Citibank Plat VISA 60 K , May 31

[bazza]

Finally I received the 60,000 point in my QF account. The secret was dealing only with the supervisor

What problems were there with getting the points? How long did it take to get it into your QFF once they said they would give you the 60k?

 

[latin]

Initially, there was some argy bargy as some of the operators argued that we would receive 60,000 "reward" points and that all other later points would be qantas, once we registered to the program. After requesting to speak to their supervisor we were assured that the 60,000 points would be Qantas points. Indeed, when the process was completed within 3-4 weeks, the points were transfered to our Qantas account with no further delay.

 

[BJReplay]

Just in case anyone was wondering do you actually get QFF points...

 

[Rickd]

I can confirm you can earn QFF points, but you must be careful how you do it.

Firstly, posters who note there is no option for QFF direct earn during the application process are correct; you do not choose QFF direct earn during the application, but only after you have received your card, but before you spend on it.


Make sure you:

1. Do not use your card before you have opted in.
2. Opt in to the QFF program before you spend on it.
   1. Activate your card.
   2. On a separate phone call (so the nice Citibank person doesn't get confused), opt into the QFF rewards program. Agree to pay the $49.
3. Once you have your pin, before you spend on your card, set up online access, go online, and check if you're opted in.
   1. Click on the rewards option on the right.
   2. Click on the Browse through Citi Rewards
   3. You should see that you're in the QFF program. If not, ring up and get it fixed.
4. Once you're certain you're in the program, spend on your card!
5. You won't see the points until your first statement - where it will show your spend points (you don't get points for the annual fee, additional cardholder fee, etc), as well as 60,000 bonus points, all listed as QFF points.

The Mrs now has a nice 70k points to transfer to me, which will mean on the trip next year we'll be sitting in J and the rug rats will be in Y.

I did exactly that... opted into QFF before spending on the card. But when I go to the Browse through Citi Rewards page, I see my QFF details listed but also at the top it has "Reward Points Balance: 60,500" -- does that mean these are not QFF points and that they won't get transferred?

 

[BJReplay]

I did exactly that... opted into QFF before spending on the card. But when I go to the Browse through Citi Rewards page, I see my QFF details listed but also at the top it has "Reward Points Balance: 60,500" -- does that mean these are not QFF points and that they won't get transferred?

No, I see a similar thing (though the points balance is less now, as the first statement has been issued, so it is now just showing the points since the first statement).

I think you're all good.

 

[moonee]

No, I see a similar thing (though the points balance is less now, as the first statement has been issued, so it is now just showing the points since the first statement).

I think you're all good.

Hi new member first post, had some problems with getting my bonus points awarded to my QFF, probably best to post the email/complaint I have sent off to Citi Bank:

I am writing to report a grievance in regards to my Citi Platinum Credit Card – Account number xx_xx_xx_
I applied for a Cit Platinum Credit Card on the basis that with new applicants, Citi Bank would award 60,000 bonus points that could be redeemed under Citi Rewards or Citi Qantas Rewards.

On 16 March 2011 I received my Citi Platinum Credit Card along with the terms and conditions of use.

On 19 March 2011 I activated my card by calling 1800 818 008 and speaking with an operator. At the same time I requested that I be enrolled into the Citi Qantas Rewards Program as having read the terms and conditions I was aware that I had to be enrolled prior to any points being awarded.

The male operator activated my card and then transferred me through to another operator in Citi Rewards Program area. I then requested to be enrolled in the Citi Qantas Rewards Program. The operator took note of my Qantas Frequent Flyer Membership number (xx_XXand advised me that there would be an extra $49 fee that would be charged to my card- I agreed to this.

I subsequently used my card to pay for xx_x fees an amount in an excess of $6,000.

On 20 April 2011 I received my first credit card account, showing I had been awarded the 60,000 bonus points plus points for the purchases made.

I could find no mention that the points had been transferred to my Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

I rang Cit Platinum Rewards Program and spoke to Nicole (Operator number 18772) and asked whether the points had been transferred to my Qantas Frequent Flyer account. Nicole advised me that;

• I was not enrolled in the Citi Qantas Rewards Program
• The bonus points could now not be transferred to my Qantas Frequent Flyer account.
• She was not able to assist me other than offer to redeem the points through Citi Rewards
• Logged a formal complaint from me and advised that a supervisor would contact me by phone within 24 to 48 hours.

I extremely angry and disappointed in my dealings with your organisation to date. I have clearly followed all that is required of me to have points, bonus or other wise directly awarded to my Qantas Frequent Flyer account in the first instance (review your telephone voice recordings in relation to my dealings with your operators on 19 March 2011).

I request that Citi Bank immediately transferred the bonus points and other points earned by me to my Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

Please take steps to rectify my grievance at the earliest opportunity.


POST SCRIPT:

Received a call from supervisor saying she had authorised for all the awarded points to be transferred to my QFF next billing period. I asked for this to be confirmed in an email, but apparently they don't have access to email!! I shall have to wait and see.

Be warned - Cit Bank appears to be a very dubious organisation!

 

[Moopere]

Be warned - Cit Bank appears to be a very dubious organisation!

Yes, indeed. They have a reputation for this. Different CSR's on the same day will give you different and conflicting information. I strongly suspect that the call centres are rated on the number of calls they get through per shift because nothing is ever easily rectified with Citi, always involving multiple calls to different CSR's and departments all who have a different view on Bank policy and process.

Its an effort in patience and persistence really. Take notes when on the phone with them including names and employee numbers of people you speak with. Ask for everything to be confirmed by Fax or post (they don't do email ... weird eh?). Anything not so confirmed within days should be immediately followed up by more phone calls and more notes.

You will, usually, get what you want from Citi in the end, but they will try extremely hard to grind down your will to live first.

Lastly, never actually believe anything anyone at citi tells you verbally. Always have them point you to proof of what they are saying on their web site. If they can't do this its usually because they don't know what they are talking about.

 

[BJReplay]

Received a call from supervisor saying she had authorised for all the awarded points to be transferred to my QFF next billing period. I asked for this to be confirmed in an email, but apparently they don't have access to email!! I shall have to wait and see.

Be warned - Cit Bank appears to be a very dubious organisation!

moonee - vital you and anyone else follow the instructions in http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ibank-plat-visa-60-k-28541-10.html#post426344 which include a step of making sure you are actually enrolled in the QFF program before you spend. CitiBank is generally incompetent rather than evil - they're not trying to rip you off, just usually unable to do what you want without asking several times.

The fact that you can check if you are enrolled online is about the only way to be sure - if you ring and ask, you could be told you have been / are enrolled, when you are not.

Good luck with getting those missing points, too.

 

[bazza]

Hi, this might be a stupid question, but what is the spending threshold before you get awaraded the 60,000 points? I can only see that you need a make a purchase, but will any purchase do?

Also, can anyone confirm what the points transfer ratio is from Citirewards into Asia Miles and KF?

Thanks

 

[Alanslegal]

I only transfer my CB to KF, so its 3:2 right now.

 

[burmans]

I only transfer my CB to KF, so its 3:2 right now.

Ditto for me, found the half price ($125) option so it's $125 to buy 40K KF points or $174 to get 60K QF points. Did the sums and for me Krisflyer is better value. That 40K points would get me one way to JFK on a partner airline (Air NZ, UA) in Y (or halfway to Europe on SQ), J and F even better value with KF compared to QFF and availability just kills it on SQ. Plus not happy with my last QF redemption (never been happy with the back seat on the bus).

 

[bazza]

Is there a minimum spend to get the 60,000 bonus points?

 

[lmere12]

Citibank told me this week points awarded after you accumulate $1000 spend within 3 months.

 

[bazza]

Citibank told me this week points awarded after you accumulate $1000 spend within 3 months.

Are you sure thats this promo or the other 50,000 QFF points promo (which confusingly has become 60,000 due to complaints to Citibank)?

The 60,000 promo page says "on first spend" only...

 

[tommelbourne]

(Long time lurker, first time poster)

Am I right in thinking that many of you are applying for the 60k 'Citi Rewards' option (as opposed to the 50k QFF option), and then signing up for the QFF Rewards package when activating the card?

And that this means you get 60k QFF points, and not the 50k of the other offer?

 

[Moopere]

It really sounds like I dodged a bullet with this one. Asked for a low credit limit when I applied, got given Gold rather than Platinum and cancelled that as no good with no free points.

Honestly though, the confusing responses from the Citi CSR's, no-one knowing how the promotion works due, in large part, to badly worded and ambiguous Citi web page, painful experiences trying to deal with the bank at any level.

Really sounds like its just better off left alone.

 

[lmere12]

Are you sure thats this promo or the other 50,000 QFF points promo (which confusingly has become 60,000 due to complaints to Citibank)?

The 60,000 promo page says "on first spend" only...

When I signed up for in March it was 60k but to transfer to QFF the offer was 50k. So yep possibly different

 

[bazza]

(Long time lurker, first time poster)

Am I right in thinking that many of you are applying for the 60k 'Citi Rewards' option (as opposed to the 50k QFF option), and then signing up for the QFF Rewards package when activating the card?

And that this means you get 60k QFF points, and not the 50k of the other offer?

Yes, correct, you will also note that in the online application for both the 50k and the 60k, there is no option to opt into QFF, so either way, you have to call up to add QFF after activating.

 

[burmans]

It really sounds like I dodged a bullet with this one. Asked for a low credit limit when I applied, got given Gold rather than Platinum and cancelled that as no good with no free points.

Honestly though, the confusing responses from the Citi CSR's, no-one knowing how the promotion works due, in large part, to badly worded and ambiguous Citi web page, painful experiences trying to deal with the bank at any level.

Really sounds like its just better off left alone.

Each to there own but I have a copy of the T&C's so I'm not confused and frankly for enough points to go to Hong Kong I'm prepared to put up with a small bit of pain. Not sure why people keep calling the CSR's, in any dispute with the bank the T&C's are what would be relied upon rather than the response of a CSR, a level of poor understanding and ambiguity by a group of generally fairly poorly paid staff is true of virtually any organisation and there are plenty (organisations) with less than satisfactory customer service. The T&C's are pretty unambiguous in my opinion and can/should be relied upon.

 

[hummel]

An update on this one.

Have had the card about a week and just logged in to check my points balance. 60,054 ! Yes I have only spent $54 on the card and already have the points!

Now thats the good news.. the bad news! I had a balance transfer go through off my Westpac Amex and it has appeared in Citi but not been taken off Westpac! :shock: