Barclaycard - can't redeem Disney tickets

[inspectorgadget]

In May I bought WDW tickets online through Disney site. I've seen on these boards how people had difficulty getting Barclay to consider Disney a travel expense but have been successful in getting that changed (the Barclay rep would manually change it). I just called to see about getting my tickets I purchased online redeemed. The rep told me that Barclay is no longer redeeming anything labeled "theme parks" as of July 1st. She said if the charge is labeled "resorts" it's fine, but anything labeled "theme park" was not. When I looked into getting this card earlier this year, I specifically remember reading that "theme parks" was one of the items you could redeem as travel. I could have pressed the point with her but I'm also trying to save the points for a big trip to the west coast in 2 years, so I didn't. I can also see why one would purchase tickets through Undercover Tourist because that apparently comes up as some other kind of charge. What is that charge considered?

 

[MomToOne]

Barclay is making MAJOR changes to the Arrival+ perks, for the worse. You can't even apply for the card right now. Here's a blog about it all:

http://millionmilesecrets.com/2015/07/02/bad-news-for-barclaycard-arrival-plus-cardholders/

My annual fee just hit. I had decided to keep the card because it is one of the few chip-and-pin cards out there and that is helpful for travel in Europe, but now I am revisiting that decision. The Citibank double cash back card with no annual fee is a better fit for me except for the chip-and-pin factor. I only cover about half my annual fee with the extra 10% perk on mile redemptions that Barclays had - with that lowered to 5%, it will be even less. So I think its probably time to switch to Citibank and just suck up the loss of my chip-and-pin.

The only good news in it all is that my annual fee hit June 30th - one day before the changes went into effect, so I think I get another year before most of the changes like the $25 redemption limit hit me. At least that's the way my account is behaving for the moment, so I hope so. I had just drained my points, but I have about $38 right now and don't want to suddenly have to build up to $100 or lose everything if I close the account. I think I need to make a quick travel related purchase somehow so I can burn those points before I close the account....hmmmmmmmm......

 

[inspectorgadget]

Oh no! Now I have to figure out what to do. My annual fee doesn't hit until march do you know if I drop down to the no annual fee Barclay card if I get to keep my reward points? Thanks for your replay

 

[Arkansan]

My Chase Sapphire card is chip and pin. I just got my new card a few months ago. Just a thought... (Sorry, off topic.)

 

[Pooh2]

My Chase Sapphire card is chip and pin. I just got my new card a few months ago. Just a thought... (Sorry, off topic.)

Did you have to request a new Sapphire with chip and pin or did they just send it to you? Did not know that was available.

We recently took a trip and came back to find that most of our smaller travel expenses on Barclay's did not post for redemption. They told us it was because they were not over $25.

One purchase for $30 something on San Francisco ferry did not post. They said they would look into but still have not seen anything 2 weeks later. With all the new changes, I think we may cancel the card before the fee is up and stick with our Sapphire for a travel card.

 

[Arkansan]

I did not request it (the chip and pin card). It just showed up in the mail. It was not the annual renewal, either. The written information with the card said that many Chase cards would be changing to this, but didn't give a time frame. I have other Chase cards (Disney, etc.) and haven't received new chip and pin cards yet for those accounts. The Sapphire card was sent to me in Feb. or March.

 

[alymae1010]

Oh no! Now I have to figure out what to do. My annual fee doesn't hit until march do you know if I drop down to the no annual fee Barclay card if I get to keep my reward points? Thanks for your replay

Yes, my husband dropped down to the no annual fee card and his account still shows unused points.

The only good news in it all is that my annual fee hit June 30th - one day before the changes went into effect, so I think I get another year before most of the changes like the $25 redemption limit hit me. At least that's the way my account is behaving for the moment, so I hope so.

"These changes will go into effect in November for cardholders who got the card before Sept. 30, 2014, and in August 2016 for cardholders who got the card on or after Oct. 1, 2014."

 

[elgerber]

I did not request it (the chip and pin card). It just showed up in the mail. It was not the annual renewal, either. The written information with the card said that many Chase cards would be changing to this, but didn't give a time frame. I have other Chase cards (Disney, etc.) and haven't received new chip and pin cards yet for those accounts. The Sapphire card was sent to me in Feb. or March.

I recently was sent chip and pin cards for one of our 3 Disney Visa accounts. Not a renewal for me either.

 

[MomToOne]

My Chase Sapphire card is chip and pin. I just got my new card a few months ago. Just a thought... (Sorry, off topic.)

I recently was sent chip and pin cards for one of our 3 Disney Visa accounts. Not a renewal for me either.

I suspect what you have are Chip and Signature cards, not Chip and PIN cards. I have many other Chip and Signature cards - these work in Europe at most manned locations like restaurants, hotels and stores, but not in unmanned kiosks like train ticket machines. Barclay's has been one of the few to offer Chip and PIN cards in the US (well, sort of - they default to chip and signature, but it falls back to chip and pin if the machine says it can't take chip and signature).

 

[MomToOne]

"These changes will go into effect in November for cardholders who got the card before Sept. 30, 2014, and in August 2016 for
cardholders who got the card on or after Oct. 1, 2014."

Where did you find this information? I see it quoted on some blogs who don't list a source at all but the phrasing is exactly as it was at one blog where the writer attributed it to a simple "I talked to Barclays..." (I forget who that was). But on other blogs, I see folks saying Barclays CSRs told them changes would take place the first billing cycle after your annual fee hits. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anything in writing from Barclays just yet....

 

[alymae1010]

Where did you find this information? I see it quoted on some blogs who don't list a source at all but the phrasing is exactly as it was at one blog where the writer attributed it to a simple "I talked to Barclays..." (I forget who that was). But on other blogs, I see folks saying Barclays CSRs told them changes would take place the first billing cycle after your annual fee hits. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anything in writing from Barclays just yet....

Saw it on The Points Guy's blog. I didn't give much thought to the citing because I'll be downgrading or cancelling when my annual fee comes due anyway. Bummed about the changes

 

[MomToOne]

Saw it on The Points Guy's blog. I didn't give much thought to the citing because I'll be downgrading or cancelling when my annual fee comes due anyway. Bummed about the changes

Yeah, I just applied for the Citibank Double Cash back. I'm going to call Barclay's as soon as I get it, close the account and get my annual fee refunded. Not worth it anymore. My Barclay's AA Aviator also has chip and pin I think, and I will keep that through at least the end of the year when the annual fee kicks in there - Citibank waived my annual fee this year on their AA card when I told them I also had the Barclay's and really didn't see the point in both, so I'm hoping Barclay's will do the same. It's definitely not a sure thing since Barclay's doesn't seem to be playing that game much right now, but it's worth a shot.

 

[auger]

So glad we just dumped our Barclay Arrival+ cards. I had hoped that we could eventually try for the great sign-up bonus again a cpl years up the road. Guess that's not gonna happen!
Thanks for posting about the changes. I will definitely not be recommending the card to anyone!

 

[Arkansan]

I suspect what you have are Chip and Signature cards, not Chip and PIN cards. I have many other Chip and Signature cards - these work in Europe at most manned locations like restaurants, hotels and stores, but not in unmanned kiosks like train ticket machines. Barclay's has been one of the few to offer Chip and PIN cards in the US (well, sort of - they default to chip and signature, but it falls back to chip and pin if the machine says it can't take chip and signature).

Well, you may be correct, as I haven't used it that way yet. However, I remember reading the information included with the card and it seemed to be a chip and pin. There were many mentions that the card did not need to be swiped and could just be inserted into the machine and "read" from the chip. It said this is more secure and should cut down on identity theft, etc. The literature also stated that these types of cards were common in Europe, so I believe it to be a chip and pin. I know that the Chase Sapphire does not charge a foreign transaction fee on International charges so it would not surprise me to see that they converted to the chip and pin technology as well. Since my Disney VISA (also Chase) hasn't sent me a new card yet (like a PP received), I can't comment on that one.

 

[MomToOne]

Well, you may be correct, as I haven't used it that way yet. However, I remember reading the information included with the card and it seemed to be a chip and pin. There were many mentions that the card did not need to be swiped and could just be inserted into the machine and "read" from the chip. It said this is more secure and should cut down on identity theft, etc. The literature also stated that these types of cards were common in Europe, so I believe it to be a chip and pin. I know that the Chase Sapphire does not charge a foreign transaction fee on International charges so it would not surprise me to see that they converted to the chip and pin technology as well. Since my Disney VISA (also Chase) hasn't sent me a new card yet (like a PP received), I can't comment on that one.

Chip and Signature cards are put into the same machine as a Chip and PIN, so that's why many people think they are the same. But with a Chip and Signature card, the machine prints out a receipt that the clerk has to get you to sign (or you sign a screen), instead of prompting you to enter a PIN. They are definitely considered more secure than the old swipe cards and they work in Europe in most situations (since they work in most of the same machines as chip-and-pin cards do), just not at unmanned kiosks. You can generally travel in the major tourist areas with absolutely no problem with a Chip and Signature card, but I liked having the convenience of using train/subway ticket machines instead of having to find and stand in line at a manned ticket window.

Almost all US banks are issuing Chip and Signature cards now, not Chip and PIN. (Why is unclear, chip and pin is generally considered more secure.) Wells Fargo has some Chip and PIN cards, although you have to have another account with them to get them, USAA has lots but only with membership, and Barclays has a few - the Arrival+ among them. Then there are a very few small credit unions also issuing them. Here's a recent article listing who is issuing them: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs...-cards-to-consider-before-traveling-to-europe. And another: https://www.creditcardinsider.com/learn/chip-and-signature-chip-and-pin-emv-cards/.

 

[supersnoop]

Well, you may be correct, as I haven't used it that way yet. However, I remember reading the information included with the card and it seemed to be a chip and pin. There were many mentions that the card did not need to be swiped and could just be inserted into the machine and "read" from the chip. It said this is more secure and should cut down on identity theft, etc. The literature also stated that these types of cards were common in Europe, so I believe it to be a chip and pin. I know that the Chase Sapphire does not charge a foreign transaction fee on International charges so it would not surprise me to see that they converted to the chip and pin technology as well. Since my Disney VISA (also Chase) hasn't sent me a new card yet (like a PP received), I can't comment on that one.

But does it have a PIN? I received a few replacement cards with the chip, thinking it was chip and pin, but when I tried to find a way to set up a pin, that's when I realized it was just chip and signature.

 

[Arkansan]

But does it have a PIN? I received a few replacement cards with the chip, thinking it was chip and pin, but when I tried to find a way to set up a pin, that's when I realized it was just chip and signature.

One of the advantages to the Chase Sapphire card is 24/7 access to a real human being. The 800# goes right to a person no "push 1 for this and press 2 for that." I just called. It is a chip and signature not a chip and PIN. Why? Who knows. The phone rep. Said he didn't know when or if Chase planned to go to the chip and PIN technology. Sorry for the high jack.