In my early months at Marriott I was really pleased at the benefits from my gold status and the points from my Marriott CC. So I upgraded the CC, booked a number of stays (15 nights in total) in Moscow, Hong Kong, Boston and Portland, that required my convincing my husband that it was worth it and forged ahead. Now reality has checked in and I have found two stays missing from my account and trying to book another stay recently left me on the phone for 20 minutes with no answer. So lots of time chasing these points or any service may be the downfall. I have to say I am surprised my threshold is already breached but for regulars is chasing points the standard?

Missing stays tend to occur more frequently with overseas properties (based on what other FT members have reported). If your missing stays are US properties, you can call Marriott Rewards and ask them to credit the missing stays without sending in a fax of the folio (as long as the missing stay occurred in the past 60 days).

Have you selected the option of receiving a copy of the final bill via email? If you have, you should be able to send an email to Marriott Rewards to get credit for a missing international stay. Otherwise, you need to call Marriott Rewards and fax them a copy of your bill. If you do not have a copy of the bill, you need to get one by contacting Marriott.

Wait times for reservations vary (depending on elite level and the time you call). My longest wait as a platinum member was 10 minutes, but I try not to call when most people are calling (i.e. 4-6 pm on weekdays).

I have not yet stayed overseas, and I need to follow up on about 10 % of all stays or partner promotions (i.e. Hertz rentals). For me, it is worth it because the points allow me to get free nights and travel packages. It can be aggravating when things don't work out at first, but I would suggest you hang in there.

People on FT tend to be detail oriented and obsessive about earning points and miles. We are a pretty persistent group, and many of us will crunch numbers to figure out how to get the biggest bang for our traveling dollar (or euro, yen, pound, etc...).

For US properties 98% of the time they post correctly. In the UK and Europe 30% of the time the stays do not post or they only give you about 80% of the points you are due. Asia about 90% post correctly. That has been my experience.

Starwood or Hilton I have never had a posting problem, but I give Marriott 98% of my biz, so maybe I would see the same problems with the other chains if I had enough stays.

For my recent experience: Royal Aurora in Moscow was quick and correct, JW Marriott in Hong Kong posted only incidentals - no nights recorded, and in the US Cambridge Marriott missed it completely. I actually gave up o the reservation call and booked 5 nights in another hotel in Portland.

Maybe the problems may depend on how the reservation was made and/or if there were payment issues (i.e. changing CCs during a stay, asking a hotel to charge part-way in a stay, etc.) Over the last two years, I have stayed at Marriotts in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. I stayed about 230+ nights in various Marriotts over the last two years and generally make my reservations online and pay with the same CC that I check in with.

I have had only one issue of points not posting correctly and that one occured because the London hotel I was staying at changed their computer systems during my stay. They messed up and I received points for my stay before their systems change and not for the nights after. I called MR up, faxed in my folio, and the points posted fairly quickly. (Actually, they messed up and gave me points on the total including the VAT. Which for the rate and length of stay was significant. When I called to let them know, they said don't worry about it and consider it a "adjustment" bonus due to the points not posting correctly the first time. ^ )

The UK used to be really bad for posting points for me (90% didn't post which was a pain as I'm in Marriotts most weeks) - but in the past 6 months all the hotels have upgraded to a new system that means I only now have to occasionally chase for my Platinum Welcome gift - which is great as a year ago I used to have a tracking spreadsheet and chase when the points didn't post. My other experiences interntionally have been good, but for only a small number of hotels.

Guess I'm saying it does sound as though you've been particularly unlucky - but doesn't sound impossible. As for reservations - I just use the internet, quicker and more convenient!

lv

PS: Chasing for me is easy, I just send an email to the Marriott rewards elite email address on this forum and its sorted in 24 hours normally (Not sure if this is a Platinum only email, I found it here though)

I think it has been unlucky. For the record they were all made on the Marriott website after signing into my account. I have used CS to track down the Cambridge stay and they have now posted and Hong Kong is still pending.

BTW, just for grins and giggles, I did a search on the Hilton and *wood forums to see if there were threads/posts about point posting issues in those programs. And there were quite a few hits in both of those forums. So it looks like posting issues aren't just a Marriott problem.

I seldom have had problems with points posting (Over 2,000+ paid stays lifetime), however, I, too, would suggest that you avail yourself of the free option of receiving an email copy of your folio which usually shows up a few days after your stay. That way, if you have a missing stay, it is a simple matter to forward that email to a Marriott rep. and get the points to post. I, too, almost never call to make reservations, preferring to use the internet. The only time I call is if I am driving, unable to access my laptop, and need a last minute reservation.

I do actually use the automatic emailing of the receipt. Apparently overseas hotels don't (or perhaps rarely) use these instructions. In fact I actually think that when you ask for that option for your bills going forward they even mention it is for US properties only although I could be mistaken on that one.

I was mistaken in thinking that the efolio option is available at every hotel. It is available in North America only.

My husband, Sprite, stays 75-100+ nights a year. With Marriott I have had to chase 3 stays this year. Two in Brussels and one in Denver area. All three were fixed within a day or two. With Hyatt based on 6 stays, we are at 50%. They take longer to respond and once I just gave up because they insisted it was an airline rate and therefore not eligible. (It was a group rate, booked by me, very eligible for the points - but there was no way to MAKE them give me the points). Marriott wins hands down in my book.

How long does it usually take to post? I stayed at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in AZ, and it has been 8 days since I checked out. Should I be worried?

The rules state up to 10 business days, but it usually takes between 2-6 for properties in the United States. I would email or call Marriott Rewards to ask about the stay.

A little.