I was wondering if Flyertalk has emoticons I could use to express a mix of disapproval and anger. Does anyone know if such features are available? :p

FWIW, the new International Bonus Bucks Offer running from May 3, 2007 - Sept. 2, 2007, is back up to a six month validity period:


Emphasis Added

another reason to trash Marriott

I almost think they sit there and try to find ways to pi$$ off their customers

hopefully I don't meet any Marriott Reps at the Freddies.. lots of questions for them

Would love to get my hands on a scan of the new bonus buck. I think that the Attorney General would be interested in it, if Marriott doesn't want to discuss it first.

Jonathan

Oh-so-thank-U all ^ for your unanimous support & agreement!

Now I don't feel so guilty about offering excess BBs/ PPs to hotels, about half of which accept them ;) !

BTW, have they been enforcing the 'no membership/ ID rates' rule?

I just asked about this at the Residence Inn I am staying at, and they said "Why would we not take a Gift Card with a bonus buck? That is cash!"

I expect most hotels will accept them.

William

Newman has demonstrated the existing emoticons 4U ad nauseam, but I suspect that U would prefer a different digit sticking out of the hands :D! Maybe the new owners may give us the one which The Randy refused to give as indecent ;).

How does one go about finding out a states gift card laws and requirements of acceptance?

It would be handy to provide along with the BB/PP & G/C to the desk clerk if they so choose to abide by the t&c's. Always make copies too (I do this anyway for honest mistakes) to provide your local AG if an issue arises

Contact your state Attorney General. Most accept email and will answer promptly.

MisterNice

Wonder if Marriott Chris was aware of this change?

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I wasn't aware of any changes to the Bonus Bucks. Let me see what I can find out. I will post again when I have more information.

Kind regards,

Chris - Thank you! I think we all hope this was a rogue decision made by an ignorant individual, and not a corporate directive (which is legally questionable). I personally look forward to your findings.

If it is not against the law in your state, start calling and writing to make it against the law. I am going to research this in my state as well. If it is not against the law, I will be asking for a bill to be drafted to make it against the law.:mad:

:td: :td: :td:

Grrrrhhh! :mad:

Unbelievable, stunning, outrageous.

I am still going for at least Gold elite this year - but if ridiculous, unfair bait and switch policies and massive unannounced point devaluations continue, it is absolutely going to be the last time for me. :mad:

Someone on another thread mentioned one of the pages advertising Marriott stored-value cards already has language on it that states "valid only with publicly available rates" or similar. Other pages have looser language - valid on any charge, even if not an overnight guest.

In practice, I've used my Marriott cards on any charge - regardless of rate, including meals & merchandise unrelated to a stay. Hopefully, this is just a rogue individual getting carried away with the legalese - and not Marriott making a conscious decision to operate a bait & switch campaign.

That said, the risk is that front desk personnel never seem to know what to do with my BB/PP/SS/EE/EEO/HPR/etc. promotions. If I hand them a paper cert, they always flip it over and read the fine print. My fear is that even if Marriott (corporate/legal) agrees that an error has been made, word won't filter down to the front desk. Sort of like word has barely reached them to say "This is what a Bonus Buck looks like."