New Altitude Black has landed...

[albyd]

Guy on the phone said can be up to 60 days after the end of the promotional period which would put us at 20 August if we're not strictly counting days and just call it "2 months". Today's 21 August so should be sometime after tomorrow.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

OK - I took it as they will post up to 2 months after end of 3 month promotion period for each individual - but you might be correct - I don't think they even know when they will post TBH.

 

[albyd]

I agree I'm sure if I call them again, I'll have a different answer.

 

[Ghostdunks]

I thought they were going to make a bulk payment of bonus points at the end of the promotion period.

I always thought so too based on what everyone else had been told and what was on the T&Cs of the promotion, so I was surprised when after the first "month" had passed, I already got one lot of double bonus points, and it continued for the next month. Not really sure what I did different for my application/activation so that I'm getting them already and during the actual promotion period itself, and others haven't seen any at all.

 

[ukh]

A warning to those who do not wish to lose altitude points.
Although this may be old news to many of you, I was surprised when points were deducted from my account following an overseas trip that included extensive purchases of goods. When the tax refund was credited a month later to my Amex Altitude Black, 3 points per dollar were deducted.
I was aware that refunds for returned goods etc will result in loss of points, but it does not make sense that a refund from Global Blue also results in a loss of points.
When departing Europe I chose to have my tax refund credited to my Altitude Black Amex, but this obviously is an error and I should have arranged for the refund to another card.

 

[prozac]

A warning to those who do not wish to lose altitude points.
...............................................
When departing Europe I chose to have my tax refund credited to my Altitude Black Amex, but this obviously is an error and I should have arranged for the refund to another card.

All a bit quick for my understanding ukh. Are you saying you were able to get a tax refund for some reason when leaving EU but this resulted in a loss of points?

 

[ukh]

All a bit quick for my understanding ukh. Are you saying you were able to get a tax refund for some reason when leaving EU but this resulted in a loss of points?

Purchases of goods overseas (I was in Europe) are paid for in full at the time of purchase. However, as I am not an EU citizen, I was entitled to a tax refund of about 15% on all the goods I purchased over the threshold of about 175 Euros spent at any one time. When leaving the last port in EU, the receipts and goods are shown to the DETAXE office at the airport so they can confirm the goods are being taken back to Australia. A refund is then due to me - it was about $3000, and I was asked how I wanted the refund. One option is cash ( Euros ) but the fee for this and exchange rate were terrible. I asked for the refund to be made to my Altitude Black Amex. On previous trips I received a refund to my ANZ Amex, but I have recently started using the Altitude Black card.
When the credit appeared on my Altitude card ( about a month after my return to Australia), about 9000 altitude points were deducted from my Altitude account.

 

[prozac]

Must be some decent shopping available then.
Westpac Black is 3 times earn for overseas purchases, so I guess the reverse is true when refunding from o/s. Perhaps a separate Debit card or a standalone visa/mastercard would be the go in future.

 

[tim374]

Must be some decent shopping available then.
Westpac Black is 3 times earn for overseas purchases, so I guess the reverse is true when refunding from o/s. Perhaps a separate Debit card or a standalone visa/mastercard would be the go in future.

28 Degrees or Citibank plus would be the way to go, no chance of points being taken away, and no exchange rate fee.

 

[ukh]

28 Degrees or Citibank plus would be the way to go, no chance of points being taken away, and no exchange rate fee.

Thanks tim378. No exchange rate fee sounds (too) good. They must make their money somehow ? poorer exchange rate. I will have to look into this as I do hate exchange rate fee.

 

[tim374]

Thanks tim378. No exchange rate fee sounds (too) good. They must make their money somehow ? poorer exchange rate. I will have to look into this as I do hate exchange rate fee.

The exchange rate is the MasterCard or Visa rate at the time. I expect Citibank use it as a loss leader, and GE would make money from those who don't pay in full.

 

[kkl]

Did anyone receive their points after 3 months in one whole lump sum?

was transferred to CSM after being told I was an existing customer and not eligible for points. CSM said to wait for 3rd statement to see if receive the points.

Secondly was told that if they had to manually count my points, my business spend would not be counted as it's a personal card??? Wtf :evil:

 

[ukh]

Did anyone receive their points after 3 months in one whole lump sum?

was transferred to CSM after being told I was an existing customer and not eligible for points. CSM said to wait for 3rd statement to see if receive the points.

Secondly was told that if they had to manually count my points, my business spend would not be counted as it's a personal card??? Wtf :evil:

This is a worry! They seem very disorganised. I am owed well over a million points but my 3 months is not over yet.
I certainly hope they do not exclude ATO payments - there was certainly no warning about this in their written documentation.

 

[albyd]

I was owed 800k bonus points. Was told was ineligible as had a staff card.

Had an old plat plus card with a big limit. Guy at branch waived annual fee on (new application) black for life without me asking to try to win my shiny new mortgage. As it turned out did this by giving me a staff card.

Branch manager noted I had significant contributions to Canberra & clause 4.4 of T&C "government charges" means no points for it.

I could challenge it and maybe lose base points I had earned on that spend & this week's contribution. Or

He would turn a blind eye to it as he thought was a glitch as he knew other customers who had not got points for it.

I've chosen option 2 (annual fee waiver turned out to be very expensive) - don't want to kill the golden goose.

Interested in other people's experiences.

 

[kkl]

Im owed a large sum too. I may just stop my spending on the cards now as im paying a 2.2% amex surchage on my spend. Its only worthwhile if i get the double points.

albyd - if you have plans for the points, why not transfer them out and then ask for it

 

[Ghostdunks]

I was owed 800k bonus points. Was told was ineligible as had a staff card.

Had an old plat plus card with a big limit. Guy at branch waived annual fee on (new application) black for life without me asking to try to win my shiny new mortgage. As it turned out did this by giving me a staff card.

Branch manager noted I had significant contributions to Canberra & clause 4.4 of T&C "government charges" means no points for it.

I could challenge it and maybe lose base points I had earned on that spend & this week's contribution. Or

He would turn a blind eye to it as he thought was a glitch as he knew other customers who had not got points for it.

I've chosen option 2 (annual fee waiver turned out to be very expensive) - don't want to kill the golden goose.

Interested in other people's experiences.

hmmm..very interesting. I'm waiting for my 3rd month's set of bonus to post, expecting about 600k...seems to be a bit late compared to how fast the first two month's points posted. I was going to challenge Westpac about a potential missing week(between account opening and card activation) after they posted, but if people are getting some issues regarding ATO payments and whatnot, I may just keep quiet and....

 

[kkl]

Hmm starting to stress, any of the earlier card holders received a lump sum instead of monthly bonus?

 

[ukh]

Agree it would be a good idea to transfer points out of Altitude in case they retrospectively enforce the "government charges rule".

 

[prozac]

Hmm starting to stress, any of the earlier card holders received a lump sum instead of monthly bonus?

I have received all entitlement points to date on standard earn with ATO payments. Hope you young bucks don't stuff it up for the rest of us.

 

[kkl]

I have received all entitlement points to date on standard earn with ATO payments. Hope you young bucks don't stuff it up for the rest of us.

Your double points monthly or lump sum?

My spend was not ATO related.