HSBC cards had an offer for the period from June to Aug 2009. You were required to spend a certain amount within 3 months to get one benefit, and a certain amount within the first month to get another beneft. Another condition was that there should be a spend in each of these months.
I spent the required amount, charged to the card, in June and July. I also had an ongoing standing instruction to debit my card every month. I did not have any spend in August, but the card did get charged for the monthly installment.
However, the company is denying me the gift and bonus points that I think I am entitled to, claiming that the standing instruction debit is not a "spend".(Then what is it, pray?). They are merely using this as a technicality to try and deny cardholders what is rightfully theirs.
I have decided to use my reward points and close my account with HSBC.
I think that what they are doing is not right. I leave it to you to form your own opinion. Perhaps you can leave your comments and let me know whether they are right.