Denied 80,000 points Marriott card bonus - need advice

[drz]

Hi all. I apologize ahead of time for the lengthy story: I applied for the Chase Marriott credit card and was approved several months ago. The card hadn't arrived by the time I left for a planned extended stay in Israel. My housemate was supposed to forward it to me in Israel, kept delaying it, and when the envelope finally arrived it included the billing statements but no card. Contacted Chase who said they would send a new card to Israel, and I asked if the deadline to make purchases to receive the 80,000 marriott points bonus could be extended due to the circumstances. Was told my request would be forwarded to the marketing dept. and they would send me a response. Card arrived beginning of Jan. but no answer from Chase regarding the bonus points. Wrote a secure message, was told it could be extended till Jan.12.
I then began furiously using the card in an attempt to make the deadline within a week or so. Not surprisingly given the short time frame and the necessity to use the card at a high volume, I received several notifications from Chase that purchases (such as buying giftcards online, etc.) were seen as suspicious for fraudulent activity and were put on hold. Thus, by Jan. 12th I had made the $3000 in purchases, but, also due to the delays mentioned, part of it was labeled "pending" and wasn't yet categorized as a sale.
I was informed by Chase (by an "account specialist") that due to this 'pending' status my bonus points were denied.
I'm aware that I played a part in this fiasco due to the miscommunications with my housemate. Nevertheless, especially given that I've been a Chase customer in good standing (several cards and a checking account) for the past 10 years, I was shocked that they wouldn't make an exception for the two days when some of the purchases went from 'pending' to 'sale', esp. since some of it had been delayed due to the fraud flags from Chase.
I'd be really grateful and appreciative to hear any suggestion re what to do in this case, or whom I could try to appeal to. Thank you!

[ludmila]

I do not think you can do anything since they already granted you an extension, I know it hurts, sorry about that.

[PillanSmye]

You think your going to get Chase's sympathy that your gift card purchases to meet minimum spend triggered fraud alerts?

[drz]

PillanSmye, can see where you're coming from but the vast majority of my spend wasn't gift cards. Out of $3000 maybe $300.

[noturbizniss]

If it was truly an issue of pending bs posted, then you would get the points once it posted. it goes by transaction date. There is something else here. perhaps the gift card spending?

[davidrotts63]

If it was truly an issue of pending bs posted, then you would get the points once it posted. it goes by transaction date. There is something else here. perhaps the gift card spending?

I doubt if that was the cause they'd deny it on such a low level, just not give the bonus and say he passed the spend time.

[noturbizniss]

I doubt if that was the cause they'd deny it on such a low level, just not give the bonus and say he passed the spend time.

Kind of agree. Chase doesn't have a rat team on the level of amex or wf iinm. So something seems to be missing. Then again, if he bought 3k from giftcards.com that may be a red flag

[Torkay]

Kind of agree. Chase doesn't have a rat team on the level of amex or wf iinm. So something seems to be missing. Then again, if he bought 3k from giftcards.com that may be a red flag

He said that only $300 was gc’s

[noturbizniss]

He said that only $300 was gc’s

missed that. but if so then the story makes even less sense. @drz  I assume all the charges have posted. Do they all show transaction dates withing the 90 day time frame of opening the card? If not, then that's why no bonus. If they do then definitely HUCA and point that out.

[compddd]

Kind of agree. Chase doesn't have a rat team on the level of amex or wf iinm. So something seems to be missing. Then again, if he bought 3k from giftcards.com that may be a red flag

WF has a rat team?

[drz]

Yes, the spend on gift cards wasn't massive at all. Was given until Jan. 12 to complete the purchases(this was an extension), on the 12th some of the interactions were still listed as pending, which was the reason given to me for denying the bonus points. The latest some of the purchases came through was the 14th.
For the people stating something is missing from my story otherwise it doesn't add up: As stated in the original post, I received the card late so had asked for an extension, so I'm assuming Chase felt they couldn't make another exception in my case. Although, someone on another site has advised me that if my chase checking account was more massive it perhaps would have been less of a problem...

[MeirS]

Two things you aren't mentioning which seem to be important here.
1. When were you approved for the card? IINM Chase often gives 105 days from card approval to meet spend requirements, in which case, Jan 12th may actually not be a unique exception.
2. When looking at your charges now, is there $3k of charges dated by 01/12? Even charges which were pending and only posted later should go back to the original date once posted according to a previous poster.

[noturbizniss]

Two things you aren't mentioning which seem to be important here.
1. When were you approved for the card? IINM Chase often gives 105 days from card approval to meet spend requirements, in which case, Jan 12th may actually not be a unique exception.
2. When looking at your charges now, is there $3k of charges dated by 01/12? Even charges which were pending and only posted later should go back to the original date once posted according to a previous poster.

Yes, the spend on gift cards wasn't massive at all. Was given until Jan. 12 to complete the purchases(this was an extension), on the 12th some of the interactions were still listed as pending, which was the reason given to me for denying the bonus points. The latest some of the purchases came through was the 14th.
For the people stating something is missing from my story otherwise it doesn't add up: As stated in the original post, I received the card late so had asked for an extension, so I'm assuming Chase felt they couldn't make another exception in my case. Although, someone on another site has advised me that if my chase checking account was more massive it perhaps would have been less of a problem...

Specifically item 2 in Meirs post. Some stores like sams club post transaction date of shop date when they ship which may not be order date. Lost post as order date.
So are your 3k In spending showing with dates of transaction on or before the 12th? Or are some after the 12th?

[drz]

noturbizniss, on the 12th some purchases were listed as pending. However, by the the time they went through, the sale date was listed as 1/14, unfortunately...

[as2]

I had an IP that was frozen due to suspected fraud (manually keyed in card for a large purchase) and was frozen during my 3 month spend window. it was frozen for close to 2 weeks while they "reviewed" and every time I called they told me they couldn't do much. I eventually escalated it, and told them I didn't want any of their BS, and needed my damn card activated. I managed to get them to make a not that they would extend my spend date by however long the card was frozen for. If you have a semi legitimate reason that they are responsible for your incomplete spending, you may have a fighting chance. If that is not the case, I'd say you probably don't. HUCA is always worth a shot or 12.

[mmgfarb]

HUCA is always worth a shot or 12.

Lol

[noturbizniss]

noturbizniss, on the 12th some purchases were listed as pending. However, by the the time they went through, the sale date was listed as 1/14, unfortunately...

Sounds like you are screwed unless, as @as2 says you can put the blame on them. Unfortunately it sounds like there are 2 or 3 issues here, of which one is not due to chase. The late arriving card (initially) and then never actually sending it. The one not their fault is that your roommate took too long to send you the envelope. Depending how long it was from when they supposedly sent out the original "replacement" (that ended up being just a bill, you likely have no argument. They may respond that you shouldn't have waited 2 months (just picking out a number) to call back.
Finally, this goes to prove what everyone always says about sign ups. Ensure you have a way to meet the spend, and meet it QUICKLY. If you are going on vacation 2 weeks after signing up theres a risk you wont get the card.

Good luck!