Definition of First 3 Months for Minimum Spend?
Dec 10, 2013, 5:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 184
Definition of First 3 Months for Minimum Spend?
Does anyone know the exact definition of first 3 months for minimum spend? This is for example in regards to a CitiBusiness Mastercard. I opened my card in mid October and thought that would mean I need to spend the $3K by mid January. However, just had a conversation with a Citibank phone rep who said the 3 months actually starts counting from the the start of the first full billing cycle, which would be the start of November (and thus give me till end of January). Thanks for any insights - its going to be a close call on hitting the spend, so I want to make sure the timing is correct.
Dec 10, 2013, 7:53 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Definition of First 3 Months for Minimum Spend?
IME it depends on the bank. Some it is 90 days from application date, others its 90 days from approval, and some its 90 days from when they expect you to receive the card in the mail. You will just have to trust what they told you your end date is.
Dec 10, 2013, 1:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DTW
Programs: Delta SM, ICH PLAT
Posts: 1,188
At least for many of the non-business Citi and Chase cards, its suppose to be the date you were approved. I would not trust what the OP's phone agent say. I've had some bad experience with multiple agents (phone and secure message) giving me very different interpretation of a promotion term. It was very frustrating...eventually, they gave me a "customer satisfaction" credit in place, but it took months of back and forth and waiting...
I suggest the OP take the shortest/soonest date (date of approval of the card, or if you don't know it, the date of application) just to be safe.
I suggest the OP take the shortest/soonest date (date of approval of the card, or if you don't know it, the date of application) just to be safe.
Dec 10, 2013, 1:16 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,079
OP needs to play it safe and finish spend 90 days from approval. Why cut it close? Buy a GC if you need to finish your spend.
Dec 11, 2013, 1:31 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,602
My United Business card is ~ 90 days from date of approval which was instant so it could also be date of application.
Applied 9/18 around 10pm ET spend must be complete by 12/19
I never let it run close, as was stated before just buy a GC.
Dec 11, 2013, 6:32 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 3,317
I don't let it run close either. The only time I've ever had an issue with needing the full 103 days was when I made a mistake on the Chase SW Visas and applied so that I only had three days in January to hit the CP spend..... I got nervous, called Chase, and they told me I actually had another 13 days! So, sometimes it helps.