Royal Caribbean - BOA Credit Card - BEWARE

[avlski]

Good Day,

Bottom Line - very unhappy with Royal Caribbean BOA credit card!

1. Chose to use card to earn points for Royal Caribbean Cruises.

2. Received hard copy statement that was due 11/11/14 and indicated I had 19,444 points.

On statement it had (word for word) under Of Special Interest - "You have reward points that MAY expire soon. Please redeem your points before they expire."

3. Please note - on 6 prior statements - not one indicator that any points were soon to expire.

4. On 11/9/14 - called to redeem points for upcoming cruise - to my SURPRISE - 5000 points had been removed.

5. I have called BOA 2x, emailed 2x and chatted 2x - on all occasions received canned statements that my points expired in accordance with rules/terms of program.

6. I use credit cards as convenience. Statement arrives, I review, I pay. I DO NOT walk around with fine print rules/terms of program in my back pocket.

7. I am frustrated. Statement arrived (due date 11/11/14) with indication I had points that would "expire soon." I called on 11/9/14 which I consider to be SOON!

8. SHAME on me for not having ESP and a BOA dictionary for a "soon" definition!

9. I am unhappy related to above!

10. I believe earning points for cruise credit is a GREAT thing...... but make sure you are aware that BOA does not provide any proactive indicator that you have points that are expiring. DO NOT rely on statement as an indicator for point expiration. Recommend clarifying with Royal Caribbean BOA definition on SOON! Carry around with you the fine print rules/regulations r/t to Royal Caribbean BOA points!

Beware! avlski

[bouhunter]

So what was their explanation of the terms that allowed this to happen????? Were 5,000 of the points very old or what?

[PhoenixCruiser]

Did you not read the fine print when you signed up for the card? It is clearly stated the points expire after 5 years.

 

###

[setsail]

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/visa/visaroyal-web-program-rules-10-01-2014.pdf

[mpoole3]

As if there were not enough reason already, but ONE more reason I stick to American Express Gold Charge Card.

Edited November 25, 2014 by mpoole3

[2chiefs]

Five years is a long time. If you don't accumulate enough points in 5 years to take advantage then another card is probably warranted, We've had two free cruises with no worry of expired points. I guess we use the card a lot. We knew when we signed about the expiration terms.

 

I have airline miles with several airlines and they all have expiration dates if not used. I think the only program we are with that have no expiration is Hilton Honors.

[2chiefs]

Five years is a long time. If you don't accumulate enough points in 5 years to take advantage then another card is probably warranted, We've had two free cruises with no worry of expired points. I guess we use the card a lot. We knew when we signed about the expiration terms.

 

I have airline miles with several airlines and they all have expiration dates if not used. I think the only program we are with that have no expiration is Hilton Honors.

 

Oh yeah. I also use National Car Rental all the time and they expire after only one year. I've lost many possible free rentals but I don't worry about it because I never need to rent.

[emdia43]

Good Day,

Bottom Line - very unhappy with Royal Caribbean BOA credit card!

1. Chose to use card to earn points for Royal Caribbean Cruises.

2. Received hard copy statement that was due 11/11/14 and indicated I had 19,444 points.

On statement it had (word for word) under Of Special Interest - "You have reward points that MAY expire soon. Please redeem your points before they expire."

3. Please note - on 6 prior statements - not one indicator that any points were soon to expire.

4. On 11/9/14 - called to redeem points for upcoming cruise - to my SURPRISE - 5000 points had been removed.

5. I have called BOA 2x, emailed 2x and chatted 2x - on all occasions received canned statements that my points expired in accordance with rules/terms of program.

6. I use credit cards as convenience. Statement arrives, I review, I pay. I DO NOT walk around with fine print rules/terms of program in my back pocket.

7. I am frustrated. Statement arrived (due date 11/11/14) with indication I had points that would "expire soon." I called on 11/9/14 which I consider to be SOON!

8. SHAME on me for not having ESP and a BOA dictionary for a "soon" definition!

9. I am unhappy related to above!

10. I believe earning points for cruise credit is a GREAT thing...... but make sure you are aware that BOA does not provide any proactive indicator that you have points that are expiring. DO NOT rely on statement as an indicator for point expiration. Recommend clarifying with Royal Caribbean BOA definition on SOON! Carry around with you the fine print rules/regulations r/t to Royal Caribbean BOA points!

Beware! avlski

 

Yes, it stinks. It took me forever to save up enough points for a "free" cruise, only to find that they expired 10,000 before I could book, so I didn't have enough ! I spent the money to earn those points, I feel cheated when they remove them at some arbitrary point.

[UNV-IT!!!]

Your given more then enough warning they last 5 years.

[scottrn7]

Understand your frustration after we had some points expire. We have learned ways to build up more points and use them frequently and it is easy to redemm them online now. Anything bill we can charge on our credit card such as water, electricity things that don't charge fees for using the Visa we charge on the card and pay it off when the bill comes in. On the average get about 500.00 in payments towards cruises or on board credit. I try not put it on as a onboard credit because my wife feels entitled to use it all at the casino on the ship. :( So I just apply it towards the balance of our next upcoming cruise, I just applyed 300.00 for the one coming up in Feb. 2015. Keeps the points fresh and me cruise happy! :)

 

Good Day,

Bottom Line - very unhappy with Royal Caribbean BOA credit card!

1. Chose to use card to earn points for Royal Caribbean Cruises.

2. Received hard copy statement that was due 11/11/14 and indicated I had 19,444 points.

On statement it had (word for word) under Of Special Interest - "You have reward points that MAY expire soon. Please redeem your points before they expire."

3. Please note - on 6 prior statements - not one indicator that any points were soon to expire.

4. On 11/9/14 - called to redeem points for upcoming cruise - to my SURPRISE - 5000 points had been removed.

5. I have called BOA 2x, emailed 2x and chatted 2x - on all occasions received canned statements that my points expired in accordance with rules/terms of program.

6. I use credit cards as convenience. Statement arrives, I review, I pay. I DO NOT walk around with fine print rules/terms of program in my back pocket.

7. I am frustrated. Statement arrived (due date 11/11/14) with indication I had points that would "expire soon." I called on 11/9/14 which I consider to be SOON!

8. SHAME on me for not having ESP and a BOA dictionary for a "soon" definition!

9. I am unhappy related to above!

10. I believe earning points for cruise credit is a GREAT thing...... but make sure you are aware that BOA does not provide any proactive indicator that you have points that are expiring. DO NOT rely on statement as an indicator for point expiration. Recommend clarifying with Royal Caribbean BOA definition on SOON! Carry around with you the fine print rules/regulations r/t to Royal Caribbean BOA points!

Beware! avlski

[bilyclub]

I to got burned by the lack of communication by B of A as to expiring points. The airlines tell you exactly on the monthly statement how many mile are expiring and when. I have no clue how much I charged 5 years ago to be able to know that they are expiring. A call to B of A is a 50/50 proposition to get info when points are expiring. The whole system is geared so that people loose points and B of A makes out, sort of like a manufacturer's rebate. The companies figure a lot of people will not bother send the rebate in, screw up the rebate form or not get it in on time. I admit the 5 years was probably up, but the last time I called, the CSA said I was good for awhile. Lesson learned. It's not asking a lot to list the amount of points and when they expire on the monthly statements.

[PuterMonkey]

There are other cards where you can redeem the reward points towards cruising and frankly, some of them are better deals than the straight up RCI card. We use a Citi rewards card that gets up to 5x points in certain categories and the points redeem (as far as I can tell) towards a cruise at about the same value per dollar spent as the RCI. Plus all Citi's regular options too (That card has paid off a nice chunk of student loans for me now....Citi's loss lol). For that many points though, I hope you were at least able to make a nice dent in the cost of your cruise :) "Nearly free" is still pretty darn satisfying.

Edited November 25, 2014 by PuterMonkey

[mpoole3]

Correct me if I'm wrong, this card has no annual fee? So to be able to gain points for 5 years, is more than enough time if you ask me. But then again I put every bill I have on one card and those points add up fast.

[BillOh]

Did you not read the fine print when you signed up for the card? It is clearly stated the points expire after 5 years.

 

###

 

Glad you answered that, I was going to go check. Since getting the card I've been using the points annually. Good to know if I ever try to bank them.

[molly361]

Correct me if I'm wrong, this card has no annual fee? So to be able to gain points for 5 years, is more than enough time if you ask me. But then again I put every bill I have on one card and those points add up fast.

 

Correct no annual fee

[marci22]

How can you tell when your points are going to expire?

 

My statement shows my points, but no idea how old they are.

 

Even when I go into my account via the RC website, there is no obvious place that says when your points expire. It just lists the ones that you have and the ones that are pending.

Edited November 25, 2014 by marci22

[Clarea]

How can you tell when your points are going to expire?

 

My statement shows my points, but no idea how old they are.

 

Even when I go into my account via the RC website, there is no obvious place that says when your points expire. It just lists the ones that you have and the ones that are pending.

The only way I know how to tell is to call B of A. A few years ago, I used 800-421-2110.

[molly361]

How can you tell when your points are going to expire?

 

My statement shows my points, but no idea how old they are.

 

Even when I go into my account via the RC website, there is no obvious place that says when your points expire. It just lists the ones that you have and the ones that are pending.

 

You have to call B of A

[Noni]

We have had our BOA RCCL credit card for several years. We cruise almost every year and Royal is our cruise line of choice. We farm in the Midwest and use this card for everything from irrigation electricity to semi truck fuel. We are cruising in January and have just applied $1000 credit to cost of the cruise and $900 to OBC. Love love love the card and have never had a problem with it.

[LMaxwell]

BOA does not print the expiration date of points on statements. You have to call in. They basically hope you forget to redeem them.

[marci22]

I just called (I used the number on the back of my cc).

 

I found out that 2500 of my points will expire in April of 2018 (they expire on a rolling basis).

 

Thanks to the OP for mentioning this. I haven't been using these cards and you start to forget old rewards sitting there. I will be sure to redeem them on our next cruise.

[marci22]

I just called another card and had them give me a statement credit. I'm going to cancel both cards when I'm done. Too much to keep track of.

[American Bear]

Good Day,

Bottom Line - very unhappy with Royal Caribbean BOA credit card!

1. Chose to use card to earn points for Royal Caribbean Cruises.

2. Received hard copy statement that was due 11/11/14 and indicated I had 19,444 points.

On statement it had (word for word) under Of Special Interest - "You have reward points that MAY expire soon. Please redeem your points before they expire."

3. Please note - on 6 prior statements - not one indicator that any points were soon to expire.

4. On 11/9/14 - called to redeem points for upcoming cruise - to my SURPRISE - 5000 points had been removed.

5. I have called BOA 2x, emailed 2x and chatted 2x - on all occasions received canned statements that my points expired in accordance with rules/terms of program.

6. I use credit cards as convenience. Statement arrives, I review, I pay. I DO NOT walk around with fine print rules/terms of program in my back pocket.

7. I am frustrated. Statement arrived (due date 11/11/14) with indication I had points that would "expire soon." I called on 11/9/14 which I consider to be SOON!

8. SHAME on me for not having ESP and a BOA dictionary for a "soon" definition!

9. I am unhappy related to above!

10. I believe earning points for cruise credit is a GREAT thing...... but make sure you are aware that BOA does not provide any proactive indicator that you have points that are expiring. DO NOT rely on statement as an indicator for point expiration. Recommend clarifying with Royal Caribbean BOA definition on SOON! Carry around with you the fine print rules/regulations r/t to Royal Caribbean BOA points!

Beware! avlski

 

As in other areas, RCL is behind the times, our Delta sky miles are now good forever after changing recently, we imagine RCL will change soon also!:)

[footzz]

I try not put it on as a onboard credit because my wife feels entitled to use it all at the casino on the ship. :( So I just apply it towards the balance of our next upcoming cruise

 

Man, I can relate to that! Although, my wife also likes pay a visit or two to the Spa.:)

[Grand PooBah]

Look into the Barclays US Arrival MC. Gives you 2 points on every purchase, and a 10% point rebate when you redeem. that figures out to a 2.2 % reward. Does have a fee, but the extra points offset that fast. Dumped my BOA RCCL card long ago.