Over the years I have massively decreased my discretionary stays with Marriott, only staying with them when Hyatt poses no alternative. And yet still despite my efforts I remain a Marriott Titanium.

Recently I had an issue with a limited service stay in Brooklyn in which the room had no heat. I asked to be walked with walk compensation (Titanium). I was told that the room was habitable, just ice cold (winter snowstorm). After some back and forth, I was sent to my room with warm blankets and a promise to comp my first night of four. (~$150)

I called in a month later because the discount from the folio had never been granted. I was immediately informed that there was no way she could help as the account was marked:

"DO NOT FCR POINTS! HAS A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF BONUSES IN HIS ACCOUNT — 335,000 POINTS"

(Why didn't I notice this sooner? I haven't called Marriott Titanium in years as they are useless.)

Luckily, thanks to GPDR, I have an accurate tabulation of goodwill bonuses I have been extended over the years.

It amounts to 87,000 points over 10 years of being a Lifetime Platinum (and often Titanium). That's 8,700 points a year. That's 110 points of goodwill per night lifetime.

The representative agreed with me after taking a deep dive into the totals. She said she is working to get the notation removed. She told me that they took away the ability to do these notations. She said it was often abused. She said additionally people would put accounts into audit to screw with members. She said it was a problem throughout the phone centers.

I recall a supremely negative interaction with the Executive Office in which they refused to fix my problem despite my persistent efforts. I assume that is what let to account graffiti. Or cyberbullying.

Anyway, audit your account notations. Yours just might be graffitied.