Dave Noble

I am also free to say that I will do no further business with you

Dave Noble

Do you have a copy of the T&Cs of that time to substantiate this assertion. The website rules were updates on 30 July, but I haven't seen anything that shows that that was the date this rule was introduced

Wan1dap

If I take you at face value (and I have no information which would lead me to do otherwise), I can't understand why they have done what they've done. They are not an irrational or emotional organisation. There's clearly more to this than you're prepared to disclose - which is of course your prerogative. However without that information I don't think you can expect support/empathy here.

Your easy acceptance of their decision also adds to my sense that there's something else going on. If you are adamant that you've complied with the rules you should have a good case to dispute their decision.

I can only conclude you've been caught fair and square.

notahappycamper

Some snippets from this thread:
"If I had to guess ( which is all that can be done here ), I would go that IHG is viewing that someone doing nearly 1 BRG a week is abusing the systems"
"I think people get tossed out when it appears as if they are using the program only for the BRGs"
"It wouldn't surprise me if someone just looked at your more than once per 7 day period BRG and the only explanation he could find how you got those approved was by cheating"
"all i can say is FINALLY! hopefully it reigns in those who have been taking advantage of the system. 25 BRGs only in one year only serves to disadvantage everyone, as IHG will realize how much money they are losing and completely revamp the system. Good on IHG"
Seems some people don't think like you (or me for that matter)

Wan1dap

What other people think isn't relevant ( although not sure why you included the last comment, as it doesn't support you). They have no more information than I do, because you've chosen not to provide it. Until you are prepared to disclose fully the practices (which may not be limited to BRG) you engaged in, we can't properly judge the action taken by IHG. Given that this appears to be an unusual case, based on examples quoted in the BRG thread, my view is that you are only giving us a small percentage of the story. Guilty in my opinion until you prove otherwise.

perthite

As far as I can see, there's nothing really stopping you make BRG claims for yourself either. The BRG program is somewhat independant of the IHG Rewards program

htb

That reminds me of the USA's request that Irak proove it did not own any weapons of mass destruction.

Usually you can't prove that something does not exist. That's why most legal systems require to prove that someone is guilty and assumed innocent until being tried.

I have no doubt that the OP is telling the truth. The behavior of IHG doesn't strike me as strange at all. Their moral standards surrounding the BRG are very low to non existing.

HTB.

htb

No -- they will exclude YOU from the possibility to claim BRG nights. So maybe another customer with the same name was also making claims and they assumed both are the same person? The OP would have to sue in court to find out what really went on.

HTB.

perthite

Yes, you are right - I missed the bit about being excluded from the BRG.

Wan1dap

Your unsupported opinion of IHG's "moral standards" is irrelevant. It makes me think there's more to your story too. I don't doubt the OP is telling the truth, but I think he's only disclosed a small percentage of it, possibly the part not related to BRG. IHG's behaviour is not strange but it is unusual for them to take such a strong step. Based on reports here I can't recall a similar action being taken. We'll probably never hear the whole story, but until then I would take the view that IHG had good reason. These things are not done lightly or on a whim by a single indivudual. This would have needed approval several levels up the line.

travelisfree

Haven't read this entire thread but I have to ask.

1) Were all your stays BRGs? Or did you have some paid stays? Were there any points stays?

2) If you were doing points stays, did you ever use the cash & Points cancel trick?

3) Did you say that IHG ever sent a warning? Or just a cancel? And truly nothing? You just couldn't log in one day?

I ask, but I still see IHG's actions as odd. It would be nice to know if you were doing anything else abusive.

If not, this is dumbfounding and worrysome. You broke no rules. Furthermore, their own agents have to approve the dern things.

They also have a 50 nights per year rule. Perhaps they need a rule, small print saying, if you have stayed 25 nights and the majority are BRGs then you could be in trouble. But there is no such rule.

I really would like to hear IHG's take on this.

Flying Lawyer

Sure. But you could not take the rebate earned away and could not refuse to deliver what you already have contracted for....

Flying Lawyer

^^

Thank you.

mister__big

Based on the limited facts the OP has furnished us with, I have to say that I can't really fault IHG for doing what they did. When someone makes 25 successful BRG claims but only has a single night's paid stay, the stay pattern indicates that the guest is not a revenue generator but someone out to game the system. As a small business owner, I can see why IHG put the kibosh on the OP's account.

I know a local cafe that has a no-questions-asked policy which allows customers to exchange their drinks if they don't like it in any way. If a person were to buy a drink there, drink 1/3 of it, then exchange it for a new one and repeat ad nauseam, I'm sure the cafe would revoke that customer's privilege.

Even though IHG has a notorious history of not accepting valid BRG claims, based on what the OP has told us, I see a similar pattern of abuse and therefore don't think IHG can be blamed for this one.

Wan1dap

^ but incredibly, some here accuse THEM of having low moral standards. Low moral standards have been displayed, but not on IHG's part.