Citibank Qantas Rewards Program going to $2 = 1 point

[fiBer]

Hi All,

Wondering if I can get some confirmation on this topic....

I currently have the plat card and was just as unhappy about the reduction in its earn rate. Looking to switch to Citibusiness Gold however i'm a little confused...does the 1.25 points mean it is effectively 1.25 pts/$ for QFF transfer? (I know it's a 1=1 points transfer from Citi to QFF, but if it credits at 1.25/$ to Citi then surely that means effectively 1.25pts/$)

Also how have people moved to this? Have they rung citibank direct and threatened to cancel their plat card and they have offered them a business gold card? Unfortunately I wasn't selected to upgrade to Citi Signature/Select

Sorry I just can't seem to get a definitive answer on this one

 

[MAX_1]

Hi All,

Wondering if I can get some confirmation on this topic....

I currently have the plat card and was just as unhappy about the reduction in its earn rate. Looking to switch to Citibusiness Gold however i'm a little confused...does the 1.25 points mean it is effectively 1.25 pts/$ for QFF transfer? (I know it's a 1=1 points transfer from Citi to QFF, but if it credits at 1.25/$ to Citi then surely that means effectively 1.25pts/$)

Also how have people moved to this? Have they rung citibank direct and threatened to cancel their plat card and they have offered them a business gold card? Unfortunately I wasn't selected to upgrade to Citi Signature/Select

Sorry I just can't seem to get a definitive answer on this one

If you do not send your points to Qantas and allow them to be used in the CitiRewards = 1.25 CR points per $1 spend.
If you have your points transfered direct sweep into Qantas then its 1 QFF point per $1 spend.
Go back a bit in this thread and read what CitiBank wrote to clarify the confusion that was occuring.

 

[Stephen65]

Unless there has been a recent change to the terms and conditions of the Citibusiness Gold card which I am not aware of then the earn rate in QFF points remains $1 = 1.25 QFF points. Each dollar spent earns you 1.25 Citi rewards points and these in turn convert at 1:1 for QFF points. The only limitation is that you must convert into QFF points in tranches of 10,000 points.

 

[ero]

Has anyone actually enquired to see if this is legal for Citibank to do this?

No other card (that I have previously used at least, nor many that I have recently investigated) did I have to pay IN ADDITION to accrue for QFF points yet here I pay $49 for Citi and then have them change the accrual rate.

I paid $49 (in July 2011) in good faith for one year (it is called an annual fee) to accrue points toward QFF and, agreed to it as 1:1. Can they really just change the accrual rate during my 12 month period?

I am no longer receiving what I expected so I believe I'm entitled to a refund of the $49... pro-rata, or in full.

Obviously Citibank believe they can just change it, but anyone challenged it with ACCC?

 

[Duffa]

Might be worth a theat. The most you could expect was a pro rata refund of the three months of remaining annual $49 fee.
As far as I'm concerned the ACCC are the biggest waste of space on the planet. Don't even waste the kb to send an email never mind phone. They aren't interested in the individual getting ripped off, just sounding and looking good on Today Tonight.

 

[asdf]

Has anyone managed to get a refund on either annual fee, Qantas rewards fee or both when cancelling citing this change in conditions as a reason? I have a far better offer from another VISA provider so there's no reason for me to stick around with Citibank with this change...

 

[cove]

Your best opportunity here is to follow Stephen65 into the Citi Business card which is 1.25 QF points per dollar on Visa so it is a stand out winner. Try that approach and if it works try to get that smile off your face every time you use this card.

 

[asdf]

I'm sorry, I don't think it was clear to you that I plan to leave Citibank, the Citi Business card doesn't appeal to me at all...

 

[cove]

Can you name a card that is better for QF points earn on Visa?
You can put everything on this Citi Business Visa and the sign on deal should be pretty attractive.
If you are leaving where are you getting a better deal?

 

[asdf]

90% of my spend is on an AMEX, so I'm not too concerned about 1.25:1 vs 1:1 when I've got the Qantas CU card for $0 annual fee...

Citibank's service is appalling and their online banking site is very coughbersome compared to other big providers (QCU isn't great either but they seem to be a backyard operation)

 

[cove]

Yes the Qantas Credit Union card will be an interesting one for us to follow along with your progress. Getting the card fee free first year is helpful plus a point a dollar.

 

[Captain Paul]

Dear Citibank,
Thanks for the information.
In August 2011 you wrote and pleased me with a reduction in my annual fee from $250.00 to $199.00.
Today, you wrote to me and have annoyed me greatly.
Like thousands of others I will be cancelling my Platinum card before the end of March 2012 and taking my $50,000 - $70,000 per annum purchases elsewhere unless you can offer a card with the same insurance benefits, $1.00 to 1 point on QANTAS and at an annual fee of less than $200.00.
I believe you will lose a lot of business. Perhaps not overnight but wait for the cancellations coming thick and fast nearer to 31 March 2012.
Any members have any suggestions of where I should I go?
Regards
Captain Paul

Just an update, I called Citibank, willing to cancel my card. To their credit, they upgraded me to a Signature Card for $199.00 - same as my current Platinum card - stating this was a one off for the next year only. I also save on the supplementary card fee.
Why didn't Citibank do this in the first place to valued Platinum card holders? There is clear value for $200.00 on offer from many other providers with HSBC leading the pack, though their insurance is not as good as Citibank. Citibank allow use of QANTAS points to activate their travel insurance which is highly valued and also allow independent travel cover for supplementary card holders. I am a happy Citibank customer again. Regards Captain Paul

 

[Cynicor]

Just an update, I called Citibank, willing to cancel my card. To their credit, they upgraded me to a Signature Card for $199.00 - same as my current Platinum card - stating this was a one off for the next year only. I also save on the supplementary card fee.
Why didn't Citibank do this in the first place to valued Platinum card holders? There is clear value for $200.00 on offer from many other providers with HSBC leading the pack, though their insurance is not as good as Citibank. Citibank allow use of QANTAS points to activate their travel insurance which is highly valued and also allow independent travel cover for supplementary card holders. I am a happy Citibank customer again. Regards Captain Paul

Isn't this the card most of us got for free, when they upgraded out free platinum cards?

If not, then it's the card above that, and not a bad deal. But I think that's the same card I have currently and have had for several years with no charges for the card or supplementaries...

 

[blu]

I've just stopped using the Citi Plat CC & now waiting for my current points to sweep to QFF prior to considering closing it.

 

[burmans]

Just an update, I called Citibank, willing to cancel my card. To their credit, they upgraded me to a Signature Card for $199.00 - same as my current Platinum card - stating this was a one off for the next year only. I also save on the supplementary card fee.

This is good to know, I have both the Platinum and Citibusiness Gold cards and was going to rin and cancel the plat this month, but if they offered Select or Signature for a low annual fee would probably take it. I had been looking at these cards anayway but was put off by the fees. Would have been OK when the large bonuses were available on application but these don't look so great now!

 

[Stephen65]

So long as the Citibusiness Gold stays at $1=1.25 QFF I am a happy camper. I cancelled my Citi Plat last year because I couldn't see the value in it compared with the Citibusiness Gold.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've just stopped using the Citi Plat CC & now waiting for my current points to sweep to QFF prior to considering closing it.

Really, Qantas should be stepping up and preventing card churn as it hurts their bottom line too.
Think about it - You change cards, see a virgin promotion and suddenly Qantas is losing all those points(revenue) on a monthly basis forever.

The $49 Qantas direct fee is annoying, and while small - every year I think to myself "wonder if my points are better with virgin". Next year I think they will be, and there goes MILLIONS of points for Qantas Frequent Flyer.