Citi cards closed, TYP confiscated, reasons not disclosed.
May 8, 2013, 6:42 pm
#198
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: WN A+, AA, HYATT DIAMOND, SPG
Posts: 1,125
I think you're trying to nuance their wording... it seems pretty obvious to me that a "reloadable prepaid card" is a variant of a gift card.
Citi is trying to cover their bases (like many banks do) when things appear a bit suspicious. Buying 20k/month of cash equivalents at your local drug store is going to be something that just about every bank wants to back away from.
Also on this note, it really isnt too hard for Citi or any other company to query their databases for people who are excessively charging at a certain merchant type - any modern database would handle that in seconds. My guess is there arent too many folks rolling more than 3-4k/month at these types of places.
Edit: my guess is that its much easier to sever relationships with a few than to advise every merchant that they should consider VR awards cards as a cash equivalent transaction. (cost of closure vs cost of advertisement)
Citi is trying to cover their bases (like many banks do) when things appear a bit suspicious. Buying 20k/month of cash equivalents at your local drug store is going to be something that just about every bank wants to back away from.
Also on this note, it really isnt too hard for Citi or any other company to query their databases for people who are excessively charging at a certain merchant type - any modern database would handle that in seconds. My guess is there arent too many folks rolling more than 3-4k/month at these types of places.
Edit: my guess is that its much easier to sever relationships with a few than to advise every merchant that they should consider VR awards cards as a cash equivalent transaction. (cost of closure vs cost of advertisement)
May 8, 2013, 6:46 pm
#200
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
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But in the end both parties have to agree before a mediator and that may not happen so one should be prepared to go into court.
In any event id start out by detailing your complaint with the AGO-- who is in a way, a mediator/abritrator. If this goes nowhere go to small claims court. You cant go to the AGO after court (usually) so find out the rules in the state you are filing in. Always ask for mediation first but assign a $ value plus court costs and dive in. Each person here should do this on his or her own.
May 8, 2013, 6:50 pm
#201
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
One case was posted here with as little (or as much) as 60K TYP per month, so $12k.
May 8, 2013, 7:05 pm
#202
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Losing money on a deal YOU botched is NOT a reason to lure in and then oust customers who used your product... Even if/despite the fact they simply knew how to maximize the rewards gains when making purchases on it. This has bait and switch written all over it and if they were to claim we were "gamers" i would stand up and say yes, but i play by the rules and i play to win. I dont call foul and push over the table with chips and cards on it just because i think im losing money.
May 8, 2013, 7:12 pm
#203
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
If you cannot redeem your points now, and Citi is unwilling to release them, I don't think you would need to wait for account closure to take action (although that is a more obvious case). You have suffered a loss now.
May 8, 2013, 7:18 pm
#204
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
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At the very least, if citi were to try and say that buying vr and moneypak or gcs were done solely to turn into cash by the purchaser and that they could both prove this and show where it is wrong, then they should be on the hook for the costs someone paid to use their cc to buy all those products.
For example if i put $20k of vr on my cc and they shut me down, then they should give me back $3.95 x 40 vr or $158.
Of course i believe they should give the ty points for the $20k spend but if they did have some way to illustrate what you bought prevented this, you should have never spent those fees on their card. I cant think of what rule theyd cite
For example if i put $20k of vr on my cc and they shut me down, then they should give me back $3.95 x 40 vr or $158.
Of course i believe they should give the ty points for the $20k spend but if they did have some way to illustrate what you bought prevented this, you should have never spent those fees on their card. I cant think of what rule theyd cite
May 8, 2013, 8:27 pm
#206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Darn right i want them to rethink deals!
If citi rethunk this one, then nobody would be shut down now. Sure we would earn less points on it but them points would actually WORK!
What, you dont want that?
People here are not deal killers but if you seek good advice we may save your points too
If citi rethunk this one, then nobody would be shut down now. Sure we would earn less points on it but them points would actually WORK!
What, you dont want that?
People here are not deal killers but if you seek good advice we may save your points too
May 8, 2013, 9:02 pm
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
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I should start charging 1000 miles per hour for advice hahaha
No it cant be paid in ty points
I may also change my name to martin luther mile...
I have a gc that one day all vrs will be treated equally
No it cant be paid in ty points
I may also change my name to martin luther mile...
I have a gc that one day all vrs will be treated equally
May 8, 2013, 9:43 pm
#210
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 502
Then why did this promo last for 2+ years for me personally and other close acquaintances without issue and die in flames within a month or so of being blasted on here and the travel blogs?
by the way, this isnt the first opportunity that has been blown up here either.
by the way, this isnt the first opportunity that has been blown up here either.