Gold Status Removed; Starwood had computer glitch
Mar 3, 2008, 8:43 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
Same issue I just noted today on my account.. my gold status (I easily spend the required 30k on the card) was expired. I'll PM the Lurker II since that seems just as easy as the phone call.
Mar 3, 2008, 9:10 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 9
Does the $30,000 annual spending requirement apply to AMEX Platinum, (not a Starwood AMEX card?) I'm confused . . . I thought it was an automatic benefit with the AMEX Platinum card.
I, too, have had my Gold Status removed -- once several years ago, (they told me I had to call and request Gold status!) and again today (unbeknownst to me) when I called about a reservation mix-up at the Danieli, and as compensation, they offered to upgrade me to Gold!
My card renews March 1.
I, too, have had my Gold Status removed -- once several years ago, (they told me I had to call and request Gold status!) and again today (unbeknownst to me) when I called about a reservation mix-up at the Danieli, and as compensation, they offered to upgrade me to Gold!
My card renews March 1.
Mar 3, 2008, 9:41 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, Marriot LTG
Posts: 614
Does the $30,000 annual spending requirement apply to AMEX Platinum, (not a Starwood AMEX card?) I'm confused . . . I thought it was an automatic benefit with the AMEX Platinum card.
I, too, have had my Gold Status removed -- once several years ago, (they told me I had to call and request Gold status!) and again today (unbeknownst to me) when I called about a reservation mix-up at the Danieli, and as compensation, they offered to upgrade me to Gold!
My card renews March 1.
I, too, have had my Gold Status removed -- once several years ago, (they told me I had to call and request Gold status!) and again today (unbeknownst to me) when I called about a reservation mix-up at the Danieli, and as compensation, they offered to upgrade me to Gold!
My card renews March 1.
Mar 3, 2008, 10:11 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 660
Same thing happened here. I qualified 2 years ago with stay and then re-qualified this year due to spending $30k (it said it at the bottom of my 12/07 statement for Amex). However, online it wasn't showing me as Gold. Made a call and it took about a minute for them to fix it for me.
Mar 4, 2008, 7:16 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 2.2MM LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,572
Same Here - But Took Two Hours To Fix It!
The same thing happened to me yesterday, but it was nowhere near as quick and painless to get things fixed.
Side Note: I spend several hundred thousand dollars a year on my Starwood Amex every year. I've been an extremely satisfied American Express customer for 13 years (Green Card + Membership Rewards before I discovered SPG). I've only had one other minor issue with Amex, about 9 years ago. I've been an extremely happy SPG member for about 3 years. I've recommended the card to numerous people (several of which have signed up and use it extensively now).
First, I called Starwood. I got a message that they were busy and to hold for a representative. It made a weird, annoying ringing sound for about five minutes, then disconnected me. I tried again. Same thing. I checked online and found the Gold customer support number (and saw that I had been calling the regular number). Same thing. I tried a fourth time. Same thing. I gave up on calling them. I searched around to confirm that they still offered Gold with $30k in spend. I found the online email contact and sent an email.
Later in the day, I was working on bills and I saw my $45 annual charge as I was categorizing my credit card charges. It frustrated me to see the charge, especially after the downgrade and the inability to contact SPG.
So I called American Express. I told the representative about the downgrade, the inability to contact Starwood, and the annual charge. He puts me on hold to research things. When he comes back, he tells me that there has been a change in the policy, and that you only get Gold based on the current calendar year. I tell him that's ridiculous and that there's no way it works like that. But even if it did, I've already spent well over $30,000 this year. He says that it will take 12-16 weeks after my qualifying spend is billed before my Gold status will be reinstated. I'm fuming at this point. I explain that will be SIX MONTHS into the year. I ask "What about people who barely spend $30,000 in a year? They would never get Gold." He says that's just the way it is. I start searching on their web site for the specific rules and regulations regarding Gold. It takes a while to find, but I finally find it. I ask to speak to a supervisor. He refuses and says they'll just tell me the same thing. I ask again. He eventually agrees and I'm transfered to a supervisor.
The supervisor tells me the same thing, then tells me that my qualified spend this year is only $27,500 (because they don't include unbilled charges). I read the rules to her. She again insists that things were changed and that it doesn't work that way. The rules clearly state that you get twelve months after the calendar year. She read her internal rules, which even more clearly stated the same. Yet she's still being argumentative. She says I need to call Starwood. I explain that I tried calling them four times and got disconnected every time. She places the call and connects me.
So now I'm finally talking to a lady at Starwood. She was very pleasant and sympathetic. I explained the entire situation to her. She told me that she had four people with the downgrade problem in the previous 45 minutes and that all the CSRs had been called in early due to high call volume, so she put me on hold to check with her supervisor. She was looking for any sort of explanation or a way to ensure that this wouldn't happen in the future. She wasn't able to find an explanation, but she was able to put me back in the Gold category.
Bottom line is that I wasted nearly two hours of my time yesterday. I got so frustrated with both Starwood and American Express that I was ready to cancel my card and switch to something else (even though I know the benefits wouldn't be as good). I never got an explanation about the downgrade, the disconnects or the rude CSR (and Manager) at AmEx. Through the entire process, I was never offered any compensation for my difficulties. American Express could have waived my annual fee or given me bonus starpoints. Starwood could have offered me bonus starpoints or perhaps even an upgrade to Platinum. Maybe I shouldn't expect anything, but most companies do something when things go as wrong as they did, and American Express and Starwood (in my past experience, anyway) have always been the cream of the crop when it comes to customer service.
Side Note: I spend several hundred thousand dollars a year on my Starwood Amex every year. I've been an extremely satisfied American Express customer for 13 years (Green Card + Membership Rewards before I discovered SPG). I've only had one other minor issue with Amex, about 9 years ago. I've been an extremely happy SPG member for about 3 years. I've recommended the card to numerous people (several of which have signed up and use it extensively now).
First, I called Starwood. I got a message that they were busy and to hold for a representative. It made a weird, annoying ringing sound for about five minutes, then disconnected me. I tried again. Same thing. I checked online and found the Gold customer support number (and saw that I had been calling the regular number). Same thing. I tried a fourth time. Same thing. I gave up on calling them. I searched around to confirm that they still offered Gold with $30k in spend. I found the online email contact and sent an email.
Later in the day, I was working on bills and I saw my $45 annual charge as I was categorizing my credit card charges. It frustrated me to see the charge, especially after the downgrade and the inability to contact SPG.
So I called American Express. I told the representative about the downgrade, the inability to contact Starwood, and the annual charge. He puts me on hold to research things. When he comes back, he tells me that there has been a change in the policy, and that you only get Gold based on the current calendar year. I tell him that's ridiculous and that there's no way it works like that. But even if it did, I've already spent well over $30,000 this year. He says that it will take 12-16 weeks after my qualifying spend is billed before my Gold status will be reinstated. I'm fuming at this point. I explain that will be SIX MONTHS into the year. I ask "What about people who barely spend $30,000 in a year? They would never get Gold." He says that's just the way it is. I start searching on their web site for the specific rules and regulations regarding Gold. It takes a while to find, but I finally find it. I ask to speak to a supervisor. He refuses and says they'll just tell me the same thing. I ask again. He eventually agrees and I'm transfered to a supervisor.
The supervisor tells me the same thing, then tells me that my qualified spend this year is only $27,500 (because they don't include unbilled charges). I read the rules to her. She again insists that things were changed and that it doesn't work that way. The rules clearly state that you get twelve months after the calendar year. She read her internal rules, which even more clearly stated the same. Yet she's still being argumentative. She says I need to call Starwood. I explain that I tried calling them four times and got disconnected every time. She places the call and connects me.
So now I'm finally talking to a lady at Starwood. She was very pleasant and sympathetic. I explained the entire situation to her. She told me that she had four people with the downgrade problem in the previous 45 minutes and that all the CSRs had been called in early due to high call volume, so she put me on hold to check with her supervisor. She was looking for any sort of explanation or a way to ensure that this wouldn't happen in the future. She wasn't able to find an explanation, but she was able to put me back in the Gold category.
Bottom line is that I wasted nearly two hours of my time yesterday. I got so frustrated with both Starwood and American Express that I was ready to cancel my card and switch to something else (even though I know the benefits wouldn't be as good). I never got an explanation about the downgrade, the disconnects or the rude CSR (and Manager) at AmEx. Through the entire process, I was never offered any compensation for my difficulties. American Express could have waived my annual fee or given me bonus starpoints. Starwood could have offered me bonus starpoints or perhaps even an upgrade to Platinum. Maybe I shouldn't expect anything, but most companies do something when things go as wrong as they did, and American Express and Starwood (in my past experience, anyway) have always been the cream of the crop when it comes to customer service.
Mar 4, 2008, 7:21 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 463
3minutes 20 seconds with hold times and transfers. Pretty painless, but it's still a bit of an annoyance. I was wondering if it was b/c I have 2 Amex SPG cards, but I guess that isn't the case.
Mar 4, 2008, 7:29 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MKE, WI
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, AA 2MM Platinum
Posts: 410
Under 60 Seconds
Explained the status drop and that I hit the 30,K several times over annually. Before I could explian I would be in Europe later this month and any status helps, she had switched me back to Gold 
Mar 4, 2008, 7:42 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
Seems like a lot of people got hit by a computer glitch that is now expecting people to spend $30,000 by March 1st (!) to regain Gold. Since I don't have an upcoming stay at SPG property soon, I'm just patiently waiting for Starwood Lurker II to clear the issue.
Mar 4, 2008, 7:48 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA1MM, QF/NZ/VA/UA/DL, etc...
Posts: 516
Same with me, despite the email late last year saying that I hit the $30k and qualified for continuing Gold through 2008, I dropped to regular.
However a quick call also of less than 60 sec and using the offer code for comp Gold with the Bus Plat card resolved the issue! It's available at open.com/starwoodpreferred
I've been talking to several people lately, all of whom have noticed a deterioration in service and attitude from Amex, perhaps ever since they became their own bank?
However a quick call also of less than 60 sec and using the offer code for comp Gold with the Bus Plat card resolved the issue! It's available at open.com/starwoodpreferred
I've been talking to several people lately, all of whom have noticed a deterioration in service and attitude from Amex, perhaps ever since they became their own bank?
Mar 4, 2008, 9:05 am
#25
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Programs: AA 2MM Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,349
The same thing happened to me yesterday, but it was nowhere near as quick and painless to get things fixed.
Side Note: I spend several hundred thousand dollars a year on my Starwood Amex every year. I've been an extremely satisfied American Express customer for 13 years (Green Card + Membership Rewards before I discovered SPG). I've only had one other minor issue with Amex, about 9 years ago. I've been an extremely happy SPG member for about 3 years. I've recommended the card to numerous people (several of which have signed up and use it extensively now).
First, I called Starwood. I got a message that they were busy and to hold for a representative. It made a weird, annoying ringing sound for about five minutes, then disconnected me. I tried again. Same thing. I checked online and found the Gold customer support number (and saw that I had been calling the regular number). Same thing. I tried a fourth time. Same thing. I gave up on calling them. I searched around to confirm that they still offered Gold with $30k in spend. I found the online email contact and sent an email.
Later in the day, I was working on bills and I saw my $45 annual charge as I was categorizing my credit card charges. It frustrated me to see the charge, especially after the downgrade and the inability to contact SPG.
So I called American Express. I told the representative about the downgrade, the inability to contact Starwood, and the annual charge. He puts me on hold to research things. When he comes back, he tells me that there has been a change in the policy, and that you only get Gold based on the current calendar year. I tell him that's ridiculous and that there's no way it works like that. But even if it did, I've already spent well over $30,000 this year. He says that it will take 12-16 weeks after my qualifying spend is billed before my Gold status will be reinstated. I'm fuming at this point. I explain that will be SIX MONTHS into the year. I ask "What about people who barely spend $30,000 in a year? They would never get Gold." He says that's just the way it is. I start searching on their web site for the specific rules and regulations regarding Gold. It takes a while to find, but I finally find it. I ask to speak to a supervisor. He refuses and says they'll just tell me the same thing. I ask again. He eventually agrees and I'm transfered to a supervisor.
The supervisor tells me the same thing, then tells me that my qualified spend this year is only $27,500 (because they don't include unbilled charges). I read the rules to her. She again insists that things were changed and that it doesn't work that way. The rules clearly state that you get twelve months after the calendar year. She read her internal rules, which even more clearly stated the same. Yet she's still being argumentative. She says I need to call Starwood. I explain that I tried calling them four times and got disconnected every time. She places the call and connects me.
So now I'm finally talking to a lady at Starwood. She was very pleasant and sympathetic. I explained the entire situation to her. She told me that she had four people with the downgrade problem in the previous 45 minutes and that all the CSRs had been called in early due to high call volume, so she put me on hold to check with her supervisor. She was looking for any sort of explanation or a way to ensure that this wouldn't happen in the future. She wasn't able to find an explanation, but she was able to put me back in the Gold category.
Bottom line is that I wasted nearly two hours of my time yesterday. I got so frustrated with both Starwood and American Express that I was ready to cancel my card and switch to something else (even though I know the benefits wouldn't be as good). I never got an explanation about the downgrade, the disconnects or the rude CSR (and Manager) at AmEx. Through the entire process, I was never offered any compensation for my difficulties. American Express could have waived my annual fee or given me bonus starpoints. Starwood could have offered me bonus starpoints or perhaps even an upgrade to Platinum. Maybe I shouldn't expect anything, but most companies do something when things go as wrong as they did, and American Express and Starwood (in my past experience, anyway) have always been the cream of the crop when it comes to customer service.
Side Note: I spend several hundred thousand dollars a year on my Starwood Amex every year. I've been an extremely satisfied American Express customer for 13 years (Green Card + Membership Rewards before I discovered SPG). I've only had one other minor issue with Amex, about 9 years ago. I've been an extremely happy SPG member for about 3 years. I've recommended the card to numerous people (several of which have signed up and use it extensively now).
First, I called Starwood. I got a message that they were busy and to hold for a representative. It made a weird, annoying ringing sound for about five minutes, then disconnected me. I tried again. Same thing. I checked online and found the Gold customer support number (and saw that I had been calling the regular number). Same thing. I tried a fourth time. Same thing. I gave up on calling them. I searched around to confirm that they still offered Gold with $30k in spend. I found the online email contact and sent an email.
Later in the day, I was working on bills and I saw my $45 annual charge as I was categorizing my credit card charges. It frustrated me to see the charge, especially after the downgrade and the inability to contact SPG.
So I called American Express. I told the representative about the downgrade, the inability to contact Starwood, and the annual charge. He puts me on hold to research things. When he comes back, he tells me that there has been a change in the policy, and that you only get Gold based on the current calendar year. I tell him that's ridiculous and that there's no way it works like that. But even if it did, I've already spent well over $30,000 this year. He says that it will take 12-16 weeks after my qualifying spend is billed before my Gold status will be reinstated. I'm fuming at this point. I explain that will be SIX MONTHS into the year. I ask "What about people who barely spend $30,000 in a year? They would never get Gold." He says that's just the way it is. I start searching on their web site for the specific rules and regulations regarding Gold. It takes a while to find, but I finally find it. I ask to speak to a supervisor. He refuses and says they'll just tell me the same thing. I ask again. He eventually agrees and I'm transfered to a supervisor.
The supervisor tells me the same thing, then tells me that my qualified spend this year is only $27,500 (because they don't include unbilled charges). I read the rules to her. She again insists that things were changed and that it doesn't work that way. The rules clearly state that you get twelve months after the calendar year. She read her internal rules, which even more clearly stated the same. Yet she's still being argumentative. She says I need to call Starwood. I explain that I tried calling them four times and got disconnected every time. She places the call and connects me.
So now I'm finally talking to a lady at Starwood. She was very pleasant and sympathetic. I explained the entire situation to her. She told me that she had four people with the downgrade problem in the previous 45 minutes and that all the CSRs had been called in early due to high call volume, so she put me on hold to check with her supervisor. She was looking for any sort of explanation or a way to ensure that this wouldn't happen in the future. She wasn't able to find an explanation, but she was able to put me back in the Gold category.
Bottom line is that I wasted nearly two hours of my time yesterday. I got so frustrated with both Starwood and American Express that I was ready to cancel my card and switch to something else (even though I know the benefits wouldn't be as good). I never got an explanation about the downgrade, the disconnects or the rude CSR (and Manager) at AmEx. Through the entire process, I was never offered any compensation for my difficulties. American Express could have waived my annual fee or given me bonus starpoints. Starwood could have offered me bonus starpoints or perhaps even an upgrade to Platinum. Maybe I shouldn't expect anything, but most companies do something when things go as wrong as they did, and American Express and Starwood (in my past experience, anyway) have always been the cream of the crop when it comes to customer service.
I just called Starwood, and like most of you here, I was able to get my GOLD status reinstated. I think, if we're lucky, our status may be good for TWO YEARS. Why? Once before, there was an issue with my GOLD status being downgraded in error. After calling Starwood, I received my new GOLD card. But it was good through February 28th, not of the following year but a year after that! In such cases I think they do this to make up for part of our year being of a lesser status, even though its just been for a few days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one.
Mar 4, 2008, 10:44 pm
#26
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG
Posts: 4,002
Hi MichaelColey,
I am sorry to hear that you have gone through so much to get your status reinstated. In situations where you are not getting a response for cases like this, and it is not very urgent that you require immediate assistance, you may like to write to me and leave the rest for me to follow up.
Thank you for your kind patience and have a nice day!
[email protected]
I am sorry to hear that you have gone through so much to get your status reinstated. In situations where you are not getting a response for cases like this, and it is not very urgent that you require immediate assistance, you may like to write to me and leave the rest for me to follow up.
Thank you for your kind patience and have a nice day!
[email protected]
The same thing happened to me yesterday, but it was nowhere near as quick and painless to get things fixed.
Side Note: I spend several hundred thousand dollars a year on my Starwood Amex every year. I've been an extremely satisfied American Express customer for 13 years (Green Card + Membership Rewards before I discovered SPG). I've only had one other minor issue with Amex, about 9 years ago. I've been an extremely happy SPG member for about 3 years. I've recommended the card to numerous people (several of which have signed up and use it extensively now).
First, I called Starwood. I got a message that they were busy and to hold for a representative. It made a weird, annoying ringing sound for about five minutes, then disconnected me. I tried again. Same thing. I checked online and found the Gold customer support number (and saw that I had been calling the regular number). Same thing. I tried a fourth time. Same thing. I gave up on calling them. I searched around to confirm that they still offered Gold with $30k in spend. I found the online email contact and sent an email.
Later in the day, I was working on bills and I saw my $45 annual charge as I was categorizing my credit card charges. It frustrated me to see the charge, especially after the downgrade and the inability to contact SPG.
So I called American Express. I told the representative about the downgrade, the inability to contact Starwood, and the annual charge. He puts me on hold to research things. When he comes back, he tells me that there has been a change in the policy, and that you only get Gold based on the current calendar year. I tell him that's ridiculous and that there's no way it works like that. But even if it did, I've already spent well over $30,000 this year. He says that it will take 12-16 weeks after my qualifying spend is billed before my Gold status will be reinstated. I'm fuming at this point. I explain that will be SIX MONTHS into the year. I ask "What about people who barely spend $30,000 in a year? They would never get Gold." He says that's just the way it is. I start searching on their web site for the specific rules and regulations regarding Gold. It takes a while to find, but I finally find it. I ask to speak to a supervisor. He refuses and says they'll just tell me the same thing. I ask again. He eventually agrees and I'm transfered to a supervisor.
The supervisor tells me the same thing, then tells me that my qualified spend this year is only $27,500 (because they don't include unbilled charges). I read the rules to her. She again insists that things were changed and that it doesn't work that way. The rules clearly state that you get twelve months after the calendar year. She read her internal rules, which even more clearly stated the same. Yet she's still being argumentative. She says I need to call Starwood. I explain that I tried calling them four times and got disconnected every time. She places the call and connects me.
So now I'm finally talking to a lady at Starwood. She was very pleasant and sympathetic. I explained the entire situation to her. She told me that she had four people with the downgrade problem in the previous 45 minutes and that all the CSRs had been called in early due to high call volume, so she put me on hold to check with her supervisor. She was looking for any sort of explanation or a way to ensure that this wouldn't happen in the future. She wasn't able to find an explanation, but she was able to put me back in the Gold category.
Bottom line is that I wasted nearly two hours of my time yesterday. I got so frustrated with both Starwood and American Express that I was ready to cancel my card and switch to something else (even though I know the benefits wouldn't be as good). I never got an explanation about the downgrade, the disconnects or the rude CSR (and Manager) at AmEx. Through the entire process, I was never offered any compensation for my difficulties. American Express could have waived my annual fee or given me bonus starpoints. Starwood could have offered me bonus starpoints or perhaps even an upgrade to Platinum. Maybe I shouldn't expect anything, but most companies do something when things go as wrong as they did, and American Express and Starwood (in my past experience, anyway) have always been the cream of the crop when it comes to customer service.
Side Note: I spend several hundred thousand dollars a year on my Starwood Amex every year. I've been an extremely satisfied American Express customer for 13 years (Green Card + Membership Rewards before I discovered SPG). I've only had one other minor issue with Amex, about 9 years ago. I've been an extremely happy SPG member for about 3 years. I've recommended the card to numerous people (several of which have signed up and use it extensively now).
First, I called Starwood. I got a message that they were busy and to hold for a representative. It made a weird, annoying ringing sound for about five minutes, then disconnected me. I tried again. Same thing. I checked online and found the Gold customer support number (and saw that I had been calling the regular number). Same thing. I tried a fourth time. Same thing. I gave up on calling them. I searched around to confirm that they still offered Gold with $30k in spend. I found the online email contact and sent an email.
Later in the day, I was working on bills and I saw my $45 annual charge as I was categorizing my credit card charges. It frustrated me to see the charge, especially after the downgrade and the inability to contact SPG.
So I called American Express. I told the representative about the downgrade, the inability to contact Starwood, and the annual charge. He puts me on hold to research things. When he comes back, he tells me that there has been a change in the policy, and that you only get Gold based on the current calendar year. I tell him that's ridiculous and that there's no way it works like that. But even if it did, I've already spent well over $30,000 this year. He says that it will take 12-16 weeks after my qualifying spend is billed before my Gold status will be reinstated. I'm fuming at this point. I explain that will be SIX MONTHS into the year. I ask "What about people who barely spend $30,000 in a year? They would never get Gold." He says that's just the way it is. I start searching on their web site for the specific rules and regulations regarding Gold. It takes a while to find, but I finally find it. I ask to speak to a supervisor. He refuses and says they'll just tell me the same thing. I ask again. He eventually agrees and I'm transfered to a supervisor.
The supervisor tells me the same thing, then tells me that my qualified spend this year is only $27,500 (because they don't include unbilled charges). I read the rules to her. She again insists that things were changed and that it doesn't work that way. The rules clearly state that you get twelve months after the calendar year. She read her internal rules, which even more clearly stated the same. Yet she's still being argumentative. She says I need to call Starwood. I explain that I tried calling them four times and got disconnected every time. She places the call and connects me.
So now I'm finally talking to a lady at Starwood. She was very pleasant and sympathetic. I explained the entire situation to her. She told me that she had four people with the downgrade problem in the previous 45 minutes and that all the CSRs had been called in early due to high call volume, so she put me on hold to check with her supervisor. She was looking for any sort of explanation or a way to ensure that this wouldn't happen in the future. She wasn't able to find an explanation, but she was able to put me back in the Gold category.
Bottom line is that I wasted nearly two hours of my time yesterday. I got so frustrated with both Starwood and American Express that I was ready to cancel my card and switch to something else (even though I know the benefits wouldn't be as good). I never got an explanation about the downgrade, the disconnects or the rude CSR (and Manager) at AmEx. Through the entire process, I was never offered any compensation for my difficulties. American Express could have waived my annual fee or given me bonus starpoints. Starwood could have offered me bonus starpoints or perhaps even an upgrade to Platinum. Maybe I shouldn't expect anything, but most companies do something when things go as wrong as they did, and American Express and Starwood (in my past experience, anyway) have always been the cream of the crop when it comes to customer service.
Mar 5, 2008, 10:42 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
I just lost my *wood gold since most of my travel last year was far from their hotels. I am NW PE though, and if I could couple that with a new *wood Amex and two stays next week to get gold back I would be a happy person.
Mar 5, 2008, 10:51 am
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
Northwest Platinum provides Starwood Gold status????? The only hotel benefit I see on the NW site is fast track to Hilton gold.
I just lost my *wood gold since most of my travel last year was far from their hotels. I am NW PE though, and if I could couple that with a new *wood Amex and two stays next week to get gold back I would be a happy person.
I just lost my *wood gold since most of my travel last year was far from their hotels. I am NW PE though, and if I could couple that with a new *wood Amex and two stays next week to get gold back I would be a happy person.
Mar 5, 2008, 2:59 pm
#29
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SRQ
Programs: AA LT Plat, SPG Gld, Hilton Gld
Posts: 2
My gold status is now missing too.
My gold status is from being an owner in the SVO (Starwood timeshare), as well as being well above the Amex spend threshhold.
Sounds like a bug that is affecting a lot of folks. Lurker, do you know if a global fix is being worked on, or do we all need to call individually to get this fixed.
Thanks to all who reported this, and thanks to Lurker for assistance as well.
My gold status is from being an owner in the SVO (Starwood timeshare), as well as being well above the Amex spend threshhold.
Sounds like a bug that is affecting a lot of folks. Lurker, do you know if a global fix is being worked on, or do we all need to call individually to get this fixed.
Thanks to all who reported this, and thanks to Lurker for assistance as well.
Mar 5, 2008, 4:24 pm
#30
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
My gold status is now missing too.
My gold status is from being an owner in the SVO (Starwood timeshare), as well as being well above the Amex spend threshhold.
Sounds like a bug that is affecting a lot of folks. Lurker, do you know if a global fix is being worked on, or do we all need to call individually to get this fixed.
Thanks to all who reported this, and thanks to Lurker for assistance as well.
My gold status is from being an owner in the SVO (Starwood timeshare), as well as being well above the Amex spend threshhold.
Sounds like a bug that is affecting a lot of folks. Lurker, do you know if a global fix is being worked on, or do we all need to call individually to get this fixed.
Thanks to all who reported this, and thanks to Lurker for assistance as well.
My apologies for the inconvenience.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]