Old May 22, 2013, 8:47 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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
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Citi retention offer reports [2009-2013]

Old Dec 15, 2008, 4:24 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Citi retention offer reports [2009-2013]

In the past 2 months I've gone to cancel 2 different citi AAdvantage cards, and been presented with the identical retention offers, a choice of one of the 3 below:

1) 5 AAdvantage miles on each purchase made at gas stations, grocery stores and drug stores (instead of 1) for the next 12 months, max 5000 miles then back to regular earning rate.

2) 2 AAdvantage miles on all purchases (instead of 1), for the next 6 months, max 10,000 miles then back to regular earning rate.

3) A domestic round trip companion ticket for any fare over $299. Yeah I know, it probably has a bunch of ridiculous restrictions that may make this virtually useless, or almost the same cost as buying 2 flights instead of the 'advertised' 2 for 1 benefit of it.

If I were closer to my annual fee date I assume there might be a statement credit offer, but, these cards were typically a part of my churn.

Has anyone recently (as in past 2 months) gotten anything else?

For the record, since I actually do need to slow down my churning just a little bit for the next while to get my FICO score back into the high 700's again, I've accepted the #1 and the #3 offer. I was inclined to use #2 instead of #3, but, I wouldn't get much use out of the extra AAdvantage mile for a mere 6 months. Besides which, I could always get the companion ticket anyway and then cancel the card after that.

I went for #1 only because I don't have any 5% EDP card any more since Chase reduced theirs from 5% down to 3% -- so it does feel nice to be getting something resembling a 5% reward on my gas/drug/grocery purchases again -- even if it is only short lived.

I have noticed that there is not much in the way of up front bonus mile retention offers any more. I guess too many people were taking the quick miles and then ultimately canceling the card anyway after the miles were delivered (not much of a retention).

For the record, I'm only talking about the personal Citi AAdvantage cards. The Business AAdvantage Mastercard offered a nice 5000 bonus just to keep the card 1 additional month.
thehawk75 is offline  
Old Dec 15, 2008, 8:43 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 22
Thanks for the info.

When you called in did you ask about retention bonuses, or did they just bring it up?

Thanks!
OneFlyGuy is offline  
Old Dec 15, 2008, 9:51 pm
  #3  
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Originally Posted by OneFlyGuy
Thanks for the info.

When you called in did you ask about retention bonuses, or did they just bring it up?

Thanks!
I always ask for the 'cancellation department'. They always patch me through to the 'retention department'.
thehawk75 is offline  
Old Dec 18, 2008, 4:37 pm
  #4  
ned
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Programs: MTD pass holder
Posts: 1,142
Yesterday I was offered 3000 miles or a $50 statement credit.
ned is offline  
Old Dec 18, 2008, 8:02 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ATX
Programs: AA LT PLT, Marriott LT PLT
Posts: 277
I was offered an $85 statement credit (early November) to keep my AA MC account open...no strings attached. I'm still considering closing before the annual fees come due in Jan.
boxedlunch is offline  
Old Dec 19, 2008, 1:11 am
  #6  
In memoriam
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
I was offered and took a 5K miles bonus not to cancel three times on an AA Citi biz card. Took about three months.

When I called to cancel 4th time, they wouldn't give me the bonus! Can you believe it?

If I had only used the card a little more ...@:-)
biggestbopper is offline  
Old Dec 19, 2008, 7:45 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CMH
Posts: 891
Originally Posted by ned
Yesterday I was offered 3000 miles or a $50 statement credit.
I got the same offer about a month and a half ago. I took the 3000 miles and kept the card open for about a month. Then, I cancelled it for real a couple days ago.
FlyerInCmh is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2008, 5:22 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 187
how do you end up at a retention specialist and what do you say? id like to cancel? and then they automatically offer you a special retention deal?
magicspot is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2008, 7:16 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF Eastbay
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Originally Posted by magicspot
how do you end up at a retention specialist and what do you say? id like to cancel? and then they automatically offer you a special retention deal?
Pretty much.......that's how it works.
sbc94523 is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2008, 8:36 pm
  #10  
Original Member
 
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Posts: 4,707
With the new Schwab 2% cash back on all purchases VISA card (and no annual fee), the Citibank AAdvantage card is gone when it comes up for renewal next Spring. The only way I'll keep the card is if they waive the $85 annual fee or offer 10K+ miles.
MileKing is offline  
Old Dec 22, 2008, 7:03 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 187
hmmm im going to give this a try thanks!
magicspot is offline  
Old Dec 22, 2008, 7:29 pm
  #12  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,341
Yeah, really annoying to cancel a card at Citi these days. It took more than 10 minutes to shoo away the retention offers.

Unless they're going to give me the card for free and AT LEAST 10,000 miles, why would I want to retain these? It seems always better to just start again.
iahphx is offline  
Old Dec 22, 2008, 9:04 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
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Posts: 2,879
Originally Posted by iahphx
Yeah, really annoying to cancel a card at Citi these days. It took more than 10 minutes to shoo away the retention offers.

Unless they're going to give me the card for free and AT LEAST 10,000 miles, why would I want to retain these? It seems always better to just start again.
Why not just cancel online? Don't have to hassle with the retention dept. and it only takes a minute.
deant is offline  
Old Dec 23, 2008, 3:52 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
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hmm, the only thing I have ever gotten was a waiver of my annual fee!
Cdn007 is offline  
Old Dec 23, 2008, 10:16 pm
  #15  
ned
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Programs: MTD pass holder
Posts: 1,142
Last week I cancelled one of my wife's AA/MC and was offered 3000 miles or a $50 staatement credit. Today I cancelled one of my AA/MC and was offered nothing, nada, zero! The CSR mentioned he saw I had another AA/MC. Oh well, I did call to cancel.
ned is offline  

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