Priority Privilege Membership Renewal Promises!!!!

[Jama]

Fair Trading have zero power. Don' t know why money is wasted on having the department. I have used them twice where the other party refused to take responsibility and both times I was told they can't do any more than tell the seller/provider what they should be doing. If that has no effect you need to take it to court they can't do any more.

However, in saying that, the more complaints the better as it will go on record.

 

[Rick93]

I took a relatively minor case to Fair Trading, over a car rental that didn't 'reward' me with PCR points. The clerk at the desk ( rental car co. ) said, they have never heard of PCR. Long story, but in the end ( as a person on a Budget, cough ), I had 500 PCR points deposited ( was supposed to get about 750, but that was close enough ).

 

[oz_mark]

I took a relatively minor case to Fair Trading, over a car rental that didn't 'reward' me with PCR points. The clerk at the desk ( rental car co. ) said, they have never heard of PCR. Long story, but in the end ( as a person on a Budget, cough ), I had 500 PCR points deposited ( was supposed to get about 750, but that was close enough ).

Sounds like go-away points!

May well be the case that the rental car company hadn't heard of PCR, especially if it was some sort of PCR promotion external to the rental car company (e.g. booking through their online store, in which case it is not the rental company making the offer)

 

[Rick93]

The banner was on the PCR Shopping website.
I'm sure I clicked onto it, and was taken to the rental booking site, but the rental co. claim no - it didn't go through ( the manager, later when chasing up the points ).
When explaining the PCR Shopping site to the desk clerk - they tried to look up the URL, but you can only see the latest offers if you are a Member and logged in.

 

[markis10]

The banner was on the PCR Shopping website.
I'm sure I clicked onto it, and was taken to the rental booking site, but the rental co. claim no - it didn't go through ( the manager, later when chasing up the points ).
When explaining the PCR Shopping site to the desk clerk - they tried to look up the URL, but you can only see the latest offers if you are a Member and logged in.

Lots of work for $3 worth of PCR points though!

 

[Rick93]

Ethos of The Democrats - "To keep the coughs honest".

( was it Don Chipp ? What year ... anyone? )

 

[Austman]

A warning that PP accommodation certificates do not qualify for Ambassador (and mostly likely Priority Club) benefits!

This is from Ambassador Services:

We would like to inform you that the Priority Privilege membership and Ambassador membership are entirely separate programs and regrettably both the complimentary night or 25% discount cannot be granted along with Ambassador upgrades. The Priority Privilege voucher “Stay 2 Nights for the Price of 1” means you will receive the second night complimentary as a Priority Privilege Member. The terms and conditions of Priority Privilege do advise that the benefits cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers as Priority Privilege benefit and Ambassador benefit cannot be used at the same time.

I don't know how they just single out the PP 2-for-1 and 25% off certificates and not include the PP 10% off Advance Purchase Rate and 10% off Best Flexible Rate benefits, but that's another question.

Interestingly, on the PP 2-for-1 certificate itself, the terms and conditions do not say "cannot be used in conjunction with any other accommodation discounts or offers", rather it says "cannot be further discounted by any other promotion or special offer".

 

[oz_mark]

Interestingly, on the PP 2-for-1 certificate itself, the terms and conditions do not say "cannot be used in conjunction with any other accommodation discounts or offers", rather it says "cannot be further discounted by any other promotion or special offer".

The wording comes from the general PP terms and conditions:

9. Priority Privilege accommodation benefits cannot be used in conjunction with any other
accommodation discounts or offers.

Membership Benefits - Priority Privilege AUS NZ Fiji - Guaranteed savings on selected accommodation rates, along with exclusive dining discounts.

 

[Austman]

The wording comes from the general PP terms and conditions:



Membership Benefits - Priority Privilege AUS NZ Fiji - Guaranteed savings on selected accommodation rates, along with exclusive dining discounts.

Yes I know that. But it's interesting that the certificate itself - the document that you actually have to hand over to the hotel to get the benefit, says it quite differently. And the certificate has quite a long list of terms and conditions printed on it! And these certificates can be transferable, so you can give one to anyone - including non-Priority Privilege members, who one would assume reads and accepts the T&Cs as printed on the certificate!



I think one can see from the T&Cs printed on the certificate that the 'offer' restriction on their use is a rate offer restriction.

 

[Austman]

From IC Sydney today:

Our Acting General Manager has decided to rescind the no upgrade policy on Buy One Get One Free vouchers.

 

[markis10]

From IC Sydney today:

Interesting, and good news!

 

[fall502]

I would check when making a booking that you are going to be upgraded.

 

[Sunhill]

I've had enough of the lies and the shocking service over the phone. In my current membership year I am yet to be able to use a voucher after five attempts - both accommodation and dining. I've also discovered that my membership year is defined as 14 months! WTF? Their phone service is unreliable at best and correspondence by e-mail is pointless.

I realise that in these sorts of programmes a member might have a net loss of $20 or so in a year or get lucky and save a bit. I'm ok with that. However at this point I'll have lost the whole annual amount.

I've no intention of renewing later in the year. I'd love one of these "please stay" phone calls, but I doubt they'll ring me. They probably know I'll give them an earful.

 

[cove]

I do not look forward to renewal time for this card. I still just use it as a Sydney dining card and as long as we use it about 15 times on average a year I feel I get a fair shake out of it. With Alaskan King Crab legs on the menu the IC Sydney smorgasbord is still a favourite.

 

[Mal]

Well I renewed mine last year and have very little value (might have used dining discount once). Losing the HI in Brisbane, and the HI in Surfers really devalued the scheme for Brisbane based people.

 

[markis10]

Well I renewed mine last year and have very little value (might have used dining discount once). Losing the HI in Brisbane, and the HI in Surfers really devalued the scheme for Brisbane based people.

Add the CP Pelican Waters to that list, at least it was partly offset by the IC at Sanctuary Cove. Anyone renewing should be doing so using the start here link, and don't forget their are discounts for overseas reservations as well in some Asian countries.

 

[markis10]

I've had enough of the lies and the shocking service over the phone. In my current membership year I am yet to be able to use a voucher after five attempts - both accommodation and dining. I've also discovered that my membership year is defined as 14 months! WTF? Their phone service is unreliable at best and correspondence by e-mail is pointless.

I realise that in these sorts of programmes a member might have a net loss of $20 or so in a year or get lucky and save a bit. I'm ok with that. However at this point I'll have lost the whole annual amount.

I've no intention of renewing later in the year. I'd love one of these "please stay" phone calls, but I doubt they'll ring me. They probably know I'll give them an earful.

Telemarketing lies aside I am intrigued by how you are unable to use a voucher, having never had the issue myself, using it 60 nights a year?

 

[HKGNZL]

I have only joined few months ago but have already got more than my money's worth. My family likes IC Sydney and the restaurant is good. We always had upgrade and very good services. Even if the telesales extra do not come thro it is still a bargain and I will renew (and have introduced quite a few friends to join). Free Internet in IHG chain will be a plus as well.

 

[Sunhill]

I am intrigued by how you are unable to use a voucher, having never had the issue myself, using it 60 nights a year?

I agree completely. I am also intrigued. Travel is not a normal part of my work, so I don't stay away as often as you might. I have been a member for a number of years. In theory, I can see the advantage of membership, and while I haven't saved a motza like others, I have finished up maybe $100 ahead most years. However for the last six months, both through their website and by phone, when I attempt to make a reservation I am told that the relevant offer is not available, as the whole program is "subject to availability".

When I originally joined, the gentleman who described the scheme to me clearly stated that the 10% off discount was available at any time. I discovered that this is not the case. I have also been declined use of the 20% and 2 for 1 certificates. And the latest person at the office tried to keep my interest by saying that while I may be unlucky in reserving rooms, the dining discounts always apply. I was very quick to quote his own terms and conditions back at him, and also explain that I was unable to use one of my own dining vouchers at a hotel as it was a public holiday.

I have tried to make reservations in hotels in Auckland, Townsville and Melbourne, at various times of the year. While one was a last minute reservation, the others were well in advance. My last two stays have each been at the full public advance booking rate. The stay before that was last minute, so it was at the full public best flexible rate.

So, Markis, if you are an advocate for this particular program, you might put my case forward to them. I've tried a few times, and they're simply not interested at all. Let me know how you get on.

 

[markis10]

I was saying I have never had an issue and book up to 60 nights a year, I used a BOGO last week in Townsville, and most hotels usually have a monthly offer that means you never use the 10 % of best flex. As a hint, try booking online and clicking the newsletter offer box, often they have specials that are not advertised. As for the dinng benefits, public hols are often a blacklist, on the flip side HI Melbourne had a special off for 50% minimum four diners, I was able to use that for an AFF lunch where 20 odd members benefited.