RBC VISA Canada Forces Loyalty to RBC Points
Jan 13, 2009, 4:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: AA, UA Plat
Posts: 44
RBC VISA Canada Forces Loyalty to RBC Points
Just to let you know that Canadian Royal Bank VISA cards used on any Thrifty rental after September 2008 has being automatically applying RBC Points to your RBC VISA account rather than your Blue Chip Account. Even though your default is Blue Chip you will HAVE to take the RBC points. Currently you have no choice.
Jan 13, 2009, 5:48 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Interesting. Haven't heard of this. Other than your experience, do you have a source for it?
I don't know how they would accomplish this on a technical level. As far as the computer system is aware, a credit card is a credit card is a credit card. The field where the agent types your rewards program information is not tied in any way to the credit card field.
Even on the back end, there's no way to run any sort of report that searches for all rentals with a given credit card prefix (and Thrifty would then have to have the RBC card prefixes on file), and even if there were, it would be a horrendously laborious process to manually go in and change them all to RBC before posting the reward information.
I have a hard time understanding how it would work, but then again, obviously it's happening to you. Still, I don't understand why Thrifty or RBC would care about this. RBC doesn't force you to earn RBC points if you use your RBC card to book a ticket on Lufthansa or British Airways or even Air Canada, so why would they care if you have a charge on your card from Thrifty versus a charge on your card from Icelandair?
I don't know how they would accomplish this on a technical level. As far as the computer system is aware, a credit card is a credit card is a credit card. The field where the agent types your rewards program information is not tied in any way to the credit card field.
Even on the back end, there's no way to run any sort of report that searches for all rentals with a given credit card prefix (and Thrifty would then have to have the RBC card prefixes on file), and even if there were, it would be a horrendously laborious process to manually go in and change them all to RBC before posting the reward information.
I have a hard time understanding how it would work, but then again, obviously it's happening to you. Still, I don't understand why Thrifty or RBC would care about this. RBC doesn't force you to earn RBC points if you use your RBC card to book a ticket on Lufthansa or British Airways or even Air Canada, so why would they care if you have a charge on your card from Thrifty versus a charge on your card from Icelandair?
Jan 13, 2009, 6:07 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: AA, UA Plat
Posts: 44
I spoke to the Blue Chip rep today. He tells me that RBC VISA in Canada have an agreement with Thrifty that ANYTIME some uses their RBC VISA card for a Thrifty Rental the loyalty goes to your RBC points program automatically even if you request Blue Chip Loyalty. It seems to be slowly being discovered. I guess several people have complained but there is no way to change that.... yet.
The only way for me to get my Blue Chip points is to use another credit card. However, my RBC Card is the only USD card I carry. And to use a CDN funds card state side incurs another exchange fee. And I don't need ( or want ) another credit card.
The worst thing is that they (Blue Chip) never informed us of this new policy openly. I should be one rental from another free day but now I am four.
The only way for me to get my Blue Chip points is to use another credit card. However, my RBC Card is the only USD card I carry. And to use a CDN funds card state side incurs another exchange fee. And I don't need ( or want ) another credit card.
The worst thing is that they (Blue Chip) never informed us of this new policy openly. I should be one rental from another free day but now I am four.
Jan 13, 2009, 6:32 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Wow.
I could see the technicalities working at corporate locations, but I'm still not sure how they'd get the info to do all of this from franchises, and the franchises themselves sure are not going to spend hours researching and doing this. No policy bulletins on this have been issued to the individual locations as far as I'm aware.
I could see the technicalities working at corporate locations, but I'm still not sure how they'd get the info to do all of this from franchises, and the franchises themselves sure are not going to spend hours researching and doing this. No policy bulletins on this have been issued to the individual locations as far as I'm aware.
Jan 13, 2009, 6:44 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: AA, UA Plat
Posts: 44
Just out of curiosity I checked to see how many thousands of points I received from Thrifty to my RBC Points account. Knowing that most Airline loyalty programs get anywhere from 250 to 750, I must be getting at least 1000. And because it is an exclusive arrangement maybe 2000. Are you ready.... 44, 36 & 54 RBC points. I wish I hadn't looked.