tarcapone said:I applied for the Citi Platinum today. The rep said there was nothing she could do about transferring credit limits to a new card. I probably should have called back and spoke to someone else. I generally find if you want a different answer all you have to do is call back. Anyway, I'm hoping to get the card with at least a small credit limit and then transfer some of my available limit to the new card. She said it could take 3 to 4 weeks to get the card. We'll see.

Sounds like good news to me. You got approved and wasn't asked to close any of the other Citi accounts. I know you can transfer credit limits anytime after you get a new card. Also with Citi you can 0% transfer anytime during the promo period, not just during the application process. But you should call to verify as rules sometimes change.

tooshy's advice is right no, excpet a clarification on this: Also with Citi you can 0% transfer anytime during the promo period, not just during the application process. But you should call to verify as rules sometimes change.That used to always be true, but in recent 1-2 years they haven't allowed BT's to me (or wife) after first few months -- even when literature you get when opening says you can. i called to compalin and they said they have the right to change those terms at any time (which is true). Moral: don't count on being able to do BTs during entire 0% promo period. One provider that still does this IME is CapOne.

EugeneV said:MarkM said:That used to always be true, but in recent 1-2 years they haven't allowed BT's to me (or wife) after first few months -- even when literature you get when opening says you can. i called to compalin and they said they have the right to change those terms at any time (which is true). Moral: don't count on being able to do BTs during entire 0% promo period. One provider that still does this IME is CapOne.

Has this happened to anyone else? (Specifically: Citi not honoring their free BT offer)

yes, got the card, but decided to wait with the transfer for a bit(needed clean credit report for mortgage app) and when I decided to go ahead and transfer, it was not available anymore. I've even faxed them the copy of the page to which the CC was attached to, which clearly said "0% until MM/DD/YYYY" with MM/DD/YYYY being about 10 month in the future, but they still refused, saying that offer expired.
Expiration date for 0% BT offer, which is about a month after you get the card.
But if you make 1 BT during this time, then you allowed additional BTs up until the end of the 0% promo.
In my case, I had to close the card and reapply.

Bump for update.

Got my new MBNA Platinum Plus card yesterday....that was fast!!

Along with the cards and credit card agreement came two leaflets describing the reward/rebates:

Excerpts from the Bonus leaflet:

"Start off with extra savings! 10% rebate A BONUS to your MBNA Cash Back Card"
"Through June 2005, get 10% rebate at restaurants, hardware stores, drugstores, and grocery stores--as a BONUS to your MBNA Cash Back card."
"Through June 2005, your MasterCard card gives you a 10% rebate BONUS on your credit card statement and your continuous MBNA Cash Back Rewards."

(on the back of leafet under Program Rules)
"This limited-time rebate program....is applicable only to those qualified MBNA Cash Back credit card accounts designated eligible by MBNA. A 10% statement credit rebate will be applied to net retail purchase transactions made with the Account during the Eligibility Period (June 17, 2004 through June 30, 2005) at retail merchant locations assigned one of the following merchant category codes as designated by MBNA: 5200,5251,5411,5499,5812,5813,5814, and 5912."

"The maximum cumulative rebate for each calendar month is $25 and cannot exceed $325 for the entire Eligibility Period. Rebate value will be rounded to the nearest whole cent and eligible purchases must post to the Account by July 7, 2005 to qualify for the rebate."

"Special Conditions apply to your MBNA Cash Back earnings if you make transactions at any of the designated merchants during the Eligibility Period: if you spend $100, you will qualify for (1) a $10 rebate statement credit; and (2) MBNA Cash Back earnings based on an adjusted transaction value of $90. Your periodic billing cycle statement will show the original transaction amount and a separate entry for the corresponding rebate credit."

"If your rebate total reaches the maximum cumulative total, but because of returns or other adjustments, the rebate total then falls below maximum, prior purchases which might have been eligible for the rebate will NOT become re-eligible. This means that only purchases made after the total falls below the maximum cumulative rebate limit may be eligible for the rebate."

"Rebates do not apply to cash advances (including balance transfers); purchases of money orders or other cash equivalents; unauthorized or fraudulent transactions; transactions subject to adjustment; out-of-network payments made through Bill Pay Choice, purchases made by or for a business or for a business purpose, and any purchase transactions made using the MBNA ShopSafe online shopping tool. MBNA reserves the right to adjust rebates."

"Liability for federal, state, or local taxes may be applicable, consult your tax advisor."


Other leaflet:

Some points of interest:

"Each purchase can earn cash back and there is no limit to how much cash back you can earn."
"Every time your purchase total reaches $2,500, just call and the money will be credited directly to your account."
"....the rebate does not affect your responsibility to pay your minimum payment due..."

4

Just noticed OP's new information, thanks for the merchant category code explanation. That helps! It looks like a clean sweep of the food category...grocery and restaurants including fast food and vending(!!!). I wonder if we will get 10% at WalMart and Costco/Sam's.

You're very welcome, thought it might help others, who like you and I, did not receive this offer directly establish that it is open for everyone (???) I'm still guessing who the target group is and for how long this will be open....

I'll be sure to use it with all the restaurants in the Entertainment Book and remember to charge our fast food takeouts, do vending machines take credit cards? Also it wouldn't hurt to update Upromise idine for this card and other restaurant rebate sites.

IF you call back in about a week, they'll transfer you over to a credit analyst for a decision.

HerrYunta said:Does anyone know if this covers WalMart/Target/Sam's and BJ's Club? Also, are restaurants and fastfood really included? Thank you
I bet it doesn't include Target, regular WalMarts and so on. See OP about restaurants.

tooshy quoted this as the stores for which we will receive 10%:

"at retail merchant locations assigned one of the following merchant category codes as designated by MBNA: 5200,5251,5411,5499,5812,5813,5814, and 5912."

Can someone please tell how one can know what "category code" is given to an individual store?