Air Milers Say They Are Getting Hosed
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Liberal MPP's bill to stop expiry of rewards points passes second reading
Back in the fall of 2007, the provincial government banned expiry dates on gift cards, and it’s now considering extending that protection to consumers who are often blindsided by the expiry of rewards points.
Bill 47, also known as the Protecting Rewards Points Act, passed second reading at Queen’s Park on Thursday.
The bill was tabled by Beaches-East York MPP Arthur Potts on Oct. 20. Potts believes it has “unanimous support” and will pass without resistance.
He says many of his constituents have complained about feeling cheated by companies that are ending, or have abruptly devalued their rewards points programs.
Notably, Air Miles collectors were told to use ’em or lose ’em before their accumulated miles expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
“We will not allow companies to have them expiring,” Potts said. “We think that someone has paid for a product, they’ve got some reward points, they should be able to use them.”
“I want to ensure…that they continue to hold the value they had when they first got them,” he added. “There’s 100 per cent support in the house.”
Liberal MPP's bill to stop expiry of rewards points passes second reading - CityNews
Back in the fall of 2007, the provincial government banned expiry dates on gift cards, and it’s now considering extending that protection to consumers who are often blindsided by the expiry of rewards points.
Bill 47, also known as the Protecting Rewards Points Act, passed second reading at Queen’s Park on Thursday.
The bill was tabled by Beaches-East York MPP Arthur Potts on Oct. 20. Potts believes it has “unanimous support” and will pass without resistance.
He says many of his constituents have complained about feeling cheated by companies that are ending, or have abruptly devalued their rewards points programs.
Notably, Air Miles collectors were told to use ’em or lose ’em before their accumulated miles expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
“We will not allow companies to have them expiring,” Potts said. “We think that someone has paid for a product, they’ve got some reward points, they should be able to use them.”
“I want to ensure…that they continue to hold the value they had when they first got them,” he added. “There’s 100 per cent support in the house.”
Liberal MPP's bill to stop expiry of rewards points passes second reading - CityNews
I don't collect points because I rarely shop retail but these people complaining have a point and at the same time they are dreamers. The 2 in the story were saving up for years towards trips but instead used the points to buy weenie gadgets. My question is, just how many years would they have to collect these points for to get enough to take those trips.........?
Angry Air Miles collectors demand back points they rushed to use on 'junk'
On Thursday, Air Miles cancelled its controversial expiry policy. But the move is only fuelling the fury for many collectors who used their points on stuff they didn't really want to beat the clock.
Now, some members who hastily redeemed their miles for what they consider mediocre rewards are demanding that Air Miles return their points.
"It's the right thing to do," says Alex Bielak in Waterloo, Ont.
Since the loyalty program launched in 1992, Bielak had been saving up his miles so that he and his wife, Roberta, could take a "trip of a lifetime" to Southeast Asia or Japan.
But that dream died when Bielak realized he was set to lose about 20,000 miles on Jan. 1 when a new five-year expiry rule would kick in for points.
So, over the last couple of months, he used the miles on a blender and an espresso maker that he "really could have done without."
Then, on Thursday, Bielak learned that Air Miles was nixing its expiry policy because of customer outcry, and the threat of pending Ontario legislation that would ban loyalty programs from expiring points.
That means if Bielak hadn't cashed in, he could still be saving for his dream vacation.
"It's horrible. I regret having signed up."
Joining the fray is Corey Rogers in Bridgewater, N.S. He had been hoarding his miles for more than a decade so he could take his family to Disney World.
But to beat the expiry date, Rogers and his wife, Amanda, recently cashed in 15,000 miles on a vacuum cleaner and three other items he can't even recall.
"It was basically junk," said Rogers.
Then he learned he didn't need to buy anything after all. "It really ticks me off. It's very upsetting."
So Rogers, too, sent LoyaltyOne an email on Friday.
"We feel we should get those miles back," he told the company. "This is not fair."
Air Miles declined to comment to CBC News on Friday.
Angry Air Miles collectors demand back points they rushed to use on 'junk' - Business - CBC News
Angry Air Miles collectors demand back points they rushed to use on 'junk'
On Thursday, Air Miles cancelled its controversial expiry policy. But the move is only fuelling the fury for many collectors who used their points on stuff they didn't really want to beat the clock.
Now, some members who hastily redeemed their miles for what they consider mediocre rewards are demanding that Air Miles return their points.
"It's the right thing to do," says Alex Bielak in Waterloo, Ont.
Since the loyalty program launched in 1992, Bielak had been saving up his miles so that he and his wife, Roberta, could take a "trip of a lifetime" to Southeast Asia or Japan.
But that dream died when Bielak realized he was set to lose about 20,000 miles on Jan. 1 when a new five-year expiry rule would kick in for points.
So, over the last couple of months, he used the miles on a blender and an espresso maker that he "really could have done without."
Then, on Thursday, Bielak learned that Air Miles was nixing its expiry policy because of customer outcry, and the threat of pending Ontario legislation that would ban loyalty programs from expiring points.
That means if Bielak hadn't cashed in, he could still be saving for his dream vacation.
"It's horrible. I regret having signed up."
Joining the fray is Corey Rogers in Bridgewater, N.S. He had been hoarding his miles for more than a decade so he could take his family to Disney World.
But to beat the expiry date, Rogers and his wife, Amanda, recently cashed in 15,000 miles on a vacuum cleaner and three other items he can't even recall.
"It was basically junk," said Rogers.
Then he learned he didn't need to buy anything after all. "It really ticks me off. It's very upsetting."
So Rogers, too, sent LoyaltyOne an email on Friday.
"We feel we should get those miles back," he told the company. "This is not fair."
Air Miles declined to comment to CBC News on Friday.
Angry Air Miles collectors demand back points they rushed to use on 'junk' - Business - CBC News
Seems the shenanigans are continuing.....
Air Miles collectors will now need to cough up more miles when booking vacation or cruise packages. That's because the rewards program has lowered the value of miles in the category by about 20 per cent.
The program made the move without informing its collectors. CBC News asked the program this week if it had devalued any miles. It said only that it was "carefully reviewing" its options.
Collector Allison Peters only found out because she tried to book a vacation package to Mexico. Between the time she researched the trip and finally was able to contact Air Miles by phone to book it, she discovered her trip would now cost much more.
"I was surprised and then I was angry," says Peters.
She estimated the more than $11,000 worth of miles she had to book a trip suddenly plummeted to a value of about $9,000.
"I feel like they've stolen over $2,000 of available travel to me," says Peters, who lives in Victoria. "I'm really unimpressed."
Air Miles told CBC News Friday that it adjusted the pricing for vacation packages because this is a "subsidized" rewards category requiring a higher level of customer support.
Customers can't book vacation packages online. They must contact the program by phone. That has always been the case.
Peters believes Air Miles devalued some miles to make up for lost profits when its owner, Toronto-based LoyaltyOne, cancelled its controversial expiry policy last month.
"This is just another way for them to make some money that they were looking to make from the expiry," she says.
Peters says she's speaking out about her experience because she wants other collectors to know that Air Miles has devalued vacation package miles.
She says it took her five phone calls over four days, speaking to different Air Miles employees before a supervisor finally confirmed to her the details.
"This is a substantial shift and it was like going through a fortress to get the information I was after," says Peters.
After complaining that Air Miles put no information in writing, she says the supervisor told her that "it is their policy to be able to change their program at any time without notice to the collector."
Air Miles told CBC News that its agents who help members book trips have been very clear about the value of miles in the category. It also said that collectors can use a calculator on its website that will tell them the value of vacation package miles.
After Peters expressed her concerns to the program, Air Miles allowed her to book her Mexico trip using miles based on their original value.
But after all she's endured, she's still considering leaving the program.
"I'm not sure it's worth it," says Peters.
Air Miles quietly drops value of some points, angering collectors - Business - CBC News
Air Miles collectors will now need to cough up more miles when booking vacation or cruise packages. That's because the rewards program has lowered the value of miles in the category by about 20 per cent.
The program made the move without informing its collectors. CBC News asked the program this week if it had devalued any miles. It said only that it was "carefully reviewing" its options.
Collector Allison Peters only found out because she tried to book a vacation package to Mexico. Between the time she researched the trip and finally was able to contact Air Miles by phone to book it, she discovered her trip would now cost much more.
"I was surprised and then I was angry," says Peters.
She estimated the more than $11,000 worth of miles she had to book a trip suddenly plummeted to a value of about $9,000.
"I feel like they've stolen over $2,000 of available travel to me," says Peters, who lives in Victoria. "I'm really unimpressed."
Air Miles told CBC News Friday that it adjusted the pricing for vacation packages because this is a "subsidized" rewards category requiring a higher level of customer support.
Customers can't book vacation packages online. They must contact the program by phone. That has always been the case.
Peters believes Air Miles devalued some miles to make up for lost profits when its owner, Toronto-based LoyaltyOne, cancelled its controversial expiry policy last month.
"This is just another way for them to make some money that they were looking to make from the expiry," she says.
Peters says she's speaking out about her experience because she wants other collectors to know that Air Miles has devalued vacation package miles.
She says it took her five phone calls over four days, speaking to different Air Miles employees before a supervisor finally confirmed to her the details.
"This is a substantial shift and it was like going through a fortress to get the information I was after," says Peters.
After complaining that Air Miles put no information in writing, she says the supervisor told her that "it is their policy to be able to change their program at any time without notice to the collector."
Air Miles told CBC News that its agents who help members book trips have been very clear about the value of miles in the category. It also said that collectors can use a calculator on its website that will tell them the value of vacation package miles.
After Peters expressed her concerns to the program, Air Miles allowed her to book her Mexico trip using miles based on their original value.
But after all she's endured, she's still considering leaving the program.
"I'm not sure it's worth it," says Peters.
Air Miles quietly drops value of some points, angering collectors - Business - CBC News
Another marketing gimmick has run its course. Bring back Gold Star stamps!
They've been trying to get rid of Canadian Tire money and switch it out for loyalty cards. Canadian Tire money must be the most successful rewards program ever but either it costs more to maintain than CT is willing to shell out or a new generation of smartypants MBAs look at the scheme and think "Grandpa". Anyway, I can imagine the corporate meeting where they decided to phase out Canadian Tire money:
"Waddam I holding up?! Hunh?! Our money is a joke! It's gotta go!... Right, O'Toole!?" "Yes I.D.! You are never wrong, J.D.!" "Listen up!! I have. vision!! A vision for a new type of customer loyalty program! I call it a 'Loyalty Card!" "Wow! Loyalty Card!! What a concept!! You're a genius, J.D. ... a GENIUS!!!"
I notice that they have been very cautious about implementing this "new" type of rewards program. Perhaps, it is because most of us have wallets that are already jam-crammed with rewards cards. I guess that if the marketing genius actually gets it wrong and CT sales decline because you don't get "money" back, anymore he/she might end up running the Denture department at the trading post in Tuktoyaktuk.
Air Miles has posted a letter on its website warning that criminals have stolen cash miles from some of its members.
The rewards program says a small number of in-store transactions with stolen cash miles has occurred in which the criminals used them to buy goods.
Air Miles spokeswoman Rachael Montgomery says the manner in which the cash miles were fraudulently accessed has not compromised members’ personal information.
She said the company is not sharing more specific details at this time because its investigation of the breach is ongoing.
While the company works to resolve the situation, it has temporarily removed the cash miles option for in-store purchases.
Montgomery said the company does not have a timeline in place for how long the suspension will be in effect.
Air Miles officials investigating after reports of stolen cash rewards - National | Globalnews.ca
The rewards program says a small number of in-store transactions with stolen cash miles has occurred in which the criminals used them to buy goods.
Air Miles spokeswoman Rachael Montgomery says the manner in which the cash miles were fraudulently accessed has not compromised members’ personal information.
She said the company is not sharing more specific details at this time because its investigation of the breach is ongoing.
While the company works to resolve the situation, it has temporarily removed the cash miles option for in-store purchases.
Montgomery said the company does not have a timeline in place for how long the suspension will be in effect.
Air Miles officials investigating after reports of stolen cash rewards - National | Globalnews.ca
Are they referring to the people running the Air Miles program?
There is a bar in Campbell River that took CTV money at par.
Air Miles isn't the only one. I have a CIBC credit card that gives me 2cents a liter off gas at Petrocan. Which is the only reason I have it. All of a sudden they cancelled the gas giveaway and now you can get a couple of dollars back when you buy $6000 worth of groceries on your card. Needless to say I don't use that card any more.