Citi AA Platinum, Gold and Business cards (2015)
Aug 21, 2015, 9:56 am
#2191
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: All of them, Katie
Posts: 224
CreditKarma will let you view your full TransUnion and Equifax credit report for free and you can even update it every week. Experian is trickier. I currently track them with Protect My ID which was free for a year from the Target data breach, but I'm not aware of a free service for Experian.
Aug 21, 2015, 10:20 am
#2192
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 63
Actually, it's at Citi that it might affect it. Citi has a limit of how many inquiries it will tolerate (on whichever bureau they pull) in the past 6 months. For some people it's no more than 6, for some people it may be a bit different.
So if you're maxing out Citi with 2 cards every 65 days, that's close to 6 in 6 months (it's 6 in about 6.25 months), if Citi pulls a consistent bureau*, and so you may get denied by Citi itself if you also apply for enough cards from other banks that pull from the same bureau. (While you'd be safe if the only other cards you apply for are from banks that pull some other bureau.)
*There used to a pattern where in some states, Citi would pull from bureau X early in the month while pulling from bureau Y late in the month. We developed a theory at FT that maybe Citi had a contract with bureau X for a cheap rate on the first NNNNN pulls in a month, but after they exceeded NNNNN pulls, that cheap rate expired for the month, and that point bureau Y was cheaper for the rest of the month. I have no idea if this is still going on. (Too many people assume pulls are as simple as this bureau in this state for this bank, and build databases on that, but it's not necessarily that simple.) But anyone doing Citi apps 8 days apart or 65 days apart could test it for their area presumably by doing the first app toward the end of a month and the subsequent app(s) right after the start of the next month. (However, since Citi didn't do this everywhere back when it did it, you couldn't extrapolate from just one or two reports whether Citi was still doing this anywhere or not. It would mostly only be data useful to you.)
Total pulls across all bureaus are irrelevant, since no bank with cards FTers are likely to be interested in pulls from all 3 bureaus for each card.
So to be useful, you need to break pulls on a per-bureau (EX vs EQ vs TU) basis. A bank will only count the pulls on the bureau that that bank pulls. (Of course, by pulling your actual credit report, they can separately count the number of cards you've actually opened and closed, if they wish, but that's different from pulls.)
So if you're maxing out Citi with 2 cards every 65 days, that's close to 6 in 6 months (it's 6 in about 6.25 months), if Citi pulls a consistent bureau*, and so you may get denied by Citi itself if you also apply for enough cards from other banks that pull from the same bureau. (While you'd be safe if the only other cards you apply for are from banks that pull some other bureau.)
*There used to a pattern where in some states, Citi would pull from bureau X early in the month while pulling from bureau Y late in the month. We developed a theory at FT that maybe Citi had a contract with bureau X for a cheap rate on the first NNNNN pulls in a month, but after they exceeded NNNNN pulls, that cheap rate expired for the month, and that point bureau Y was cheaper for the rest of the month. I have no idea if this is still going on. (Too many people assume pulls are as simple as this bureau in this state for this bank, and build databases on that, but it's not necessarily that simple.) But anyone doing Citi apps 8 days apart or 65 days apart could test it for their area presumably by doing the first app toward the end of a month and the subsequent app(s) right after the start of the next month. (However, since Citi didn't do this everywhere back when it did it, you couldn't extrapolate from just one or two reports whether Citi was still doing this anywhere or not. It would mostly only be data useful to you.)
Total pulls across all bureaus are irrelevant, since no bank with cards FTers are likely to be interested in pulls from all 3 bureaus for each card.
So to be useful, you need to break pulls on a per-bureau (EX vs EQ vs TU) basis. A bank will only count the pulls on the bureau that that bank pulls. (Of course, by pulling your actual credit report, they can separately count the number of cards you've actually opened and closed, if they wish, but that's different from pulls.)
Thanks for the detailed reply. All of my apps (5 this yr and 1 in 2013) pulled Equifax for me in MA. My application dates were between 9th and 21st of the month. I may possibly for another citi Plat AA card later this year provided my current MC world gets converted to an MC Elite. My Gold MC got converted to MC elite few months back and I already closed it, Didnt find the 25K points worth another hard pull to apply for a another gold. We'll see
Aug 21, 2015, 10:50 am
#2193
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
For anyone who's had a World converted to World Elite, had you reduced the CL on that card before the conversion? Or did it still have a large credit line? I know Exec cards, for example, were all World Elite, and had a minimum credit line of $5k. I'm just wondering if reducing below that point could have disqualified you for automatic conversion. I checked our dates, and we reduced the CL on the only card we've had converted from World to World Elite the day after it was converted (and we didn't even know the conversion had taken place). Talk about timing.
I normally reduce CL on plats to 3k, but I don't think I'll be reducing my most recent card below $5k (maybe even a higher number).
Aug 21, 2015, 10:52 am
#2194
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
Approved for Platinum MC 6/8/15. Upgraded from World to World Elite a few weeks ago.
When checking preapproved offers I get the following:
"We couldn't match your records to a Pre-Qualified credit card offer. See below for 4 other cards you may like.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard®"
This is a 30,000 miles/ $1,000 spend offer. "This offer is only valid for new accounts."
Am I able to apply for a 50,000 mile offer and be approved?
When checking preapproved offers I get the following:
"We couldn't match your records to a Pre-Qualified credit card offer. See below for 4 other cards you may like.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard®"
This is a 30,000 miles/ $1,000 spend offer. "This offer is only valid for new accounts."
Am I able to apply for a 50,000 mile offer and be approved?
Aug 21, 2015, 10:54 am
#2195
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
Well, I've never gotten such an email, only snail mail. And I've lowered the CL on a bunch of Citi AA and Citi HH cards through SM.
I have my preferences set to paper statements (I keep declining their offers to go to online statements only). I wonder if they send the "change in your limit" notification by email if you have only online statements but by snail mail if you have paper statements?
I have my preferences set to paper statements (I keep declining their offers to go to online statements only). I wonder if they send the "change in your limit" notification by email if you have only online statements but by snail mail if you have paper statements?
Aug 21, 2015, 11:14 am
#2196
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 146
Wife received her most recent (World) Platinum in late July with only a $1,500 credit line at opening. She will probably take 3 statements to reach $3,000 spend as it's just in daily spend use, so she's a month or two from a potential World Elite conversion anyway. She will be watching closely for status update that would indicate conversion, as well as when and if an offer shows up on the Citi prequalified search. Stay tuned!
Aug 21, 2015, 11:36 am
#2197
Join Date: May 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,164
I opened the World MasterCard about 3 weeks ago. I called today for a routine question and verified that I would get the bonus of 50K (I had verified at time of application and was told yes). Now I'm told no as I cancelled the same card back in February of 2014 (my bad but I didn't remember that one). Had I known I would have waited another month to apply for this card.
Now.....If I can get them to change this to a World Elite would that mean that if I wait the 65 days from my last application which would then be at least 18 months from cancelling the old card that I would be eligible for the new card with the bonus??
Thanks
Now.....If I can get them to change this to a World Elite would that mean that if I wait the 65 days from my last application which would then be at least 18 months from cancelling the old card that I would be eligible for the new card with the bonus??
Thanks
Technically you can wait and see if your card get converted to world elite then the 18 months Should count from the previous card, but this is an unknown territory since its new to all of us, some people are checking the qualified citi page to see if the platinum card shows up as an option card to apply for, they take that as an indication that they will get the bonus, but who knows!!!
we really don't know for sure how things will turn out but i would wait a couple of months and roll the dice if the card gets upgraded to world elite. good luck.
Aug 21, 2015, 12:01 pm
#2198
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 63
FYI http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.co...spend-tracker/
I can see the progress towards my second AA plat MC, although it only updates after statement close date
I can see the progress towards my second AA plat MC, although it only updates after statement close date
Aug 21, 2015, 12:03 pm
#2199
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 63
This raises an interesting question. I know the minimum CL was just a guess, but it does make me wonder.
For anyone who's had a World converted to World Elite, had you reduced the CL on that card before the conversion? Or did it still have a large credit line? I know Exec cards, for example, were all World Elite, and had a minimum credit line of $5k. I'm just wondering if reducing below that point could have disqualified you for automatic conversion. I checked our dates, and we reduced the CL on the only card we've had converted from World to World Elite the day after it was converted (and we didn't even know the conversion had taken place). Talk about timing.
I normally reduce CL on plats to 3k, but I don't think I'll be reducing my most recent card below $5k (maybe even a higher number).
For anyone who's had a World converted to World Elite, had you reduced the CL on that card before the conversion? Or did it still have a large credit line? I know Exec cards, for example, were all World Elite, and had a minimum credit line of $5k. I'm just wondering if reducing below that point could have disqualified you for automatic conversion. I checked our dates, and we reduced the CL on the only card we've had converted from World to World Elite the day after it was converted (and we didn't even know the conversion had taken place). Talk about timing.
I normally reduce CL on plats to 3k, but I don't think I'll be reducing my most recent card below $5k (maybe even a higher number).
Aug 21, 2015, 12:09 pm
#2200
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
How was the bad news delivered? Did you make a second call that same day?
Aug 21, 2015, 6:05 pm
#2202
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 501
No bonus
I was told that Citi had instituted an 18 month wait because some people were opening and closing cards only for the miles. They told me I had closed the same card in February of -014 and since it was not 18 months I would not get the bonus.
Not sure what opening and closing means as between my wife and I we have on,y done this about 12 times in the last year
.
Aug 22, 2015, 10:31 am
#2203
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
I was told that Citi had instituted an 18 month wait because some people were opening and closing cards only for the miles. They told me I had closed the same card in February of -014 and since it was not 18 months I would not get the bonus.
Not sure what opening and closing means as between my wife and I we have only done this about 12 times in the last year.
Not sure what opening and closing means as between my wife and I we have only done this about 12 times in the last year
.
Wait, it sounds like you only missed the 18 months by a few weeks then. You might be able to wait until the full 18 months are up, then call Recon, have them reopen the app, and get it approved. Not guaranteed, but it's a free call.
Last edited by mia; Aug 22, 2015 at 12:36 pm Reason: Consolidate consecutive replies.
Aug 22, 2015, 11:04 am
#2204
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 501
I did only miss t by a few weeks but I did get the new card. Since I have it can recon do anything for me? I was thinking that if I was able to convert the new card to the World Elite that the time clock will have been reset back to my last cancel date in Feb of 2014.
Any suggestions on the best strategy?
Aug 22, 2015, 11:37 am
#2205
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
I received my Platinum approval on March 9, 2015 but couldn't remember what kind of card I originally received (Barclays and Citi have been sending me replacement cards more than any other bank I have dealt with).
My current card is World Elite, but my approval letter shows just World.
Does anyone know if this means I was converted and can apply for another one?
My current card is World Elite, but my approval letter shows just World.
Does anyone know if this means I was converted and can apply for another one?
Last edited by bigshooter; Aug 22, 2015 at 11:47 am Reason: correct approval date