Diners-ropey start

[albyd]

I contacted DC this afternoon and they asked for another 4 business days - taking us to Monday. Said they were still having problems making the transfers.

I logged onto the app tonight and saw the points have arrived. I've just got off the phone with SPG and confirmed my redemption one day before my grace period expired so all is good with the world.

Thought I'd report back so others who are waiting on transfers to process know we're getting some movement. I've also called DC to let them know points have arrived.

This was my first SPG transfer - will allow a little more time next time (though SPG are great with the 30 day grace period as I'm not travelling until July). I'll study up on SPG now in these forums to decide whether to devote more attention to it (and spend to DC). This far, been redeeming to Velocity.

 

[kooky]

That's relieving news. Maybe it's a genuine one-off. Main thing is it works, and, that you set future expectations to allow for extra, then, it's within expectations. Not making excuses for them but I guess it's about winning the war, not the battle, as it seems to beat other cards by a long margin.

 

[albyd]

I agree. I'm starting to appreciate it more now my redemption has been processed and I can see SPG is more than an accommodation program. Flexible DC points & "100% acceptance" with the MC makes a difference. Seems to be best SPG earn if I go down that path. Better Velocity earn on DC spend. My main card is still my Prestige - if DC were to up earn rate on MC to match Prestige, would be no contest for me now I can negotiate around making big payments on DC.

 

[Johnstone]

It's been a week since I applied for my Diners card and still no response. Come on Diners it's not like you've got 100 applications a day to process!

 

[kooky]

It's been a week since I applied for my Diners card and still no response. Come on Diners it's not like you've got 100 applications a day to process!

This card is all about having low expectations.

Give it a month from the day you apply to the day you swipe your card the first time, and you'll be within expectations.

When you speak to them to follow up your application, confirm:
- They can see your app includes the MasterCard (if so applied)
- They can see your app includes the Rewards Program Membership

This will save you pain and suffering later.

 

[Johnstone]

Thanks Kooky - I'll give them a ring today and see what they've got to say... I sure hope the SPG points are worth all the hassle

 

[andye]

Given the delays in transferring would people recommend transferring points to SPG as you earn them or keeping them in Diners?

The only airline transfer that doesn't seem to win by going throuigh SPG seems to be Velocity and I think I'm unlikely to be using DC points for that.

 

[albyd]

I'm planning to accumulate points within DC then make a decision when I'm ready to use then but bear in mind can take over a month. Velocity is a possibility for redemptions for me.

 

[Johnstone]

I called them last week about my internet application from 5 business days ago - they said they had no record of my application.
Resent the application and called back again... still no record of my application. They told me to fax it to them instead.
Faxed it to them - now it's been another 2 business days, and still no record of my application.

This is not going well

 

[Newk]

FINALLY got my points in my SPG account. About two months and several phone calls

 

[Keftetha]

Great news!! I still haven't been credited last month's points and it's been more than 28 days now. Even looking at my statement it says 13Mar statement due but balance is still $0.00 are they really this slow with everything??? It's getting so annoying!

 

[drron]

Mine arrived on the 28th day.

 

[Keftetha]

28 days from payment? Or from statement date?

 

[drron]

Arrived in my SPG account 28 days after initiating the transfer online from Diners.

 

[Keftetha]

Oh. No I meant the normal diners rewards points. Thanks anyway.

 

[albyd]

DC points credit one statement cycle in arrears (ie after you've paid your statement, the next statement is issued with the points credited for the previous statement period).

So if you have a transfer in mind, allow 2 months for the DC points to show up then another month for the transfer to the external program (eg airline or SPG) so up to 3 months all up from when you make your spend

 

[Keftetha]

Great thanks for the information Albyd! Appreciate it.

 

[kooky]

Some of my own experiences:
1. Points transferred via phone to SPG in 14d without issue. Caveat: transfer in multiples of 3000 DC points.
2. Previous month's rewards points credited around 1m after paying previous statement.
3. The points credited have been correct each time
4. SpendAnalyzer doesn't work, just hangs

Perhaps some of the gripes others have had about points not posting, or posted points being incorrectly calculated, are relics from the past.

This card (DC/MC) + Amex Business Accelerator seems the optimum card combo on the market, unless I have missed something. Especially with tap and go on the MC, you can hoover up points left right and centre. And DC acceptance as a whole has been just a touch under AX acceptance, perhaps 80% of AX. See in you J - I mean F!

 

[digpomi]

Diners spg transfer has been extremely generous in my first transfer since the new system.

 

[albyd]

Thanks kooky & digpomi for your updates on DC & improved reward redemption times.

Kooky, how much of your spend are you able to put through DC vs the MC?

I quite like SPG & might consider making DC my go to card given it's the best for SPG earn in the Aussie market.