Priority Privilege Membership Renewal Promises!!!!

[cove]

But Mal that would remove my annual renewal enjoyment.
Sure they are real BS artists but that Sydney IHG is my local when I am there for lunch or dinner.
Yes the call requires you to test your sense of humour.

 

[Mal]

As has already been suggested. Avoid the call centre and use starthere.com.au.

http://www.starthere.com.au/Priority-Privilege-Travel-Discount-Card

Current cash back is between $20 and $30 depending on your level within starthere.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Quick update and thanks for all comments.
My guy called back again this morning and started off saying how he had spoken to the manager Steve!!!! in Gold Coast - before I let him go any further I told him that I was recording our conversation.
He then got a bit flustered and said he had to apologise to me as Gold Coast had no Club rooms, also neither did Sunshine Coast as he had indicated - in fact none of the Crown Plazas did - only Intercontinentals (again another thing wrong). He had actually stayed in Sydney at ICN and had got that and Gold Coast confused as he stays so many places.
Then said that foundation members do get club access but only if staying for 6 consecutive nights.
I ended up asking his name, surname and location and told him he was going to be reported as this could not go on and he really needs to have a think about how he is trying to make his sales.
Ended in another apology.
I then called PP and spoke to a manager there and told her my story. She has asked me to email her my story and she would follow up. She kept apologising on his behalf - not her fault but he definitely should be reprimanded which I am sure is going to happen.
She also confirmed that even when I thought he was finally telling me the truth - he was still lying through his teeth - the rotten sod.
There is no such thing as a foundation member!!!!! and also he had told me in an earlier conversation that he had to be telling me the truth as all his calls were recorded - again not true.
Anyway my email has been sent.
And I am hoping something will be done.

I loved the PP product but as I told them - there is no way I would ever consider joining again after what has happened to me and I presume many many others.

Do you still beleive in Father Christmas too ??? Not being offensive but I just reckon that is how they are trained to sell and the rot goes to the top. I had the same isues with a "package" from Telstra but I did record the call unbeknowst to the w@%$#r who rang me and I stuck to my guns through 3 levels of management even after they said I could go and I refused because I did not believe THEY could unilaterally sever the contract I had agreed to. Finally after threatening to contact Consumer Affairs and asking that all contracts sold by their no longer employed employee be investigated I was given a substantial "ex gratia" payment that covered nearly 6 months of phone bills.

Don't give up and don't lose your temper, that's what they try and work on

 

[paulbgarnham]

Similar issue.

Promises, promises, promises. Free nights, Not a renewal of old membership, all new highest status .................



Get the material in the post ------- same old stuff. Sold a pup.


Never again.


Best advice I can give - steer clear of Priority Privilege, stay away from their hotels.


Regards

paul

 

[Kea 02]

Hi Paul. I understand your frustration But if you look at the
big picture. PP on its own delivers quite well. $300'ish. couple
of bogos and extras is a good deal on its own. Forget the coughpie
salesperson.

 

[SandyS]

I'm glad I'd read this thread and knew what to expect but even then I was taken aback at the aggression, when they called me to renew.

The only reason I'm not renewing this year is because of overseas travel so I won't be able to get the benefit of PP this year. They threatened to delete all my reward points and hung up on me, which I know is rubbish but surely they shouldn't be allowed to carry on like this.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

surely they shouldn't be allowed to carry on like this.

They'll carry on like that until enough people bombard consumer affairs with complaints.

I didn't, basically because I know it's my word against their word. That's not the basis of a complaint, but perhaps I should complain, as the only way to see change is if enough scamees vent their anger (frustration?) about the sales tactics. I'm more inclined to think IHG would be the ones to bring the lies to an end, as it's their reputation being eroded.

 

[basso]

m more inclined to think IHG would be the ones to bring the lies to an end, as it's their reputation being eroded.

It may happen, but not for reasons you'd expect. Word on the street is that IHG are gearing up to replace PP with their own inhouse IHG Dining program. It's been rolled out in China, and various other countries, Australia included, are said to be getting ready to introduce it.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

IHG are gearing up to replace PP with their own inhouse IHG Dining program.

Any details? Is it dining only I wonder, or all benefits and will it be a purchased product or an earned product or a combination of both?

 

[markis10]

It may happen, but not for reasons you'd expect. Word on the street is that IHG are gearing up to replace PP with their own inhouse IHG Dining program. It's been rolled out in China, and various other countries, Australia included, are said to be getting ready to introduce it.

The PP program will merge with the Dining program once the contract expires with the contractor. It's essentially the same thing under a different name, the first steps were taken last year with IHG taking over the specials list.

https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/customer-care/faq/dining-rewards

 

[Mantaray]

Yes I have a good contact at IHG and I can confirm what markis10 and basso is correct. Priority Privilege is being wound up in Australia and NZ and being replaced with Dining Rewards. I understand PP is being withdrawn from sale at the end of this month, though obviously existing PP members will be able to use their benefits for the life of their membership as per normal.

I understand that the number one reason for shutting down PP and replacing it with a new program is the number of complaints IHG and IHG hotels were getting about the aggressive and misleading sales approach from PP. I understand IHG has been wishing to do this for a while but there were contractual issues with the company that does the PP telesales on behalf of IHG.

So, with this being the case, no wonder the PP sales team are going all out to renew members before they are shut down on 1st July.

If I was a PP member whose membership is soon to expire, I would be sitting tight and waiting for word from IHG on the new program, rather than renewing PP.

Looking at the Dining Rewards website it looks like only China is live, though it does say that Australia and NZ is "coming soon" for the same price - AUD 319.

If the benefits are the same as the China program, this will be a step up from Priority Privilege as it includes a free night certificate for any IHG hotel worldwide for the same price as PP.