Renewal FC Cards always late?

I'm entering my 3rd year of AU membership, and each time have had to write and ask where my renewal Gold card is.

Right now am 7 days away from the end of the current one, and after my writing 2 days ago asking whereabouts of the new one, (I qualified 6 months ago) got a response that the renewal card would be on its way, and to expect it in the next 4 weeks.

Isn't there something amiss here, surely VS could be a little more together about renewal cards and looking after its premier members? Why am I having to write to them each year?
If I were mid trip, it would be very frustrating.

I don't think it really matters which physical card you hold - your account number indicates if you are Gold or not and the rewards are given accordingly.

I dropped down to Red from Ag at the end of last month and got a new red card last week (featuring HKG even though never been there!). My online FC account still has me as silver with my silver number !

Yes, I kind of assumed that I could negotiate my way in, but should I be having to haggle my way into the clubhouse with an expired card?

There sin't much rocket science required to send out the renewal card the week that someone hits the TP needed for renewal, or at least 6 weeks before the expiry, not days before, especially when some folks are internationally base?

Yes, I kind of assumed that I could negotiate my way in, but should I be having to haggle my way into the clubhouse with an expired card?

There sin't much rocket science required to send out the renewal card the week that someone hits the TP needed for renewal, or at least 6 weeks before the expiry, not days before, especially when some folks are internationally base?

I wouldn't worry about getting into the Clubhouse as they will know who qualifies for entry.

Narikin - you're right and this topic comes up at least once a year, nothing changes it seems.

You shouldn't have to haggle your way in, and one way is to print of your FC statement summary showing renewal as a way to prevent this mid trip. It is true that in some clubhouses they do ask for your FC card, but in others they look at the FC # on your BP to determine.

I wouldn't worry about getting into the Clubhouse as they will know who qualifies for entry.

Not actually correct, if you travel on reward seats or M+M they put the number 005 005 005 into the booking as your FC number to stop the flights earning miles.

Last time we flew on reward seats we had to show the Gold card at UC check in (travelling PE) to prove we were entitled to use it as our booking had that number in it, (and printed on the boarding card) when we got to the private security channel the boarding pass wouldn't open the door so we had to press the buzzer, and at the CH we were not shown on their systems as AU so they had to check the boarding cards and asked for the Gold cards. Good job we took them !