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]
Jan 1, 2013, 3:24 pm
#1621
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 699
thankyou premier amex (targeted) received similar retention offers as those offered to others:
$125 statement credit for $4500 spend in 3 months
10000 TYP for $3000 spend in 6 months
or $75 ? for $1000 ? spend (sorry can't remember the details of this option because i wasn't interested in it)
will probably go with option 1 or 2
$125 statement credit for $4500 spend in 3 months
10000 TYP for $3000 spend in 6 months
or $75 ? for $1000 ? spend (sorry can't remember the details of this option because i wasn't interested in it)
will probably go with option 1 or 2
Jan 2, 2013, 10:56 am
#1622
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Arizona
Posts: 49
Called about my Citi AAdvantage Amex card today. Got transferred to retention and said I was concerned about the $95 annual fee coming up. Confirmed fee was due on Feb 2nd and he immediately offered $95 credit if I make 5 purchases within 3 months and I took the offer.
I rarely use this card but would like to keep it open and this was easy today. I'll be calling about my AA Visa in a few weeks and see if the same deal is available.
I rarely use this card but would like to keep it open and this was easy today. I'll be calling about my AA Visa in a few weeks and see if the same deal is available.
Jan 2, 2013, 11:02 am
#1623
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
If Citi refuses to offer a good retention bonus can you shift all credit from the card to one you want to keep before closing it?
Jan 2, 2013, 12:11 pm
#1624
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,457
Jan 2, 2013, 12:11 pm
#1625
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA, UAL
Posts: 545
In many instances, yes, but in some cases, account rep tells you can move credit limit from one card type to same card type like from TY points card to another TY Points card or from one AA card to other AA card. In some cases, they flatly refuse saying it is not possible to move credit limits.... (I have personally experienced all scenarios).
Jan 2, 2013, 12:15 pm
#1626
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
In many instances, yes, but in some cases, account rep tells you can move credit limit from one card type to same card type like from TY points card to another TY Points card or from one AA card to other AA card. In some cases, they flatly refuse saying it is not possible to move credit limits.... (I have personally experienced all scenarios).
I'm guilty of this last year closing an AAdvantage card that they didn't want to waive the annual fee for. I did it online to avoid their spiel over the phone and didn't move credit to the other Aadvantage card.
Jan 2, 2013, 2:00 pm
#1627
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 18
I called to cancel my TY Premier and they offered to credit the $125 fee with $4500 spend over 3 months. I just asked to be downgraded to the no fee TY preferred. They said my TY points and credit line will stay intact.
Jan 2, 2013, 3:01 pm
#1628
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,457
Jan 2, 2013, 5:06 pm
#1629
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
In many instances, yes, but in some cases, account rep tells you can move credit limit from one card type to same card type like from TY points card to another TY Points card or from one AA card to other AA card. In some cases, they flatly refuse saying it is not possible to move credit limits.... (I have personally experienced all scenarios).
I have not been able to move AA's to a TYP Premier. Since this Premier card is grandfathered with 0 annual fee, I am also very wary in trying to move line to it in case the rep fouls up in the process.
It happened twice to me in the past) - in the process of moving line and close account, he closed the card you wanted to keep (have line moved TO), and kept the card you wanted to close. Once the mistake was made, there was no way for the front line rep to reverse it. Then he or the supervisor must send a request to another dept to undo the damage. Given the Premier is 0 fee, I am afraid once it is accidentally closed and then re-opened, it could lose the grandfather status and becomes the $125 fee type...
So be very careful when you try to do this.
Jan 2, 2013, 6:22 pm
#1630
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
In many instances, yes, but in some cases, account rep tells you can move credit limit from one card type to same card type like from TY points card to another TY Points card or from one AA card to other AA card. In some cases, they flatly refuse saying it is not possible to move credit limits.... (I have personally experienced all scenarios).
However, I wanted to keep all the credit I have on the AT&T card (I use it for BTs), and so I had them move credit from a Hilton HHonors Visa card to the new AA Amex card. That worked too.
Is it possible they're able to do credit limit moves now that they weren't able to do until recently between "rather different" cards, just like they can use one website now (whereas they used to need a separate website) for all the "rather different" cards? I would think that if "unification" is starting to happen on the website, there might be "unification" starting to happen behind the scenes too...
Last edited by sdsearch; Jan 3, 2013 at 2:20 pm Reason: spelling
Jan 2, 2013, 7:29 pm
#1631
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA Plt, BA, SPG Plt
Posts: 231
AA MC
Annual fee $95 posted, called number on back of card, said I was going to cancel due to annual fee, transferred to retention, offer of $95 credit for 5 transactions of any amount in 3 months. It's my oldest card, so good enough.
Jan 3, 2013, 8:58 am
#1632
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
Dec 6
This is for citi AA Business VISA card.
Called the number all on the back, told rep I'm thinking of cancelling the card because there aren't many business transactions right now. Got transferred to a specialist, he asked the same thing and I repeat the same reason why I want to cancel. This was the offer and I took it:
1. $75 statement credit (after 1-2 billing cycles)
2. 750 bonus miles per billing cycle if spend at least $750 per cycle for 16 cycles.
This is for citi AA Business VISA card.
Called the number all on the back, told rep I'm thinking of cancelling the card because there aren't many business transactions right now. Got transferred to a specialist, he asked the same thing and I repeat the same reason why I want to cancel. This was the offer and I took it:
1. $75 statement credit (after 1-2 billing cycles)
2. 750 bonus miles per billing cycle if spend at least $750 per cycle for 16 cycles.
Jan 9, 2013, 2:31 pm
#1634
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Posts: 1,929
Called 1-800-444-2568 twice, for both a personal AAdvantage VISA and AMEX
5 transactions within 90 days offered on both
5 transactions within 90 days offered on both
Last edited by Alcibiades; Jan 9, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Jan 9, 2013, 4:19 pm
#1635
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ORD, LAS
Programs: AA-EXP, BAEC Silver, Hyatt-Globalist, Hilton-gold, SPG-gold
Posts: 855