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]
Nov 21, 2011, 1:28 pm
#1006
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA, UAL
Posts: 545
Awesome, thanks for the information!
One more thing - as mentioned, I have a charge of about $10K about to hit the card. I normally put about $1.5K/month on that card - so that will raise my total spending on that card up by about 60% or more. Should I wait for that charge to hit before calling? I noticed when I went on my account that my available credit line has dropped quite low so that means the charge must have been at least authorized.
One more thing - as mentioned, I have a charge of about $10K about to hit the card. I normally put about $1.5K/month on that card - so that will raise my total spending on that card up by about 60% or more. Should I wait for that charge to hit before calling? I noticed when I went on my account that my available credit line has dropped quite low so that means the charge must have been at least authorized.
Nov 21, 2011, 3:46 pm
#1007
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Awesome, thanks for the information!
One more thing - as mentioned, I have a charge of about $10K about to hit the card. I normally put about $1.5K/month on that card - so that will raise my total spending on that card up by about 60% or more. Should I wait for that charge to hit before calling? I noticed when I went on my account that my available credit line has dropped quite low so that means the charge must have been at least authorized.
One more thing - as mentioned, I have a charge of about $10K about to hit the card. I normally put about $1.5K/month on that card - so that will raise my total spending on that card up by about 60% or more. Should I wait for that charge to hit before calling? I noticed when I went on my account that my available credit line has dropped quite low so that means the charge must have been at least authorized.
Call the retention specialist directly (I don't know it off hand, number available by searching this thread) if you must call now, and ask to get that fee waived and/or other goodies.
Nov 21, 2011, 8:05 pm
#1008
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403
Called today evening - got a $85 statement credit for a Visa AAdvantage card I had got only a couple of months back.
Nov 22, 2011, 1:41 am
#1009
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Spg Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,579
Nov 22, 2011, 5:06 am
#1010
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403
Yes, it was first year free and I was not charged a fee yet. They still offered me a statement credit. In the past I had got 3-5 K bonus miles on new cards but got a better offer this time. YMMV ..
Nov 22, 2011, 10:37 am
#1011
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
On my last churn, I was offered the $85 statement credit (among other things, see post #972 for more details) before I even made my first purchase on the card (technically before I even activated the new card). The credit posted on the statement cycle date.
Nov 22, 2011, 12:18 pm
#1012
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 369
Called on Citi Business Advantage card. Offered 2500 miles or a 10,000 mile bonus if I spent $5000 in 6 months
Nov 23, 2011, 1:38 am
#1013
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Spg Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,579
The statement credits that the retention specialists offer happen to match the annual fee of the card, that is no coincidence. However, the statement credit is still independent of the annual fee, so YES, you can get the $85 credit without having been billed the annual fee.
On my last churn, I was offered the $85 statement credit (among other things, see post #972 for more details) before I even made my first purchase on the card (technically before I even activated the new card). The credit posted on the statement cycle date.
On my last churn, I was offered the $85 statement credit (among other things, see post #972 for more details) before I even made my first purchase on the card (technically before I even activated the new card). The credit posted on the statement cycle date.
Nov 23, 2011, 12:07 pm
#1014
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DCA, DEN, and CDG depending on the month
Posts: 233
My friend recently called to cancel his Citi AAdvantage card. His expiration date is about 5 months from now. He spent basically nothing on the card besides the initial required spend. He told the rep he wanted to cancel to avoid paying the annual fee.
The rep offered him an $85 statement credit and 500 extra miles for every $500 he spent in a month. The $85 credit already posted, and he's planning on still canceling closer to the expiration date in 5 months.
The rep offered him an $85 statement credit and 500 extra miles for every $500 he spent in a month. The $85 credit already posted, and he's planning on still canceling closer to the expiration date in 5 months.
Nov 26, 2011, 9:20 pm
#1015
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 287
3 more data points for cards that just received the $85 annual fee:
my CitiBank Visa - $85 fee waived and 1K miles in any of the next 16 billing cycles that I spend $1000.
my CitiBank AmEx - $85 fee waived, nothing more. I didn't care, since I can't spend any more.
friend's CitiBank Visa - $85 fee waived and 750 miles in any of the next ?? billing cycles that she spends $750.
my CitiBank Visa - $85 fee waived and 1K miles in any of the next 16 billing cycles that I spend $1000.
my CitiBank AmEx - $85 fee waived, nothing more. I didn't care, since I can't spend any more.
friend's CitiBank Visa - $85 fee waived and 750 miles in any of the next ?? billing cycles that she spends $750.
Nov 27, 2011, 8:17 pm
#1016
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: FL
Programs: BA, AA, DA, UA, CO
Posts: 212
Just called for my Business AA card. Called around 10 pm on a Sunday.
So, I say there is fee coming. She says I have 3 more months (doesn't intend to transfer me to retention). I say, well its not really that rewarding of a card (pushing for retention). She says "not rewarding!!? you got 75k for spending only 1.5K." I say Ya that's one way to look at it and felt somewhat ashamed..I think! So 1:0 for them this round. In few days I'll be ready for round 2.
So, I say there is fee coming. She says I have 3 more months (doesn't intend to transfer me to retention). I say, well its not really that rewarding of a card (pushing for retention). She says "not rewarding!!? you got 75k for spending only 1.5K." I say Ya that's one way to look at it and felt somewhat ashamed..I think! So 1:0 for them this round. In few days I'll be ready for round 2.
Nov 28, 2011, 8:16 am
#1017
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 384
I just called up and told them that I was considering canceling my card due to the fee and I was wondering if they had alternative solutions. I have a personal platinum AA card. I've put about 15-20K on it in the year that I've had it. They offered me an $85 credit after 5 eligible purchases in the next three months.
Good enough for me!
Good enough for me!
Nov 29, 2011, 1:31 am
#1018
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Spg Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,579
The statement credits that the retention specialists offer happen to match the annual fee of the card, that is no coincidence. However, the statement credit is still independent of the annual fee, so YES, you can get the $85 credit without having been billed the annual fee.
On my last churn, I was offered the $85 statement credit (among other things, see post #972 for more details) before I even made my first purchase on the card (technically before I even activated the new card). The credit posted on the statement cycle date.
On my last churn, I was offered the $85 statement credit (among other things, see post #972 for more details) before I even made my first purchase on the card (technically before I even activated the new card). The credit posted on the statement cycle date.
Not really looking to spend ANYTHING ON them , as I am working on 5 other card spends for wife and me .
Nov 29, 2011, 8:19 am
#1019
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt LT Global Elitist, Bonvyoed LT Titanium, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 480
Question about Citi Cards-- Cancel or Downgrade
Last year I got the Citi AA card for the 100k sign-up bonus; and the annual fee just came due. I called citi to ask if I could do a credit-line re-allocation to another Citicard (that I've had open for 5+ years) and they said it wasn't possible.
Instead they offered to downgrade the card to a Citi AA Bronze Card w/ no annual fee. I have no use for the card; but my understanding that closing accounts isn't ideal in regards to losing available credit and reducing the age of open accounts (I have a couple of new offers I singed up for this year)
Is switching to the Bronze Card the right move? Or should I just outright cancel?
Instead they offered to downgrade the card to a Citi AA Bronze Card w/ no annual fee. I have no use for the card; but my understanding that closing accounts isn't ideal in regards to losing available credit and reducing the age of open accounts (I have a couple of new offers I singed up for this year)
Is switching to the Bronze Card the right move? Or should I just outright cancel?
Nov 29, 2011, 8:44 am
#1020
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 475
Downgrade to the No Fee cards. It will look much better on your credit report.