Scam or genuine offer from IHG?

[k_sheep]

Mate, Accor is shonk city.
Beware!
Do some Googling!

Well, yes .... but this thread is about IHG, a totally separate hotel group.

 

[Mgjdubs]

Just had a call for some invitation only VIP tier of it. Told me he'd call me back tomorrow as I forgot my wallet when I went out. Doesn't sound worth it.

 

[Rick93]

What doesn't sound worth it?
Let us know what you were offered, and by whom ...

 

[markis10]

Its just the normal PP program, the more people that just sign up and renew through the website the less chance these liars will keep their job.

 

[Mgjdubs]

What doesn't sound worth it?
Let us know what you were offered, and by whom ...

I don't really recall. I know he said $50 towards mini-bar, $50 towards restaurant, something about two free nights provided I pay for 2 nights, and something other stuff.

Im not really keen on the basis that he wouldn't email anything to me and was a bit vague about some of the finer points (where it can be used outside Australia, etc.) and considering my mother has RA anyway and I don't travel without her frequently I don't think it's worth it.

 

[markis10]

I don't really recall. I know he said $50 towards mini-bar, $50 towards restaurant, something about two free nights provided I pay for 2 nights, and something other stuff.

Im not really keen on the basis that he wouldn't email anything to me and was a bit vague about some of the finer points (where it can be used outside Australia, etc.) and considering my mother has RA anyway and I don't travel without her frequently I don't think it's worth it.

Its this program, which is worth it if you spend 4 nights or more at one of their properties a year:

What our Members enjoy - Priority Privilege AUS NZ Fiji - Priority Privilege

 

[k_sheep]

They'll say anything to get you to sign up, including outright lies. If you do sign up, check your pack very carefully when it arrives that it includes everything you were promised. Remember you can return it for a full refund.

Buyer beware!

 

[Rick93]

Sounds like you are referring to Priority Privilege ( PP ) ... which I think is a pretty good offer for the $299. ( and yes, I agree with the "stay four nights at a PP related property, and you will benefit )

If you really want to see some 'faulty thinking', try looking at a number of comments on the following thread / forum ( not about PP - the 'other' mob )

Bad Accor Advantage Plus - Page 7 - Travel Forum

GORDO

 

[markis10]

You will find the telemarketers work for a company that is involved in similar programs across many brands including Starwood and Hilton.

 

[Omartd]

Priority Privilege is a scam. They ripped me off to the tune of $290. I got nothing in return.
Every time I tried to use one of the BOGOF vouchers the deal was "Not available", even when I checked weeks in advance.
When I called them to complain, they told me it was my fault for not reading the T&C that were emailed to me. They refused to refund my money.
Even now, after my membership has expired they are still calling, claiming that the systems that let me down are now fixed and next time it will be better. This makes no sense at all. They had the opportunity to make it better by refunding my money when I complained over a year ago.
They are just desperate to rip off more travellers with their lies and spin. Do no fall for it like I did, and do not trust a word they say.

 

[Rick93]

I think almost everyone here loves Priority Privilege. I saved a few hundred ( almost a year's Membership ) in the first month - and I don't travel much at all !!
Please spend a few minutes to detail HOW you were rejected, as I for one have never found this with PP ( another company yes, but not PP )

Did you book via the PP Member website? If not - why not, as that is a guarantee of acceptance.

Tell us what you did ...

GORDO

 

[Moopere]

Priority Privilege is a scam. They ripped me off to the tune of $290. I got nothing in return.
Every time I tried to use one of the BOGOF vouchers the deal was "Not available", even when I checked weeks in advance.
When I called them to complain, they told me it was my fault for not reading the T&C that were emailed to me. They refused to refund my money.
Even now, after my membership has expired they are still calling, claiming that the systems that let me down are now fixed and next time it will be better. This makes no sense at all. They had the opportunity to make it better by refunding my money when I complained over a year ago.
They are just desperate to rip off more travellers with their lies and spin. Do no fall for it like I did, and do not trust a word they say.

Why don't you make enquiries about a charge back on your CC? Individual companies T&C are not consumer law. I have no idea if you'd be successful or not, but have a look into it ... nothing to lose.

 

[Omartd]

Thanks for the replies folks, I'd be happy to share my experience.

I was cold called and given the sales pitch in early 2011. It was clear that only the BOGOF vouchers would guarantee a return on the membership fee.

I am naturally weary of coupon schemes so I specifically asked the salesperson ("April") if the BOGOF vouchers can be used for ANY of their hotels at ANY time.
In other words, are there specific hotels / dates / times etc. where the BOGOF vouochers cannot be used.
I was VERY specific as I did not want to pay for a membership and then find that the deal happened to be unavailable when I was travelling "because it's a Friday" or some other excuse.

She told me that yes, they can be used at any ICH hotel at any time.

Knowing I was going to Melbourne in a few weeks I asked if this included Rialto Towers (thinking I'd treat the wife to a weekend away). She said yes, it includes the Rialto towers.
On the strength of this, I purchased a membership.

Later, but still several weeks in advance, I called the Rialto to make my booking. They told me that my BOGOF vouchers could not be used for the dates I would be there. When I politely complained, they transferred me to a "Priority club" line where within 30 seconds of politely and calmly stating my case the phone line was cut off.

I called the PP number on the package info, their line was closed (it was a weekend).

I called Rialto I/C reservations again and was transferred to priority club (Laura?) and was advised to call the PP 1800 number (which I had already tried and was closed).

I had to book flights immediately, so I gave up on my plan and booked alternative accommodation.

That week I called PP again on the 1800 number and spoke to Shazeena and politely stated my complaint and requested a refund. She then told me that a refund was not possible because the "Cooling off" period had expired.

When I complained about the BOGOF being unavailable she told me that the back of the coupon says that it is not always available. I told her that the back of the coupon only states that it is "subject to availability", and as I am a customer and they represent a hotel chain (and based on what I was previously promised), that clause simply means "subject to availability of ROOMS". The Rialto was advertising that they had rooms vacant, but they refused to accept my BOGOF voucher.

Shazeena did nothing more than infer that the whole situation was my fault.

I then stated my case to Fair Trading. PP came back with the line that it was my fault for not reading the T&C that were linked from an email that I was sent at the time I joined. The next step would have to be court action. I gave up.

On two further occasions when my wife and I were traveling we tried to use the BOGOF vouchers through the Priority Privilege website. For all of our possible dates and locations, the BOGOF deal showed as UNAVAILABLE.

We both decided that the money was gone and that was that. I was too disgusted to consider using any of the other vouchers.

I was recently contacted to renew my membership. I told the guy flatly that it is a scam and I will never buy it again.

Approximately two weeks later (today) they called again. Talk about salt into old wounds.
The lady was very skillful on the phone, she apologised profusely BUT STILL tried to get me to renew. She assured me that the systems that had caused my problems have been fixed and I will not have the same problems again.

Well, if they gave a damn about their customers they would have 1) Not lied to me in the first place, and 2) Fixed my problem when I asked them to over a year ago.

So there you have it. "Scam" is only way I can describe their operation. Thanks for your interest.

PS. Due to the timeframe, I think a CC chargeback may be out of the question.

 

[markis10]

I have never had an issue where the BOGO is not available, short of obvious event periods such as grand final week etc. They are capacity limited so there is a chance that the BOGO rooms have already been taken.

 

[Rick93]

Nah! You made a blue there ...
You must have been trying for some type of 'weekend package' that the hotel offered. These package deals on weekends often wide up as ineligible, due to the 'non hotel' component, such as wine / meals / attraction tickets etc, that the PP BOGO won't cover.
Should have simply picked a 'standard' type hotel room, and you would have been in front with the savings.
I think you've made a 'first-timer' error - which should not be considered to be the same as being 'ripped off' or a 'scam' ...

Further, by your own statement, you made the error in "calling..." the hotel. Never do this. Always book via the PP website, if you are attempting to use a PP voucher. You would have been guaranteed your discount if you did it the right way.

GORDO

 

[Moopere]

PS. Due to the timeframe, I think a CC chargeback may be out of the question.

I understand that 18 months is closing in on the usual maximum timeframe ... though there may not be any actual limit legally speaking.

Seems pretty clear cut to me, but you will, of course, know the subtlety of it all. Sounds like you entered a contract based upon verbal assurances that proved false and that you didn't get an opportunity to see the T&C until after money had changed hands.

The companies "cooling off period" is meaningless legally speaking, insofar as I understand these things. Its no more than a voluntary undertaking from them and shouldn't in any way impede the progress of a charge-back where they need to show cause as to why the charge back shouldn't occur. Sounds like you have names and dates as well as a written log of the telephone sales call. Diary entries are often sufficient in cases like this.

If the company doesn't have written or recorded evidence, and you do, I can't see how you'd lose. Even if they do have a recording, the interpretation of this is for a court ruling (probably... or mediation), but this is an entirely separate action to the charge-back and is for the company to pursue, not yourself as the case then becomes one of non payment for services rendered (ie, them versus you).

If you word your application correctly, it should boil down to: Did you receive goods or services per the contract? The company must show cause that you _did_ because you will maintain in your charge-back application that you didn't.

The bank won't even try to be a mediator in this. All you are doing, after all, is rescinding payment. There is no pleading of a case, no judgement of right or wrong on behalf of the bank. Once payment is successfully rescinded the matter then becomes one of contract law / consumer law. Did you receive contracted goods/services? Both sides to plead their case in court and action to be brought by the company as their case will be that you didn't pay them (because the payment was rescinded).

If nothing else it should provide you your moneys worth in entertainment and education value at essentially no additional cost. You may also elicit some small satisfaction that in so-doing you will wind up the companies "machine", at some effort to them. More commonly, in cases like this that I've heard about or been involved in, the business won't even respond to the banks show cause and by default you'll get your money back.

 

[Rick93]

You're joking ??
Over a $300. purchase ???
Oh, you're offering to go pro bono in the matter ??
Rather than clogging up our Courts, I'd rather see Omartd given advice on how to successfully use the PP program.
Maybe if he still has the vouchers, they 'may' be exchanged for unexpired ones, and he could 'try again' to use them appropriately ...

GORDO

 

[Moopere]

Your joking ??
Over a $300. purchase ???
Oh, you're offering to go pro bono in the matter ??
Rather than clogging up our Courts, I'd rather see Omartd given advice on how to successfully use the PP program.
Maybe if he still has the vouchers, they 'may' be exchanged for unexpired ones, and he could 'try again' to use them appropriately ...

GORDO

I'm not sure who you are responding to. If its my post above ... doing a charge-back generally costs nothing and takes about 10 minutes if you go to a bank branch and probably less if you do it online .... though some institutions might require a small payment if your request fails. Outside of that I don't know what you are talking about.

Why would anyone want to continue to use such a company if the practises described are true??? I'd get my money back and move on ..

 

[Klaaky]

Omartd

I agree with you. I was told when I went to book that only 5% of rooms are available for Priority Privilege and so lack of availability is a real issue. This hardly represents a priority!

When I went to book I found a special offer that was cheaper per night than the priority privilege rate, and it was available to anyone! I was lied to during the original sales call. They told me the $300 membership included 2 free nights accommodation but did not mention that it was a BOGOF deal.

When I complained and asked for a refund, they delayed and I passed the cooling off period and did not get a refund. I followed up several times by phone and email and they did not respond.

In the end I just resolved to make the best of it. PP is not a scam, but they have trashed their reputation with lies, misrepresentation and deceitful behaviour so I will not be renewing. I am sure you can get value out of it if you use it the right way.

Their room rates start high and go to rockstar/head of state level so if I booked a $3000 per night suite and got the second night free (quite possible) I would consider this a good deal. Typical rates are $300-$500 per night so the effective rate of $150 per night for the BOGOF deal is good if you can actually book what you want when you want (which is the problem).

The other thing is that you also get a $50 credit to use towards food, 1 x buffet breakfast (worth ~$70) for 2 and 2 x 50% off dinner vouchers so all together it can work to your advantage but remember you are locking yourself into using the deal within a year and at a very expensive hotel chain.

For me I would not normally spend this much on hotels so in effect if forced me to pay above what I normally would pay for a holiday. So for all the above reasons I would not do this again. In fact the whole time limited pre-payment system is built on the premise that a certain number of people will pay and never use their vouchers just sticking lots of money in the promoters pockets. I for one will not buy any pre-paid time limited deals like this ever again.

 

[markis10]

Typical rates are $300-$500 per night so the effective rate of $150 per night for the BOGOF deal is good if you can actually book what you want when you want (which is the problem).

Typical rates are not $300-500, I rarely exceed $200, worst case scenario is the Intercontinentals that will get to $300 at times and Perth where the mining boom during the week skyrockets every hotel.