Ok, I was *REALLY* unhappy at Velocity (re: Partner Gold issues)

[dandandan]

No, if you are Platinum already you need to have earned an additional 500 SCS since becoming Platinum to nominate someone for Companion Gold and 1,000 for Companion Platinum.

Unless I'm misreading, too, it does seem too good to be true.
Maintain Plat, +200 SCs, and achieve PP?
A long way from the previous requirement.
Before I "gift" something that may disappear in a puff of smoke, can someone set me straight on my possible misreading?

 

[pagingjoan]

No, if you are Platinum already you need to have earned an additional 500 SCS since becoming Platinum to nominate someone for Companion Gold and 1,000 for Companion Platinum.

Pardon my shorthand. (I thought everyone would be bored to death if I repeated the detail once more in this thread but I should obviously have been clearer.)
That was what I meant. As in:
Maintain Plat by earning 800 SCs, then add a mere 200 to achieve the Partner Plat option.
It still seems very generous.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Pardon my shorthand. (I thought everyone would be bored to death if I repeated the detail one more in this thread but I should obviously have been clearer.)
That was what I meant. As in:
Maintain Plat by earning 800 SCs, then add a mere 200 to achieve the Partner Plat option.
It still seems very generous.

I'm certainly no expert here, but I think you're right.
Once you've qualled/requalled, earn another 500 for partner gold and another 1000 for partner plat and since the SCs aren't transfered, theoretically they also count toward your next requal............unless of course I'm wrong.

 

[Bolthead]

Sorry guys but I am still confused. This is my current status:

Maintain PlatinumFind out more

[TABLE="width: 513"]
[TR="class: alt, bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]Review Date[/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: right"]06 Oct 2012[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: transparent, align: left"]Status Credits earned since 06 Oct 2011[SUP]1[/SUP][/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2, align: right"]920[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt, bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]Additional Status Credits required to maintain Platinum by 06 Oct 2012[/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: right"]Achieved[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: transparent, align: left"]Additional sectors required to maintain Platinum by 06 Oct 2012[SUP]2[/SUP][/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]0[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I am Platinum now. Does this mean I can now gift Gold (or Platinum) or not. I have gone over the thread and the T&C's and I am still confused. I am also currently family pooling to my wife at the moment.

For added info we are both going on a J return SYD - PER next week and then we are both off to Europe in early September in Y+ with VA. (not sure if that little bit of info helps)

My wife is currently Silver.

Thanks for your input

 

[dandandan]

Looking at this, you have earned 920 SCs since becoming Platinum so you could nominate your wife for Companion Gold right now, give them a call. I did this for my wife yesterday and her account is showing Gold today. A few more SCs in your name, 80, and you can get your wife to Platinum as well. You should pool the SCs to yourself to get another 80 and nominate your wife for Companion Platinum. I suppose the question is, since you have already re-qualified for platinum and your wife will shortly too, (if you pool SCs back to you) what do you do with the SCs up until your new Platinum period begins on 6th October. Maybe you have a third family member you could pool to or maybe keep them going to you, if you think there maybe a lifetime SCs period in the future. Hope this helps.

Sorry guys but I am still confused. This is my current status:

Maintain PlatinumFind out more

[TABLE="width: 513"]
[TR="class: alt, bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]Review Date[/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: right"]06 Oct 2012[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: transparent, align: left"]Status Credits earned since 06 Oct 2011[SUP]1[/SUP][/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2, align: right"]920[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt, bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]Additional Status Credits required to maintain Platinum by 06 Oct 2012[/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: right"]Achieved[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: transparent, align: left"]Additional sectors required to maintain Platinum by 06 Oct 2012[SUP]2[/SUP][/TH]
[TD="class: accountRightCell, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]0[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I am Platinum now. Does this mean I can now gift Gold (or Platinum) or not. I have gone over the thread and the T&C's and I am still confused. I am also currently family pooling to my wife at the moment.

For added info we are both going on a J return SYD - PER next week and then we are both off to Europe in early September in Y+ with VA. (not sure if that little bit of info helps)

My wife is currently Silver.

Thanks for your input

 

[dandandan]

So if you have requalled as Platinum you would have already been able to nominate a companion Gold as you would have already gone past the 500 SCs level needed for that and you would only be 200 SCs away from nominating a companion Platinum. The SCs stay with you, do not go to the nominated person and count to your next requal. Where you need another 500 or 1,000 SCs for companion Gold and Platinum respectively, is when you become Platinum for the first time. When you become Platinum, you would need to earn 500 SCs or 1000SCs from that date for companion Gold and Platinum respectively.

I'm certainly no expert here, but I think you're right.
Once you've qualled/requalled, earn another 500 for partner gold and another 1000 for partner plat and since the SCs aren't transfered, theoretically they also count toward your next requal............unless of course I'm wrong.

 

[Bolthead]

Looking at this, you have earned 920 SCs since becoming Platinum so you could nominate your wife for Companion Gold right now, give them a call. I did this for my wife yesterday and her account is showing Gold today, a few more SCs, 80, and you can get her to Platinum as well. You should pool the SCs to yourself to get another 80 and nominate your wife for Companion Platinum. I suppose the question is, since you have already re-qualified for platinum and you wife will shortly too if you pool SCs back to you, what do you do with the SCs until your new Platinum period begins after 6th October. Maybe you have a third family member you could pool to or maybe keep them going to you, if you think there maybe a lifetime SCs period in the future. Hope this helps.

Thanks danoleary55....

I thought as much including the fact that I only need another 80 points for Platinum gift. The questions now is how do I manage this. My elder daughter (young adult) is already Platinum so she is off the list. My other 2 children (young adults) are miles off being any status. I think this is how I will do it. Gift to one of the younger children. I need to get the extra 80 status points to reach 1000. (which I will get from the trip to PER next week - I will also stop the family pooling for this trip) Reinstate family pooling for the European trip and then my wife will reach at least gold status (if not Platinum) after this trip. As for the lifetime status.... who knows??

Thanks for your help again.

 

[simonsyd]

Looking at this, you have earned 920 SCs since becoming Platinum so you could nominate your wife for Companion Gold right now, give them a call. I did this for my wife yesterday and her account is showing Gold today. A few more SCs in your name, 80, and you can get your wife to Platinum as well. You should pool the SCs to yourself to get another 80 and nominate your wife for Companion Platinum. I suppose the question is, since you have already re-qualified for platinum and your wife will shortly too, (if you pool SCs back to you) what do you do with the SCs up until your new Platinum period begins on 6th October. Maybe you have a third family member you could pool to or maybe keep them going to you, if you think there maybe a lifetime SCs period in the future. Hope this helps.

Interesting and thanks for posting this information. I am sitting on 1600 SC's and was told by the Velocity call centre (having called about something unrelated) that the new criteria were 500 / 1000 in addition to the status credits required for requalification, in effect making companion gold / plat 1300/1800 SC in your membership year. I told the girl that this was not my reading of 13.20 and 13.21 of the velocity T&Cs and she went off to look into this.

Either agents are misinformed or we will see a change to the T&Cs this week!

FWIW I will likely make companion platinum by my review date (if not there will be trouble from SWMBO) so would not be too much of a big deal.

 

[dandandan]

The lady I spoke to yesterday said it had literally just changed and they were in the process of contacting everyone eligible about it. My wife's account is now at Gold and someone else yesterday said they rang and got Platinum for their brother. Did you get through to the Australian based call centre or the o/s based one, if the o/s one that may have possibly been why you were told this. On the Velocity website in the family benefits section it still quotes the old rate of SCs needed;

https://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/ProgramBenefits/FamilyBenefits/index.htm
Platinum members can now share Velocity benefits and rewards with a friend or family member. You can gift a Companion Gold or Companion Platinum membership once you earn an additional 1,500 or 2,000 Status Credits respectively within your membership period*

but the Platinum benefits section under family benefits has the new rates;
https://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Status/PlatinumMembership/index.htm
Companion Gold membership and Platinum membership

• Platinum members who earn an additional 500 Status Credits in their member benefit period can gift Gold membership to a companion of their choice
• Platinum members who qualify will be contacted by a Velocity consultant to request companion details
• If Platinum members earn an additional 1,000 Status Credits in their member benefit period, their companion will automatically be upgraded to Platinum membership

The terms and conditions link for both though show the new rate required for companion memberships, so I suppose it's just a case of getting all sections of the website up to date as this is a new benefit.

13.20 and 13.21 of the terms say following their upgrade or Review Date so if you are already a Platinum member the critical part of the term is "Following their Review Date" so if you are Platinum and earned have earned 500 SCs or 1,000 SCs since becoming Platinum you should be eligible for the companion memberships now.

Interesting and thanks for posting this information. I am sitting on 1600 SC's and was told by the Velocity call centre (having called about something unrelated) that the new criteria were 500 / 1000 in addition to the status credits required for requalification, in effect making companion gold / plat 1300/1800 SC in your membership year. I told the girl that this was not my reading of 13.20 and 13.21 of the velocity T&Cs and she went off to look into this.

Either agents are misinformed or we will see a change to the T&Cs this week!

FWIW I will likely make companion platinum by my review date (if not there will be trouble from SWMBO) so would not be too much of a big deal.

 

[simonsyd]

Thanks danoleary55
Yes this is how read it that 500SC following upgrade or review date will give companion gold and 1000SC will give companion platinum. I called the velocity platinum line which IME is always answered locally. The girl I spoke to sounded very Aussie!
I guess given what you say it sounds like the agents are not all up to speed as well as areas of the website.

 

[dandandan]

And lets just hope it is that and not a mistake. I am sure we will find out more on Monday or sometime during the week.

Thanks danoleary55
Yes this is how read it that 500SC following upgrade or review date will give companion gold and 1000SC will give companion platinum. I called the velocity platinum line which IME is always answered locally. The girl I spoke to sounded very Aussie!
I guess given what you say it sounds like the agents are not all up to speed as well as areas of the website.

 

[muppet]

And lets just hope it is that and not a mistake. I am sure we will find out more on Monday or sometime during the week.

Agreed. I already offered it to mum.... as soon as I did I thought - "rookie error, will look like a knob on Monday."

I also regret pooling to the +1 for Gold. As I'd be well over the 1000 mark for myself now and could give Partner Plat and be requalled.

 

[DirkDiggler]

I rang on Saturday and got companion for my brother, spoke to him today and he said his account is now showing platinum status.

I spoke to the Australian velocity call centre (131 875) , I didn't know there was a overseas velocity call centre and that just the Virgin call centre was in India.

 

[amaroo]

I rang on Saturday and got companion for my brother, spoke to him today and he said his account is now showing platinum status.

I spoke to the Australian velocity call centre (131 875) , I didn't know there was a overseas velocity call centre and that just the Virgin call centre was in India.

Nice handle.....so to speak

 

[777]

Trying to work out what to do next year. This year i got Mrs 777 (before the changes - see the story at the beginning of this thread to Partner Plat when i got to 2000 SCs for the year. Those were mostly me with a little bit of pooling from her. Since then i realised i've "wasted" at least 800 SCs as i will likely finish on 2800-3000+ before i roll over for next year.

So plan for next year will likely be.
First 1-800 SCs will go to me.
Next 1-800 SCs will go pooled to Mrs 777 so she can requal for Plat
Next lot of SCs will come back to me so maybe i can get partner Gold/ Plat and would theoretically be able to nominate another person for Gold or plat.

... unless of course VA introduce their much hinted at Plat+ status level and there's some way of qualifying for that.

 

[CBR001]

I am currently on hold with the Velocity Platinum contact centre while they talk amongst themselves - they are insisting that the qualification for nominating a Companion Gold membership is requalification PLUS 500 additional status credits (so 1300 status credits from qualification as a Platinum member, not 500). Notwithstanding the provisions of 13.20 which refer to earning "500 status credits following their upgrade or Review Date".

 

[777]

I am currently on hold with the Velocity Platinum contact centre while they talk amongst themselves - they are insisting that the qualification for nominating a Companion Gold membership is requalification PLUS 500 additional status credits (so 1300 status credits from qualification as a Platinum member, not 500). Notwithstanding the provisions of 13.20 which refer to earning "500 status credits following their upgrade or Review Date".

What they are insisting is as i've always understood it to be. Otherwise partner gold is less SCs than simply requalifying which would be stupid and considerably devalue elite membership in the program.

If there has been a revision (and i'm struggling to follow this thread) surely it's a reduction from 1500 and 2000 SCs respectively for PG and PP to 1300 and 1800 SCs respectively to take into account the lower threshold for requalifcaiton in the second year. Baring in mind that in year 1 all Plats needed 1000 SCs as no one was requalifying for that tier.

 

[oz_mark]

What they are insisting is as i've always understood it to be. Otherwise partner gold is less SCs than simply requalifying which would be stupid and considerably devalue elite membership in the program.

While I agree that it is probably what they meant, it doesn't look like the T&C's actually state that. After the upgrade to platinum, yes another 500.

But it also says 500 after the review date, so looks good for people to get partner gold.

 

[CBR001]

While I agree that it is probably what they meant, it doesn't look like the T&C's actually state that. After the upgrade to platinum, yes another 500.

But it also says 500 after the review date, so looks good for people to get partner gold.

True - I've resolved my conversation with them. What they meant their T&Cs to say is "after earning 500 additional status credits beyond the 800 status credits required for requalification", but that wasn't what they wrote in their T&Cs. It did seem too good to be true (and I agree it would devalue the elite benefits) - and it was. Poorly drafted and slightly ambiguous T&Cs were the culprit (once again!).

777 is correct - the change seems to be the reduction of the PG qualification from 1500 to 1300, and the PP qualification from 2000 to 1800.

 

[dandandan]

hhmmm, I am thinking I should not have posted anything about this now!

True - I've resolved my conversation with them. What they meant their T&Cs to say is "after earning 500 additional status credits beyond the 800 status credits required for requalification", but that wasn't what they wrote in their T&Cs. It did seem too good to be true (and I agree it would devalue the elite benefits) - and it was. Poorly drafted and slightly ambiguous T&Cs were the culprit (once again!).

777 is correct - the change seems to be the reduction of the PG qualification from 1500 to 1300, and the PP qualification from 2000 to 1800.