The retention bonuses appear to vary irrationally from day to day. Doubt it has much to do with how many cards you have because I have gotten lots of bonuses although I do have lots of Citi AA cards.
Suspect it has something to do with how much use shows up on the rep's screen and with whatever retention marketing tests are going on when you calll to close.
I was offered and took a 5K miles bonus not to cancel three times on an AA Citi biz card. Took about three months.
When I called to cancel 4th time, they wouldn't give me the bonus! Can you believe it?
If I had only used the card a little more ...
Interesting....
I tried a repeat process on my Citi AAdvantage Business MC after getting 5K points on the first try. Nothing to offer, they just tried to reiterate the benefits of the card, they even said 'we hoped you would stay after we gave you 5000 points last month'.
At any rate, I canceled. So, perhaps on Christmas day I will reward myself to a new application to the same card for the 25000 points.
how do you end up at a retention specialist and what do you say? id like to cancel? and then they automatically offer you a special retention deal?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbc94523
Pretty much.......that's how it works.
I specifically ask for the 'cancellation department'. I do not believe the CSR that you get when you just call the 800 number on the back of your card is authorized to give out retention bonuses, but, they are allowed to just cancel your card. Asking to speak with the 'cancellation department' guarantees you'll be passed to the 'retention department' (because technically I do not think there is such as a think as 'cancellation department' in this case).
Quote:
Originally Posted by deant
Why not just cancel online? Don't have to hassle with the retention dept. and it only takes a minute.
You are absolutely correct if you want to cancel your card most efficiently.
On the other hand, I kind of like the retention bonuses. I call about a week before statement end date, get offered a nice retention bonus, keep the card one more week, and then call back again to cancel, and perhaps be offered another retention bonus. If not, I can cancel anyway. It never takes more than 3 minutes of phone call to do all this.
One of the retention bonuses turned out to be 5 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on gas/groceries/drug stores. Kind of replaces the old Citi Dividend Platinum Select card they used to have (5% cashback). Since my annual fee wasn't due for another 8 months, and I no longer have a 5% EDP card any more (as Citi and Chase have both killed their respective programs), and I do in fact buy gas, groceries and stuff at drug stores, why not enjoy extra points when I spend there?
Actually, the retention bonuses that have to do with bonus points per spending has gotten me thinking about my churn. Would it be wise to 'bluff' a cancellation when you immediately get the card?
You're going to have to spend $750 in order to get your 25K AAdvantage miles anyway (likely spent at the US Mint in my case). Why not see if you get the offer that gives you 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent everywhere prior to actually trying to spend to reach that $750 threshold? Naturally, it becomes a big waste of time if they call your bluff... as I'm obviously not going to cancel until I collect that 25K miles. Just a thought, and not sure I'd actually try it... but I would be interested to hear if anyone actually has.
Would it be wise to 'bluff' a cancellation when you immediately get the card?
You're going to have to spend $750 in order to get your 25K AAdvantage miles anyway (likely spent at the US Mint in my case). Why not see if you get the offer that gives you 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent everywhere prior to actually trying to spend to reach that $750 threshold?
And, I thought I had a lot of nerve!
Even I wouldn't try this--at least until some sucesses are reported back on this thread.
Guess I like those 25K bonuses too much to put them in jepardy.
IYou're going to have to spend $750 in order to get your 25K AAdvantage miles anyway (likely spent at the US Mint in my case). Why not see if you get the offer that gives you 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent everywhere prior to actually trying to spend to reach that $750 threshold? Naturally, it becomes a big waste of time if they call your bluff... as I'm obviously not going to cancel until I collect that 25K miles. Just a thought, and not sure I'd actually try it... but I would be interested to hear if anyone actually has.
A fool's play.
If your bluff backfired, and the card is cancelled. You now have an inquiry on your credit report but has nothing in return. Why anyone would risk that?
Dont try to squeeze the last blood from this thing, and be grateful that Citi still allow multiple AA bonuses to be "earned".
Instead of saying that I want to cancel, I usually start the call by saying, "My annual fee is coming up soon. I was wondering if there was some kind of bonus to offset the fee." They will transfer you to retention where they usually give choices.
Dont try to squeeze the last blood from this thing, and be grateful that Citi still allow multiple AA bonuses to be "earned".
Happy - first of all Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Excellent choice of words Happy - unfortunately there are people who in fact feel it necessary to "squeeze the last blood" out of any program going - and whether its here or on sites like Fat Wallet, it becomes easy to spot these vultures.
Why cant people just be "happy" with an easy 25,000 miles x 12 = 300,000 miles per year plus an extra 100,000 from the business card, for a total of 400,000 miles (doubled if you are doing this for husband and wife for example).
I for one, am more than pleased to have Citi give my wife and I over 800K miles per year without having to squeeze them for BS retention bonuses.
Sorry for the rant - but we have seen enough opportunities die (AMEX Travellers cheques for example) due to those who had to exploit every program to the max.
Happy - first of all Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Excellent choice of words Happy - unfortunately there are people who in fact feel it necessary to "squeeze the last blood" out of any program going - and whether its here or on sites like Fat Wallet, it becomes easy to spot these vultures.
Happy Holidays to you and your family as well!
Sadly some people are just penny wise pound foolish. They fail to see, keeping the opportunities going as long as possible would be far more beneficial than trying to max out every possible way for the moment.
The bluff to cancel before spending the minimum spending requirement tops all the "squeeze the last blood" schemes out there.
I have an AA CitiBusiness Card that I do not use (also have a personal Aadvantage card). As it is going to renew in April, I called today to cancel (don't like to wait for the last minute). Customer Service connected me to the retention rep who initially told me they would credit the annual fee amount if I would guarantee to spend $5000 in the next six months. I could not guarantee the spend so they offered to credit my Aadvantage account with 5000 miles if I don't cancel today (no strings attached) with the option of canceling the card prior to renewal. It was a really nice gesture considering that I will most likely cancel the card in March.
Yeah, really annoying to cancel a card at Citi these days. It took more than 10 minutes to shoo away the retention offers.
Unless they're going to give me the card for free and AT LEAST 10,000 miles, why would I want to retain these? It seems always better to just start again.
With Citi you can have multiple copies of the same credit card. You can apply for a 25k AAdvantage card once every 60 days and you can get the same card over and over if you want.
I have two of the AAdvantage 25k MasterCards at the moment, plus one AAdvantage Visa and one AAdvantage Amex. I call to cancel them every couple months and accept whatever the best offer is I can get from them. Usually its either 3,000 miles or a $50 statement credit. When the annual fee comes due, I simply refuse to pay it, and if they won't waive it I convert the account into a Premier Pass or Professional with no annual fee and let it sit open forever so I don't lose the continuity.
Happy - first of all Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Excellent choice of words Happy - unfortunately there are people who in fact feel it necessary to "squeeze the last blood" out of any program going - and whether its here or on sites like Fat Wallet, it becomes easy to spot these vultures.
Why cant people just be "happy" with an easy 25,000 miles x 12 = 300,000 miles per year plus an extra 100,000 from the business card, for a total of 400,000 miles (doubled if you are doing this for husband and wife for example).
I for one, am more than pleased to have Citi give my wife and I over 800K miles per year without having to squeeze them for BS retention bonuses.
Sorry for the rant - but we have seen enough opportunities die (AMEX Travellers cheques for example) due to those who had to exploit every program to the max.
Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy
Happy Holidays to you and your family as well!
Sadly some people are just penny wise pound foolish. They fail to see, keeping the opportunities going as long as possible would be far more beneficial than trying to max out every possible way for the moment.
The bluff to cancel before spending the minimum spending requirement tops all the "squeeze the last blood" schemes out there.
Come on guys, lighten up! I was joking around
We can talk about such things without actually 'advising' it right? Note I never once said I'd try that, but, if anyone were to do so, and pull it off, I'd give them the thumbs up...why the 'thumbs down' to them?
At any rate, I doubt 'canceling a card prior to the bonus' will cause citi to change it's policy about allowing multiple sign on bonuses. If anything, I'd think that 'collecting the bonuses' as citi would be paying them is what will ultimately make them rethink their incentives.
And one more thing... you do not have to 'cancel' the card once you are connected to the retention specialist... if they call your bluff, you could always back out. Say something like 'oh, I guess I'll give this card a try, I've been having a bad day... didn't see all the wondrous advantages to your card, blah blah blah'. And again...Do note that although I can present scenarios, still doesn't mean I'm advocating this... but I still insist I would find great humor in it if someone pulled it off... Maybe it's just me...?
My Visa came up for renewal, customer service offered to downgrade me to a bronze. I asked about retentioned offers, was transferred and took a $50 credit
I tried to cancel my Citi AA Amex earlier this week after opening it about two months ago. The best offer the CR provided was 4 points at gas stations, super markets and drug stores. I asked if she had anything better to offer and was politely told this was the best they could do.
I tried to cancel my Citi AA Amex earlier this week after opening it about two months ago. The best offer the CR provided was 4 points at gas stations, super markets and drug stores. I asked if she had anything better to offer and was politely told this was the best they could do.
It may have been 4 bonus points per dollar spent at gas stations, super markets and drug stores, thus when you add in the base point you get 5 points per dollar. I only say that because, that's the way they quoted it to me. Also, the way it posts to my AAdvantage account is as base points reflecting my dollar amount spent, plus bonus points reflecting 4 X the dollar amount spent.
Then again... maybe you really are only getting 4 points per dollar as a retention bonus.
I tried to cancel my Citi AA Amex earlier this week after opening it about two months ago. The best offer the CR provided was 4 points at gas stations, super markets and drug stores. I asked if she had anything better to offer and was politely told this was the best they could do.
Slightly confused. If this is indeed a Citi AA card, there are no points. Did they really offer you quadruple AA miles on gas/grocery/drug? For how long? That would be fanstastic! I've never heard of such a deal for AA (I have it only for UA, through a hard-to-apply-for card from Chase called Chase Rewards Plus, in that case with no annual fee, and it doesn't give UA miles directly, just roundabout through point redemption).
thumbs up
