Originally Posted by becauseimnew (Post 30343258)

I signed up for an account just to reply to this... I had a very similar experience... the rep was asking for the last 4 of the card associated with the account. I didn't have the card on me, I asked to validate the account another way and the rep wouldn't let me. I asked to speak to a supervisor and he said no, that without account verification he couldn't transfer me. And he just hung up on me. I am so mad, we stayed at Hilton and had a good experience. After I use this certificate we won't be going back to Marriott.

I too was trying to upgrade our certificate because the hotel that I was going to use it cancelled my reservation, it's a new hotel that is delayed so it won't be completed in time for our trip but I didn't even get an email notifying me of the cancellation. I will be calling back this afternoon, hopefully I can get someone to help me out.

Originally Posted by Scoob72 (Post 30349687)

Firstly, many thanks for taking time out to read this -- I greatly appreciate it!

Would any FTers be able to advise me on the following? I currently have booked:

• 1 x 7-night stay at a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Japan: I have already attached a 7-night Tier 4-5 "Travel Package" certificate to this booking; for clarity, this certificate was acquired and attached pre-merger.

It now seems that I may have to cancel this booking and certificate. If I did have to cancel, would anyone possibly be able to confirm whether my figures below would hold true in terms of what Marriott would re-deposit into my account? :-

• 45,000 points plus the difference between old Cat 1-5 and old Tier 4-5, i.e. 45,000 + 270,000 (540,000 [Old Tier 4-5] - 270,000 [Old Cat 1-5]) = 320,000 ???

I may have got my math totally wrong here, I admit, and this may be wishful thinking on my part, too. I would be ever so grateful if anyone might be able to point me in the right direction in terms of how many points I stand to receive back for cancelling this certificate. (I presume, too, that I would be unable to amend dates/hotels instead of a full cancellation?)

Many thanks once again for reading this!

All the best

Originally Posted by rny321 (Post 30350288)

My understanding is that you should receive 315K in points (45K + 270K) if you cancel the certificate. The old tier 4-5 is the only certificate I would cancel for a return of points rather than try to find a use for it. With the 5th night free, 315K in points would get you 6 nights in any MPG hotel this year with 15K left over. Alternatively, you could spend 5 nights at different hotels and still have 15K to utilize elsewhere.

Originally Posted by Scoob72 (Post 30351247)

rny321 -- many thanks indeed for input above: it's greatly appreciated!

Well, that's very reassuring to hear and, as you say, the points that I would stand to receive back still would enable me to stay somewhere nice elsewhere for a few days.

Again, thank you for this. All the best.

Originally Posted by nabeelj (Post 30351292)

Why don't you instead convert your Old Tier 4-5 certificate to a New Category 7 certificate and use it for a future stay?

EDIT: A 7-night New Category 7 would otherwise cost 360K (or 300K-420K after a few months) , so I guess I see the value in cancelling for a 315K refund instead, unless you do have a specific 7-night stay planned.

Originally Posted by Scoob72 (Post 30351700)

Would Marriott allow that? Probably, it's ignorance on my part, but I had thought, if attached to a booking already, my only option from there would be to cancel it as opposed to asking Marriott to convert the certificate into a different category in the new program? I wasn't aware at all that this might be an option. Again, this might just be my misreading of the situation.

Originally Posted by rny321 (Post 30351872)

Yes. Ask to have the existing certificate detached without cancelling the reservation. Once the certificate is detached it can be converted to a new certificate and the old reservation can be cancelled or changed. If the reservation is cancelled with the certificate attached, you certificate may be cancelled.

Throughout the conversation with the rep, keep repeating that you want to keep the certificate to use later on a different hotel. Restoring a certificate that was incorrectly cancelled can make most other MPG discussions seem quick and pleasant.

Originally Posted by BaconSF (Post 30353622)

Originally Posted by estnet (Post 30353517)

I'm confused - I thought you would get 45k + 6x30 (because your tier was 6 categories up from the basic cat 1-5 (https://thepointsguy.com/news/marrio...-certificates/) for a total of 45+180 =225 - where are people getting 45 + 270?

Originally Posted by funkbandit (Post 30354123)

Hi,

I'd appreciate your knowledge and feedback on this. I have an OC5 due to expire next summer. I may not be able to use it by then for a number of reasons. What I would like to do though, is to extend the certificate so that I can use it in December 2019/January 2020. Is this possible? In the old program I would just have had to wait until January 2019 and ask for the cert to be extended by one year, but does this still work in the new program?

Thanks.