Changes to Hilton HHonors Macquarie Platinum Card

[kpc]

You dropped below Diamond

But you are already diamond, kpc:


View attachment 67814

Unfortunately, I dropped to Gold on April 1st but have not changed my profile in the hope / anticipation of a quick bump back up to Diamond after I made 3x 13.5 K donations to Canberra in the last few days

 

[drross]

I hit $40k last Wednesday, rang up Macquarie Card Services on Thursday as I was staying at a Hilton property over the weekend and my account was showing Diamond by Friday - strongly recommend you ring up!

we did the same as we had a stay coming up - worked well and definitely worth a quick phone call

 

[kpc]

Unfortunately, I dropped to Gold on April 1st but have not changed my profile in the hope / anticipation of a quick bump back up to Diamond after I made 3x 13.5 K donations to Canberra in the last few days

Crossed 40K threshold on Wed am...transaction posted to my account (rather then pending) 2 days later on Friday, and less than 24 hours later, account automatically upgraded to Diamond with expiry date 31 March 2018 (nearly 2 years)...shame can't make donations to Canberra with this card post 11 May

 

[Foreigner]

Crossed 40K threshold on Wed am...transaction posted to my account (rather then pending) 2 days later on Friday, and less than 24 hours later, account automatically upgraded to Diamond with expiry date 31 March 2018 (nearly 2 years)...shame can't make donations to Canberra with this card post 11 May

Good outcome

 

[earlyriser]

May seem a silly question to those reading this thread but would you say spending 40K on the Macquarie HH card to reach diamond is a better use of spend than one that would yield 20K Velocity points? Have 7 nights coming up in January in Hilton's with executive lounges and a likely trip to the States in mid 17.

 

[kpc]

May seem a silly question to those reading this thread but would you say spending 40K on the Macquarie HH card to reach diamond is a better use of spend than one that would yield 20K Velocity points? Have 7 nights coming up in January in Hilton's with executive lounges and a likely trip to the States in mid 17.

To each their own but for me the $40K spent on paying the ATO cost me $168 in credit card surcharges (may also be tax deductible )+ a potential 40K QF points if I had used another card instead. ...in return, I get 1 free Hilton night world wide (when you spend 12K and this year I'm using mine at Conrad Koh Samui which is $800+ pn), 40K HH points which is a free night in a mid range Hilton and Hilton Diamond for 2 years...free Premium WiFi, breakfast and guaranteed lounge access for 2 + possible suite upgrades. ..and I stay in Hiltons a lot...so for me a no brainer!

 

[drross]

May seem a silly question to those reading this thread but would you say spending 40K on the Macquarie HH card to reach diamond is a better use of spend than one that would yield 20K Velocity points? Have 7 nights coming up in January in Hilton's with executive lounges and a likely trip to the States in mid 17.

we used our free night in Venice - 600+euro a night - great value just for that night

 

[SponsorSFC]

Sign up bonus points posted on first day of the second billing period the for our 2 cards. Converted straight into 2 nights at the Conrad Rangali.

Not yet hit the minimum spend but will be doing likewise for the 2 free weekend night certificates.

Even with the $99 annual fee and the cost of buying some points in the last promo to top up our accounts with enough for the ridiculous 95,000 point requirement we are about $7k ahead on this reservation.

I don't think I will be bothering to get to the spend for Diamond as Gold seems to provide enough benefits and 40k Hilton points doesn't seem to buy much.

So far this card has been great value but I doubt I will keep it for the 2nd year unless I can negotiate another year at a reduced fee.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I wonder how fast they can sign people up.

I usually do about $20,000 a month on ATO spend, so 2 months worth.

 

[SponsorSFC]

It seems to happen pretty quickly so I assume it is automated.

My Gold status confirmation from HHonors arrived before the MAQ card did.

 

[2tall4Y]

So far this card has been great value but I doubt I will keep it for the 2nd year unless I can negotiate another year at a reduced fee.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[BLK343]

I hit $40k last Wednesday, rang up Macquarie Card Services on Thursday as I was staying at a Hilton property over the weekend and my account was showing Diamond by Friday - strongly recommend you ring up!

No luck with Macquarie Card Services. They state what the T&C's mention .. 4-6 weeks post meeting the $40K requirements!

 

[kpc]

No luck with Macquarie Card Services. They state what the T&C's mention .. 4-6 weeks post meeting the $40K requirements!

See post #23

 

[BLK343]

See post #23

Thanks kpc .. Definitely crossed the $40K as well .. All posted (not pending). Called up Macquarie Card Services and there is nothing they can do. Did a HUCA and next agent mentioned 1-2 weeks! Go Figure!

 

[drross]

Thanks kpc .. Definitely crossed the $40K as well .. All posted (not pending). Called up Macquarie Card Services and there is nothing they can do. Did a HUCA and next agent mentioned 1-2 weeks! Go Figure!

our experience was much the same as kpc's. no real delay. not sure why you're having such a hassle

 

[earlyriser]

OP in this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....cheaper-book-through-qantas-hotels-76360.html is saying that the earn rate lowers to 0.5 HHonors points per dollar spent after the first $4000 spent.

I cannot find this in the card terms, this thread or anywhere else. Has anyone heard of this or is there some confusion due to Macquarie doing the above for their QFF cards?

 

[2tall4Y]

I just went back to the email I received on 31 March regarding the changes, and there is no mention of any change to the earn rate - I've copied and pasted the relevant bit below, and I draw your attention to the sentence highlighted in red:

Changes to your Credit Card Rewards Program[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]HHonors Bonus Points earned on eligible transactions/purchases[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"] The list of types of transactions that are not eligible to earn HHonors Bonus Points in section 3.b in your Credit Card Rewards Program Terms and Conditions is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following. This change will be effective on and from 11 May 2016.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"] HHonors Bonus Points are not earned in respect of the following amounts that may be charged to your Account:[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]

• GST and government charges (including fines paid to any government agency)
• payments made to the Australian Tax Office
• interest and other bank fees and charges (including any GST payable on any of these)
• BPAY[SUP]®[/SUP] payments, i.e. bill payments and other payments made through the BPAY Electronic Payments Scheme
• cash advances
• transactions for items that are directly convertible to cash (including, but not limited to, purchase of foreign currency and travellers cheques) or cash equivalent transactions
• balance transfers
• transactions deemed by us to be for operating a business or in connection with business expenditure
• transactions that are reversed (refunds)
• payments for credit card protection insurance
• transactions used for gambling purposes (including gambling chip and lottery ticket purchases).

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]This means that HHonors Bonus Points will not be earned on payments made to the Australian Tax Office, BPAY[SUP]®[/SUP] payments, transactions used for gambling purposes and transactions for items that are directly convertible to cash or cash equivalent transactions.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"] The rest of this section remains unchanged[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

OP in this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....cheaper-book-through-qantas-hotels-76360.html is saying that the earn rate lowers to 0.5 HHonors points per dollar spent after the first $4000 spent.

I cannot find this in the card terms, this thread or anywhere else. Has anyone heard of this or is there some confusion due to Macquarie doing the above for their QFF cards?

 

[earlyriser]

Thanks! I thought so - I even have ~$5000 spend so far this statement and ~5000 points! Just really want to be sure as planning a lot of spend on here to get to Diamond.

 

[2tall4Y]

Thanks! I thought so - I even have ~$5000 spend so far this statement and ~5000 points! Just really want to be sure as planning a lot of spend on here to get to Diamond.

No worries - I saw the other thread too and got worried as I have a pricey stay at a Hilton property coming up in a couple of weeks.

 

[bigray73]

Hi,

I've just applied for and received this card.

The line about no bonus points for Government charges and GST seems very common to credit cards. There are many examples of other credit cards awarding point for Local Council rates etc.

What is the opinion about points earning with this card for Land Tax and Local Council rates? Does anyone have any experience regarding this? What if Land Tax and Local Council Rates are paid via Postbillpay? Would Macquarie view this as simply a generic payment to Postbillpay and therefore award bonus points?

Thanks in advance

I just went back to the email I received on 31 March regarding the changes, and there is no mention of any change to the earn rate - I've copied and pasted the relevant bit below, and I draw your attention to the sentence highlighted in red:

Changes to your Credit Card Rewards Program[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="align: left"]HHonors Bonus Points earned on eligible transactions/purchases[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][/TABLE][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="align: left"] The list of types of transactions that are not eligible to earn HHonors Bonus Points in section 3.b in your Credit Card Rewards Program Terms and Conditions is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following. This change will be effective on and from 11 May 2016.[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][/TABLE][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="align: left"] HHonors Bonus Points are not earned in respect of the following amounts that may be charged to your Account:[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][/TABLE][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD]

• GST and government charges (including fines paid to any government agency)
• payments made to the Australian Tax Office
• interest and other bank fees and charges (including any GST payable on any of these)
• BPAY[SUP]®[/SUP] payments, i.e. bill payments and other payments made through the BPAY Electronic Payments Scheme
• cash advances
• transactions for items that are directly convertible to cash (including, but not limited to, purchase of foreign currency and travellers cheques) or cash equivalent transactions
• balance transfers
• transactions deemed by us to be for operating a business or in connection with business expenditure
• transactions that are reversed (refunds)
• payments for credit card protection insurance
• transactions used for gambling purposes (including gambling chip and lottery ticket purchases).

[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][/TABLE][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="align: left"]This means that HHonors Bonus Points will not be earned on payments made to the Australian Tax Office, BPAY[SUP]®[/SUP] payments, transactions used for gambling purposes and transactions for items that are directly convertible to cash or cash equivalent transactions.[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][/TABLE][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR][TD="align: left"] The rest of this section remains unchanged[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][/TABLE]