. If I change my mind and transfer the lot to Kris Flyer then sure I will join you. I lost about 180,000 Citi Rewards points in March but it could have been far worse. Citi could go back if you rile them.

Wonder if there is any impact of them going back and taking away points if you have a 0 balance. Can you have a negative balance?

 

[Pukka]

Wonder if there is any impact of them going back and taking away points if you have a 0 balance. Can you have a negative balance?

No I doubt it because surely you would just close the card.

I transferred all my points to Krisflyer when they stopped paying for ATO because that's where 80% of the points came from.

Didn't want to risk any retrospective clawback but I doubt they would

 

[wafliron]

Wonder if there is any impact of them going back and taking away points if you have a 0 balance. Can you have a negative balance?

I've read stories on AFF of CC companies taking back FF points that have already been tranferred to an airline (in the context of incorrect points being awarded due to a glitch, I think), leaving a negative point balance in the actual FF program. It's only been one or two references though, and I have no idea which CC companies and airlines were involved, nor whether they were first hand experiences of AFF members or just AFF members relating info they'd heard elsewhere.

That said, I just can't imagine Citi doing this - they'd have such a massive fight on their hands from numerous customers, not to mention bad press, that I doubt it would be worth it. Better for them to make the change they have, ignore the past, and move on.

 

[burmans]

I've read stories on AFF of CC companies taking back FF points that have already been tranferred to an airline (in the context of incorrect points being awarded due to a glitch, I think), leaving a negative point balance in the actual FF program. It's only been one or two references though, and I have no idea which CC companies and airlines were involved, nor whether they were first hand experiences of AFF members or just AFF members relating info they'd heard elsewhere.

That said, I just can't imagine Citi doing this - they'd have such a massive fight on their hands from numerous customers, not to mention bad press, that I doubt it would be worth it. Better for them to make the change they have, ignore the past, and move on.

And whats to stop someone just closing their negative balance account I might add!

 

[angusburns]

Me too, I missed out on just over 55k points but got lots of points warehoused. So risk reward ratio really rather rats..t

 

[DaveB]

Citi will definitely claw back on the right issue. In my case, I had one of the original Signature cards and for some reason was overlooked when caps were introduced. I went a few years on this earning well over and then got lazy in transferring the points out.
It cost me from memory around 400K in points slightly lessened after complaining of the retro (something along the lines of putting up with the Gov't is one thing, but not when I have a choice) getting the Select for no extra on the first year.