I decided I did not wish to retain the CITI AMEX (I was an authorized user on my wife's card that gives 5% for the next few months, and have other cards that can yield 2,3, or 5% on different categories).
I decided the best thing would be to request an exchange to a non-fee card. They had previously mentioned a Forward, so I chose to request that even though I already had one.
A second forward could earn an 100 extra points per month, if some usage is made of it and the bill is paid on time. My wife will probably keep using the older one and I will use the new one.
A Forward is good because of its 5% on restaurants, etc. That this was the card offered is good news in that they are notonly issuing a worse version of a Forward with lower rewards (see thread on the Forward card).
I doubt if they would change the terms right after issuing a new card (or promising to do so). If they do change them on my older Forward, I may get a few months of 5% out of the new one.
When exchanging cards, you keep your old credit line and this will improve your total utilization rate and credit score.
I learned some interesting things from this conversion and the CSR.
I was told that the actual transfer could not occur to June 29 (45 days required by a new Federal regulation for changes in terms), but I would get the fee prorated from today.
He said the old card would be usable until the transfer date (and the request could be reversed up to then). I was told I could reverse my decision up to when the change occurred. This could be useful if some of my alternative ways of earning 2% or more on spending disappear (companies are cutting back on rewards).
While I doubt if it will happen for me, if I fly on a ticket purchased using this card, I could get 1000 miles of flight credit (I had only spent $1000 on the card since the conversion, and flight points must be matched by spending points).
I was told the points from the old card would transfer to the new Forward (always have my doubts about what CSRs say). As discussed in the thread on using CITI points, I have already used the points (which gives safety even if he is wrong).
Presumably, even if the points are to be lost when the AMEX is closed, the delay till June 29 gives me more time to use them (or to accumulate enough points for a $100 gift card).
This suggests if you wish to close this (or any other_ CITI card you should try to exchange it for another.
beatme said: rmf1981 said: Data point and a question ....
Data point: I too was promised 5/3 for at least a few more months (until Sept?). CC Statement did NOT reflect this - seemed to reflect the 1.25/$. In any case, when I happened to go into my TYP account, there are a whole bunch of entires; I see the credit from the new Premiere card AS WELL as credits - from the same month - from the "AMEX Platinum" Card. So if you think you didn't get the full points, check your TYP account and see if you got them that way. They definitely did not show up on the statement, however.
Question: I returned a high-priced item after my statement close date. Thus, the amount due on my statement (to pay off in full) would now push me into a credit balance. I could pay the full amount online, but that would essentially lose me the "float." Can I simply subtract the amount of the credit returns from the full payment amount to pay off the card this month?
When I called Citi, they seemed to say I COULD just do this ... but the CSR didn't inspire a lot of confidence. Never had this situation before, would prefer to not pay finance charges if possible ....
Regarding the points, this is how my TYP balance looked for the statement that included the conversion. My TYP history after the conversion does not show secret goodies .
With the payment, as long as your balance is paid in full by the due date, it doesn't matter how the money got there (payments, returns, etc.). Just keep an eye online to see when the return credit posts.
Hey Beatme -
Just an update. You were exactly correct; my second statement no longer is showing the 5/3 promotion. I called and asked and they will "investigate." But my statement is missing the entire second table showing "Card Member Bonus Points" which is the majority of where my points come from (the 5% and 3% bonus) ....
I had a big return that posted to this statment (thanks for the advice btw, worked great) so that also may be throwing off the balance. Citi claims I'm still on the 5/3 program ... I guess we'll see what happens. Moral is keep an eye on your statements and make sure they're crediting you correctly ...
I think it was confirmed that everyone is getting 5/2 for the converted program until September. If you get paper statements make sure to look at the back of the pages, because that's where I now see the total points and I can confirm that I've been getting 5/2 since they switched me over. Some people have had luck calling to get the difference of a 5/3 program.
I had to call in this month as noted above as I only received 5/2. Luckily my account had the proper notation that I am supposed to be receiving 5/3 until the end of June so they updated my points.
I had been told by two different reps that I was getting 5/3, but I received my second post-conversion statement showing that I was only getting 5/2. I spoke to a CSR who explained that the Platinum promotion read "2 additional TYP per dollar spent" while the new promotion read "2 TYP per dollar spent." He thinks the similar wording confused the previous reps.
I asked for a manager, who was willing to give me a one-time TYP credit to give me the equivalent of 5/3 on those two statements, since the reps had given me incorrect information. (Good news, as I had spent >$17K thinking I was getting 3 TYP/$.) But she told me that she checked the available promotions and was unable to find anything better than the 5/2 program I was currently on.
Did people getting the 5/3 promotion (or the 5x on everything) all get it from retentions? The manager insisted she'd really like to do something for me, but the 5/2 was the best out there.
I just spoke with them yesterday. My second post-conversion statement was 5/2. (The first was also, but they made another error in my favor, so I kept my mouth shut)
The CSR saw 5/3 listed on my account, and decided the best way to calculate the correct number of TYP was going through line by line. At the end of that, she credited me the extra ~10k points I was owed, and confirmed that I will be getting 5/3 until 9/5.
I asked her to make a note in my account, but she said that was unnecessary because the promotion says 5/3 front and center when she opened my account. I assume I will be calling them once a month for the next 5 months...
I'm planning for the end of this promotion and maximizing the 5x points. I'm buying giftcards ($50-200 each) at the grocery store & gas station (WaWa in the Northeast) for things I know I'll be buying after September. Mainly giftcards to these grocery stores and gas stations, basically investing for the future to make sure I'm getting my 5x points while I can.
ProfessorEd said: I decided I did not wish to retain the CITI AMEX (I was an authorized user on my wife's card that gives 5% for the next few months, and have other cards that can yield 2,3, or 5% on different categories).
I decided the best thing would be to request an exchange to a non-fee card. They had previously mentioned a Forward, so I chose to request that even though I already had one.
A second forward could earn an 100 extra points per month, if some usage is made of it and the bill is paid on time. My wife will probably keep using the older one and I will use the new one.
A Forward is good because of its 5% on restaurants, etc. That this was the card offered is good news in that they are notonly issuing a worse version of a Forward with lower rewards (see thread on the Forward card).
I doubt if they would change the terms right after issuing a new card (or promising to do so). If they do change them on my older Forward, I may get a few months of 5% out of the new one.
When exchanging cards, you keep your old credit line and this will improve your total utilization rate and credit score.
I learned some interesting things from this conversion and the CSR.
I was told that the actual transfer could not occur to June 29 (45 days required by a new Federal regulation for changes in terms), but I would get the fee prorated from today.
He said the old card would be usable until the transfer date (and the request could be reversed up to then). I was told I could reverse my decision up to when the change occurred. This could be useful if some of my alternative ways of earning 2% or more on spending disappear (companies are cutting back on rewards).
While I doubt if it will happen for me, if I fly on a ticket purchased using this card, I could get 1000 miles of flight credit (I had only spent $1000 on the card since the conversion, and flight points must be matched by spending points).
I was told the points from the old card would transfer to the new Forward (always have my doubts about what CSRs say). As discussed in the thread on using CITI points, I have already used the points (which gives safety even if he is wrong).
Presumably, even if the points are to be lost when the AMEX is closed, the delay till June 29 gives me more time to use them (or to accumulate enough points for a $100 gift card).
This suggests if you wish to close this (or any other_ CITI card you should try to exchange it for another.
I appear to have come out slightly better than expected, rather than having the $99 fee prorated when I canceled, I noticed today the full $99 was credited to this account (in addition to the $75 credit for keeping the card and doing $1,000 in spending).
Eventually I should have a Forward card (which should produce 100 points per month from minimal usage) and this should show a credit limit, which may aid credit scores.
robbierob03 said: akbrush said: evanm said: No promotions for me. Just converted to a Citi Forward card instead.Same thing here.
Question about this - I also just converted to the Citi Forward card just to make things easier, but the CSR told me that I would only be getting 1 TYP per purchase instead of the 5 TYPs for restaurants. She said that the 5 TYP offer was only for new accounts and that converted accounts could not receive the same rate. I decided to call her bluff and convert anyway, but just wanted to see if anyone else was told this. I'll try it out once my 45 day waiting period is over.
Update - Got my Citi Forward card early for some reason and have activated it. I put a couple of test charges on it from different places that should yield 5 TYPs. Just as a test I called customer service to see what they said my TYP earnings rate would be, and they still quoted only 1 TYP per dollar. If that really is the case then this card is as good as closed. I'll update again when my statement closes.
robbierob03 said: robbierob03 said: akbrush said: evanm said: No promotions for me. Just converted to a Citi Forward card instead.Same thing here.
Question about this - I also just converted to the Citi Forward card just to make things easier, but the CSR told me that I would only be getting 1 TYP per purchase instead of the 5 TYPs for restaurants. She said that the 5 TYP offer was only for new accounts and that converted accounts could not receive the same rate. I decided to call her bluff and convert anyway, but just wanted to see if anyone else was told this. I'll try it out once my 45 day waiting period is over.
Update - Got my Citi Forward card early for some reason and have activated it. I put a couple of test charges on it from different places that should yield 5 TYPs. Just as a test I called customer service to see what they said my TYP earnings rate would be, and they still quoted only 1 TYP per dollar. If that really is the case then this card is as good as closed. I'll update again when my statement closes.
Statement finally closed and sure enough I only got the one TYP per dollar. Really have no use for this card now, so I'll call and cancel later today to see if customer service/retentions have any last offers. It was a good run for two years though.
beatme said: I just spoke with them yesterday. My second post-conversion statement was 5/2. (The first was also, but they made another error in my favor, so I kept my mouth shut)
The CSR saw 5/3 listed on my account, and decided the best way to calculate the correct number of TYP was going through line by line. At the end of that, she credited me the extra ~10k points I was owed, and confirmed that I will be getting 5/3 until 9/5.
I asked her to make a note in my account, but she said that was unnecessary because the promotion says 5/3 front and center when she opened my account. I assume I will be calling them once a month for the next 5 months...
I've continued to have issues with this as well. I'm somehow getting 2.2 points/dollar this month, which obviously means I didn't do any "5 point" spending (not true) or else I'm doing a lot of "2 point" spending. I have an email in to them for an explanation .... painful, though.
I got an email and postal mail offer for 20% bonus points (1.2 points per dollar) for the new Citi AMEX Premier card... I haven't called to activate it yet, but fine print says it stacks with any other bonus offers you already have.
I just got off the phone with Sprint Agency (the guys that handle the travel)
Here are the notes I jotted down...
For the 15% off: -Works for domestic and international travel -There is no place online to check prices yourself, you have to call. I had no hold time, but their hours of operations suck. -Works for up to 4 people -You have to be one of the passengers, you can't buy it for other people. -It's unlimited. You can use the 15% off as much as you want.
For companion tickets: -You do not get 15% off when you are also getting the companion ticket -Can be used once per year, the year starts the day the card is issued. So if your card was issued 5/1/11, you can use it once between 5/1/11 and 4/30/12 -The tickets must be booked 4 days in advance -The card holder must also be traveling -Only works in the 48 states, excludes HI/AK -You have to pay the taxes on the second ticket -Works for round trip, one way, and multi-city... as long as you and the companion have the exact same itinerary
I have a lot of points that I plan to use for travel, so I don't know when I'll use this service. I'll report back once I actually do though.
I also just had a statement close and found that I mysteriously also got 3x on everything (and 5x on EDP). It's very odd, since as I reported before I was only getting 5/2x. I'm actually on the phone with them right now, and the supervisor has no idea why my promo would have changed between my June and July statements.
It's actually a little frustrating - a different supervisor had promised back in May to add 17,100 TYP to my account to compensate for the fact that 2 different CSRs had told me that I'd still be getting 5/3x after the conversion. The fact that I did get 5/3x in July, and that the promos on my July statement all show that they go back to the 3/5/11 conversion date, is confusing her tremendously.
I used the Spirit service for a flight to vegas for 4th of july weekend
Basically you have no choice when it comes to what airline/stops/timing etc. You tell them what airport and what dates and there system spits back whatever the cheapest thing is.... That's what you get. Apparently they can't see anything else but the cheapest flights when they search. Not sure I believe that, but whatever.
For my Vegas trip, i booked the ticket 4 days from departure on a holiday weekend... I was lucky to get exactly what I wanted. Delta direct jfk to las round trip for 533. I checked the same exact flight on Delta and Priceline and it came up at 750... so I got more than 15% off.
The discount is really good but your choices are limited... the best thing to do is to call every day until you get something you want (which is why I waited until the deadline of 4 days before i took my trip). I called about 3 days straight and the airlines and flight times changed every day... jet blue then Delta, etc...Book your tickets in pieces if you have to... one way trips.
RagingBull said: hey dhl what did you mean? you got 3x for everything twice? They dropped me from 5/3 when they switched my card to the Thank You Premiere card and I had to call in for a couple months to get credited for my missing points since my original 2 yr term didn't end until 6/30, however the last time I called and waited a couple months I never got the extra points, but it didn't matter because I already switched to the AARP card. I had to use the card this month because I went to Costco and they only take AMEX and amazingly they gave me 3x points. It was an extra nice surprise since my original 2 yr term already expired.
I guess my card converted to a forward may have similar terms.
However, can you still get 100 points per month with minimal usage and paying on time? May be worth it for this.
I have now gotten a statement and McDonald's purchases earned 5 points per dollar. Thus my conversion seems to get the 5 ponts per dollar on restaurants.
Once your 5% on groceries ends, the obvious alternative for those who spend heavily on groceries is the AMEX Preferred Cash Back Blue which gives 6% back on groceries, 3% on gasoline and Department stores, and 1% on everything else and 0% interest on purchases for the first six months, in exchange for $75 fee (with a $100 Cash Back offer after $500 in sending for new card holders).
I was so confused the last time I got gas, didn't know what card to use since nothing had more than 1% on Gas. What to do now? I'm holding on to this card until the annual fee kicks in, because I might use the travel discount. What is everyone's go to card now?
breaux124 said: I was so confused the last time I got gas, didn't know what card to use since nothing had more than 1% on Gas. What to do now? I'm holding on to this card until the annual fee kicks in, because I might use the travel discount. What is everyone's go to card now?
libralibra said: wondering if anyone has gotten any good offers recently by calling the 800 retentions number? It's not a particularly good offer, but I got three months of one bonus TYP per dollar, meaning I get a total of 2.2x of EDP and 2x on everything else. I took it, figuring I'd try my luck again when the card expires.
Even at effectively 2% Cash Back, it's still a nice card. The benefits are much better than most 2% cards, and this way I don't have to retrain my wife on which card to use as a primary.
With the bonus offer that I mentioned in my previous post expired, I called Retentions yesterday to see if there were any other promos to make this a useful card. The answer was no, there are no promos at all that they can offer me. I don't know if that's because there are no promos at all, or if Citi has started to implement some sort of limit on how soon you can get a new retention promo after your old one expires.
So, this just went in my sock drawer. Barring some sort of miracle, I'll cancel come April when the annual fee comes due.
I called a few months ago, and after a bit of back and forth, they offered me an additional 500 TYP per month that I spend $500 for the next 16(!) months. Kind of like a worse version of an extra 1 TYP/$. They also threw in a $75 statement credit, so I took it. When I received my first statement, they gave me 8500 bonus points instead of 500 (I also got the statement credit). I will see what happens next month. An extra 8500 TYP/month for 16 months would be fantastic!
So, this just went in my sock drawer. Barring some sort of miracle, I'll cancel come April when the annual fee comes due.
i think they pro-rate the annual fee... so they should refund from now to april if you cancel today.
i'm on the phone now and they are also telling me that there are NO promotions available to me for my AMEX Premier... my last one was in March when i was getting 4 points extra on the dollar i think.
I was able to get 10,000 points after $3000 in purchases after 6 months on my two other Citi Cards (non-premier).
Trinidon2k said: i think they pro-rate the annual fee... so they should refund from now to april if you cancel today. I thought everyone who was converted from the Platinum card got their first year Premier fee waived. Certainly mine was, so I'd be getting a prorated refund of $0. I'd rather keep the card open as long as possible to make sure I use up all the TYP sourced from the card and keep extended warranties valid.
Trinidon2k said: I was able to get 10,000 points after $3000 in purchases after 6 months on my two other Citi Cards (non-premier). I realize this is getting totally OT, but, hey, this thread is essentially dead anyway.
Can you give more details on this? E.g., did you get these promos from a regular CSR or go to Retentions? Were these cards you were actually using, or sock-drawered cards? Did you just ask about promos, or actually threaten to cancel? What types of cards were they?
I went through retentions... The non-premier AMEX was sock drawer... The world MasterCard I only used when AMEX wasnt accepted. I threatened to cancel my AMEX premier then asked about promos on my other cards.
thats for both the companion pass and 15% off... This is much better because not only do you not have to deal with Spirit Incentives ridiculous hours but you also see just about every flight and not just the cheapest one.
When I logged in, there was an option to choose companion travel or 15% off travel. I booked a companion flight and when I logged again, the option was gone. So remember, only one per calendar year.
Citi and/or Spirit do something weird... They combine your first name and middle initial... I booked a Virgin flight using ThankYou points on thankyou.com and my middle initial was combined into my first name on my boarding pass... I had to call Virgin to fix it. I booked this last trip through thankyoucompanion.com and they did the same thing. I'll need to call Delta to fix it. You won't realize that happened until log into your frequent flyer miles account on the airline website. I don't know if you'll have trouble flying because of this, but better safe than sorry.
Just got my $125 annual fee on my current statement and was about to cancel this card but remembered the 15% discount. Used this link to check out a couple flights my wife and I plan on taking this year and we'll be saving around $100 each person for each flight. Since it looks like airline tickets are still increasing, I'm planning on keeping this card even with the annual fee. I'll call and see if they offer me anything to keep the card.
Called and complained about annual fee... threatened to cancel and got 10K points if I spend 3K in 6 months. They also offered $125 credit if I spent $4500 in 3 months, but since we get 33% bonus on flights through thank you points, the points were worth slighlty more to me. I only use points for flights.
I called about the annual fee, and they told me that there were no promotions they could offer me. I converted to a Thank You Preferred Visa. The rep assured me that that would preserve the extended warranty program from the old card.
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