2011 updated in 2012 - Let's Compare - Which benefits are at 5% REBATE in the same time frame?

You should either:

Call the number on the back of your Citi VS / MC and ask.
OR
Log into your account and send a message to customer service for verification which is what I did last quarter.

Citi's hidden enrollment is highly annoying. They changed my card from a Drivers Edge to a Worldpoints to whatever it is now - and changed my number/credit history lengt. I doubt it's worth keeping any more ... unless I can remember to re-enroll for their 5% every 3 months. Sigh.

Grudging bump!

The table is super useful. I added another one below it to show the related spending caps.

marvelous35 said:   Anybody know what categories will be in Citi's 2Q promo?

5% Cash Back on home improvement, home furnishing and home and garden purchases from April 1 through June 30, 2011

Discover 5% for groceries and drug stores < $200. June only.

I have 2 Citi Dividend cards (1 MC and 1 AMEX) and have been with them since 2004. I purchased just under $5000 in new kitchen appliances when we moved into our new home in May 2011. I purchased the appliances online via the GE store and Citi refused to give me the extra 4% CashBack on the purchases because the way the transaction was sent to them from the GE site; in a way that it did not fall under any of the home improvement categories. I called and emailed several times, even explaining that I would submit my receipts. Even though they ‘escalated’ the request, they did nothing stating they “are limited in our ability to assist with your request.” I bought appliances and that is clearly in the home improvement categories description of the promotional incentive. What a joke. I am not using my Citi Cards ever again…

^^^ It's a well known fact that online sales are very frequently in a completely different category than B&M sales. Sometimes the website is run as a separate business, even if some features are integrated. Sometimes the inventory is completely different. Sometimes they even accept or deny different payment methods. This is not Citi's fault, they clearly use the merchant codes for rewards. It is the business' fault (or strategy). So you should stop shopping at the GE online store, not stop using your Citi Cards.

Thanks to the person (not me) who updated the summary to add Citi's Q4 2011 categories.

Looks like the cards copied each other again, but not as badly as in some previous quarters. This quarter (meaning 4th quarter), Chase Freedom, Citi, and Discover all give 5% Cash Back for department stores. Discover overlaps with Chase for restaurants and with Citi for clothing; it looks like there are no categories where Discover gives you 5% but no other card does.

Citi is unique this quarter in giving the 5% in electronics and toys, while Chase is unique in giving the 5% for movies and charity.

I wish there were a little more variety, but this is definitely better than both the second and third quarters of this year.

Anyone know if toys r us is a qualified "Toy Store" under the Citi MCC codes? They sell a number of electronics there (including Apple products) - plus there are Babies R Us and toys r us that are connected as one store - might be an opportunity for 5% back on baby stuff if you check out on the toys r us side.

LifeAsISeeIt said:   Anyone know if toys r us is a qualified "Toy Store" under the Citi MCC codes? They sell a number of electronics there (including Apple products) - plus there are Babies R Us and toys r us that are connected as one store - might be an opportunity for 5% back on baby stuff if you check out on the toys r us side.

I'd charge a small amount and see

in case, anybody is wondering about code for a store, try MCC code for Visa

see the post above yours

My wife cannot remember if she signed up for 4Q Chase Freedom promotions, is there a way on Chase.com to confirm that ? I am thinking it is too late anyway, but it might save me a desperate phone call to Chase. We were going to do some donations before EOY, so might just end up using another credit card.

Sometimes the email never arrives. I think you can confirm at chasebonus.com.

check status here

As a reminder to everyone, it is time to sock drawer some cards, and add others back in rotation to your wallet. I just finished labeling all the cards for my wife and got her to the minimum # of cards yet still maximizing rewards. I like using sharpies to label her cards -- i.e. gas, dining, health care and then Everything Else, and a backup for places that don't take AMEX.

Perhaps some self discipline is in order. Why would anyone revert to cash when a tax free 5% rebate is available? Additionally, you have a grace period to make the payment. Agreed, the rotating categories are a nuisance.

In case anyone was wondering about the Q1 Citi categories:

Within 2 business days of when you accept this offer, or January 1, 2012, whichever is later, you will earn an additional 4% Cash Back on eligible health care, fitness club and utilities purchases from January 1, 2012 and March 31, 2012.

Health care is defined as merchants that provide examination, diagnosis and treatment of health-related conditions and includes services by licensed physicians or dentists, facilities that aid in diagnosis or treatment, and devices or corrective equipment for such treatment.Fitness clubs are defined as merchants that operate sports and recreation facilities requiring membership. Utilities are defined as providers of electric, gas power, water supply and refuse services, cable and satellite television and radio services, and wireless/telecommunications services. Online, catalog, mail order and telephone purchases are not eligible to receive additional Cash Back unless the merchants identify the transactions as being made as a health care, fitness club or utilities purchase.

We do not determine whether merchants correctly identify and bill transactions being made as a health care, fitness club or utilities purchase. However, we do reserve the right to determine which purchases qualify for the additional 4% Cash Back. Eligible purchases exclude items returned for credit and interest charges. In order to qualify for this offer, the account must be open and current at all times. If your account is closed for any reason, including if you convert to another product, you may no longer be eligible. Unless you received an offer indicating otherwise, you may earn up to $300 Cash Back per calendar year.

ThePessimist said:   Does anyone know if Citi's "health care" category includes pharmacies? That definition doesn't sound like it, but I thought it included pharmacies when they had a similar category last year.

I am 99.9% sure it does not include pharmacies this year.

MoneyOCD said:   Does anyone know when Citi will post Q2 categiries?

They usually post them about two weeks before the start of the new quarter.

(I know, it's frustrating...we know the Chase and Discover categories for the rest of the year, but Citi only gives two weeks' notice).