Redeem your NEA points now!
 

we are getting down to the wire to cash in all those points for the good redemtion rates before they change on (i think) the 31st.
They are either really busy or intentionally not answering the phones in an effort to avoid redeeming points at the good rates. The on hold time is 2 hours!

Correction, I have now been on hold almost 3 hours.................................

Well I can't beleive there are no other posts as I would imagine other people were screwed just like I was:

In short, I spent the WHOLE day on DEC 28, 29, and 30 on hold trying to redeem the last of my NEA rewards points before the new redemtion schedule took place on the 31st. Of course, no one ever answered the phone UNTIL the 31 st where I was informed that I would not be allowed to redeem under the old program, no exceptions. The justification was that they had given notice since April so it was just my fault for waiting till the last minute. Well, my statement closes on the 20th, and then it takes several days for the points to post over to the travel people. So basically, the program for me ended after Nov 20, points earned after that (all my holiday shopping) were not redeemable at the end of Dec as I could not get through. I consider this unfair and I more than suspect that they simply didn't answer the phone at the end of the month in order to save money and force people to redeem under the new, crappy program rules. I will take extra pleasure in cancelling this account.
NEA REWARDS, they were the greatest program but by their own actions, have lost it all. I would have paid quadruple the annual fee but instead they changed the program so that no one would even take for free......

S*rew them! I got my points out in October, when my annual fee was up. I got a 5 star lux trip to Vegas with the points.

NEA was indeed the best, but their arrogance got to them. They should expect mass defections. Oh well, its was a VERY good run! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Heads up to those transferring to another program within MBNA (I headed to the Amtrak Guest Rewards card, but I hear the new Radisson Goldpoints card ain't bad either)---MBNA and NEA have a contract that technically disallows people from switching to other affiliate programs from the NEA card. This is unusual for MBNA---I'm a longtime cardholder with them and have swapped through half a dozen of their affiliate card programs.

Anyway, I was able to do it by using the trusty technique of calling back until I got someone who would try to make the switch for me, and it took. So don't lose heart if you get told you just have to close the NEA account rather than transform it.

Hi Chai,

Are you saying that MBNA has a goldpoints credit card?

Thanks

Pointman--
I dealt with someone in Customer Service who had a heart, a brain, and some business sense to see that it didn't make sense to allienate a loyal customer simply because Carlson Travel (NEA travel agent) couldn't/decided not to pick up the phone.
Email me and I might be able to help you use your points under the old schedule--

Thanks for the offer, but I have already redeemed what points I had under the new terms. I'd imagine there is not much I can do about it now.