Thursday, May 03, 2007

Credit Card Woes

Now that it’s Annual Report season, work has been dominating my entire existence, day and night. My sleeping cycle is badly distorted, I’ve been drinking way too much coffee, I’ve been neglecting B and my cute kitties somewhat and most importantly, I’ve been deprived of my daily dose of B&B – not by choice of course! So, when I received a letter from Alliance Bank informing me that my IKEA Friends Credit Card Points will expire at the end of April, I automatically filed it away with the rest of my piling jobs, making a mental note to read it later.

The next thing I knew, it was April 30 and my hard-earned 45,000 points will expire if I didn’t redeem it then. Recalling how I neglected to redeem my 65,000 HSBC points last year, I immediately cleared my busy schedule to accommodate my IKEA visit that evening. Nothing was going to stand in my way. By hook or by crook, I was going to enjoy my “free” shopping spree on IKEA!

Upon reaching there, I noticed a long queue at the redemption counter, with about 10 customers ahead of me. Anticipating a 20-minute wait at least, I quickly made myself comfortable behind the last customer, credit card in hand. Surprisingly though, I found myself at the beginning of the queue in only less than 10 minutes! Apparently, all the customers ahead of me didn’t have their IKEA Friends credit cards with them and therefore, couldn’t be verified and sadly had to leave empty-handed, forsaking all their accumulated points for the past 2 years!

Some customers made futile attempts at reasoning with the IKEA staff, presenting the letter they received instead but were still refused any favours or privileges. I overheard one lady angrily questioning the IKEA counter staff, demanding to know why the letter did not require her to bring along her credit card and did they honestly expect her to brave the evening traffic and drive all the way back to KL just to collect her credit card, and then drive back all the way to PJ simply to redeem her points? By the time she makes it back to PJ, IKEA would've already been closed for the night!

As I listened to the endless tirade of complaints around me, I too started wondering why Alliance neglected to mention this credit card requirement in their letter. Perhaps Alliance took it for granted that all their customers carry their credit cards with them everywhere they go? Or maybe Alliance expected customers to know better when it comes to redeeming their points? Still, was it too much trouble for Alliance to include a friendly reminder in their letter? Whatever the reason, I do believe that Alliance should've included this credit card requirement. Instead, the letter was kind of vague; only mentioning our points were going to expire soon and they would be invalid if not redeemed by the closing date.

In the end, many customers reluctantly went home that night, feeling cheated, angry and disappointed. By the time I happily collected my RM220 worth of IKEA vouchers, the angry mob had dispersed, mumbling their dissatisfaction loudly for all to hear. I’m just glad that I always keep my Alliance credit card in my wallet. Otherwise, there would have been 10 fuming customers and 1 very livid tantrum-thrower that evening!


31 comments:

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) May 03, 2007 3:07 PM

I know where ur coming from about annual reports. Am doing one rite this very minute myself ... groooaaann ...

I seriously think the banks expect people to carry their credit cards with them all the time, that's probably why they issued them in the first place ... hehehe ... but I do sympathize with those people at Ikea. I would have burned the place down had it happened to me... LOL ... besides, a little note by the bank about having the to bring the cards in the letter couldn't have been all that hard to include, could it?

Mariuca May 03, 2007 3:19 PM

Ahhh... someone who understands my AR predicament! He he... I'm done with 3, 1 more to go and it's taking so long for me to finish, too many distractions!

And yes, my point exactly, what's so difficult about including a one-liner in the letter right? Good thing I got my vouchers, which I've already used up btw! LOL!

Anonymous,  May 03, 2007 3:58 PM

what the heck is so difficult about carrying your credit card? Are the IKEA cards made of some sort of increduous heavy metal that makes one part of the butt look fat or the purse too heavy? Credit cards weigh at the most one gram. Why not carry the freaking things? People are so lazy. Stay organized....stay focused...and separate your cards so that they can be distinguished.

Mariuca May 03, 2007 4:06 PM

Hey anonymous, of course there's nothing so difficult about carrying your freaking credit cards around! People have different reasons for not carrying them around, maybe they wanna curb their excessive shopping habits and one way is leaving them at home, or maybe they have way too many credit cards and would prefer to be carrying just one or two all the time? Or maybe, just maybe, they simply forgot? Either way, ther's nothing wrong in giving them the benefit of the doubt eh?

emilayusof May 03, 2007 5:42 PM

Come to think of it, logically, just to be on the safe side, they should've bring their cards along. Anyway, love your ending. I can imagine you throwing your tantrum, Marzianna!

Mariuca May 03, 2007 5:56 PM

Hello Emila, long time no see! Logically speaking, of course they should've brought their credit cards along,that's why I made sure I brought mine with me. Some ppl do need reminding though I guess. Janji, I got a whole bunch of "Stuff" from IKEA, yeeha! :)

huZmid June 09, 2007 8:51 AM

Sure it's a hard day. The IKEA should quickly made it known to the people coming of the requirement and dedicate another lane for those not bringing the card, then the queue wont be that long.

Mariuca June 09, 2007 12:04 PM

Hi huzmid, thanks for your comment. Hopefully next year it'll be better! :)

LadyJava September 28, 2008 5:25 AM

Wah what a waste.. good thing you brought yours eh..so what did you buy?? hehe

emilayusof September 29, 2008 8:36 AM

ya marzie, beli apa kat ikea?

LadyJava September 30, 2008 4:47 AM

yelah GP.. beli apa tu??

emilayusof October 03, 2008 7:27 PM

haah tak jawab pun...

LadyJava October 04, 2008 12:45 PM

lol emila.. cian GP.. ber-thousand comments dia nak jawab.. kasi lah chance skit woman..lolzz

Elara October 13, 2008 4:35 AM

I tak penah jejak kaki kat Ikea. 1-Utama pun never but jauh. Pavilion penah tp pegi GSC jer.

Mariuca October 13, 2008 4:43 AM

Hey LadyJava and Emila! Ni shopping last year la, mana nak ingat beli apa? ha ha ha!! :)

Mariuca October 13, 2008 4:44 AM

Debbs, I'm working on a new post but terus have to respond to ur comment here...hah??? Never been to IKEA?? Better go this weekend then!!! Then stop by One Uts! :):):)

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:31 AM

ooo tak ingat rupanya!

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:32 AM

Debbieee! I don't believe it! You're missing all the great stuff there! Faster go to IKEA now, this instance!

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:32 AM

Urm okay, maybe later today lepas habis kerja.

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:32 AM

esok pun takpa, debbie.

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:33 AM

kalau nak pergi weekend, make sure you pergi seawal jam 10 pagi because later got no parking.

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:34 AM

as early as 9 am pun ok sebab you have breakfast there while waiting for the store to open.

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:34 AM

breakfast is RM1.99; free flow of coffee and nasi lemak!

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:35 AM

but nasi lemak bukan hari2 ada; sometimes got mee or mihun goreng.

emilayusof October 16, 2008 11:36 AM

eh i mean free flow of coffee and a plate of nasi lemak.

Elara October 20, 2008 1:48 AM

Kedai mana yg kasi coffee free flow tu, Kak Emi?

Elara October 20, 2008 1:50 AM

Uhmm bukan apa tak penah pegi, Kak Emi. Satu jauh dr rumah dahtu takde transport sendiri, nanti nak angkut barang susah.

Elara October 20, 2008 1:51 AM

Hmm walaupun ada delivery, tapi that's not my point hehe. My principal is, if I don't have the money and takde benda penting nak beli, I taknak pegi.

Elara October 20, 2008 1:52 AM

Lagi satu I know kat IKEA ada bnyk benda best, lagilah takleh pegi! Nanti semua I nak! Lol!!

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