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]
May 19, 2011, 9:47 am
#766
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: AUS
Posts: 234
Just called in and was offered this as well. I called the regular number on the back of the credit card and told the person I wanted to cancel b/c I didn't want to pay the annual fee (had the card for one year now). They transferred me to retention who made the above offer. $85 statement credit will post in 1-2 billing cycles.
Jun 2, 2011, 10:24 am
#767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,804
Called this morning for AA AMEX and AAMC that their annual fees will be billed in June statement cycle. Called the regular number of AA AMEX. First tried to re-allocate credit line but was told no can do. Then asked to speak to Account Specialist because annual fee is coming up.
The regular CSR needed us to actually say the words about we would cancel the card due to the annual fee unless some retention offers are made before she would/could transfer us to the retention dept... This is something new to us!
Retention rep based in South Dakota offered 2 options:
1) Spend $500 in next 3 months, get 3K bonus miles. No statement credit.
2) Make 5 eligible purchases regardless the amount in next 3 months, get a statement credit of $85 in 1 to 2 billing cycles after fulfilling the requirement.
No any other offers she could make. Took the 2). Then asked her to check the AAMC. Identical offers were made. Again took the 2).
Separate letters will be sent in 5 to 7 days to confirm the offers which will take a minimum of 48 hours to take effect. Statement dates are 17th and 21st so we have enough time to make those 5 purchases on each card and hope the Statement credit would show up in the same billing cycle when the annual fee is billed...
The regular CSR needed us to actually say the words about we would cancel the card due to the annual fee unless some retention offers are made before she would/could transfer us to the retention dept... This is something new to us!
Retention rep based in South Dakota offered 2 options:
1) Spend $500 in next 3 months, get 3K bonus miles. No statement credit.
2) Make 5 eligible purchases regardless the amount in next 3 months, get a statement credit of $85 in 1 to 2 billing cycles after fulfilling the requirement.
No any other offers she could make. Took the 2). Then asked her to check the AAMC. Identical offers were made. Again took the 2).
Separate letters will be sent in 5 to 7 days to confirm the offers which will take a minimum of 48 hours to take effect. Statement dates are 17th and 21st so we have enough time to make those 5 purchases on each card and hope the Statement credit would show up in the same billing cycle when the annual fee is billed...
Jun 7, 2011, 9:44 am
#768
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 99
Citi AA Visa signature card - 6 months old
Called this morning to cancel my card. I was offered:
1. $50 statement credit (which will offset the annual fee) AND
2. 750 bonus miles every month when spending $750 for 16 months
Accepted the offer.
Called this morning to cancel my card. I was offered:
1. $50 statement credit (which will offset the annual fee) AND
2. 750 bonus miles every month when spending $750 for 16 months
Accepted the offer.
Jun 8, 2011, 1:21 am
#769
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cypress Hills Research Center
Posts: 5,295
My card is coming up for renewal in a few months and, since I only used it to meet the minimum spending requirement (for the miles, always for the miles) and it's been sitting in a drawer ever since, I wonder if they'll offer me anything at all.
Jun 8, 2011, 6:40 am
#770
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403
The rep doesn't decide the offers on your account. It is pre-decided by their computers system with a possible input from marketing department. The rep is just the facilitator. So as long as your nice to her, she will be glad to mention all the offers and you can decide which one you want.
Jun 8, 2011, 4:05 pm
#771
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 159
I got an extra 2 miles per dollar spent with a 10,000 mile cap the first time I went to cancel. After reaching the limit, I called the second time to cancel they told me I would have to wait for my annual membership to roll around before they could give me anymore offers. I declined and they closed my account.
Jun 10, 2011, 6:12 am
#772
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 49,003
Moderator action
Discussion of retention or compensation offers related to the recent Citi data breach have been moved to this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...iscussion.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...iscussion.html
Jun 10, 2011, 1:37 pm
#773
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Citi thankyou premier card
Just called in and got 10,000 points bonus $3,000 spend in 6 months. It would have been better if it was a bonus for mileage earning card but cannot complain. Took the offer and will start spending!
Just called in and got 10,000 points bonus $3,000 spend in 6 months. It would have been better if it was a bonus for mileage earning card but cannot complain. Took the offer and will start spending!
Jun 10, 2011, 3:38 pm
#774
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: AA, BA, delta
Posts: 104
Saw this post about a 6 month old card. I'm in a similar boat, so I called in and politely said I was thinking about canceling because I never use it and have a better bonus with another daily card. She immediately said ok and began closing it! Is there some code word to drop? For what it's worth, I gave her many opportunities in the convo for her to offer me something, was very nice, chatty, and she was US based (FL).
Jun 13, 2011, 4:24 pm
#775
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
No retention love for me on my Citi Business AAdvantage VISA.
Collected my 2nd 50K AAdvantage miles on the card, for having completed teh $10K spending, and asked to be transferred to the 'cancellation department'. Front line rep didn't pass me on to retentions. Promptly closed the account. I even prodded a bit suggested that if they could make the card a bit 'better for me' I could be persuaded to keep it. No go.
Been having bad luck with getting retentions for the business cards lately.
Collected my 2nd 50K AAdvantage miles on the card, for having completed teh $10K spending, and asked to be transferred to the 'cancellation department'. Front line rep didn't pass me on to retentions. Promptly closed the account. I even prodded a bit suggested that if they could make the card a bit 'better for me' I could be persuaded to keep it. No go.
Been having bad luck with getting retentions for the business cards lately.
Jun 13, 2011, 6:28 pm
#776
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Coincidentally, I called about my AA Biz Visa today. Have held it for ~10 months, with relatively light use ($2K-$3K total spend) in that time. CSR offered a choice:
I have better uses for spending over the next several months (including hitting threshholds for signup bonuses on other cards), so I took the miles. 2500 is pretty standard, as that's what the DW & I were offered, and took, on our previous round of AA biz cards.
- 10K miles for spending $5K in 6 months, or
- 2500 miles with no strings
I have better uses for spending over the next several months (including hitting threshholds for signup bonuses on other cards), so I took the miles. 2500 is pretty standard, as that's what the DW & I were offered, and took, on our previous round of AA biz cards.
Jun 14, 2011, 6:19 pm
#777
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Coincidentally, I called about my AA Biz Visa today. Have held it for ~10 months, with relatively light use ($2K-$3K total spend) in that time. CSR offered a choice:
I have better uses for spending over the next several months (including hitting threshholds for signup bonuses on other cards), so I took the miles. 2500 is pretty standard, as that's what the DW & I were offered, and took, on our previous round of AA biz cards.
- 10K miles for spending $5K in 6 months, or
- 2500 miles with no strings
I have better uses for spending over the next several months (including hitting threshholds for signup bonuses on other cards), so I took the miles. 2500 is pretty standard, as that's what the DW & I were offered, and took, on our previous round of AA biz cards.
Regardless, I'm in agreement, for my situation 2500 no strings attached would have been the one I would have selected considering the sign on bonuses I have to meet in the near future.
Probably just as well that they didn't give me any retention offer. I ended up reapplying for the same card today (for the 75,000 miles after $1500 spending), and was approved. I don't think I would have applied had I still been carrying an active card.
Jun 14, 2011, 7:29 pm
#778
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
So yes, 10K bonus for $5k spend = 5k points (actual spend) + 10K lump payoff.
From the sound of it, I need to follow your lead & cancel/reapply now.
Jun 18, 2011, 8:06 am
#779
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,962
I Called this morning to cancel my card and was offered:
1. $85 statement credit (to cover the annual fee) AND
2. 750 bonus miles every month when spending $750+ per month for 12 months.
I accepted the offer even though I prefer my Capital One Venture card.
1. $85 statement credit (to cover the annual fee) AND
2. 750 bonus miles every month when spending $750+ per month for 12 months.
I accepted the offer even though I prefer my Capital One Venture card.
Jun 21, 2011, 1:02 pm
#780
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DME
Programs: LH SEN, AA Plat, SPG Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 294
Had two card with an upcoming annual fee - was offered $85 credit for each and nothing else.