Has any one had any of their MBNA SonyCard Pulsebeats taken away?

Shanker

A statement of when and how many points are due to expire.

glenn.h.morgan wrote: »

A big thank you to all of the MSE Forum members involved in forcing Sony/MBNA to see sense over the removed Pulsebeats.

My 22,000 points have been reimbursed today and I will spend them in the coming days. In future I will go for rewards requiring a smaller number of Pulsebeats, i.e. "spend" them more frequently. Saving over a period for major purchases is no longer really practical, it seems, unless the accounting software used by MBNA is amended to show us when the points will be removed in advance.

It goes to show that the "power of the people" can work when it comes to dealing with global brands.

As I have said in a previous posting, because these points are now, it appears, going to be removed on a monthly rolling basis, as of 36 months ago, then you have to think about what you are saving for.

I don't think it is wise to "max-out" every month just in the hope that you can get an expensive telly! It isn't going to let you do that, because while you are stashing points at the front they are removing them at the back end. It's very much a situation of "the carrot dangling on a stick". You will never catch it!

If you think you are in danger of losing a significant number of points then you have to redeem them ASAP.

Because there is no system forthcoming from either SonyCard or MBNA, you need to keep a record of the amount you are spending and the points you are acruing. I suggest either setting up a spreadsheet and recording it or keeping the statements on a 36 month basis.

Even if they do introduce something, I shall do this anyway. After this episode I have to say I do not trust either of these organisations as far as I can spit.

gb99165

Complete permanent reinstatement.

This is the reply from customer services at MBNA regarding the my query on expiring reward points:

Points expire on a yearly, 36 month rolling expiry, i.e. any points earned during the first year the account is opened will expire 36 months later at the end of the 4th year


Having checked my Jan statement its evident that points have not been expired and so the above explanation may be true. I think we can expect the next set of reward points to be expired on Dec 2010's statement. However, MBNA Customer Services did also say the following and so Sony/MBNA hold all the cards as to when they want to expire any ageing points:

Customers are provided Terms and Conditions at the point of applying for the credit card that advises them when the points will expire. We are not required to inform customers in advance of when their points will expire.


Anyone know how to attach an image to a post?

Palm_Centro

I called them 3 times on 3 different days to complain about it.

rombomb

Only 8900 robbed for me.

Shocking! Had spent most of my remaining on a Sony 350 Blu-Ray player for 21,000 as its a good buy, resonable item and stops the rot for a while (i.e. stops expiring points for another year at least).

However, will spend the reat as soon as anything 1/2 decent shows up (the selection is 95% CRAP).

Have been using the MBNA 1% cashback card for the last 2 years anyway.

As soon as I've wasted my points the scissors go through this POS card.

CGH

Following my polite email to Sony, I have had my points (nearly 50,000) re-instated. Many thanks to everyone who provided addresses etc and support, enabling us to get our points back. We have now used some of our pulsebeats to order a 26" TV and will be using the remainder very soon, before the number of points required for items are raised or they disappear from the catalogue altogether.

From now on I think we will only use our Sonycard when we can get triple points (ie when we purchase Sony products) and then use the points quickly for much smaller items. I don't want to go through this scenario again! As neither MBNA or Sony seem keen to communicate with their customers, who knows what they will decide to do (without informing us!) next.

Good luck to anyone who is still trying to get their precious points back.

Touser

Reinstatement and allowed time to redeem before expiry.

Hi,

I emailed Sony Card at the following email address "sonycard@eu.sony.com", on the 27th Jan, but as yet, have heard nothing back. I was just wondering how long it took for Sony to get back to others that emailed them regarding this problem as it appears some people were contacted back straight away?

Thanks...

Shanker

A statement of when and how many points are due to expire.

Touser,

If I were you, I'd resend your email and explain that you have not yet had an answer and require them to respond urgently. If they can't give you a straight answer then ask them to at least acknowledge your email.

Personally, the response I got was quite quick. I find it strange that they haven't got back to you yet - it may be that your original email has disappeared down a "black hole", so when you resend, CC it to yourself or someone else. Perhaps you know a magistrate or a someone in a position of responsibility. If they see that you are copying someone important into your communication they might act a little quicker.

I reckon they are probably unindated now so they are struggling to keep up.

Touser

Reinstatement and allowed time to redeem before expiry.

Shanker wrote: »

Touser,

If I were you, I'd resend your email and explain that you have not yet had an answer and require them to respond urgently. If they can't give you a straight answer then ask them to at least acknowledge your email.

Personally, the response I got was quite quick. I find it strange that they haven't got back to you yet - it may be that your original email has disappeared down a "black hole", so when you resend, CC it to yourself or someone else. Perhaps you know a magistrate or a someone in a position of responsibility. If they see that you are copying someone important into your communication they might act a little quicker.

I reckon they are probably unindated now so they are struggling to keep up.

I resent my original email last night and by this morning had a reply saying that my lost points will be re-instated.

"Dear Mr ******
Thank you for your email regarding expired pulsebeats, .

We forwarded your email to our Head Office and they have agreed that as a sign of good faith we can authorise crediting *,*** points which have been added to your account as of today.
Please be aware these re-credited points have a 3 year life as of today also and that all terms and conditions are available on the members website www.sonycard.co.uk/members.

Please accept our apologies for any upset or inconvenience caused and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.


Kind regards

The SonyCard Team"

So I'll be checking my next statment to make sure they have.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this forum and good look to others that are trying to get their points back.

rombomb

I received this stock response, no answers to my questions raised:

1) Can you warn us before expiring points?
2) How can we keep an eye on our points so we can determine when points are at risk?

But, at least I got my points back! Spent 21,000 on a Sony 350 Blu Ray player:beer:


Dear ALMOST_EX_SONYCARD_HOLDER

Thank you for your email regarding expired pulsebeats, .

We forwarded your email to our Head Office and they have agreed that as a sign of good faith we can authorise crediting A_FEW_THOUSAND points which have been added to your account as of today.

Please be aware these re-credited points have a 3 year life as of today also and that all terms and conditions are available on the members website [URL="blocked::http://www.sonycard.co.uk/members"]www.sonycard.co.uk/members[/URL].

Please accept our apologies for any upset or inconvenience caused and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.

Kind regards

The SonyCard Team

Shanker

A statement of when and how many points are due to expire.

All of my points, (rounded up too!) have now been reinstated.

I have received my latest statement and it confirms that MBNA and Sony Card have honoured their promise.

I for one shall continue using the card, to say otherwise, in my opinion, would cutting my nose off to spite my face.

I now know where I stand with these organisations. Even if they don't send me any reminders, I shall be keeping my own check, rest assured.