Gaming Loyalty Programs - Did I get gifted an extra year of Harrah's Diamond?

At the end of last year I was "status-matched" to Harrah's Diamond via the Borgata Black Label. Basically you have three months to accumulate a pro-rated amount of Tier Credits (I think somewhere between 3000-4000) to stay Diamond for the rest of the year . . . if you don't make it, you drop back to your original level (in my case a lowly Gold) at the end of the three month "trial".

Well, it was pretty obvious I wasn't going to make it, for several reasons. However, last week my girlfriend and I went to a Harrah's property, one that we had never visited before. We went to the Diamond Lounge and when asked for my card, I remembered that I had left it in our hotel room (about 45 minutes away). A representative at the Diamond Lounge said "No sweat, I'll print you a new one." The new card he printed for me has in the lower right hand-corner "3/2011" as the expiration date, as opposed to the "3/2010" that my original card had stated (meaning that my "trial" as a Diamond would be over at the end of March if I didn't earn the requisite Tier Credits).

My question is, did I get accidentally "gifted" another year of Diamond status? I know that HET accounts are re-evaluated around April to determine your status for the next year, but the 3/2011 expiration date ought to be honored, no? I don't play much at HET properties but do enjoy the lounges and other perks that Diamond Status gives. Thanks!

I'd keep that puppy close by and never let it out of my sight :p.

IIRC, if you make Diamond later in the year, you get the status for the entire next year which then expires in March the following year.

I think it depends on whether or not you will bump into a nosy pit boss or such in the casino when they go to swipe you in when you are playing. But very nice, and as said, I would hold onto that card like it was your first born child.

I opened this thread expecting another topic but I was at least 500-750 Tier Credits short of Diamond before my Platinum was to expire, we're talking a few days left and I was handed a Diamond card when I was trying to refund a comp ticket. Sounds hard to believe but it happened!

I think it depends on whether or not you will bump into a nosy pit boss or such in the casino when they go to swipe you in when you are playing. But very nice, and as said, I would hold onto that card like it was your first born child.

A pit boss or floor supervisor wouldn't care in the least. They just swipe your card for rating purposes and hand it back. They are not the status-police. ;)

A bigger issue would be at a diamond lounge, since they swipe your card, and basically verify you are diamond on their screen. In my experience, they don't pay any attention to the card that is swiped; they are most concerned with what the screen says and verify that you are you (i.e. showing your valid ID that matches the name and birthdate on the screen).

You'll know for sure once April 1 rolls around, just go to the Total Rewards desk, present your license and ask for a replacement card. If they hand you back a diamond card with the 03/2011 date, you are officially golden for another year.

Thanks King, much appreciated!

Iluv2fly is correct about the expiration timeframe. Officially should not be up to chance. That said, Harrah's is renowned for screwing up their renewal and expiration process. Like KingAlien said, hang on to it to save yourself frustration of having to deal with the boothlings.

Just to follow-up/update--I went to A.C. and am still a Diamond . . . able to use the Diamond Lounge and park for free!