Westpac is capping rewards points monthly from June 17th 2013

[ChrisFlyer]

what link do you have on the back of the letter? rewardsINAA?

bdl

Nope, ILEA?? Plat Plus here

I've also had a look at their new QF Bonus partners, and I will use NONE of them - I use HH so IHG properties are of no use, I don't bother with magazine subscriptions, there are no Hoyts cinemas near where I live (all Event Cinemas), the theme park partners are all in Sydney (and the Qld ones sell tickets cheaper through RACQ (no Amex surcharge that way either)), and the Secure Parking offer is a duplicate of the same offer on QF Discovery (except for evening parking - but that won't apply to me anyway). Happy to tell them I'll take a Black invite in exchange for switching off all their rubbish bonus partners (excluding QF) on my account!

 

[Newk]

Does anyone know the email convention for westpac? Might send a little note to this Nicholle Lindner, Head of Cards (or should that be House of Cards ).

try [email protected]

I have two that work like that

 

[ij05]

Hi, there is also IHAA - It seems like the 3rd letter is Altitude vs Earth - mention of Black in the FAQ -
"

• What will happen to my direct debits when I move to Altitude Black?
• Once you have received your Black cards, if you have any concerns about switching your recurring payments from your current card, please contact us to discuss how we can assist you."

 

[Programme]

Just got my letter - no mention of Black, and they had to nerve to say ~"based on your spend over the past 12 months, these changes will likely not affect the number of points you receive". I ran the numbers and it would actually be a 25% reduction (I usually spend very little during the year, and in one or two months spend many thousands booking trips). If the cap was annual, I could *tolerate* it, but monthly voids the entire reason that I hold the card (for big travel bookings - particularly QF). Will mention my other cards and the irony of uncapped bonus points (when they still haven't awarded a significant number from their QF stuff up) - as other members have said, uncapping bonus points when you're not actually paying them to begin with is just marketing spin........... *facepalm*

This is similar to my situation. Some months have totalled to 15,000 points, last month only 150. It would seem that Westpac are introducing a monthly cap and their calculations as to whether one is affected are based on annual numbers.

I can imagine this thread being used in a marketing 101 class: "how not to launch a new product"

Probably.

 

[bdl]

Nope, ILEA?? Plat Plus here

I've also had a look at their new QF Bonus partners, and I will use NONE of them ....

But before WBC screws you, they may want to fly you somewhere (QF), put you up in a hotel (IHG) with a dirty mag (News Magazines) before they get you drunk (Cellarmasters) and take you to the Movies (Hoyts)...!

"We're doing this to you so you can score the bonus points!"

Hi, there is also IHAA - It seems like the 3rd letter is Altitude vs Earth - mention of Black in the FAQ -
...

Great, thanks.. updated my post again - seems like we've worked out the coding

bdl

 

[ChrisFlyer]

But before WBC screws you, they may want to fly you somewhere (QF), put you up in a hotel (IHG) with a dirty mag (News Magazines), before they get you drunk (Cellarmasters) and take you to the Movies! (Hoyts)...!

bdl

Baha!!

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see some bonus partners for the Earth cards (whereas Altitude previously hogged them all with no QF option), but they just won't be of any use to me.

What's now got me really confused is this in the FAQ: "What will happen to my direct debits WHEN I move to Earth Black?"

There is no mention of Black in my letter or on the other pages (this is ILEA)... might mention this in my email too!

 

[dane]

no mention of Black, and they had to nerve to say ~"based on your spend over the past 12 months, these changes will likely not affect the number of points you receive". I ran the numbers and it would actually be a 25% reduction

If you'd like some extra frustration, call them after 8am tomorrow and they should repeat the lie to you over the phone. They might even abbreviate it to "the changes won't really affect you". If you're lucky, they might "plant the seed" for a future upsell offering the features they've just taken away.

 

[bdl]

What's now got me really confused is this in the FAQ: "What will happen to my direct debits WHEN I move to Earth Black?"

There is no mention of Black in my letter or on the other pages (this is ILEA)... might mention this in my email too!

This was the same with my IHEA.

I suspect WBC can't organise a fart on a jumping castle in a baked bean factory so it's most probably a typo of the FAQ page for the I*** codes ... leftovers from the EB** codes' FAQ pages.

bdl

 

[Newk]

So, right now received by users, we have:

https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=IHAA - Current Altitude - no Black offered (mentioned in FAQ)
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=IHEA - Current Earth Amex/MC Plat Plus (was original Plat and on 1/2 annual fee for life of card) - no Black offered (mentioned in)
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/reward...x.html?id=INAA - Current Amex/Visa Plat - no Black offered (mentioned in FAQ)
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=ILAA - Current ? - ?
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=ILEA - Current Plat Plus - ?
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=EBEP - Current Plat - Black Amex1.5ppd/MC0.625ppd offered
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=EBEL - Current ? - ?
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=EBAL -Current ? - ?

Wording of webpage:
IHAA - Generic points cap text - no reference to future points earn post-point capping
IHEA - Generic points cap text - no reference to future points earn post-point capping
INAA - "...this should have no effect on the number of points..."
ILAA - "...these changes should have very little effect on the number..."
ILEA - "...these changes should have very little effect on the number..."
... so second character -> H = nfi effect , N = no effect, L = little effect
... and third character -> A = Altitude, E = Earth

EBEC - mentions points cap to 2500 - "...these changes may affect the number of QFF points you earn in the future..." then Black offer
EBEL - same as EBEC
EBEP - same as EBEC
The below all refer to Altitude instead of Earth cards
EBAC - mentions points cap to 5000 - "...these changes may affect the number of points you earn in the future..." then Black offer
EBAL - same as EBAC
EBAP - same as EBAC

So it does seem that "EB" in the link means that an "Earth Black" is being offered / referred to.

bdl

PS: Ok, substituting the letter after EBE... only these two work
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=EBEC
https://forms1.westpac.com.au/rewardscalculator/index.html?id=EBEP
... as does EBAC, EBAL, EBAP

i have a

blah blah .com.au/rewards/EBEL which refers me to my new Earth cap of 2500 ppm..even though my letter, and the calculator at the bottom of the web page says 3750. And tells me to look out for the new black which is available "at no extra cost"

AND

blah blah .com(note: no "au")/rewardsEBAL which refers to my new Altitude cap of 5000 ppm...even though my letter and the calculator says new cap of 7500 and also refers to the new black card at "no additional cost"

I find the disparity between points on the letter and the web site a bit slack and typical of the poor roll out that this seems to be

 

[Deleted User]

From the FAQ

How will I know if I'm close to reaching the points cap?

• After 17 June 2013, you can check how many Qantas Frequent Flyer points[SUP]1[/SUP] you have earned in your current statement month by calling Mon-Fri 8am-8pm:
  For Earth Cardholders - Earth Service Centre 1300 132 431
  For Altitude Qantas Cardholders - 1300 881 645
  For Altitude Qantas Platinum & Platinum Plus Cardholders - 1300 250 255
  You can also check the number of points you earned in the past by referring to your statement.

Laughable at best...

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Email sent. Considering I am so valued, I doubt a response will be received, but will report back here if hell does indeed freeze over

 

[Programme]

i have a

blah blah .com.au/rewards/EBEL which refers me to my new Earth cap of 2500 ppm..even though my letter, and the calculator at the bottom of the web page says 3750. And tells me to look out for the new black which is available "at no extra cost"

AND

blah blah .com(note: no "au")/rewardsEBAL which refers to my new Altitude cap of 5000 ppm...even though my letter and the calculator says new cap of 7500 and also refers to the new black card at "no additional cost"

I find the disparity between points on the letter and the web site a bit slack and typical of the poor roll out that this seems to be

It would seem that the links assume that you are currently a vanilla (non Plat/Plat+) card holder being offered an upgrade to Black? Pretty slack.

 

[ij05]

Has anyone with a business altitude been offered an upgrade to Black?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Another thing I've come to realise (well, properly) is that for those who pay their cards off in full each month (like myself), it renders any credit limit above $5000 void unless one is to pay interest (in the case of Earth Plat Plus anyway), or miss out on a great number of points............ WHY ARE THEY SO FREAKING STUPID??????!!!!!! Gah....

 

[Newk]

It would seem that the links assume that you are currently a vanilla (non Plat/Plat+) card holder being offered an upgrade to Black? Pretty slack.

correct..I currently have an Earth P+ and an Altitude P+ and it is amusing that they have coded the links incorrectly on my letters

see my post above about this thread being used in marketing 101 about how NOT to roll out a new/changed product in the internet age

UNLESS they are very very smart and it isn't the work experience staffer and they want to get a buzz going around the card. In which case it's a huge success

 

[Programme]

Another thing I've come to realise (well, properly) is that for those who pay their cards off in full each month (like myself), it renders any credit limit above $5000 void unless one is to pay interest (in the case of Earth Plat Plus anyway), or miss out on a great number of points............ WHY ARE THEY SO FREAKING STUPID??????!!!!!! Gah....

The other side of the coin is that Westpac are not being stupid and simply do not consider your business to be profitable enough to them to be worthwhile, and would rather you went away. It is certainly the impression I formed after speaking to them about these changes.

 

[Newk]

From the FAQ



Laughable at best...[/FONT]

yes, I can imagine all the calls:

"3740" today Mr Shintaro. Please ring back tomorrow and see if you have got the other 10 points to your monthly cap yet

 

[ChrisFlyer]

The other side of the coin is that Westpac are not being stupid and simply do not consider your business to be profitable enough to them to be worthwhile, and would rather you went away. It is certainly the impression I formed after speaking to them about these changes.

True, though their rebranding of every Gold card to a Platinum will have brought in a significant increase in merchant fees (without providing any additional points), and the points earn on their World MC is pitiful enough to be profitable (as the EDR card is 1pt/$1 and it is only brings in merchant fees at Platinum rates (not World)... lol

 

[Programme]

see my post above about this thread being used in marketing 101 about how NOT to roll out a new/changed product in the internet age

UNLESS they are very very smart and it isn't the work experience staffer and they want to get a buzz going around the card. In which case it's a huge success

A huge success in making their loyal customers feel aggrieved? I suppose WBC have got publicity about the Black Card launch, but it was not free.

True, though their rebranding of every Gold card to a Platinum will have brought in a significant increase in merchant fees (without providing any additional points), and the points earn on their World MC is pitiful enough to be profitable (as the EDR card is 1pt/$1 and it is only brings in merchant fees at Platinum rates (not World)... lol

If the aim was purely to get more merchant fees, it would have made more sense to upgrade almost everyone to Black - this is what CBA appears to have done when they introduced Diamond, in my experience at least (not one cent put through that card for five years prior!).

 

[ChrisFlyer]

If the aim was purely to get more merchant fees, it would have made more sense to upgrade almost everyone to Black - this is what CBA appears to have done when they introduced Diamond, in my experience at least (not one cent put through that card for five years prior!).

Not before trying to get people to pay a higher annual fee