What happens to your loyalty points when you die?

Last month, Finder.com conducted a study showing the credit cards spending habits of Canadians. Several points emerged:

• 3 out of 4 Canadians (22.3 million) admitted using their credit cards to earn points.
• With an average expenditure of $3,735 per person, this represents $83.2 billion!

In addition, there are also points earned through means other than credit card spending. For example, when:

• You stay in a hotel
• You’re travelling with an airline
• You do your grocery shopping
• You buy DIY materials

Each individual therefore holds a heritage of points that are worth something. Hence the question in today’s article: what happens to your loyalty points when you die? The rules vary depending on each rewards program.

On Aeroplan‘s side, it is possible to transfer points from the deceased member’s account. To do so, you will need to send various information by email to Aeroplan:

• the deceased member’s Aeroplan account number (if known);
• the member’s first and last name;
• the member’s full address, including postal code;
• the member’s telephone numbers (home and cell phone);
• a scanned copy of the death certificate;
• a scanned copy of the part of the will where the beneficiaries are named (only this section is required);
• an attestation signed by each beneficiary who wishes to waive his or her share of miles, if applicable (points will be divided equally among all beneficiaries unless some of them waive in writing, in which case the miles will be divided among the other beneficiaries).

There is no charge for this type of transfer.

In the event of death, AIR MILES miles can be transferred by completing the estate form and sending the following documents by e-mail:

• Provincial death certificate, or
• Funeral parlour declaration of death
• If the transfer of miles exceeds 20,000, additional documentation may be required, such as a certificate appointing an estate administrator.

Here are the terms and conditions.

In case of divorce or relationship breakdown, death, emigration from Canada, duplication error, or with our authorization, you may with our prior consent and upon proper proof and payment of such fees as we may in our discretion impose from time to time, merge your Collector Number with the Collector Number of a family member or member of your household.

You can email this to care@airmiles.ca or fax it to 1-888-378-2332.

There is no charge for this type of transfer.

If a beneficiary is designated :

• If the Beneficiary notifies TD of the Primary Cardholder’s death within one year of the death, the Beneficiary will have the opportunity to redeem TD Rewards points.
• If the Beneficiary notifies TD of the Cardholder’s death more than one year after the date of death, TD Rewards points will no longer be redeemable, will expire and will be cancelled.

The beneficiary should contact them at 1-888-315-0603.

Upon the death of the Primary Cardholder, additional documentation will be required to facilitate the redemption of TD Rewards points.

According to the CIBC Aventura program legal disclaimer:

Unredeemed Aventura points will be cancelled 60 days after you voluntarily close your Aventura credit card account or within 12 months of the death of the primary cardholder.

In the event of the death of the principal cardholder at HSBC RewardsProgram membership will be terminated, and points accumulated in the rewards account may be redeemed by the primary cardholder’s estate for a period of 90 days, provided the necessary documents are submitted.

Points not used within this period will be automatically cancelled and cannot be redeemed, transferred or converted thereafter.

When a deceased WestJet Rewards member is reported to WestJet, the membership will be cancelled and the account closed. Accumulated WestJet dollars can be used by the member’s estate.

WestJet may request the following documents:

• Copy of death certificate.
• Proof from the executor or administrator of the estate.

The executor must indicate the beneficiary of the dollars and provide the account number, or a new account can be opened for the beneficiary. WestJet is not responsible for the tax implications of this estate. Dollars unclaimed after 120 months from the closing of the deceased member’s account will be cancelled and unusable. WestJet dollars cannot be converted to cash.

For American Express Canada, you will first have to notify them of the death by calling 1-800-263-1616. The account will then be cancelled and the beneficiary will be able to take possession of it and the available membership rewards points.

According to the terms and conditions of the Marriott Bonvoy program, it is possible to transfer points to the beneficiary’s account. However, other benefits such as Elite night credits or status are not transferable.

In the event of a Member’s death, the Company may, in its sole discretion, allow unredeemed Points from the deceased Member’s Account to be transferred to a family member or a friend who is an active Member upon the Company’s receipt and review of all requested documentation and communications. Awards, Elite Membership Status, Lifetime Membership Status, and the related benefits, including, without limitation, Elite Night Credit, will not transfer to the recipient of the Points.

There is no charge for this type of transfer.

Under the terms of the PC Optimum program, points are forfeited upon the member’s death:

A Program Member’s Account will be closed upon death and any PC Optimum Points remaining in their Account will be forfeited.

Unless you manage to deal with a compassionate customer service member, as the program adds:

You may, if (PC Optimum) allows you to do so, transfer your PC Optimum points to another member of the Program.

Under the terms of the Triangle Rewards Program, points are forfeited upon the member’s death:

Membership may be terminated by Canadian Tire if any of the following events occur: (…) (B) the Member dies. Termination or cancellation of membership in the Program will result in the immediate closing of the Member’s Triangle Rewards Account and the cancellation of all eCTM in such Triangle Rewards Account without any compensation or other liability to the Member.

As you can see, different loyalty programs have different terms and conditions.

Although popular and growing in Canada, PC Optimum and Canadian Tire Triangle are strangely the most restrictive programs in this area! The other programs are more compassionate!