IHG closed my acct. (after 25 Best Rate Claims) and noone will tell me why
#31
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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Posts: 102,095
You may want to re-consider the meaning of the sentence to which you are referring above. "It" isn't there in the current terms for BRGs.
#32
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: EWR
Programs: AA, Delta, NWA,HHonors, Hyatt BF
Posts: 1,762
I think people get tossed out when it appears as if they are using the program only for the BRGs.
#33
Join Date: May 2006
Location: FRA
Programs: MR Gold, IHG Gold AMB
Posts: 262
BRG isn't a benefit, it's an offer.
Cancelling account on that basis seems like saying "you're choosing our hotels only when they are the cheapest, we're not going to have more business with you". Quite absurd IMHO.
Cancelling account on that basis seems like saying "you're choosing our hotels only when they are the cheapest, we're not going to have more business with you". Quite absurd IMHO.
#34
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Spot on. That is why any restrictions on the offer must be as prominent as the offer itself.
#36
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Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 117
I meant to write in the op that I did everything by the book based on the old rules, no restrictions of once a week or same hotel more than once a year (if there is such a rule) or distance of 50 miles from home... I realize quite a few of my BRGs wouldn't qualify based on the new rules but it doesn't seem right to revoke previously valid claims based on rules that were made up after they were approved. Also, I meant to mention that I never got any BRG info from others, I did all the work myself. I actually checked out other sites/ blogs to find out where they were reporting successful claim and stayed far far away from those properties.
Also, I am based in the US and all the claims were for US hotels.
I understand why they kicked me out- no revenue stream, I just don't think it's the ethical or correct thing to do.
Also, I am based in the US and all the claims were for US hotels.
I understand why they kicked me out- no revenue stream, I just don't think it's the ethical or correct thing to do.
#37
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Sadly, in the US, thanks to the big business lobby - you have virtually no consumer protection other than that afforded by the market place and reputation .... ie zilch.
Good luck.
Good luck.
#38
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Op doesn't appear to have given enough info to be able to make a judgement.
I tried to follow the thread, but with the side-issue of the erroneous 1 night per hotel per year thing, and all the "corrected" and deleted stuff, I lost the whole run of the thread.
I tried to follow the thread, but with the side-issue of the erroneous 1 night per hotel per year thing, and all the "corrected" and deleted stuff, I lost the whole run of the thread.
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,548
Although in post 1 , the OP asserted that all rules were followed, post 41 does seem to have given information that there are stays that are invalid under the current rules
Originally Posted by elva
Cancelling account on that basis seems like saying "you're choosing our hotels only when they are the cheapest, we're not going to have more business with you". Quite absurd IMHO.
This is quite different to just booking the cheapest rate
#40
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
I think that in arguing all this detail, the bigger picture seems to have been missed.
The whole point of the Best Price Guarantee is specifically a promise ( it chooses to use that exact word) that the best prices for any Intercontinental Hotel Room will always be found on their own web site. This trumpeting is designed - as it turns out - to provide a false sense of confidence that IHG is so confident that they will underwrite and reward customers if they subsequently discover that any competing site is lower.
The sole purpose of the promise is to increase confidence and stop customers actually bothering at looking at competing sites and make the IHG site the first and last port of call for IHG reservations.
If that promise is anything other than hollow and shallow then there would be no need for any limits on the claims. All the OP was doing was taking IHG at their word. All they are doing is proving that the promise is a sham.
The whole point of the Best Price Guarantee is specifically a promise ( it chooses to use that exact word) that the best prices for any Intercontinental Hotel Room will always be found on their own web site. This trumpeting is designed - as it turns out - to provide a false sense of confidence that IHG is so confident that they will underwrite and reward customers if they subsequently discover that any competing site is lower.
The sole purpose of the promise is to increase confidence and stop customers actually bothering at looking at competing sites and make the IHG site the first and last port of call for IHG reservations.
If that promise is anything other than hollow and shallow then there would be no need for any limits on the claims. All the OP was doing was taking IHG at their word. All they are doing is proving that the promise is a sham.
#41
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 117
I don't get why it should matter. Does a change of rules nullify previously valid claims? Ex post facto rules?
#43
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Did you paid IHG for, ambassador membership, or buy points at any time. If so then you'd have a stronger argument for being informed. Buying either of the above, and then have the benefits of them taken away from you must be wrong.
#44
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 117
I actually remembered this morning that I transferred 5k points from UR into my acct. I also got IHG Ambassador but I used the points from my cc signup.
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,548
I don't know when restrictions were put in place, only that the site indicates that the latest rules are from 30 July, but whether these rules existed prior to this , I don't know