Ontario man frustrated after 500,000 in credit card points disappears
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many airline trips, resort vacations and cruises were cancelled and getting refunds from travel companies wasn't always easy.
It can be even harder to get your money back if you booked a trip using travel rewards points with a credit card.
“These 500,000 travel rewards points are worth $5,000," said James Carr of Courtice, Ont.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Carr said he booked a trip to Puerto Rico to take a Caribbean cruise with his partner for May of 2020, but it was cancelled because of COVID.
Carr had saved 493,484 points using his Scotiabank American Express credit card. By using the points and paying an additional $145, he was able to pay for the cruise package which had a total cost of $5,080.
James Carr and his partner are seen in this image. (Supplied)
“We decided not to go on the cruise and it got cancelled and the points went back onto my credit card," Carr said.
With the points back on his credit card and nowhere to go during the pandemic, Carr said he never gave them another thought.
However, when he checked his card at a later date, he said the points were gone.
"There was a $50 annual charge on the credit card which I didn't pay because I didn't know about it and they cancelled the card,” said Carr.
Carr said when he called Scotiabank to complain he was told to open up a new credit card and the points would be transferred to the new card, but he said despite many phone calls, hours on hold and being directed to different departments, the points were never returned.
"It's been going on for two years now and I’ve been back and forth with them," said Carr.
CTV News Toronto reached out to Scotiabank and Andrew Garas, the director of Canadian banking communications with Scotiabank, said in a statement, “Scotiabank cannot comment on specific customer matters for privacy reasons but in this instance, we worked directly with the customer and have resolved the complaint to their satisfaction.”
Carr said after CTV News Toronto called the bank he got his points back within days, which was good news for him as he will have $5,000 in rewards points now to use towards a future trip.
"I feel great, very happy to have this sorted out,” said Carr.
If you have a travel rewards card, you may have to make a transaction at least once a year or pay an annual fee. If you don't, you could lose your points but with some other cards your points will never expire as long as your account is in good standing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
Man accused of killing two children at Quebec daycare to stand trial in April 2025
The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others after a city bus crashed into a Montreal-area daycare is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.