MP Accounts Closed by UA Alleging Fraud/Misuse
Jan 28, 2015, 4:57 pm
#121
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
If you want help of this group, you will need to be 100% forthcoming, those that have not, have gotten an unsympathetic response. However, you also need to realize UA reads these forums and can put 1+1 together and get 2.
Jan 28, 2015, 5:04 pm
#124
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 994
Jan 28, 2015, 5:05 pm
#125
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
"With each purchase of my upgrade travel consultation, you will receive one UA Systemwide Global Premiere Upgrade as a free gift. You are only paying for my travel consultation, not the upgrades." They did use my upgrade instruments -- although strangers theoretically only paid for my advice, well .......
Jan 28, 2015, 5:08 pm
#126
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 994
"With each purchase of my upgrade travel consultation, you will receive one UA Systemwide Global Premiere Upgrade as a free gift. You are only paying for my travel consultation, not the upgrades." They did use my upgrade instruments -- although strangers theoretically only paid for my advice, well .......
Jan 28, 2015, 5:10 pm
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,024
No, they gave you the money primarily to get the upgrades from you. If you weren't giving them the upgrades, they almost certainly wouldn't have given you a dime. UA (logically) concluded you were selling upgrades.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jan 28, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Jan 28, 2015, 5:14 pm
#128
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Delta Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 35
As others in this thread (yours just the latest case) have recounted -- UA treats violations of the MP T&Cs harshly but within the T&Cs and no warning is required.
If you want help of this group, you will need to be 100% forthcoming, those that have not, have gotten an unsympathetic response. However, you also need to realize UA reads these forums and can put 1+1 together and get 2.
If you want help of this group, you will need to be 100% forthcoming, those that have not, have gotten an unsympathetic response. However, you also need to realize UA reads these forums and can put 1+1 together and get 2.
As to what MPCompliance accused me of: "We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold". I come out 100% clean -- I never sold any miles and have only redeemed for myself and my family members.
Last edited by jimmyz; Jan 28, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Jan 28, 2015, 5:16 pm
#130
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
At this ban UA could ban the individual from MP and/or travel. So if travel is an issue, then that should be the goal and there others things should be considered loss causes. Professional help might be appropriate to handle the negotiation.
... As to what MPCompliance accused me of: "We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold". I come out 100% clean -- I never sold any miles and have only redeemed for myself and my family members.
However, to the violation of MP rules “The Mileage Plus Program Rules clearly indicate that “the sale or barter of any such mileage, certificates, awards or benefits other than as authorized and/or sponsored by United is expressly prohibited.” I did sell my travel advice: "With each purchase of my upgrade travel consultation, you will receive one UA Systemwide Global Premiere Upgrade as a free gift. You are only paying for my travel consultation, not the upgrades." Although strangers theoretically only paid for my advice, well, they did use my upgrade instruments. ...
However, to the violation of MP rules “The Mileage Plus Program Rules clearly indicate that “the sale or barter of any such mileage, certificates, awards or benefits other than as authorized and/or sponsored by United is expressly prohibited.” I did sell my travel advice: "With each purchase of my upgrade travel consultation, you will receive one UA Systemwide Global Premiere Upgrade as a free gift. You are only paying for my travel consultation, not the upgrades." Although strangers theoretically only paid for my advice, well, they did use my upgrade instruments. ...
The penalty is clearly spelled out -- you quoted part of it above.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 28, 2015 at 5:30 pm Reason: self merge
Jan 28, 2015, 5:21 pm
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,024
Thank so much for the advice and help!
As to what MPCompliance accused me of: "We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold". I come out 100% clean -- I never sold any miles and have only redeemed for myself and my family members.
However, to the violation of MP rules “The Mileage Plus Program Rules clearly indicate that “the sale or barter of any such mileage, certificates, awards or benefits other than as authorized and/or sponsored by United is expressly prohibited.” I did sell my travel advice: "With each purchase of my upgrade travel consultation, you will receive one UA Systemwide Global Premiere Upgrade as a free gift. You are only paying for my travel consultation, not the upgrades." Although strangers theoretically only paid for my advice, well, they did use my upgrade instruments. But I didn’t know the penalty would be so harsh :-( I thought only use of the award tickets would result such penalty as MPCompliance stated.
As to what MPCompliance accused me of: "We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold". I come out 100% clean -- I never sold any miles and have only redeemed for myself and my family members.
However, to the violation of MP rules “The Mileage Plus Program Rules clearly indicate that “the sale or barter of any such mileage, certificates, awards or benefits other than as authorized and/or sponsored by United is expressly prohibited.” I did sell my travel advice: "With each purchase of my upgrade travel consultation, you will receive one UA Systemwide Global Premiere Upgrade as a free gift. You are only paying for my travel consultation, not the upgrades." Although strangers theoretically only paid for my advice, well, they did use my upgrade instruments. But I didn’t know the penalty would be so harsh :-( I thought only use of the award tickets would result such penalty as MPCompliance stated.
The "selling mileage" charge is probably an example of UA's propensity to cut and paste the wrong phrase in a communication. I'm pretty sure they've nabbed you on the GPU sales and that is what has probably been noted in your account.
Jan 28, 2015, 5:23 pm
#132
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Dear all, I'm in desperate for help!
I’m a GS with over $1.5m lifetime miles with United. Just received an email from MPCompliance:
We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold. The Mileage Plus Program Rules clearly indicate that “the sale or barter of any such mileage, certificates, awards or benefits other than as authorized and/or sponsored by United is expressly prohibited. Any mileage, certificates, awards or benefits transferred, assigned or sold in violation of the Program Rules, in addition to exposing the member to the penalties otherwise associated with violations, may be confiscated or canceled. The use of award tickets that have been acquired by purchase, barter or other conduct in violation of Program Rules may result in termination of membership, cancellation of accrued mileage, certificates, awards or benefits, confiscation of the tickets, denial of boarding with respect to the ticket holder, and, at United's discretion, completion of the travel only upon payment of an applicable fare.”
As a result, we permanently closed your account, cancelled all accrued mileage, cancelled any outstanding award tickets issued using mileage as form of payment as well as downgraded reservations using upgrades from your account.
Be extremely honest, I never sold any mileage from my account and only redeemed for myself and family members; however, I did sell some upgrade advice to friends and some strangers last year and take money for the advice – strictly speaking, it might be considered as a “sale”. However, the reason for closure is “We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold”. The penalty is too harsh and without any pre-warning. Is there any good way that I can speak to United and get my account back?
Greatly appreciate it!
I’m a GS with over $1.5m lifetime miles with United. Just received an email from MPCompliance:
We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold. The Mileage Plus Program Rules clearly indicate that “the sale or barter of any such mileage, certificates, awards or benefits other than as authorized and/or sponsored by United is expressly prohibited. Any mileage, certificates, awards or benefits transferred, assigned or sold in violation of the Program Rules, in addition to exposing the member to the penalties otherwise associated with violations, may be confiscated or canceled. The use of award tickets that have been acquired by purchase, barter or other conduct in violation of Program Rules may result in termination of membership, cancellation of accrued mileage, certificates, awards or benefits, confiscation of the tickets, denial of boarding with respect to the ticket holder, and, at United's discretion, completion of the travel only upon payment of an applicable fare.”
As a result, we permanently closed your account, cancelled all accrued mileage, cancelled any outstanding award tickets issued using mileage as form of payment as well as downgraded reservations using upgrades from your account.
Be extremely honest, I never sold any mileage from my account and only redeemed for myself and family members; however, I did sell some upgrade advice to friends and some strangers last year and take money for the advice – strictly speaking, it might be considered as a “sale”. However, the reason for closure is “We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold”. The penalty is too harsh and without any pre-warning. Is there any good way that I can speak to United and get my account back?
Greatly appreciate it!
Jan 28, 2015, 5:24 pm
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
Be extremely honest, I never sold any mileage from my account and only redeemed for myself and family members; however, I did sell some upgrade advice to friends and some strangers last year and take money for the advice – strictly speaking, it might be considered as a “sale”. However, the reason for closure is “We identified mileage from your account was bartered or sold”. The penalty is too harsh and without any pre-warning. Is there any good way that I can speak to United and get my account back!
Jan 28, 2015, 5:43 pm
#135
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
Sorry, but I agree that UA did the right thing. It's listed in the T&C. Though I understand what you were trying to do, you ultimately, and should have known, that you were selling the GPU for the most part.
In the end, you can try calling UA and asking for forgiveness or a lesser penalty, but I wouldn't expect much. Your best bet, IMO, is to quickly try and status match to another airline with your "GS qualifications" still in hand.
As a side note, UA can find ways to track our FT handles to our accounts, and in the end, you basically have admitted to guilt on here.
Lastly, I suggest you think legal right now too. Those individuals that "purchased" your GPUs could have them cancelled and they could be coming back against you now for damage or loss of services if they were not already used, as well as UA could go back against them to pay the costs for the upgrade (as I want to say it's within their terms that they shouldn't be purchasing them as well).
In the end, you can try calling UA and asking for forgiveness or a lesser penalty, but I wouldn't expect much. Your best bet, IMO, is to quickly try and status match to another airline with your "GS qualifications" still in hand.
As a side note, UA can find ways to track our FT handles to our accounts, and in the end, you basically have admitted to guilt on here.
Lastly, I suggest you think legal right now too. Those individuals that "purchased" your GPUs could have them cancelled and they could be coming back against you now for damage or loss of services if they were not already used, as well as UA could go back against them to pay the costs for the upgrade (as I want to say it's within their terms that they shouldn't be purchasing them as well).
Last edited by dank0014; Jan 28, 2015 at 5:49 pm