Citibank upgrading fee free Gold to fee free Platinum

[BiziBB]

yes, everything remains (even the expiry date). The only changed is the card number.

I'm not a big spender (~7K since I had my free Gold this May). I received my Platinum upgrade offer this week and activated it right away

I've had to replace cards due to lost/stolen cards, so the expiry dates don't match the current cards. In fact, the Plat cards have a 3-yr validity date from Sept 08. That's an increase from 2-3yrs in my case.

As mentioned earlier, the Filipina call centre staff are now trained to push much harder on the upgrade offers.

I was offered (and had to decline 3-4 times, after many counter arguments) the following:

• Increase in balance (how many times now? ) to 28k
• $37 lost/stolen feature
• Balance transfer
• A cheque (in lieu of balance transfer) of cash at 9.9%

all while waiting at least 10-15min while the activation of my card & supplementary card went through.

It's nice to get a plat card, free for life, finally. It took a while and is interesting that everyone is getting the offer.

I wonder if existing Plats will be offered a 'new' level similar to the Chairman level for US Citi cards?

 

[BJReplay]

Got the upgrade as well on Monday, and was going to check here before upgrading, but ended up just activating, and asking the questions on the phone:

Yes, fee free for the life of the "new" account platinum.

Yes, all charges against the old card will be accepted automatically and show up on the new card.

Will get new PIN, and need that to set up online access.

Yes, can still access old card online to see statements (since I was paperless).

Yes, old reward points still available to transfer.

Yes, automatic direct debit payment of my old card will carry accross to the new card - this is the one thing I think will fail.

Interestingly enough, I had just cancelled an Amex Gold Card I'd had for years (roughly $50k spend per annum) because they wouldn't waive / reverse fees on it for the first time - so very pissed off. Still have QF Gold Amex - checked the fee date on that (Jan), and will call in Dec and cancel if they won't agree to waive. I know the points ratio is good, but getting tired of refusal or surcharge by merchants (which I understand, of course) and having to fall back to the lower points ratio visa anyway, and fees was the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[austrider]

Also just got mine. Some observations:

* I think Citibank is still in the process of sending them out, so be patient if you still haven't got yours. My sister got hers last week, and I've just got mine.

* For me, the card number and expiry date etc all changed.

* During activation, the CS assured me that all direct debit will be transferred, and canceled my old gold card. I seriously doubt that as it never happened before - ie I've always had to call the merchants myself. Will wait to see what payment bounces and then update them.

 

[Flashback]

Hopefully when I arrive back in PER later today, I will have one waiting for me also... Then I'll have a Plat CB and Plat AMEX

 

[jingles]

The old card can still be 'seen' on Citi internet banking. However, you won't see any new charges showing up on the account for items charged to either the Gold or the Platinum after you register the Platinum. You need to separately register the Platinum with a new username.

How useless, surely it cannot be that hard for them to put the Plat card under the same user name.

I do have another question.
The gold card has a QFF points transfer of 10,000 minimum. Does this still apply on the Plat card?

 

[austrider]

How useless, surely it cannot be that hard for them to put the Plat card under the same user name.

I do have another question.
The gold card has a QFF points transfer of 10,000 minimum. Does this still apply on the Plat card?

I'm surprise to hear a separate ID is required. When I got my fee-free Gold I could link that account with an existing ReadyCredit account - unfortunately I cannot recall how I did it.

I will wait till my new PIN arrives and try it myself via their site.

Re: 10k pt min, that still stands. (it's their standard T&C).

 

[austrider]

Difference b/w Citibank Gold / Pt

I just had a conversation with my sister regarding the differences and thought I'd share some useful info I digged up.

Apart from the card colour, the biggest difference I feel is the insurance benefits. Essentially:

* Extended warranty
* Transit Accident
* Significant increase in claim limits to the Int. Travel Insurance and the Purchase cover insurance

Detailed policies here:

Zurich Financial Services - Credit Card Insurances

 

[SIA1A]

* During activation, the CS assured me that all direct debit will be transferred, and canceled my old gold card. I seriously doubt that as it never happened before - ie I've always had to call the merchants myself. Will wait to see what payment bounces and then update them.

I've had the new Platinum for almost a month. I didn't notify merchants about the new card number for direct debit but Citi online banking shows that the charges are coming through on the new card number. My guess is that your old Gold cardnumber will continue to work until the card expiry date.

I haven't tried using the old card at a swipe terminal since the changeover - must try it some time to see if the card itself has actually been cancelled.

 

[Cyberdog100]

how do i get free offer from citi bank? i applied gold card about 4 months ago and i m paying about 119$ per year .....

I thought Citi were pretty strict that you cannot apply for another card, credit limit increase or upgrade unless you've had the account for at least 6months, can anyone confirm?

I got my upgrade a week ago, I was a bit surprised as well. Initially I thought it was a sweetener thrown in since I'd threatened to leave several months ago over fees charged to me. I paid my statement 1 day late, actually paid the evening it was due since I'd forgotten to enter a reminder into my phone as I usually do! I got charged the $40 late payment fee and about $60 worth of interest! Over an hour of arguing later, I had everything reversed, after threatening to close my account if it wasn't resolved on the spot (the guy wanted to get someone to call me back in 3-5 days!!).

Then I found other friends who i'd told about the fee free Gold were also getting the upgrade, so obviously its not Citibank trying to be nice to me, although it was a nice thought at first!

It certainly does sound fishy, especially the guy who got upgraded from Silver to Plat, that's just very strange!

Like everyone else I too asked several times whether it would in fact be fee free for life, interestingly at first (first few times) the girl wouldn't say yes, she kept repeating that everything will remain the same as before. So I kept asking until I got it out of her that yes it will be fee free for life. So, hopefully that will be the case.

Im like others here, this is my secondary card and I currently use an Amex Rewards Maximiser, which I got the fee waived on for the second year Not sure what i'll be doing after April with the Amex changes coming through though.

In any case if Citibank does decide to turn dodgy and start charging fees, I can envisage a mass exodus of customers for them!! I just got a Wizard clear last week, I can always use that as a backup in the meantime!

 

[beardoc]

Still no upgrade here, but I'm hoping that one will arrive.

I'm still a little unclear about whether I can still keep the Gold Card - I would suspect that it's all to do with the merchant fees that can be charged between the Gold Card and the Platinum card - when I enquired into a merchant facility recently, the fees that I was quoted were 0.68% for a standard card electronically processed vs 1.23% for Visa Premium/1.25% for Mastercard Premium - that's almost double the fee.

I am therefore worried that someone might refuse a platinum card or charge more of a surcharge for it, leaving me without a rewards based credit card to pay for things.

I don't find it reasonable that I can only keep the Gold card until the current card expires (mine expires next year).

Has anyone that has talked to Citibank been able to get an assurance that they can keep the Gold Card as well?

 

[oz_mark]

I've had the new Platinum for almost a month. I didn't notify merchants about the new card number for direct debit but Citi online banking shows that the charges are coming through on the new card number. My guess is that your old Gold cardnumber will continue to work until the card expiry date.

I haven't tried using the old card at a swipe terminal since the changeover - must try it some time to see if the card itself has actually been cancelled.

In my experience with Citibank, when you upgrade cards, transactions on the old card will still come through.If the change of card was due to a security cancellation, they will not come through.

 

[Flashback]

Nothing has showed up for me yet...

 

[FrankC]

I can confirmed that I haven't got the upgrade, as I received a replacement card with the chip on it - and it's gold. Don't think they will send me that and then send me another card in a short time.

Anyone in the same non-upgrade batch?

 

[jingles]

I can confirmed that I haven't got the upgrade, as I received a replacement card with the chip on it - and it's gold. Don't think they will send me that and then send me another card in a short time.

Anyone in the same non-upgrade batch?

My partner who uses the card regularly just received a chipped gold card yet i who have rarely used the gold card received a Plat upgrade.

Might be worth giving them a call to see what they say, id be interested to hear what they have to say.

 

[asdfghjkl32]

I've just got my Platinum card, and 2 other supplementary cards for my sister and mum. Called the centre to make sure I don't pay extra, customer service was kind and patient. I don't pay any extra for the card but with more benefits.

My other sister has got a Silver one, heard from this thread, silver also got upgraded to Platinum, somehow, my sister hasn't get any mails yet.

By the way, the sticker on the card (Reminder to activate) was so hard to peel off, I tried to use the hair dryer to heat the card up, hope to make it easier to come off, but melted the card, LOL...... not sure still usable.

 

[austrider]

I can confirmed that I haven't got the upgrade, as I received a replacement card with the chip on it - and it's gold. Don't think they will send me that and then send me another card in a short time.

Anyone in the same non-upgrade batch?

Maybe it's time to give them a call if you've received a replacement gold card.

Try call the gold card customer service number? Alternatively the the Pt customer number is 1800 818 008.

 

[netjock]

Thanks for everyone's contribution. I'm going to add my 2c worth and hope others can express their opinions.

I got the Platinum card to upgrade from a Gold fee free for life. I've read it over and over then jumped onto this forum and obviously a lot of people have got their upgrade letters.

Regarding the fee free for life status. I got a bit suspicious when I got the letter of course. I believe nothing has changed because although it uses "currently $0 per year" the asterisk (*) also explains in fine print "the annual fee you pay is the same as your gold card."

If they were to change the annual fee they would have to send something with the letter to change the T&Cs of the Gold Card first because the upgrade depends wholly on the T&Cs of the Gold Card we signed up for.

The back of the letter has this big bit about T&Cs of the insurance we are upgrading to. Citibank is going to open up a can of worms if they are going to start charging a fee because legally they would need to send you a whole new PDS to con you into agreeing to which should come in a reasonable time frame as the upgrade proposal. If they don't and they try to impose a fee down the track we can go back to the original PDS and fight them.

Best to keep your original fee free for life letter and also this letter which states "annual fee you pay on your new Platinum Card is the same as you pay on your Gold Card" (which for the record is $0 forever)

Re: premium cards. That is just a total nightmare. Merchants take Visa/Mastercard but how can you distinguish between normal/premium. Counter staff would have to have a check list to tick off all the premium cards in the business.

I'd hate to have someone say "oh you've got a gold/platnium card with travel insurance, rewards etc. Sorry we don't take them. I'm sure you spend a lot of money sir/madam but we're not interested unless you want a 1% surcharge." I think it is impossible for online vendors to tell by your credit card number whether you are premium or not?

 

[SIA1A]

Re: premium cards. That is just a total nightmare. Merchants take Visa/Mastercard but how can you distinguish between normal/premium. Counter staff would have to have a check list to tick off all the premium cards in the business.

I reckon this would be straight forward, assuming the card acquirer runs a database check every time a card is swiped - and this happens routinely.

The merchant deal with the acquirer would then automatically add a surcharge to all Amex, Diners and premium Visa/Mcard sales at the POS terminal. Appropriate signs at the merchant's POS would alert customers about this before they select and swipe their cards.

 

[kpc]

Re: premium cards. That is just a total nightmare. Merchants take Visa/Mastercard but how can you distinguish between normal/premium. Counter staff would have to have a check list to tick off all the premium cards in the business.

My old Citibank Gold Visa card (and all my previous Visa cards issued by other banks, I think) started with 4564....which I think signifies the Visa card was issued in Australia.... I note my new Citibank Plat card starts with 4265...maybe this is how they can tell?:?:

 

[SIA1A]

My old Citibank Gold Visa card (and all my previous Visa cards issued by other banks, I think) started with 4564....which I think signifies the Visa card was issued in Australia.

I have a Citi Visa starting with 4312 and Visa cards from other banks starting with 4434 and 4509 - all Australia-issued. 4564 might signify Aus-issued but there are clearly other sequences that Australian issuers are also using.