I ordered $69 from ValueMags on 12/20 and the points have not posted. I sent an email today and know from previous experience that it will probably be another 2 weeks before I get the points and/or a reply.

Pat

Hey:

On 12/19 I did 2 valuemags orders. first one $76 posted next day as 33750 points. Second order for $988 has not posted yet.

This morning I check my account and see that is down to 13100 points and there are 2 new postings, one for -21000 and 1 for -1650 both dated 12/19. Not my transactions.

So I called and spoke with Elizabeth.(She answered the phone in less than a minute) She has no idea what has happened, but assured me that they will fix it and also assured me that all of the remaining valuemags transactions for everyone will be posted by next week at 450/$1.

She sounds sincere. Hope it is true.

ebf

The same thing happened to me.

I have a $765 valuemags order from 12/19 that never posted. (I faxed in the details last Friday) and a $19 order from 12/20 that posted quickly and correctly for 8550 GP.

Today, a transaction for -17,100 points dated 12/19 showed up on my account. I called and at first the rep tried to tell me this was a correction for an earlier mistake. I made him add up all my posted transactions to show that his explanation wasn't true. He put in a request for a correction, but said it would take a few days because they are so busy. I really think GP needs to get their act together and solve these problems before their reputation suffers further.

I am currently missing:

344,250 (450x765) points for the 12/19 valuemags order.
17,100 points from todays error.
60,480 (120x504) points from a $504 Hallmark order on 12/27
273,600 (1216x225) points from a $1216 Hickory Farms oder on 12/29

695,430 total missing GP

I know 30 business days hasn't passed, but all of my small transactions posted within 3 days!

[This message has been edited by dhacker (edited 01-21-2002).]

dhacker: Your points taken out are because Valuemags is revoking points for the discount even before you got the points for the rest. I assume you used a 15% discount code.

15% of $765 = $114.75
$114.75 * 150 points per dollar = 17212

Which is the points taken away. So in other words Valuemags is taking away points for the discount (that's fine) but they're taking it away without the triple bonus (that would actually be fine too) but they haven't even posted the points to begin with yet (that sucks).

Again, I think the blame lies sorely on valuemags shoulder. It was a good deal, but I'm really beginning to think it wasn't worth the hassle.

I also spoke with Gold Points this morning. I faxed in a record of my six transaction, two of which have been processes correctly. I also mentioned the points I received that don't correspond to anything (Gold Points thought that perhaps they assigned a 180 point value to some things).

I also added a copy of credit card info.

pitflyer: i have confirmation from valuemags (albeit dated 12/18) that goldpoints were awarded on the pre-discount value. they can't suddenly take it away - that's fraud. yes, the have the right to end the program early/change the rules..but all purchases prior to rule changes should have to comply with the rules of that time.

I had 4800 points taken out this morning as well from vaulemags.com shows up as:

VALUEMAGS.COM 23-Dec-2001 -2,100 0 0 0 -2,100 Batch Point Refund Transaction

VALUEMAGS.COM 20-Dec-2001 -2,700 0 0 0 -2,700 Batch Point Refund Transaction

Strange that these don't line up with any of my other 3 purchases that actually posted. Still waiting for the "big one" to post. I faxed today.

I bought magazines in two small orders (totalling about $250) and watched for my points to post. I then immediately requested a transfer out. Everything was cool for me. Of course if you're waiting for hundreds of thousands of points to post your mileage may vary (and apparently has).

What happened, I assume, is this: someone made an error in creating the program that loaded the points into the Goldpoints database. The result of this error was that points were credited based on the pre-discount (gross) magazine price, not the actual price.

When GP figured out that it was going to have to buy a boatload of miles for all the FTers and the milespy guys (in addition to everyone else), they tried to figure out a way to take some of the sting out. Some bright person figured out that GP could legitimately reduce its exposure by adjusting all discounted transactions to reflect credit for only the discounted price.

Just a surmise, BTW.

Keep in mind-- I'm on the same side as you, but, I think calling this fraud is a bit of a stretch.

I never saw anything in the rules that indicated points were due on pre-discount order amounts. In fact, I think common sense dictates otherwise.

Then again, it's the least they can do for screwing this up so bad.

.

[This message has been edited by broadwayblue (edited 01-21-2002).]

while i agree with you i think it would be nice of them to at least give me the points i earned BEFORE they decide to take some back. as it stands now my account balance is negative 56,000 for my valuemags purchases!

Do you now have to send them FF miles?

This thing is really getting nuts. The three accounts of people who spoke to GP this morning (mine included) all differed significantly. IMHO, NO answer from GP can be considered definitive (or even accurate) at this point.

if i do they're getting kelloggs certificates! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

It does look like points are being taken away for the 15% discount at 150pts./$. GP's doesn't realize this because the transctions are being sent in by VM's. Both, btw, it seems are trying to make things right from my discussions today with them. I will be very happy when my points post in a positive direction.

I spoke with ValueMags who said they had been asked to send copies of their customers credit card charge ammounts for each order and suspect goldpoints is adjusting the points down when the charge ammount differs from the gross amount reported by the LinkExchange previously. I told her that everyone is relying on getting points based on the gross amount as with all other goldpoint merchants, and she said she would try to see if they could get goldpoints to honor it, but basically she apologized because it was for the most part up to goldpoints. She also confirmed that goldpoints has decided to not post large order until 30 buisness days (6 weeks) have passed, and to block all points that have already posted for the same amount of time if the account balance is large. Valuemags has already "paid" goldpoints for all orders including large orders.

I called Goldpoints who said my account is in fact blocked from all redemptions till Feb 10, and there was nothing they could do about it. They say the Feb 10 is simply 30 days after Jan 10 the day goldpoints management made the decision to recheck all Valuemag orders.


[This message has been edited by ananthar (edited 01-21-2002).]