May 22, 2013, 8:47 pm
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
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
Citi retention offer reports [2009-2013]
Dec 18, 2012, 2:34 pm
#1606
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 121
I received the offer of $75 credit for spending $1000 within three months and after digging a bit was offered 10k TY points for $3,000 spend within six months. I chose the latter, as that aligns quite nicely with the $125 annual fee after the TY point value bonus on the Premier Card. Thanks for the tips!
Dec 19, 2012, 6:49 pm
#1607
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
if one citi card classifies a merchant as a supermarket, will it be universal classiciation by the other citi cards too? I buy coffee at my coffee shop and it is misc grocery stores but my citi chairmen card gives me 3 thank you points, but i called retention and they gave me 5 thank you points for supermarket purchases so i was wondering if it would still be classified as supermarket
However: Cateogries as used for determining extra points could sometimes be different than categories as listed in text. So your only experience with that merchant is how it's listed in text somewhere (rather than you having earned extra points for groceries with that merchant on a different Citi card), then it's not quite as certain. The way they categorize for text reporting of categories, which is for tax accounting and reimbursement purposes and such, may sometimes be different than the way they categorize for earning bonuses.
And the fact that you say this merchant is "misc grocery stores" implies that your experience is only with a text categorization, not a point-earning categorization.
I'm not saying your chances aren't good, I'm just saying they're not quite as certain as if you had points-earning experience with this merchant on a card with categories for bonus points earning.
Dec 20, 2012, 10:48 am
#1608
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DCA, DEN, and CDG depending on the month
Posts: 233
Called up to cancel my Citi AAdvantage personal card today. Told the rep my main concern was avoiding the annual fee. I have had zero activity on the card since April 2012.
Here's what they offered:
1) $25 statement credit after $500 spend
2) Downgrade the card to a $0 annual fee Citi Mastercard that earns 1 mile/$2
I still have about 3 months until the annual fee comes due. The rep said there might be a better retention offer when the renewal date is closer. I said I'd hold on to the card until then.
Here's what they offered:
1) $25 statement credit after $500 spend
2) Downgrade the card to a $0 annual fee Citi Mastercard that earns 1 mile/$2
I still have about 3 months until the annual fee comes due. The rep said there might be a better retention offer when the renewal date is closer. I said I'd hold on to the card until then.
Dec 23, 2012, 8:12 am
#1609
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 49
Advantage Visa retention offer
My annual fee is coming up in January. I first called the phone number on the back of the card and told the representive that I was thinking about cancelling because of the fee and could it be waived. This representative told me that there was absolutely no option to waive the fee. And no other offer was made
I called the next day using the retention phone number in post #1604 (thanks!). It was a bit surprising in that I don't think this number is generally available to the public so the representive was so casual answering that for a moment I doubted I had the right phone number. He was talking to me as if I also worked for Citi. Once we straightened out that I was a customer (he thought the first Citi rep had just dumped me into his queue without following proper procedure), he was very helpful and both:
1) waived my annual fee with no conditions or strings
2) Gave me an offer unrelated to #1 of an extra 1000 miles per billing period that I spent $1000 for up to 16 months. This still works even if some billing periods are skipped, so billing period 10 could be the only one I take advantage of and that would be fine.
I called the next day using the retention phone number in post #1604 (thanks!). It was a bit surprising in that I don't think this number is generally available to the public so the representive was so casual answering that for a moment I doubted I had the right phone number. He was talking to me as if I also worked for Citi. Once we straightened out that I was a customer (he thought the first Citi rep had just dumped me into his queue without following proper procedure), he was very helpful and both:
1) waived my annual fee with no conditions or strings
2) Gave me an offer unrelated to #1 of an extra 1000 miles per billing period that I spent $1000 for up to 16 months. This still works even if some billing periods are skipped, so billing period 10 could be the only one I take advantage of and that would be fine.
Dec 23, 2012, 11:39 am
#1610
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: AA Plat Pro, Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 83
I was recently charged the $95 annual fee on my Citi AA MC.
I called to cancel and was offered a $95 statement credit on my account after 5 purchases in the next 3 months. Took the offer to keep the card for at least another year
I called to cancel and was offered a $95 statement credit on my account after 5 purchases in the next 3 months. Took the offer to keep the card for at least another year
Dec 27, 2012, 4:33 pm
#1611
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
AA Amex
Thanks for all the data points, wanted to add my own:
Called Citi @ 1-800-444-2568 (instant pickup) to get a statement credit for my AA AMEX card (1st applied Dec 2011 and recently received the $50 AF charge on my statement). I have spent only the initial spending requirement on this card ($750 in 4 months).
The rep asked me what I was calling for (retention) and what I would do with the card if I didn't get the credit I was looking for (I said I'd look to cancel or downgrade). She was very specific in wanting to know what I would do with the card before she would give me my options. I received only 1 option:
$50 statement credit, $750 spend each month to earn 750 bonus miles for 16 billing cycle. I took this, 48 hrs activation on the bonus mile promo + up to 2 months for the statement credit.
Called Citi @ 1-800-444-2568 (instant pickup) to get a statement credit for my AA AMEX card (1st applied Dec 2011 and recently received the $50 AF charge on my statement). I have spent only the initial spending requirement on this card ($750 in 4 months).
The rep asked me what I was calling for (retention) and what I would do with the card if I didn't get the credit I was looking for (I said I'd look to cancel or downgrade). She was very specific in wanting to know what I would do with the card before she would give me my options. I received only 1 option:
$50 statement credit, $750 spend each month to earn 750 bonus miles for 16 billing cycle. I took this, 48 hrs activation on the bonus mile promo + up to 2 months for the statement credit.
Dec 28, 2012, 9:45 am
#1612
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: AAdvantage Gold, *Gold on UA, FlyingBlue Gold (matched), SPG Plat
Posts: 158
Inactive since May. I received the exact same offer and took it as well.
Dec 28, 2012, 1:25 pm
#1613
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 68
I just called up 5 seconds ago and got the same offer. BOO YAH!
Dec 28, 2012, 4:44 pm
#1614
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SC USA
Programs: Delta, AA, Hilton, Priority Club, USAir, American Express Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rew, United
Posts: 503
I called to cancel my citi AA visa to avoid the annual fee. I was offered a $85 statement credit to offset the annual fee. I was also offered 750 points for the next 16 months in any month that I spend $750, so basically double points up to that amount for 16 months. The agent said that I was not required to spend that each month to get the $85 credit though. I'll keep the card and will probably put my spending on cards that give me UR points. AA is not my favorite.
Dec 30, 2012, 3:36 pm
#1615
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Same for my AA Visa. Nothing for my AA Amex so I closed it through SM online.
Dec 30, 2012, 4:43 pm
#1616
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH diamond
Posts: 2,646
Called bout the Citi TY Premier. Spent over 10k on it. The first CS said Citi had stripped them of the ability of make any retention offers. Transferred to supervisor who told me that annual fee is part of Citi TY premier and no fee waiver or credit would be given. I was only offered to downgrade to a no fee card. I cancelled with the only comment "we're sorry to see you go"
Dec 30, 2012, 4:48 pm
#1617
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Called bout the Citi TY Premier. Spent over 10k on it. The first CS said Citi had stripped them of the ability of make any retention offers. Transferred to supervisor who told me that annual fee is part of Citi TY premier and no fee waiver or credit would be given. I was only offered to downgrade to a no fee card. I cancelled with the only comment "we're sorry to see you go"
Dec 31, 2012, 1:30 pm
#1619
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
I was offered a "one time" $85 statement creidt (no spend requirement) + 750 bonus miles when spending at least $750 in a biling cycle, for 16 billing cycles. (No other offers.) I accepted.
This was the start of my second year (ie, my first annual fee billing) on this card. I had just gotten the statement with the annual fee on it in the last week or two. I had done $10 monthly spend (auto-bill) plus the occasional AA ticket purchase, plus dining for a couple months when they gave me a promo of extra miles for a while. (I could tell the agent was reviewing the activity on my account before mentioning the offers.)
Dec 31, 2012, 8:04 pm
#1620
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
This was the start of my second year (ie, my first annual fee billing) on this card. I had just gotten the statement with the annual fee on it in the last week or two. I had done $10 monthly spend (auto-bill) plus the occasional AA ticket purchase, plus dining for a couple months when they gave me a promo of extra miles for a while. (I could tell the agent was reviewing the activity on my account before mentioning the offers.)
FWIW, we got the same retention offers on both MC and Visa (Visa's bonus spend is on $1K) on the 9 months mark, and both cards hardly see any spend after the initial requirements were met. In fact there was 0 charged on MC for the past 5 months, and only $99xx taxes on an AA award on the Visa 3 months ago that triggered the $100 credit after 1st AA purchase. The credit was never touched and Citi cut a check after 2 months of inactivity.