HSBC Star Alliance credit card in Australia

[Oubline]

How long did it take you all to receive the extra 50,000 points from Air Canada?

I don’t think we’ve heard of anyone getting it yet.

 

[robbo135]

Is that even before the statement is issued?

Yes, as soon as the transaction cleared, I got the email the next day.

 

[N860CR]

Bit of a PIA application. First they had some automated identity process that kept timing out. Eventually timed out the whole application so I had no idea if it went through or not. Called and spoke to someone who said it was stuck at the ID stage and he’d push it through. Said I’d get an email with an application number, however I never did. He gave it to me and I was able to pull it up online and add payslips etc. Then told I’d need to go to the post office for an ID check (this is before it’s even been approved).

 

[BJReplay]

Bit of a PIA application. First they had some automated identity process that kept timing out.

Yeah, I found out that I couldn't submit income docs unless I fired up a VPN. My identity was slow, but worked.

Since both myself and Mrs BJReplay are retired and on the same income (not yet at super age, income distributions from a family trust distributing proceeds from selling a business), and I got approved, I figured Mrs BJReplay may as well pop her credit card cherry and get her first credit card in her name.

That way we could both get 50,000 Aeroplan points, and say 36,000 each over the next 12 months, and 170,000 points would be worth something with family pooling.

Her identity verification kept timing out uploading the passport, but I ended up cancelling, and then took a lower resolution photo (her phone was defaulting to 64MP photos), and it went through pretty quickly.

My income verification was fine, hers - basically identical - was a real PITA. Possibly because she has a virgin credit history, so is seen as more of a risk.

Anyway, hopefully both approved soon. I've got $3,900 on my card now, and will pop the remaining $600 odd in in January, so hopefully two years of Gold status. That last $600 odd will be on the second half of an AirBNB booking, triggering the travel insurance spend activation criteria.

Mrs BJReplay will do her Spend in January (and possibly thereby only activate the card in January too).

I don't think we'll keep these cards past the first year, but I think the 170,000 points will be worth it.

 

[N860CR]

They have forced me to do the ID verification before even approving it which is odd. They received a payslip, however then wanted a bank statement or transaction record to “show the money being deposited” . All been done so we’ll see how that goes.

 

[BJReplay]

They have forced me to do the ID verification before even approving it which is odd. They received a payslip, however then wanted a bank statement or transaction record to “show the money being deposited” . All been done so we’ll see how that goes.

Yeah, mine was conditionally approved, subject to ID: May because yours got stuck, you didn't get that notification, but you're in a similar position? Anyway, good luck. Hopefully it's worth the effort - the 50,000 Aeroplan points seem to be worth around $1,200 AUD

Your HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card is Conditionally Approved! (ID Required)

Thank you for applying for an HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card.

We're pleased to advise that your application has been conditionally approved with a credit limit of $xx_x, and your Application Reference Code is nnnnnnnn.

Before we can finalise your application we need you to:

Complete an identification check at any HSBC Branch. Alternatively, please bring this Australia Post Form and your identification to an Australia Post outlet.

 

[N860CR]

Yeah, mine was conditionally approved, subject to ID: May because yours got stuck, you didn't get that notification, but you're in a similar position? Anyway, good luck. Hopefully it's worth the effort - the 50,000 Aeroplan points seem to be worth around $1,200 AUD

Possibly yes. I’ve never received a single email at all.

Interestingly, when retrieving the application it links to a service that apparently logs into your internet banking to obtain a statement and verify income. Did you manage to use that? Curious to know if that only shows them workplace income, or also lets them read the whole statement.

 

[BJReplay]

Possibly yes. I’ve never received a single email at all.

Interestingly, when retrieving the application it links to a service that apparently logs into your internet banking to obtain a statement and verify income. Did you manage to use that? Curious to know if that only shows them workplace income, or also lets them read the whole statement.

I just uploaded statements manually.

I tried several times to use the manual upload and it kept failing when I went to submit, until I switched to a VPN connection.

I did try the log in, but I never expected it to work as I have 2FA set up on my bank account, and I didn't expect it to be able to prompt for 2FA. As expected, it didn't prompt, and couldn't log in.

I imagine it would be be able to see everything.

 

[N860CR]

Definitely wouldn’t bother with this card if you’re apprehensive to show bank statements. They first asked for a transaction record showing “deposits from your employer”. This was done, then got a followup saying they want a “non-filtered” one. This is despite sending payslips. Certainly making it hard!

 

[BJReplay]

Mrs BJReplay got approved, but right at the point of getting ready to set her up for Star Alliance linking to Aeroplan, it turns out that her Aeroplan account has been deactivated.

Your Aeroplan account has been deactivated. Please contact us at 1-800-361-5373 for assistance.

This has hit a few people, apparently. Not good. Not looking forward to getting her on the phone early next week to try to sort this out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just wanting to confirm… the $4000 min spend I know excludes certain transactions, including BPAY. But can i pay my rates and body corporate (strata) fees? That would count as eligible spend?

 

[robbo135]

can i pay my rates and body corporate (strata) fees? That would count as eligible spend?

Strata yes (it did for mine), rates not sure

 

[N860CR]

Just wanting to confirm… the $4000 min spend I know excludes certain transactions, including BPAY. But can i pay my rates and body corporate (strata) fees? That would count as eligible spend?

Eligible purchases exclude interest free and other promotions, balance transfers, cash transfers, business expenses, cash advances, fees and charges, BPAY®, any disputed transactions and government fees and charges

Based on those terms, I would tend to think it doesn’t exclude even government transactions as most cards do? I read “fees and charges” as an imposed fee not a transaction.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Eligible purchases exclude interest free and other promotions, balance transfers, cash transfers, business expenses, cash advances, fees and charges, BPAY®, any disputed transactions and government fees and charges

Based on those terms, I would tend to think it doesn’t exclude even government transactions as most cards do? I read “fees and charges” as an imposed fee not a transaction.

Thanks, and thanks to Robbo.

Yeah I wasn’t sure if there were any sneaky exclusions in all of that.

 

[blacksultan]

Eligible purchases exclude interest free and other promotions, balance transfers, cash transfers, business expenses, cash advances, fees and charges, BPAY®, any disputed transactions and government fees and charges

Based on those terms, I would tend to think it doesn’t exclude even government transactions as most cards do? I read “fees and charges” as an imposed fee not a transaction.

Can circumvent this for a fee by using a service like sniip

 

[N860CR]

Can circumvent this for a fee by using a service like sniip

Certainly, but may not even be required. Comparing the conditions to Citi (as an example);

any purchase excluding (but not limited to) Cash Advances, Balance Transfers, Special Promotions, BPAY payments, purchases of foreign currency and travellers cheques, transactions made in operating a business, payments to other Citi branded accounts, bank fees and charges such as interest and ATM charges, transactions made using Points and government related transactions. Government related transactions include transactions with government or semi-government entities, or relating to services provided by or in connection with government (for example but not limited to transactions made at Australia Post, payments to the Australian Taxation Office, council rates, motor registries, tolls, parking stations and meters, fares on public transport, fines and court related costs).

I’ll give it a try when the card shows up (hopefully tomorrow).

 

[Jacques Vert]

Certainly, but may not even be required. Comparing the conditions to Citi (as an example);

I’ll give it a try when the card shows up (hopefully tomorrow).

Perhaps try making a small test payment first?

 

[blacksultan]

Or you can use zip pay for no fee and then pay zip pay using this card .

 

[dein_gesicht]

Would be interested to know if anyone has used revolut or wise and if it triggered as cash advance

 

[slowbro]

I did wise and it did triggered as cash advances

Would be interested to know if anyone has used revolut or wise and if it triggered as cash advance