IHG closing accounts

[Rick93]

I just checked out today from an IHG property ...

I, ummmmm, did a few little naughty things ...

Really going to be watching my Account closely over the next week - sweating on keeping my five-figure points balance !!

 

[Kea 02]

Santa and the elves could be watching.......

 

[burmans]

Santa and the elves could be watching.......

Frankly not so concerned about this, they were aware for absolutely ages this was going on. My concern is not really that they will identify correctly people who should have their knuckles rapped, their general approach seems to be the sledgehammer, subtlety on targeting genuine scammers seems not to be what they are great at!

 

[woodborer]

Frankly not so concerned about this, they were aware for absolutely ages this was going on. My concern is not really that they will identify correctly people who should have their knuckles rapped, their general approach seems to be the sledgehammer, subtlety on targeting genuine scammers seems not to be what they are great at!

It's hard to know what the full story behind the closures is, but given the way codes just seemingly appear on boards, I get the feel that someone somewhere is just scripting things to see what happens, then publish codes that seem to do something. it may well be that some of the codes were 'honeypots', used by IHG to go fishing!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

it may well be that some of the codes were 'honeypots', used by IHG to go fishing!

A bit bizarre if that's the case. Setting traps for your customers sounds a bit like Basil Fawlty is the new CEO of IHG. What'll it be next, extension ladders at the windows?

I have not worried about the latest codes (since well before Christmas), as I'm struggling to find value in IHG status and most IHG properties anyway. Most appear to me, to be somewhat overpriced and not good value for money and the status is not much better. I guess I've really been hanging in there only to see if things get better (as it has from time to time been rumoured) but with this latest attack on customers I'm wondering why I should bother. As many have said, the availability and accessibility of their codes is something they could and should take responsibility for and not blame customers for what most of us regard as part of the "sport" of the status game and let's face it, IHG themselves have very much promoted status accrual as a game. Look at the "Big Win" promos. For heavens sakes, they even have badges for the challenges. If that's not a game than I don't know what is.

This sort of reminds me of the pathetic whimp from school days who can't get anyone to play with him without offering inducements, but when that kid is losing at a game he picks up his bat and ball and runs home blubbering to mummy and then fails to realise why he has no friends............

 

[basso]

A bit bizarre if that's the case. Setting traps for your customers sounds a bit like Basil Fawlty is the new CEO of IHG. What'll it be next, extension ladders at the windows?

I don't know if it's the case of setting one up on purpose, or they have used people sign ups to go looking at accounts. I have done a bit of reading of this over the past week or so, and it seems to me that there is generally more to it than just using codes. Perhaps using codes just flags it to them (and I wonder why people just blithely use things they find out on the internet without making some inquiries as to there veracity. Personally, I think IHG has to take some of the blame, but so do the people that spread these codes without also spreading the T&Cs that went with them). Closer to home though, I do wonder if anyone in Australia has run into trouble. I haven't heard of any.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Closer to home though, I do wonder if anyone in Australia has run into trouble. I haven't heard of any.

Have a look a few messages back........may be one right there!

 

[Kea 02]

Hi Basso
Great question, I do wonder how many people in Australia have had their accounts closed.

 

[burmans]

A bit bizarre if that's the case. Setting traps for your customers sounds a bit like Basil Fawlty is the new CEO of IHG.

Would go further than that, sounds more like deceptive practices to me, if IHG are taking an active involvement in publishing/advertising or promoting codes they have no real intent on honoring.

 

[basso]

Would go further than that, sounds more like deceptive practices to me, if IHG are taking an active involvement in publishing/advertising or promoting codes they have no real intent on honoring.

Put that up against the fact that people who have had their accounts closed are only disclosing what they choose to disclose. It still seems to me that there is generally something else going on with accounts of people that have been locked out (including things like BRG claims, repeated Points+Pay then cancel type things, the pointsbreak thing in China, the duplicate accounts etc.) It is hard to get a clear picture of what this is all about. Still, would like to hear if anyone in Australia has had problems.

 

[Craig. Pp]

I had a stay on saturday night at melbourne airport HI and now for the last two days I am unable to log in to my account. I get the following message:

"We are sorry, the IHG Rewards club system is currently unavailable. You may still make reservations without your IHG rewards club member number. Just modify your reservation later to add your member number or present it upon checkin at the hotel." Can this perhaps be translated succinctly as "You are screwed"? Strange as all I did was load a bunch of codes from the master thread. Admittedly as I haven't stayed with them for over a year there were many apparently successful code registrations.

PS my calm literary tone is not completely representative of my actual feelings about this.

Hey Adam 15. Can you log onto your account now? Or you still havin problems?

 

[adam15]

Put that up against the fact that people who have had their accounts closed are only disclosing what they choose to disclose. It still seems to me that there is generally something else going on with accounts of people that have been locked out (including things like BRG claims, repeated Points+Pay then cancel type things, the pointsbreak thing in China, the duplicate accounts etc.) It is hard to get a clear picture of what this is all about. Still, would like to hear if anyone in Australia has had problems.

Aaaalrighty then, for the doubters please allow me to share a brief but entire list of activities for my account prior to the suspected closure:

* apr 2012 purchase of 1000 points (to trigger a targeted buy promo)
* jun 2012 HI melbourne airport 1 night (many codes stacked netting 12800)
* dec 2012 HI melbourne airport 1 night/2 rooms (not as many codes worked netting 6000)
* jun 2014 HI melbourne airport 1 night (tried >10 codes less than 30 mins before booking through mrebates/ihg) - apparent account closure

The main reason for the gap was the acquisition of accor platinum and a favourable transfer to Iberia (those were the days)

This account has never had a BRG or a redemption of any kind and I have never cancelled a booking with IHG.

I hope this helps.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This account has never had a ....redemption of any kind

So about 20k points lost in this possible account closure?

 

[adam15]

So about 20k points lost in this possible account closure?

20,000 little tears

 

[jetlagger]

20,000 little tears

Sorry about your loss. 20k won't 'buy" much with IHG though. :shock:

 

[burmans]

Put that up against the fact that people who have had their accounts closed are only disclosing what they choose to disclose. It still seems to me that there is generally something else going on with accounts of people that have been locked out (including things like BRG claims, repeated Points+Pay then cancel type things, the pointsbreak thing in China, the duplicate accounts etc.) It is hard to get a clear picture of what this is all about. Still, would like to hear if anyone in Australia has had problems.

Well "It seems to me" remains rampant speculation, where deceptive and misleading conduct is actually against the law. I don't doubt that some of the people who are doing this are genuinely trying to get something out of IHG, that does not entitle IHG to break the law!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Sorry about your loss. 20k won't 'buy" much with IHG though. :shock:

Four nights on points break is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!

 

[burmans]

Four nights on points break is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!

It bought me a night in NYC two years ago, rack rate $380, not available at that rate now though.

 

[basso]

Well "It seems to me" remains rampant speculation, where deceptive and misleading conduct is actually against the law. I don't doubt that some of the people who are doing this are genuinely trying to get something out of IHG, that does not entitle IHG to break the law!

It seems to me that in order to work out whether they are being deceptive and misleading requires some attempt at understanding what is going on. Certainly I am not going to leap to a conclusion that they are breaking the law based on posts on this, or other, forums. adam15 has provided some useful data in that regard. It helps to understand what is going on.

 

[Rick93]

Recent PP Newsletter two night stay at a CP.
Expected points posted - usual timeframe.

No 'code' activations - but then none displayed on 'My Offers' ( the ones that DID Register )
In fact, I haven't had any points from 'codes' in 2014, yet X - number Registered.