CitiBusiness Gold 'no longer available'

[pangwen]

When is the transition effective from? Immediately, as per all of the other recent enhancements?

 

[lakun]

Hi

I have had a CBG for almost a year and just received a letter today saying it will be cancelled in 3 months time, and i will be automatically migrated to Signature on the same annual fee ($149) instead of the usual Siganture fee ($395). They have listed the benefits of both cards and everything is better (eg 1.25 points per dollar for CBG vs 1.5 points per dollar for Signature, $250k limit on CBG vs Unlimited, etc), except the only benefit I want retained - the ability to transfer to QFF is gone. WIth the Signature i can only transfer now to Velocity and KF (instead of all 3 schemes on CBG).

I am a Qantas points hog and the ability to transfer to Qantas was the only reason I got the card. I have spent $120k in 10 months on the card, and my card expiry is late 2015 so anyone with a long expiry date - watch out - it doesnt mean your card cant be cancelled by Citibank on a whim.

I tried calling but they say there is nothing they can do.

Any help/advice?

I might call back tomorrow and ask to speak to someone more senior.

Regards
Lakun

 

[pangwen]

Hi

I have had a CBG for almost a year and just received a letter today saying it will be cancelled in 3 months time, and i will be automatically migrated to Signature on the same annual fee ($149) instead of the usual Siganture fee ($395). They have listed the benefits of both cards and everything is better (eg 1.25 points per dollar for CBG vs 1.5 points per dollar for Signature, $250k limit on CBG vs Unlimited, etc), except the only benefit I want retained - the ability to transfer to QFF is gone. WIth the Signature i can only transfer now to Velocity and KF (instead of all 3 schemes on CBG).

I am a Qantas points hog and the ability to transfer to Qantas was the only reason I got the card. I have spent $120k in 10 months on the card, and my card expiry is late 2015 so anyone with a long expiry date - watch out - it doesnt mean your card cant be cancelled by Citibank on a whim.

I tried calling but they say there is nothing they can do.

Any help/advice?

I might call back tomorrow and ask to speak to someone more senior.

Regards
Lakun

Thanks for confirming the timeframe - that's good, as it gives me some time to reach my 10000 point threshold and transfer points out to QFF. I will probably keep the card if they offer me the deal, but I've been saving for a QF redemption recently, so I'd like to get the 10000 points when I can.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Hi

I have had a CBG for almost a year and just received a letter today saying it will be cancelled in 3 months time, and i will be automatically migrated to Signature on the same annual fee ($149) instead of the usual Siganture fee ($395). They have listed the benefits of both cards and everything is better (eg 1.25 points per dollar for CBG vs 1.5 points per dollar for Signature, $250k limit on CBG vs Unlimited, etc), except the only benefit I want retained - the ability to transfer to QFF is gone. WIth the Signature i can only transfer now to Velocity and KF (instead of all 3 schemes on CBG).

I am a Qantas points hog and the ability to transfer to Qantas was the only reason I got the card. I have spent $120k in 10 months on the card, and my card expiry is late 2015 so anyone with a long expiry date - watch out - it doesnt mean your card cant be cancelled by Citibank on a whim.

I tried calling but they say there is nothing they can do.

Any help/advice?

I might call back tomorrow and ask to speak to someone more senior.

Regards
Lakun

I note the website states you have option for QFF for a $49 fee and reduced points earning; not sure if this option is available under this enhancement.

The question is whether it is more worthwhile to earn two Citi points per $ than pay $49 and earn one Qff point per $?

Of course the Citi points are not able to be used for RTWs which is my main points spending pattern.

Decisions, decisions?

JV

 

[Inver]

I note the website states you have option for QFF for a $49 fee and reduced points earning; not sure if this option is available under this enhancement.

The question is whether it is more worthwhile to earn two Citi points per $ than pay $49 and earn one Qff point per $?

This is where the Citibusiness Gold was so good I transferred points to it from my platinum card and had them converted at no charge at a 1:1 ratio to QFF points. It's going to be sad to give up this card and very frustrating that nothing else from Citibank is suitable.

 

[burmans]

Thanks for confirming the timeframe - that's good, as it gives me some time to reach my 10000 point threshold and transfer points out to QFF. I will probably keep the card if they offer me the deal, but I've been saving for a QF redemption recently, so I'd like to get the 10000 points when I can.

Not sure if lakun's letter is the same as mine but at least in my case you have slightly more time. They say they will be sending me thee new card in September and I then have 90 days to activate it, Citibusiness unable to be used after that so in reality I'd have 5-6 months to use old card.

 

[Franko Costa]

I'm in the September boat - here is the link to the website they are promoting: CITIBANK AUSTRALIA

 

[deka2]

My wife and I each have A CBG with October and January renewal dates.

Yet to receive a letter from them.

 

[Jacques Vert]

After calling the 1300 number on the letter, I have been advised that the CitiBusiness card can be kept if I have an ABN and advise my card is used for business as well as personal use.

It appears that this enhancement may be about clearing out non-business users from this card.

So now I have to consider whether to go with the Signature @ 1.5:$ in Aus, 4:$ os and credit to Citi Rewards, Kris Flyer, Asia miles or Velocity; OR keep the CB @ 1.25:$ with the option to transfer to QFF as well as the others.

What are members thoughts on the value of the Citi Rewards program? I know they have cancelled the PMG and I believe you can't get RTW flights at the normal rate for points? Are the number of points for flight redemptions from Citi points comparable with those required for a Classic or a YASA/JASA?

JV

 

[Inver]

Thanks Jacques that is good news for business users.

 

[Franko Costa]

Has anyone asked if they would offer a discount to the Select?

 

[Inver]

Has anyone asked if they would offer a discount to the Select?

If you receive the letter from Citibank, they will provide the Select card at the same annual fee as the Citibusiness Gold not much but it is $50 saving at least for the first year.

I would ring the helpdesk and ask for the fee to be waived altogether if you have enough transactions going through the card.

 

[burmans]

After calling the 1300 number on the letter, I have been advised that the CitiBusiness card can be kept if I have an ABN and advise my card is used for business as well as personal use.

It appears that this enhancement may be about clearing out non-business users from this card.

Interesting but I have to wonder how many users are actually business users, as far as I can see despite the name it was never actually marketted that way. In my case I do have a company and could therefore decribe myself as a potential business cardholder but it was sold to me as a transfer from my previous gold card, which was always an individual card. I'd suspect they don't end up with many pure business users and then you wonder if its worth having that card in your portfolio.

 

[Yoz]

If you receive the letter from Citibank, they will provide the Select card at the same annual fee as the Citibusiness Gold not much but it is $50 saving at least for the first year.

I would ring the helpdesk and ask for the fee to be waived altogether if you have enough transactions going through the card.

Select is the card with a $700 annual fee - I think you may be referring to the Signature which they're attempting to migrate everyone to

 

[Inver]

Select is the card with a $700 annual fee - I think you may be referring to the Signature which they're attempting to migrate everyone to

Yes my mistake I did mean the signature card.

 

[Franko Costa]

They wouldn't reduce the annual fee on an annual basis for the Select - just a once off deal to $350. I tired to argue that I'm saving $250 with the Signature from the CBG and they should apply those savings to the Select, but no dice

 

[Yoz]

They wouldn't reduce the annual fee on an annual basis for the Select - just a once off deal to $350. I tired to argue that I'm saving $250 with the Signature from the CBG and they should apply those savings to the Select, but no dice

Would the sign-on bonus of 60,000 pts apply? Could be worth it for those using KF Miles?

 

[Yoz]

Just got a letter from Citibank thinking it was the dreaded 'please move to the Signature card' but it was just a letter offering three redemption offers:

Offer 1 - 10,000 Reward Points if using Citibank Travel
Offer 2 - Gift Card Bonus (roughly 20% on Myer/Harvey Norman/JB Hifi)
Offer 3 - Up to 20% off Galaxy S4 or 64GB iPad 2

Unsure if it's a targeted campaign or not - but if you're contemplating redeeming for giftcards or the aforementioned electronics you may want to hold off to see if you get anything in the mail

 

[wafliron]

Any evidence of Citibusiness Gold cardholders retiring this card themselves? With my anniversary coming up next month have just told Citibank I'm very tempted to close this card down unless they can offer something, not an idle threat though, I really am starting to think this card is marginal in terms of attractiveness.

I guess this sort of thing will always be YMMV, but I really can't understand your logic in thinking the CBG would be a card anyone would want to retire.

It is (was?) the only non-direct-sweep QF Visa/Master card left (that I know of), so you have flexibility between QF / SQ / VA redemptions, the 1.25 QF pt per dollar earn rate is the best around for any QF Visa/Master card, and the annual fee is relatively cheap for the benefits it provides (the aforementioned, plus insurance and other bits and bobs).

b) ironically, arrived home today to a mail saying they are closing CitiBusiness down and will be getting a Signature at same annual fee ($149). Need to consider but may accept that offer.

Interesting info, thanks for sharing. I haven't gotten my letter yet, but I assume it'll arrive soon. I wonder what they're going to offer me, given I also hold a Select card already (and hence a Signature upgrade makes no sense).

After calling the 1300 number on the letter, I have been advised that the CitiBusiness card can be kept if I have an ABN and advise my card is used for business as well as personal use.

Thanks also for sharing, I'm very glad to hear this - means I can keep my card

 

[anchew]

Interesting. I haven't received the letter yet and have just been charged the annual fee. I'll likely cancel if they take it away from me