MP Accounts Closed by UA Alleging Fraud/Misuse
May 27, 2017, 7:15 am
#826
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Perhaps if it cause hundreds of others to not do such a things. If everyone knew UA gave second chances, then many would traffic these certs until they got caught the first time. This is the reason for instituting zero tolerance, to send a message (not to the person but to the wider audience) , don't even think about this.
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May 27, 2017, 7:30 am
#827
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
Not much to add here that hasn't already been said, except to commend the OP for coming out in Post 1 of this thread and stating all the facts. Most of these threads start out with something like 'UA closed my account, I didn't do anything wrong'and take 5 or so pages of post to get to the point where they will admit the issue at hand.
The big conspiracy theorist in me suggests that maybe United creates Flyertalk accounts and occasionally posts phony stories like this as a caution to everybody. That would be a much cheaper and smarter way to reduce cert sales, rather than firing high-value customers after the fact.
May 27, 2017, 7:51 am
#828
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BOS
Programs: 1MM, UA 1k
Posts: 529
No, jettison of a high spending long time GS/1K member for one sold certificate is not the right course of action. In essence, they just fired a customer who is likely spending 30K+ a year - is that proportional to the crime? They could have just canceled the GPUs from the account and issued a stern warning that the next time, the account is closed and the relationship terminated.
Of course this is the airline that gives a Kettle a F seat for the same cost as a couple checked bags, so their ability to account for both hard and soft costs is very suspect - as is their logical and critical thinking.
So now this customer will likely take their high spend to DL or AA, probably with a status match, and UA can sit back with a smug face and feel happy the rules were enforced with absolute certainty.
Of course this is the airline that gives a Kettle a F seat for the same cost as a couple checked bags, so their ability to account for both hard and soft costs is very suspect - as is their logical and critical thinking.
So now this customer will likely take their high spend to DL or AA, probably with a status match, and UA can sit back with a smug face and feel happy the rules were enforced with absolute certainty.
Dont do the crime if you cant do the time.
May 27, 2017, 7:56 am
#829
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CO hublette
Programs: UA AU MM,HH Diamond,Hyatt Globalist , Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,281
eBay will not give or sell anyone's PII to another company, full stop. That said, it is also really, really easy to figure out who is selling. I'd bet they surf eBay with a list of MP accounts that are actively selling. That is the power of a DMP.
May 27, 2017, 8:18 am
#830
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
This feels more like a typical large corporation where the left hand and doesnt know what the right hand is doing. The security guy is just doing his job, trying to find rule violations. He doesnt care if a short sighted decision will cause UA to lose more money in the long run. "That's someone else's job"
May 27, 2017, 8:47 am
#831
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I imagine there are full time UA security employees who spends all day checking ebay for ecerts, GPU/RPU, miles, etc and bids on every single one. If they win, its obviously easy to track down the owner. Otherwise, I'm not sure how you'd identify someone unless their ebay username matches their actual name.
May 27, 2017, 8:54 am
#832
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,510
Wouldn't that violate the TOS of FlyerTalk, thus subjecting the entire airline to a loss of posting privileges and a ban for 'life'?
May 27, 2017, 8:58 am
#833
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,360
ECERT - it is 3 pages long, printed on boarding card stuff
http://imgur.com/a/aWdfY
I got a security token error trying to upload them here, and imgur sucks, but you get the idea.....number 6 Is the important one...
http://imgur.com/a/aWdfY
I got a security token error trying to upload them here, and imgur sucks, but you get the idea.....number 6 Is the important one...
May 27, 2017, 9:06 am
#834
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
20 years loyal flyer with united. 1k and Global Services over past 7 years.
I accumulated many E-certificates, and on a suggestion from a friend, searched the E-certs on Ebay to find many postings. I copied a posting and setup a $125 certificate which started to get bids. First time ever.
I accumulated many E-certificates, and on a suggestion from a friend, searched the E-certs on Ebay to find many postings. I copied a posting and setup a $125 certificate which started to get bids. First time ever.
May 27, 2017, 9:18 am
#835
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
It's good to be aware that UA closely monitors FT (although many frequent posters on FT seemingly write as if they are unaware), which on face value the OP clearly wasn't by the way he wrote his post. However I don't see any value in a UA 'undercover' employee posting this info here as it's common knowledge among the UA FT community.
May 27, 2017, 9:21 am
#837
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
Sorry OP, I have no sympathy for you and applaud UA for taking a hard stance regardless of status. If you have been a 1K/GS all these years then you know better.
May 27, 2017, 9:37 am
#838
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,360
May 27, 2017, 9:41 am
#839
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
All UA needs to do is put in bold that selling ECERTS will cause your MP account to be shut down or something similar.