I have written to MR to have my Megabonus promo changed from 5K points every 2 stays to a free night every 2 paid stays.

I haven't registered yet because I'm worried that I won't be able to change after I have registered.

Here's the reply from MR:

'Thank you for contacting Marriott Rewards regarding the 2011 Fall Visa MegaBonus Promotion.

Our records indicate you are enrolled in the 2011 Fall Visa MegaBonus Promotion. Earning dates begin September 15, 2011, and end January 15, 2012. You have been selected to receive an electronic free night certificate, valid at hotel categories one through four, after every two Visa paid stays. You can receive a maximum of two free night certificates. You may track your progress through our website at MarriottRewards.com.

Many of our promotions have a "stay" requirement. This is defined in our program information, as well as the terms and conditions of each promotion. A "hotel stay" or "stay" means all consecutive nights a Marriott Rewards member registers and personally pays and stays at any participating hotel. For example, three consecutive nights stayed in one hotel qualifies as one paid stay.

Elite nights earned through other promotions that appear as non-stay nights in your account and timeshare owner stays during a designated owner week do not qualify for this promotion.

Please accept my apologies that we are unable to enroll you in an alternate 2011 Fall Visa MegaBonus Promotion offer.'

I was confused because this is NOT the promo I got when I logged onto Marriott.com - even now it still shows the 5K points promo.

Then i wrote again to clarify, here is the reply:

'Thank you for this reply.

Sorry for the confusion. Our system automatically enrolls member's in various versions of this promotion. Because you requested the specific enrollment in the free night certificate promotion, we will make an exception on your account. Our offices have made a note on your account to track your stay progress towards this promotion. Once you have completed the paid stays within the guidelines of the promotion then I will manually add in the free night certificates. Although your online account will continue to show that you are enrolled in another version of this promotion, the stays will count towards the free nights instead of the bonus points.'

OK I got what I want and I'm happy about my promo now.

However I think it's weird that:

1. I could register for the promo, and I have never done that. MR claims that I'm automatically registered;

2. I have asked to change my promo, and apparently I was 'selected' to have the free night promo rather than the 5K points promo showed on my account page on Marriott.com;

3. Why do they have to make an 'exception' to change my promo? When you go to marriottrewards.com/megabonus, the free night after 2 paid stays is shown. I would have thought that would have been the default of the promo, so there is no point in granting me an exception to the standard promo.

4. They first said it's impossible to change the promo, but then they gave me an exception