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]
Feb 19, 2013, 11:32 am
#1681
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 186
Another data point. Called retention for my AA Visa, opened in March 2012. After getting sign up bonus, did not put much spend on it, maybe a couple hundred at most.
Was offered the $85 statement credit and double miles on $750 spent each billing cycle for next 16.
Accepted. I plan on calling about the Amex sometime later.
Was offered the $85 statement credit and double miles on $750 spent each billing cycle for next 16.
Accepted. I plan on calling about the Amex sometime later.
Feb 19, 2013, 11:50 am
#1682
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 107
Called today on my AAdvantage Visa and Amex, opened late April 2012 through the 40k links for $2k in spending. Spent very little other than the minimum spend.
Visa:
Offered $85 credit & Double miles on $750 each cycle for 16.
Offered 3000 bonus miles for spending $500, no statement credit.
Amex:
Offered 3000 bonus miles for spending $500, no statement credit.
Offered $25 statement credit for spending $500.
Visa:
Offered $85 credit & Double miles on $750 each cycle for 16.
Offered 3000 bonus miles for spending $500, no statement credit.
Amex:
Offered 3000 bonus miles for spending $500, no statement credit.
Offered $25 statement credit for spending $500.
Feb 19, 2013, 4:11 pm
#1683
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Received & accepted this same offer a couple of weeks ago (on an AA Amex on which I'd put only tghe minimum spend to get the signup bonus). Intriguingly, didn't get this offer upon first inquiry; only after I asked the CSR to close the account did he suddenly discover this offer. $85 credit posted in the last day or two.
Feb 19, 2013, 10:29 pm
#1684
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
I called in this morning about my three Citi HHonors Visa no-fee cards. I gave him the first number, he verified my name and security answer and then announced that I was fortunate that one of their best offers was available on this card:
Spend $750 in a month and get a bonus of 750 HHonors points, good for each of the next 16 months.
I asked if there were any other options available and he said there was also:
Spend $1000 in the next 3 months and get 5000 HHonors points.
I can't imagine how the first offer could possibly be considered better than the second.
There may have been other offers but the second was the one I wanted so I accepted it and went on to get the same offer on the other two cards.
Billing cycles start in about a week and are about a week apart, so 3K worth of ice cream should net me 24K points. Then I just need another 16K for a trip I am planning. Maybe I'll see what AmEx has to offer.
Spend $750 in a month and get a bonus of 750 HHonors points, good for each of the next 16 months.
I asked if there were any other options available and he said there was also:
Spend $1000 in the next 3 months and get 5000 HHonors points.
I can't imagine how the first offer could possibly be considered better than the second.
There may have been other offers but the second was the one I wanted so I accepted it and went on to get the same offer on the other two cards.Billing cycles start in about a week and are about a week apart, so 3K worth of ice cream should net me 24K points. Then I just need another 16K for a trip I am planning. Maybe I'll see what AmEx has to offer.
Feb 21, 2013, 8:21 pm
#1685
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 106
Citi AA Visa
Called today on my Citi AA Visa, for which the $85 fee just hit (had previously canceled the AA Amex). I had put very little spend on it ever since getting the initial bonus and was prepared to cancel it unless they covered the annual fee. Alas, the only offers they were willing to do were a $25 statement credit or 3,000 miles. Ended up canceling.
Feb 26, 2013, 10:56 am
#1686
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: West Hollywood
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Alaska MVP, Delta Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 173
Possible new TY Premier Retention offer
Took a $75 statement credit for spending $1000 in 90 days (off the $125 annual fee) on my TY Premier visa. Was also offered $125 credit like previous poster for spending $4500, but that seemed like too much opportunity cost for so much spend (I only buy airline tickets with this card).
Feb 26, 2013, 11:59 am
#1687
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: East Coast US
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 192
Citi AA Visa
Retention line immediately offered and I took the $95 credit with 5 purchases in 3 months. When asked for alternatives, also offered $95 credit for spending $1000 in 3 months, or 3000 miles for spending $500 in 90 days but no credit. Have had the AA Visa since 2 years ago, with a similar fee waiver last year.
Feb 27, 2013, 7:54 am
#1688
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 393
Citi AA AMEX
Feb 27, 2013, 9:49 am
#1689
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: UA Silver/Marriott Gold/Hilton Gold
Posts: 540
I called directly into the retention number and asked about "waiving or offsetting the annual fee" for my AA Amex.
Rep offered $85 credit and 750 bonus miles after spending $750 each cycle for the next 16, which I accepted.
Given how easy it was, I figured why not as her about the AA Visa. Luckily she readily offered me the same offer that I got for the Amex which I also took.
Rep offered $85 credit and 750 bonus miles after spending $750 each cycle for the next 16, which I accepted.
Given how easy it was, I figured why not as her about the AA Visa. Luckily she readily offered me the same offer that I got for the Amex which I also took.
Feb 27, 2013, 2:06 pm
#1690
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: IAH, HOU
Programs: MileagePlus 1K, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,073
Citi AA visa
Called today and asked if there were offers. Was given the $95 statement credit if I made five purchases of any amount in the next three months. Took the offer.
Feb 27, 2013, 5:43 pm
#1691
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
Interesting how many offers are out there. Maybe I said "yes" too soon. But I got the $95 "one time" credit for 5 purchases in 3 months (no minimum size for the transactions, the first rep even suggest a cup of coffee or a newspaper). Last year I think it was an $85 "one time" credit. 
Same offer on both cards. Accepted them both.
Same offer on both cards. Accepted them both.
Feb 28, 2013, 9:05 am
#1692
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SEA
Posts: 62
Today I closed my Citi TY Premier. Like others have posted, I was offered a statement credit of $125 if spend $4500 in 3 months. I am going on extended trip and could not do that. I am interested in the Reserve card. They offered to upgrade me to that card. I declined for the same reason: the trip. So we moved most of my credit line to my Citi Amex AA card and closed the account. My opinion: The premier card is an excellent program for someone who intends to put most of their purchases on it. If one tends to spread purchases amongst different cards, it does not work so well given the fee.
Feb 28, 2013, 10:12 am
#1693
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA PLAT, *wood Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 434
Need advice- 2 Citi cards
I have 2 Citi cards:
Visa with $95 Annual fee that renews in Sept
MC with $50 Annual fee that renews in Mar
Of course, I don't want to pay annual fee on either, but was forced to on the $95 card that renewed last Sept. The agent said it was because my $50 fee was waived the year prior.
I now need to make a deicison since thr $50 card is up for renewal. Is there a strategy here? Does Citi retention look at the cards inidividually? or is it all treated as once acct?
Visa with $95 Annual fee that renews in Sept
MC with $50 Annual fee that renews in Mar
Of course, I don't want to pay annual fee on either, but was forced to on the $95 card that renewed last Sept. The agent said it was because my $50 fee was waived the year prior.
I now need to make a deicison since thr $50 card is up for renewal. Is there a strategy here? Does Citi retention look at the cards inidividually? or is it all treated as once acct?
Feb 28, 2013, 12:43 pm
#1694
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: TSA Precheck
Posts: 1
Citi TY Premier data point
Today I closed my Citi TY Premier. Like others have posted, I was offered a statement credit of $125 if spend $4500 in 3 months. I am going on extended trip and could not do that. I am interested in the Reserve card. They offered to upgrade me to that card. I declined for the same reason: the trip. So we moved most of my credit line to my Citi Amex AA card and closed the account. My opinion: The premier card is an excellent program for someone who intends to put most of their purchases on it. If one tends to spread purchases amongst different cards, it does not work so well given the fee.
$75 for $1,000 spend in 3 mo
$125 $4,500 3 mo
10,000 pts for /$3,000 spend in 6 mo. which I took so I have to pay the $125 ann. fee now but I figure the 10k pts are worth about $100 plus the 3k pts I will get from the $3,000 spend (some purch. are worth 1.2 pts per $1).
I have 54,000 pts now and with 13,000 more I will prob get an ipad or try the companion tic deal this year.
Feb 28, 2013, 2:50 pm
#1695
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA UA Delta. HH Diamond, PC Platinum, Club Carlson Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 809
For some reason, the annual fee of my Citi AA visa card still didn't post.