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]
Mar 1, 2013, 2:18 pm
#1696
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
HHonor Offers
I am going to post some details which I find them of value on how to enhance one's retention offers. This would also serve for future references.
My accounts from Aug 2012.
One has the following:
!) $750 spend 750 pt bonus for 16 months.
2)$1000 spend in 3 months for 5K bonus (took this one)
3) 2 extra pt for 2 months.
The other has none. (That one had a single spend of $1.6K on first statement in Oct 2012 and not used again.)
However a subsequent call (as I forgot to write down which has which hasn't), the rep said after the first card's offer is activated, call back and see if there is offer for the 2nd card. He said sometimes cards are tied together for inexplicable reasons so only one card has offer (one of my TYP card also inexplicably tied to this pair of HHonor according to him, and also does not see any offer while another TYP card has a 2pt on any spend for 3 months when he checked into it. Did not do it as we have a month-long trip to Europe between Mar and Apr so dont want to waste the offer now.)
This verifies some posts upthread that if you dont have the offer on first call, wait some time then call back, you may then have offer(s) attached.
DH's 3 HHonor cards - one from Aug 2012 and two from Jan 2013, all have the above offers. The one from Aug had several spends to meet spend, the two from Jan 2013 had one single spend to meet the $1K requirement and not used again but they are less than 2 months old.
Took the 5K $1K spend in 3 months on all 3.
Conclusion:
- Cards tied together would have only one card has offers attached. However once the offer is activated, it might trigger new offers to attach to other cards in the group.
- Therefore, do call back after some days passed even if card does not have any offer on 1st call.
- Old cards have multiple transactions to meet spend have better chance for retention offers than cards only have single spend to earn bonus and not used again.
- Even new cards have offers attached, and spend patterns not matter yet due to the newness. Therefore if cards already served their purposes, despite fairly new. do call to check on offer availability.
My accounts from Aug 2012.
One has the following:
!) $750 spend 750 pt bonus for 16 months.
2)$1000 spend in 3 months for 5K bonus (took this one)
3) 2 extra pt for 2 months.
The other has none. (That one had a single spend of $1.6K on first statement in Oct 2012 and not used again.)
However a subsequent call (as I forgot to write down which has which hasn't), the rep said after the first card's offer is activated, call back and see if there is offer for the 2nd card. He said sometimes cards are tied together for inexplicable reasons so only one card has offer (one of my TYP card also inexplicably tied to this pair of HHonor according to him, and also does not see any offer while another TYP card has a 2pt on any spend for 3 months when he checked into it. Did not do it as we have a month-long trip to Europe between Mar and Apr so dont want to waste the offer now.)
This verifies some posts upthread that if you dont have the offer on first call, wait some time then call back, you may then have offer(s) attached.
DH's 3 HHonor cards - one from Aug 2012 and two from Jan 2013, all have the above offers. The one from Aug had several spends to meet spend, the two from Jan 2013 had one single spend to meet the $1K requirement and not used again but they are less than 2 months old.
Took the 5K $1K spend in 3 months on all 3.
Conclusion:
- Cards tied together would have only one card has offers attached. However once the offer is activated, it might trigger new offers to attach to other cards in the group.
- Therefore, do call back after some days passed even if card does not have any offer on 1st call.
- Old cards have multiple transactions to meet spend have better chance for retention offers than cards only have single spend to earn bonus and not used again.
- Even new cards have offers attached, and spend patterns not matter yet due to the newness. Therefore if cards already served their purposes, despite fairly new. do call to check on offer availability.
Mar 1, 2013, 6:53 pm
#1697
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: ORD, EZE
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum
Posts: 71
My friend has the visa combined with the amex (the amex with no annual fee). He only got offered a 25$ credit after spending $500. I think it is because of the combined VISA+AMEX account.
Mar 5, 2013, 12:50 pm
#1698
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 699
family member's TYP account (from mid 2000's) which 2 months ago had no retention offer now offered $125 statement credit (no purchase/min spend requirement) + 500 bonus miles for $500 monthly spend X 16 months. other choice was 10K TYP for $3K spend. went w/option #1.
AA amex from April 2012 had $85 statement credit + 750 bonus miles for $750 monthly spend X 12 months. i'm a little confused tho as i thought the annual fee was $95 - i guess we're paying $10 to keep the card?
AA amex from April 2012 had $85 statement credit + 750 bonus miles for $750 monthly spend X 12 months. i'm a little confused tho as i thought the annual fee was $95 - i guess we're paying $10 to keep the card?
Mar 5, 2013, 2:09 pm
#1699
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 783
AAdvantage Business MC
$5000 spend in 6 months yields extra 10,000 miles. So, essentially 3 miles per dollar spend up to $5,000, as long as you spend it within 6 months. This has been offered to me before, about 10 months ago, on a different AAdvantage Business card.
Cheers,
PedroNY
Cheers,
PedroNY
Mar 5, 2013, 5:34 pm
#1700
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
family member's TYP account (from mid 2000's) which 2 months ago had no retention offer now offered $125 statement credit (no purchase/min spend requirement) + 500 bonus miles for $500 monthly spend X 16 months. other choice was 10K TYP for $3K spend. went w/option #1.
AA amex from April 2012 had $85 statement credit + 750 bonus miles for $750 monthly spend X 12 months. i'm a little confused tho as i thought the annual fee was $95 - i guess we're paying $10 to keep the card?
AA amex from April 2012 had $85 statement credit + 750 bonus miles for $750 monthly spend X 12 months. i'm a little confused tho as i thought the annual fee was $95 - i guess we're paying $10 to keep the card?
Mar 5, 2013, 6:07 pm
#1701
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Yes.
Posts: 516
BIZ Card
Offered $75 stmt credit and 750 bonus miles for $750 spend. I took it, of course.
Offered $75 stmt credit and 750 bonus miles for $750 spend. I took it, of course.
Mar 6, 2013, 4:56 am
#1702
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: American Airlines EXP, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 410
Citi AA Amex
Not exactly a traditional "retention offer" since I have 6 months till card anniversary. But I called to express I'm not using it much and asked if there is any bonus they would provide to incent me to use the card.
CSR transferred me to another department who offered:
1. $50 statement credit and 16 months of 750 bonus AAdvantage miles if more than $750 monthly usage,
2. 3000 bonus AAdvantage miles for $500 spend in 4 months.
I took offer 2 with thanks.
CSR transferred me to another department who offered:
1. $50 statement credit and 16 months of 750 bonus AAdvantage miles if more than $750 monthly usage,
2. 3000 bonus AAdvantage miles for $500 spend in 4 months.
I took offer 2 with thanks.
Mar 6, 2013, 9:02 pm
#1703
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 149
I have AA Visa and Amex, both opened April 2012. Called today on Amex, initial rep couldn't waive annual fee, but handed over to 'specialist' who offered $85 statement credit plus 750 bonus points in each of next 16 months spend > $750. Didn't ask about other offers as this was the one i wanted.
Then asked rep if she could check availability of that offer on my Visa card, she confirmed and I accepted.
Then asked rep if she could check availability of that offer on my Visa card, she confirmed and I accepted.
Mar 7, 2013, 12:00 pm
#1704
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: AA PLAT
Posts: 30
Data Point:
I have a Citi AAdvantage Mastercard from 4/2010. Called to cancel today and was offered a $95 statement credit after 5 purchases in 3 months. Accepted without hesitation as I am only looking to increase my AAoA.
I have a Citi AAdvantage Mastercard from 4/2010. Called to cancel today and was offered a $95 statement credit after 5 purchases in 3 months. Accepted without hesitation as I am only looking to increase my AAoA.
Mar 8, 2013, 7:22 am
#1705
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Traveling some where hopefully
Programs: AS, AA Gold, and Hilton
Posts: 1,954
Called today on my Citi Premier card and will get a $75. credit after $1,000 spend in next 3 months. I beleive it was Jan. my wife called on her's and got a offer for 10,000 TYP's with $3,000 spend in 6 months. Both are good offers and we'll make both easy. Thank you Citi.
Mar 8, 2013, 9:26 am
#1706
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 92
An AMEX Platinum is now my primary card, so I was just looking for a way to keep the AAdvantage Visa without paying the $95 annual fee.
Mar 8, 2013, 9:31 am
#1707
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: FL
Programs: AA, US, WN, Marriot, Hilton
Posts: 102
I have a TYP from July 2012. Now, if I call the retention department and activate a bonus that takes 6 months or more (like 750 points for next 16 months, or 10k points for $3000 in 6 months), is it possible to call after the annual fee hits for another retention bonus or fee waiver? I don't want to take an offer now that prevents me from getting better offer or fee waiver in 4 months when the annual fee is due.
thanks
thanks
Mar 8, 2013, 4:00 pm
#1708
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
family member's TYP account (from mid 2000's) which 2 months ago had no retention offer now offered $125 statement credit (no purchase/min spend requirement) + 500 bonus miles for $500 monthly spend X 16 months. other choice was 10K TYP for $3K spend. went w/option #1.
AA amex from April 2012 had $85 statement credit + 750 bonus miles for $750 monthly spend X 12 months. i'm a little confused tho as i thought the annual fee was $95 - i guess we're paying $10 to keep the card?
AA amex from April 2012 had $85 statement credit + 750 bonus miles for $750 monthly spend X 12 months. i'm a little confused tho as i thought the annual fee was $95 - i guess we're paying $10 to keep the card?
Mar 8, 2013, 4:09 pm
#1709
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Seattle
Programs: AAdvantage Plat+, FoundersCard, Amex Plat, TR Diamond, Marriott Gold, Wyndham Dia, HH Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 785
I just spent 20 minutes on the phone after calling the retention number (800-444-2568) about my citi AA Amex & VISA, The Amex fee hit less than 30 days ago and the VISA was approx 45 days ago. I tried to get by without threatening to cancel (since I don't actually want to cancel either card), but she pinned me down (politely) and said:
"I want to make sure I understand your intention. Are you sating that you want to cancel this card if we can't give you anything at this time?"
I said "correct", correctly assuming that she wouldn't hold me to that later. She pointed out (again politely) that I had received a $95 statement credit on my Amex back in May, and that that was intended to offset my annual fee that is due now. I told her that I didn't remember that (half true - I had forgotten, but when she mentioned it it sounded vaguely familiar), but continued to say that I wanted to reduce the credit card fees I was paying so could she please look and see if there were any promotions or offers that might help me to justify the fee. She said there was no offer available on my account for her to issue another statement credit, but that she could give me a lower interest rate ... of course I never carry a balance so that's not worth anything. She told me that I actually have 37 days after the fee hits my account to cancel for a full refund, and confirmed that I would get a prorated refund if I canceled after that, so I used that as an excuse to think about my options. I asked her to look at my VISA card and it was basically the same story - she pointed out that I had received a $95 credit in May, told me she couldn't give me any more $$, and that lowered interest rate was the only thing available. I asked her (without really any hope of an answer) whether she could advise me about when another bonus/offer might be available and if I would have to wait until May to get another ... as expected, several polite words but no answer. I thought it was worth a shot.
So ... lump of coal for me, but maybe that will change. I might call back in a month or two and then actually cancel one of the cards if they can't do anything for me. I certainly don't need both at $95/year.
[later edit] Mrs Huge correctly pointed out that in fact we both got those cards 2 years ago (on the 75K miles each promo, so after getting 300K miles I'm not really complaining all that much), and that when we got those $95 credits back in May, it was just because we waited too long to call after our annual fees had hit, so maybe if we had called right a year ago we would have been eligible again now. Who knows...
"I want to make sure I understand your intention. Are you sating that you want to cancel this card if we can't give you anything at this time?"
I said "correct", correctly assuming that she wouldn't hold me to that later. She pointed out (again politely) that I had received a $95 statement credit on my Amex back in May, and that that was intended to offset my annual fee that is due now. I told her that I didn't remember that (half true - I had forgotten, but when she mentioned it it sounded vaguely familiar), but continued to say that I wanted to reduce the credit card fees I was paying so could she please look and see if there were any promotions or offers that might help me to justify the fee. She said there was no offer available on my account for her to issue another statement credit, but that she could give me a lower interest rate ... of course I never carry a balance so that's not worth anything. She told me that I actually have 37 days after the fee hits my account to cancel for a full refund, and confirmed that I would get a prorated refund if I canceled after that, so I used that as an excuse to think about my options. I asked her to look at my VISA card and it was basically the same story - she pointed out that I had received a $95 credit in May, told me she couldn't give me any more $$, and that lowered interest rate was the only thing available. I asked her (without really any hope of an answer) whether she could advise me about when another bonus/offer might be available and if I would have to wait until May to get another ... as expected, several polite words but no answer. I thought it was worth a shot.
So ... lump of coal for me, but maybe that will change. I might call back in a month or two and then actually cancel one of the cards if they can't do anything for me. I certainly don't need both at $95/year.
[later edit] Mrs Huge correctly pointed out that in fact we both got those cards 2 years ago (on the 75K miles each promo, so after getting 300K miles I'm not really complaining all that much), and that when we got those $95 credits back in May, it was just because we waited too long to call after our annual fees had hit, so maybe if we had called right a year ago we would have been eligible again now. Who knows...
Last edited by huge; Mar 8, 2013 at 11:33 pm Reason: added ending note
Mar 11, 2013, 8:50 am
#1710
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,055
I have a TYP from July 2012. Now, if I call the retention department and activate a bonus that takes 6 months or more (like 750 points for next 16 months, or 10k points for $3000 in 6 months), is it possible to call after the annual fee hits for another retention bonus or fee waiver? I don't want to take an offer now that prevents me from getting better offer or fee waiver in 4 months when the annual fee is due.
thanks
thanks