Marriotts internal databases NOT in sync...
 

The first time I thought it was a fluke, but now I'm beginning to wonder.

I attained Gold status about 2 months ago. Six weeks ago, before I recieved my new card I checked into a Marriott property, and was told that I was NOT gold..."It says right here you've only had 18 nights, and you need 50 for Gold". 18??!! I explained that I had been on the website earlier that morning and my 52 nights & Gold status were correctly listed. "Sorry" was the answer.

I blew this off...after all it had only been two weeks, and perhaps their systems only download periodically.

Monday, 6 weeks later, I called the 800 reservation number to reserve a room and was told by the phone agent "Ahhh...I see you have Silver status!". "No, I'm Gold." I said. He protested "Well Sir our systems show you only as a Silver...it takes 50 night for Gold status". (I KNOW!!!!) "Well", I said jokingly, "I got your number off of the back of my shiny new Gold card!"......pause.....
"You will have to take that up with the desk clerk when you check in". I did, and was given Gold priveledges.

Whats the deal here? Why do Marriots's internal databases seem to be so far out of sync with one another? I'd like to meet the DBA running the show at Marriott and teach him how real systems should be designed!

PF

Perhaps the guy who never answers e-mail correspondence is also responsible for not maintaining the data bases.

I think there must be something wrong with your particular account. When I made Gold, it showed up the next day.

I would check to make sure they get it sorted out immediately.

>>showed up the next day<<

Yes, but showed up WHERE? The MarriottRewards website was correct...it was the telephone agents and check-in clerks that were weeks behind. Did you attempt to make a reservation or checkin on "the next day"?

PF

The same thing happened to me on check-in once last year. It was later explained to me be a Marriott Rewards rep that when I made my reservation, my status at the time of the reservation was what went into and remained with the reservation.

This is consistent with some rental car companies (e.g., updating credit card info in Hertz personal profile doesn't update the info in existing rental reservations) and airlines (e.g., a change in elite status at United requires a "refresh" of existing reservations to reflect a change in elite status).

So your check-in issue doesn't surprise me. However, I agree that there might be some weird issue with your account if a reservations agent's info is that far behind your actual status.

They also have a problem with their international properties. Every time I stay at a Marriott in Europe, I have to submit my stay manually. Their system over there pulls up my old residence, etc. The Marriott Rewards people told my wife that it was due to a difference in my name (nick name versus legal name) when I had to change my account several years ago to conform, etc. I know that's not what's causing the problem.