MOST LIKELY DEAD! Citi CashReturns MasterCard - UNLIMITED 5% cash back for 3 months

I have a question about the length of the promo period, I know it's 3 months (3 statements) from the date of application, but I was wondering if anyone has experienced this:

I applied on 3/24, got instant approval, so I figured my statement date would end around the 24th of every month. I just noticed however that my first statement date was on 4/16. Counting the time it takes to get the card in the mail, it looks like I'm going to miss out on about two full weeks of the promo period.

goog40 said: I have a question about the length of the promo period, I know it's 3 months (3 statements) from the date of application, but I was wondering if anyone has experienced this:

I applied on 3/24, got instant approval, so I figured my statement date would end around the 24th of every month. I just noticed however that my first statement date was on 4/16. Counting the time it takes to get the card in the mail, it looks like I'm going to miss out on about two full weeks of the promo period.

You get 90 days from the date your app was approved, not 3 statement periods. Read T&C and mark your calendar!

cyberkost said:
You get 90 days from the date your app was approved, not 3 statement periods. Read T&C and mark your calendar!

Oh ok, thanks. I just assumed they did it by statement periods, since it seems like it would be complicated for them to calculate the extra 4% bonus for part of a statement. I guess I'll be using my card for another week after the third statement period ends.

BTW I had the same experience as wxl31 with the repeated CLIs today, I didn't go overboard with it though.

Hi,

Does anyone if this 5% Cash Back is still available? It appears that citi has just changed this feature.

THanks
-lys

loveyoursmile said: Hi,

Does anyone if this 5% Cash Back is still available? It appears that citi has just changed this feature.

THanks
-lys
Try this link and report back?

3/4 - My wife's CashReturns card was applied for and approved with a 7.3K CL.

3/10 - Card received and CLI requested via form (hard credit inquiry) to 20K CL. Received 10-day wait message, but 20K CL showed up on-line within 15 minutes.

Through the present, about 29K of charges have accumulated, with about 29K of payments. Current balance about $146 of 20K CL.

4/21 - Thanks to wxl31's inspiring post, tried the CLI link, and this time received a series of automatic increases, resulting in a 25K credit line! It began in 1,250 increments, and ended with 0. I'm happy with 25K, but was hoping for 30K.

My CashReturns card odyssey so far:

4/15 - Applied for card, received the "We received your application and will respond within 30 days message."

4/16 - Called to check status. Approved for 4.8K. Not too bad since I'm about 75% through an AOR with 65.2K / 285.1K (total BT amount / total CL) showing on personal (all cards under 50% utilization), and inquiries TU8, Ex10, Eq17.

4/21 - Received card. Called to activate, spoke with CSR, asked for CLI, and received $500 immediate increase to 5.3K, with no credit check.

Plans: pay off BT balance on Associated Bank card, close that card and consolidate its 25K CL with CashReturns card, giving a 30.3K CL on the CashReturns card. Per CSR, this should be possible. I hope she's correct.

Confirmed that 5% Cash Back for 3 months on all purchases applies to my CashReturns card.

Just another data point...

wrong thread

Wife applied for card on 4/16 through the direct 5% promotion link and got instant approval for $7300

Card arrived yesterday 4/21, called and confirmed that the card carries the 5% for 3 months promotion.

Went online this morning and clicked on the increase CLI request and was given the form to fill out. I asked for $12700 and checked back two hours later to find the credit limit increased to $20k.

Don't be afraid of the form, guys.

lostdude said: I called and the nice India lady told me it's 4% promo and not 5%... wtf?
It's standard 1% plus 4% bonus for the first three months. That's probably what she was talking about.

msuhcpcrew: my advice would be to relax and wait for your statement and the CashBack check) to come.

CLI on crack just worked for me...went from $8500 limit to $15 something and then I stopped. That's plenty for what I'm going to use it for.

msuhcpcrew said: I'm not get getting any check because it's not above $50. I didn't have anything important or necessary to spend on last month, therefore, I was counting to get my last check...

By posting the transaction five days later, they saved $75... The price of the laptop was almost $1500. They just applied the standard 1% which comes out to be $15. Maybe they did it on purpose? I don't care about the check... I just don't like crooks!

If there is nothing I can do, I would just pay off my bill and close that account.

Well, are you dealing with the fact that Dell charged your credit card several days after the order was placed? If so, are you aware that there's a different group of Dell's customers who say "why did you charge my card 5 days before the order was shipped?" You may be a minority if you're to take up this arguments with Dell. As far as CITI is concerned, they seem to be going by the date/time the card was "swiped" and not by the transaction posting date which may indeed be a few days later. CITI does honor 90 days since account opening.

So, if my hypothesis about your situation is correct, then you can "punish" Dell for slowness in charging you card by returning the laptop (and repurchasing using DPA, if you want to). If it's CITI that you're after -- closing the card is not going to hurt them ... but don't get vindictive, just learn from this situation.

Thanks a lot for your advice. I will leave the situation as it is and leave my card open. I read that if I close it, my credit score might take a hit.

Once again, thank you!

cyberkost said: msuhcpcrew said: I'm not get getting any check because it's not above $50. I didn't have anything important or necessary to spend on last month, therefore, I was counting to get my last check...

By posting the transaction five days later, they saved $75... The price of the laptop was almost $1500. They just applied the standard 1% which comes out to be $15. Maybe they did it on purpose? I don't care about the check... I just don't like crooks!

If there is nothing I can do, I would just pay off my bill and close that account.

Well, are you dealing with the fact that Dell charged your credit card several days after the order was placed? If so, are you aware that there's a different group of Dell's customers who say "why did you charge my card 5 days before the order was shipped?" You may be a minority if you're to take up this arguments with Dell. As far as CITI is concerned, they seem to be going by the date/time the card was "swiped" and not by the transaction posting date which may indeed be a few days later. CITI does honor 90 days since account opening.

So, if my hypothesis about your situation is correct, then you can "punish" Dell for slowness in charging you card by returning the laptop (and repurchasing using DPA, if you want to). If it's CITI that you're after -- closing the card is not going to hurt them ... but don't get vindictive, just learn from this situation.

I'm opening up two checking accounts (Chase for their $125 bonus, and WAMU for their 3.3% APY savings). Both have given me options to fund the account with a debit/credit card. Can I fund the accounts for $4k (depending on how much my credit limit is) and get the 5% CashBack on that? I'll pay the card off immediately of course.

I'm thinking:

Fund Chase checking account with max amount (maxing out credit card), pay it off
open up WAMU checking account, fund it with max amount, pay it off

Will this set off any alarms on Citi's end with why I'm maxing/paying it off so quickly?

EDIT: NO!!!!!! I just read through this thread and it turns out the offer no longer stands Just 2 days ago I was looking at the card, and was going to get it but decided to wait until I bought a car to use it for a down payment, but since I could do what I described above, I went ahead to try to sign up only to find out it's over!!! =

was very profitable while it lasted. o well.

I've got utilities prepaid for 3 months.

I wonder what in the world their business strategy was for this card?

loss leader to ease us into the new crappy cashreturns?

I'd bet someone got fired for this venture O_O.

MaddHatter said: glxpass said: Did you read this message in this thread? Of course, the link might not work anymore, or even if it does there are no guarantees. Still...

Just had the wife apply from this link, keeping the URL and a screenshot of the offer page (the 5% isn't in the T&C, but IME this kind of stuff rarely is). Presuming she's approved (not a strong history of having CCS) I anticipate nothing less than a battle when Citi sticks us with the 1% only.
You could be right about the battle, but:

1. You printed the screen shot.
2. The link appears to be from Citi's web site.
3. I applied (although with a slightly different link), received my card this week, and the CSR confirmed the 5% for the first three months.

I'm sure you know that you can check approval status at: 888-201-4523 (7AM-7PM Central, Mon to Fri), and that you might have an answer within 24 hours, if not sooner, despite the wait message.

tigi said: I applied for the card on 4/18 using the link in the first post. The original offer was still there when I was applying. Instant approval for $3000.

Got the card today (4/24) in the mail. Called to verify 5% and they do not see it on my account .

Got a fax number, going to try to send them the printout and see what happens.

have you not been reading this thread? use one of the recently posted links and print out all of the screens during the application process.

Updated OP to reflect this link:

https://www.citicards.com/cards/wv/copy.do?screenID=1381

To increase your chances of getting the right card, I suggest going directly to citi rather through any affiliates with the old offer.

psubill78 said: This link is still good for 5% for 3 months

https://www.citicards.com/cards/wv/copy.do?screenID=1381Used this link a week ago. Got Cashreturns card in the mail today. Called to activate it. Asked what the rebate is: 5% for 3 months, unlimited. The proof is when I get my first rewards check.