Question
I usually toss new CC offers, but this one seems interesting. If anyone knows the program, please comment. Thanks.
no annual fee
10,000 points after first purchase
5 points per dollar spent at grocery, drugstores, gas stations
0% on balance transfer until 9/05 , 8.99% purchases
25000 points gets a free airline ticket ( redeemable only through Valley Travel Group) (?)
Answer
That's a nice offer! I only received the promise of 5000 if I used my card 3 times bet. April-July (still waiting for them to post...they're saying 6-8 wks after end of promo).
Those 10k points are worth $100 gift card from, and this is just a FEW of the many merchants to choose from: Sears, Circuit City, Best Buy, Home Depot, Target, Ritz Carlton currency, Royal Carribean Cruise cert, Carnival Cruise lines, Budget car rental, Hyatt, Marriott, J C Penny, Gap, Old Navy....my fingers are tired.
Points are redeemed thru Thankyouredemptions.com, check it out for more details.
Wal-Mart purchases are listed as merchandise eventho I buy some groceries there and some of the gas stations also list as merchandise. I don't know if that coding error on the gas is Citi's or the merchants.
I'm been using this card a few months as a spare (Amex Starwood 1st, Hhonors Visa 2nd), have not redeemed as I'm still waiting on the 5K to post then I'll cash out for a $100 gift card from......decisions, decisions.
Hope this helps!
Answer
I got the following offer back in April & accepted:
-No annual fee
-5000 points with first purchase
-5000 points every 3 months thereafter if you make a purchase every month, upto a maximum of 15,000 bonus points
So basically, 20K points in 10 months as long as you use the card at least once. My first transaction was in April 2004 & I've made one purchase every month thereafter - total points in my account? About 125 or so. Why? Because Citi apparently can't get their act together & process the points. I've called them several times, technically speaking, once I make a charge & am billed for September, they should have credited me 15K points. I've called several times & am being given a run-around basically telling me that it's being processed & should show up in 6-8 weeks (they've been telling me that since June...). I actually called them this morning & informed them that I will be contacting the BBB if this isn't resolved to my satisfaction by morning. With all the advertising that they've been doing for the Thank You Rewards Redeption, you'd figure they'd have their $hit together - but they don't. I've already cancelled my Citi Shell MC & my Citi Exxon MC (as I'm getting 5% at any gas station through a Chase card & an MBNA card - there was no reason to keep these cards).
After I get my full 20K points creditted, I will most likely cancel this account as Citi is just disappointing.
Answer
They offered me this card when I called to cancel my Citi AAdvantage MC. It seemed like not such a great deal to me. I ended up switching to the little known No-Fee AAdvantage Bronze card. It offers 2 for 1 miles on AAdvantage and well, not much else. I actually never use it, but just in case I ever need an MC (when Visa or Amex won't do), I keep it around. I also had achieved a pretty decent credit limit on my MC, so it was hard to part with AAdvantage altogether.
dac
PS They also usually offer you bonus miles to keep an AAdvantage MC when you call to cancel. I got 5000 one time and maybe 2000 another time. You can always change your mind if you don't get offered miles, and you can ask for them too, if they don't offer.