Old May 22, 2013, 8:47 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: aeneas3
- Retention offers, generally speaking, are offers made by a card issuer when they believe you might close your card account.

Often this means you have to actually say specifically you "want to cancel the card because..." before they can offer you something. Being vague saying things like "I'm not sure I want this card", or "are there any offers for me to keep this card?" don't meet their threshold to make an offer until you use the "c" word in a declarative fashion.

- Offers may include cash, points, or a combination of both and are frequently linked to required spending on the card.

- You can contact Citibank's Retention Department directly at 800-444-2568, and avoid the front line customer service reps.

- For additional tips on interacting with retention representatives, see this blog post by someone who claims to have worked for Citi's retention department.


Current offers (update with your current offer under the respective card, date of offer, how long you had the card and yearly spend)

Thank you preferred

Thank you premier
Called Sep 7 complaining about benefit cut
Card #1 (15 years, $2K spent) - no offers, she saw offer taken in February
Card #2 (2 years, $0 spent) 5000 TYPs for $1K spend in 3 month
or $125 for $4.5 spend in 3 month
11/20/13: $125 credit for annual fee. Extra 500 points each month I spend $500 for 16 months. 2 year old card. Spend $5000 per year.

AA platinum
8/22/13: $95 credit + 500 miles each month with $500+ in purchases for 16 months - (Opened 12/2012, min spend)
9/16/13: $95 credit after 5 eligible purchases in the next 6 months (Opened 2 Years, no spend in last 11 months)
9/16/13: $95 credit after 5 eligible purchases in the next 3 months (Opened 2 Years, ~$2000 spend in last year)
10/15/13: $95 statement credit and 1000 miles bonus for 1K spending for the next 16 months - (Open 2/13, 25K spend so far)
10/17/13: $95 statement credit and 500 miles bonus for $500 spend for the next 16 months - (Open 9/12, no usage after meeting bonus spend except for recent purchase for the 2K bonus from AA mall)
10/20/13: $95 statement credit and 1,000 miles bonus for $1,000 spend for the next 16 months - (Open 2/13, $3,000 spend so far)
10/23/13 $95 statement credit and 750 miles bonus for $750 spend for next 15 cycles. (Open 3/2013, $3,000 spend so far)
11/23/13 $95 statement credit and 1,000 miles bonus for $1,000 spend for the next 16 months (opened 11/'12 and $55K spend)
12/10/13 $95 statement credit and 1,000 mile bonus for $1,000 spend for the next 16 months (opened 11/12 and only $5K CVS + $100 AA spend for bonus)
01/06/14 $95 statement credit and 1,000 mile bonus for $1,000 spend for the next 16 months (opened 01/13 just made the purchases to meet the min spend)

AA gold
8/22/13: $50 credit + 750 miles each month with $750+ in purchases for 16 months - (Opened 2/2013, min spend)

AA Amex
12/10/13: $95 credit + 1k bonus miles each month with $1K+ in purchases for 16 months (Opened 11/2012, approx. $1,000 per month spent over 12 months)
11/21/13: $95 credit + 1k bonus miles each month with $1K+ in purchases for 16 months (Opened 11/2012, only minimum spend)
8/22/13: $95 credit + 1k miles each month with $1K+ in purchases for 16 months (Opened 8/2012, only minimum spend)
8/22/13: $95 credit + 750 miles each month with $750+ in purchases for 16 months - (Opened 12/2012, min spend)
9/16/13: $95 credit after 5 eligible purchases in the next 3 months (Opened 2 Years, ~$800 spend in last year)
10/12/13: $95 credit after 5 eligible purchases in the next 3 months (Opened <2 Year, $1200 / mo spend in last year). Can double dip with previous retention offer of 1000 bonus AA miles with $1000 monthly spend for 16 months
12/17/13: $95 credit + 1k miles each month with $1k+ in purchases for 16 months (opened 11/12, ~$8k spend on opening, minimal recent usage)
01/07/14 $95 statement credit and 1,000 mile bonus for $1,000 spend for the next 16 months (opened 01/13 just made the purchases to meet the min spend)

AA executive
10/6/13 $50 credit + 750 miles each month with $750+ in purchases for 16 months - (Opened 10/2011, $60k spend)
10/6/13 2500 miles each month with $750+ in purchases for 3 months - (Opened 10/2011, $60k spend)
1/3/14 $50 credit and 750 miles with $750 purchase each month for 16 months (opened 1/13 with 40k spend)
3/22/14 $100 credit and 5,000 miles with $1,500 in purchases each month for 3 months. Opened the card 2/1/14
AA business
1/3/2013: Spend $5000 in 6 months, earn 10,000 miles
7/24/14 - 1 day after AF hit - $95 credit + 1000 miles if $1000 spent per statement for 16 months - 4k spend

Hilton reserve
9/16/13: 750 HHonors Points each month with $750+ in purchases for 16 months

Hilton signature
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Citi retention offer reports [2009-2013]

Old Jan 26, 2013, 10:14 pm
  #1651  
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BROOKLYN
Posts: 77
Originally Posted by BunMama
Called retention line directly. Have had the Citi AA Amex for 4 years, with the AF of $50 due in March. Told the cheerful rep that I wanted to cancel due to the AF. She offered me $50 statement credit for 5 purchases in the next 3 months.

I plan to knock that spend out this week, wait for the credit to post, then call back again. Will cancel and reapply if I get no additional retention bonus since its been well over 18 months since i applied for the card. Have had their MC since '04 and Visa since '10...time to focus on churning.
what is the direct retention phone # ?
MRTHNMAN is offline  
Old Jan 27, 2013, 8:55 am
  #1652  
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,927
Originally Posted by MRTHNMAN
what is the direct retention phone # ?
Search is your friend.

If you had searched this thread on "direct retention", you would have immediately found posts that say it's 1-800-444-2568.
sdsearch is offline  
Old Jan 27, 2013, 9:43 am
  #1653  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Alamos NM
Posts: 47
Interesting.... I tried online annual fee waiver

No go. So I canceled my Citi Amex and MC. Got two letters in snail mail asking me back. I called the number in the letter for the MC. Waived the annual fee and gave me 2 points per $ spent, per month, up to 500 per month, for 16 months. Took it. Not sure if I want the AMEX. Would like to reapply for that later.
PSilks is offline  
Old Jan 27, 2013, 6:19 pm
  #1654  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Originally Posted by sdsearch
Search is your friend.

If you had searched this thread on "direct retention", you would have immediately found posts that say it's 1-800-444-2568.
is that why your handle is sdsearch? lol
ma91pmh is offline  
Old Jan 29, 2013, 8:51 pm
  #1655  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: S Cal
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, United Silver, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,142
Citi AAdvantage World Elite Platinum MasterCard

I'm easy. $95 credit applied to the annual fee is plenty good enough for me.

I am generally pleased with the service I get from Citicards. There was fraudulent activity on this card a year or two ago - Citi picked it up very quickly and made that a hassle-free event for me.

When I called, the first agent I spoke with really made me work. I explained that my main issue with the card is the annual fee. Had to decline the AA Bronze card, then decline a ThankYou card, and then decline a cash back card. She told me over and over that nothing was available. I said that I was ready to cancel the card (and I was). At that point I was finally transferred to retentions and immediately offered the $95 credit for 5 charges within 3 months. So I'll keep the card for another year.
GetawaysRus is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2013, 8:34 am
  #1656  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MCI
Programs: AA, DL, WN, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 249
Called retention to see what was available for my AA Visa open since 4/12.

Received and accepted $85 one-time statement credit and the $500 spend for 16 months yields bonus of 500 AA miles. Not required to do the spend every month - any or all 16 months will get the bonus for each of those months.
Travel22 is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2013, 12:14 pm
  #1657  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,927
Originally Posted by PSilks
Not sure if I want the AMEX. Would like to reapply for that later.
I'm not sure what those two things have to do with each other.

At Citi, your ability to apply for a new personal AA card doesn't have to do with whether the previous one is cancelled or not, only with how long it's been since you applied for your last personal AA card (of any type), whether that card has been cancelled or not.

The one thing cancelling might help with is if you would like a targeted "linked" Amex offer. I got one half a year after cancelling my AA Amex, and about a year after opening both the AA Amex and the AA Visa, but I can't guarantee that they would target you for the same. Plus you may or may not think the smaller targeted "linked" card offer (25k for $750 spend in my case) would be worth it...
sdsearch is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2013, 1:15 pm
  #1658  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 92
Just called about my AA Visa I've had since 1/2011. He offered $95 statement credit after 5 purchases within 3 months. I didn't even ask if there were any other offers, I took this one no questions asked.
rharrigill is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2013, 2:22 pm
  #1659  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 101
$85 fee due for the AA Platinum Visa.

Called the direct line yesterday, got the offer "2 miles per dollar spent for the next 16 months" without any statement credit. I didn't accept it.

Called again today using the number on the back of the card, got transferred, and was offered "a $85 statement credit to offset the annual fee, plus 500 points for the next 16 months in any month that I spend $500."

Last edited by Kaitlin; Jan 31, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Kaitlin is offline  
Old Feb 1, 2013, 5:12 pm
  #1660  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: HH Gold, PC Plat
Posts: 33
Was offered $125 statement credit for $4500 spend in 3 months on my TY Premier card. That was the only thing I was offered and spending shouldn't be a problem, so obviously I accepted.
shakenjason is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2013, 11:46 am
  #1661  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Posts: 225
Called retention line and offered 1 additional point per $, no cap for next 3 months on my TY Premier card. Also offered $75 statement credit for $1000 spending/3 months. Chose the first offer!

Checked my Forward card and no offers were available.

Citi AA Biz was offered 1000 additional miles. Took the offer and I'm hoping the miles post before my annual fee. Agent did say to me that I was ineligible for any sign-up offers from 18 months from the time I cancel the card, which I've never heard of before from an agent. I thought it was 18 months from applying?
Upgrademe731 is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2013, 6:31 pm
  #1662  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 74
Citi AAdvantage Amex

I was really going to cancel, but was offered $95 statement credit after 5 purchases within 3 months (so I took it). Also asked about miles & she said 3,000 with $500 purchase. I took the $95.

I figured it was worth it to have the 25K credit limit on my total available credit for the next year.
jandmmom is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2013, 9:36 pm
  #1663  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 51
Citi AAdvantage Visa
Called in to see if I could get the annual fee waived for the second time but no dice. Offered a $25 credit or miles but couldn't give the $95 statement credit a second time. Maybe I could have called again but decided to close it out.
mindbowels is offline  
Old Feb 5, 2013, 10:10 am
  #1664  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by shakenjason
Was offered $125 statement credit for $4500 spend in 3 months on my TY Premier card. That was the only thing I was offered and spending shouldn't be a problem, so obviously I accepted.
Same experience and decision for me this morning.
ednpub is offline  
Old Feb 5, 2013, 2:11 pm
  #1665  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 117
Got a $85 statement credit offer plus a 750 mile bonus for $750 in spend each month for the next year. When I asked about waving the annual fee they said they couldn't do it from a legal standpoint or something.

Also my offer to transfer the credit line to my thank you card was declined.
loverofpeace is offline  

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