Starwood Preferred Guest - first Starwood insanity

It happens to be first Starwood insanity I came across: apparently it is impossible to purchase Starwood points using credit card with non-US bill address.
Disappointing... does Starwood definition of "customer" presume that said customer live in US or have US billing address? if so that is clear insanity...

Usually I try to avoid having business with companies who claim that "there is no life outside US", but apart of this issue so far my relations with SPG were flawless... would be interested to find Lurker's reasoning as to why this restriction exist.

AX

It happens to be first Starwood insanity I came across: apparently it is impossible to purchase Starwood points using credit card with non-US bill address.
Disappointing... does Starwood definition of "customer" presume that said customer live in US or have US billing address? if so that is clear insanity...

Usually I try to avoid having business with companies who claim that "there is no life outside US", but apart of this issue so far my relations with SPG were flawless... would be interested to find Lurker's reasoning as to why this restriction exist.

AX

Have you tried calling them? Is this an official policy, or simply a flaw in the website?

Poor websites are a pet peeve of mine, but that's obviously a different situation.

Starwood Hotels is based in New York, by the way.

Usually I try to avoid having business with companies who claim that "there is no life outside US", AX

Have not seen that one yet, it must be a new marketing idea? :D

I assume this has to do with the vendor they're using to process the transactions.

This is also a problem at United and a few other airlines. They wouldn't accept non-US (though bearing major brand like Visa, Mastercard) for ticketing. Got stuck in NYC once and must call an American friend to use his card.

This is not a US only problem. A few years ago I could not buy a (discounted) train ticket on the web (or even after I called) through the "chunnel". The French RR would not accept a cc for payment that had not been issued in France! Don't know how they knew (must have been in the number coding), but I did end up having to pay double for the tickets as I could not buy the advance purchase tickets :(

Have you tried calling them? Is this an official policy, or simply a flaw in the website?

Poor websites are a pet peeve of mine, but that's obviously a different situation.

Starwood Hotels is based in New York, by the way.

On their site (https://starwood.mpmvp.com/buy_form.asp) it says:

"Currently, we are only able to process credit cards with addresses in the 50 United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. "

Which kind of suck from the customer discrimination point of view. it says everywhere that "Need extra Starpoints® for a free night, free flight or room upgrade? Now, you can buy 500 Starpoints for as little as $25.00 USD.". It does not say that only Americans or those with US address can do this :confused:

AX

Sorry for threadjack, but to respond to estnet...I bought a discounted RT ticket Par-Lon-Par on the Chunnel in January. I live in US, but had traveled to one of our offices in Paris. Had no problem. Don't remember if I used Amex or Visa, but definitely issued in US.

My brother just bought a two week pass on one of the Eurail sites, I think it was www.europerail.com. ESTNET - Maybe it has something to do with your card/bank? When I was in Paris last summer, my bank issued Visa (Wells Fargo)was rejected several times and I had to call them at least 6 times to lift the fraud protection level that had been put in place.

FDuvall

This is not a US only problem. A few years ago I could not buy a (discounted) train ticket on the web (or even after I called) through the "chunnel". The French RR would not accept a cc for payment that had not been issued in France! Don't know how they knew (must have been in the number coding), but I did end up having to pay double for the tickets as I could not buy the advance purchase tickets :(

This is not a US only problem. A few years ago I could not buy a (discounted) train ticket on the web (or even after I called) through the "chunnel". The French RR would not accept a cc for payment that had not been issued in France! Don't know how they knew (must have been in the number coding), but I did end up having to pay double for the tickets as I could not buy the advance purchase tickets :(


:confused:

Did you talk to a travel agent? The web is not the only way to get Eurostar tickets.

They do have a US site now: http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/_SvBoExpressBookingTerm?_TMS=1122640807093&_DLG=SvBoExpressBookingTerm&_LANG=UK&_AGENCY=ESTAR

On their site (https://starwood.mpmvp.com/buy_form.asp) it says:

"Currently, we are only able to process credit cards with addresses in the 50 United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. "

Which kind of suck from the customer discrimination point of view. it says everywhere that "Need extra Starpoints® for a free night, free flight or room upgrade? Now, you can buy 500 Starpoints for as little as $25.00 USD.". It does not say that only Americans or those with US address can do this :confused:

AX

Not really relevant, but MPMVP.com (without the Starwood part, obviously) is a site on which to buy Northwest miles. Looks like the whole thing is part of Points.com. Perhaps by digging through their site, contacting them, etc. you can find a way to buy the points.

That said, I can't imagine that dealing with Points.com will be any fun at all. They just don't seem like a "customer friendly" outfit on the surface.

On their site (https://starwood.mpmvp.com/buy_form.asp) it says:

"Currently, we are only able to process credit cards with addresses in the 50 United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. "

Which kind of suck from the customer discrimination point of view. it says everywhere that "Need extra Starpoints® for a free night, free flight or room upgrade? Now, you can buy 500 Starpoints for as little as $25.00 USD.". It does not say that only Americans or those with US address can do this :confused:

AX

I have to agree, to buy Starpoints should be possible for everybody!

However, many other companies except only US credit cards when booking on-line. When you you are personally at the counter, they except foreign credit cards.

My experience was a few years ago.
This was the deal - there was a particular discount fare that needed to be purchased a month or two in advance. I was in US and tried to do it online or by phone. I believe it had to be purchased directly from the French RR - anyway it COULD NOT be purchased by phone or on the net unless I had a french issued cc! I could have had someone purchase it for me (had I a friend in Paris or had I know about FT at the time) - but alas I did not so couldn't get the discount.

Yes I have used my cc overseas many times and know the ins and outs so this was a new one for me. It was especially surprising given that the french seemed so much advanced using cc-I remember MANY years ago being at a street market where a vendor took my cc and got author .using a small wireless machine (cell phone technology?). I still haven't seen these in the US (altho have to admit I haven't been looking ;)

This is not uncommon for many things.

Eveer try and set up a US credit card for recharging a pay-as-you-go SIM card in Europe? Pretty much doesn't work, even if you call in and speak to people, their system isn't set up to take a US card.

Steve

Not really relevant, but MPMVP.com (without the Starwood part, obviously) is a site on which to buy Northwest miles. Looks like the whole thing is part of Points.com. Perhaps by digging through their site, contacting them, etc. you can find a way to buy the points.

That said, I can't imagine that dealing with Points.com will be any fun at all. They just don't seem like a "customer friendly" outfit on the surface.

I'll have to disagree.... in order not to be blamed in customer discrimination and misleading advertising they have to sort this out themselves. for me as a customer this shall not be relevant whether they contracted points.com or someone else.
AX

The problem is that the vendor cannot process charges from credit cards based outside the area noted above. I hear they are working on it, but I have no idea when/if anything will change in the immediate future.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Is there a "check in the mail" option for purchasing Starpoints?

Is there a "check in the mail" option for purchasing Starpoints?
"I would gladly pay you Tuesday for some Starwood points today."

Is there a "check in the mail" option for purchasing Starpoints?

Regrettably, no.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com