Got this email today: Extra Benefits at No Extra Cost Upgrade Your Existing Card With No Change in Annual Fee1 Something great...just got better. Upgrade today to a Citi® Gold AAdvantage® World MasterCard®, With no change in annual fee1 To learn more, call us at 1-800-361-1834. You'll get all the same basic benefits you enjoy now, PLUS: · 24-Hour Concierge Service - We'll make your dinner reservations, purchase tickets to events or coordinate business arrangements for you worldwide. · $1,000,000 Travel Accident Insurance2 - upgrade from $150,000 on your current card, at no additional cost, when you purchase plane, ship, train or bus tickets with the Citi Gold AAdvantage World Mastercard. · Reduced Mileage Awards3 - allows you to fly to select destinations for 5000 fewer miles. · $3,000 Lost Luggage Insurance4 - your checked and carry-on baggage is automatically covered up to $3,000 when you charge your airline tickets to your Citi Gold AAdvantage World Mastercard. · Retail Purchase Protection5 - with Buyers SecuritySM, which protects most purchases against theft and accidental damage for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. And, Extended Warranty5, providing extension of up to one additional year on manufacturers' U.S. warranties of one year or less for purchases on the covered card. · No Pre-Set Spending Limit6 - allows you to go beyond your revolving credit line without incurring over-the-limit fees. · Annual Account Summary7 - call us to enroll and you'll receive summaries at the end of each year to help you prepare your taxes and plan your budget. 1 The standard annual fee for the Citi® AAdvantage® Card is $50. If you currently pay less than the standard fees, your new annual fee for the Citi® Gold AAdvantage® World MasterCard® will be $50. CALL US TO UPGRADE AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TODAY...1-800-361-1834 The only thing that jumps out at me as a potential problem in the future is that there is no preset spending limit ie they will not report a CL in the future? Sounds like Cap One.
The benefits are great, sure, but it's a no-preset-limit card, so the limit reports as $0 and you're always "overlimit" - some folks here have reported that this has hurt their scores. One more thing to be careful of - the way they structure it- there's no "limit" for purchases, but there is a revolving limit. Although they will authorize purchases above that limit (based on your imcome/payment history/credit history), you must pay in full anything over that limit. IF you have a revolving balance from the previous month - you get no grace on new purchases. This is unlike how Diners Club (with ClubPlus) or even Amex Sign & Travel works - with those cards, you keep your grace on all new purchases. Good luck, mj
They have been trying to get me to upgrade to the gold Worldcard since I first opened the AA account. In fact it is written at the bottom of every statement I get...telling me "They are offering me a free upgrade, to accept call this 800#. Then I read this at the bottom: 1 The standard annual fee for the Citi® AAdvantage® Card is $50. If you currently pay less than the standard fees, your new annual fee for the Citi® Gold AAdvantage® World MasterCard® will be $50. So even if I pay less, I get upgraded to the $50 fee card for free huh, and I get screwed on my score because no reported limit...I pass each time.
Thanks for the info. The card is to arrive within a week and my old one will not be cancelled until I activate the new one. I will definitely be trashing it instead of activating it!
I got a similair email, and I called CitiBank to ask them about it. They told me that my credit line would remain the same, and they would continue reporting it. Here's the text from the email with the footnote: · No Pre-Set Spending Limit4 - allows you to go beyond your   revolving credit line without incurring over-the-limit fees. 4 No pre-set spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Each charge that causes your new balance to exceed your revolving credit line will be evaluated based on account usage and performance, other account relationships with us, if applicable, and your experience with other creditors. You must pay in full each month any amount that exceeds your revolving credit line. I will also be getting a card with a new number, but the rep said that the history transfers to the new card. They also reduced my APR by 2.5% with the upgrade. ellen
Ellen, This is from mj'spost: IF you have a revolving balance from the previous month - you get no grace on new purchases. This is unlike how Diners Club (with ClubPlus) or even Amex Sign & Travel works - with those cards, you keep your grace on all new purchases. Do you know if this is true? Also, did you have to ask for the rate decrease?
My friend got approved for the World AAPlat. Didn't really understand about the whole credit limit reporting until I explained it to him. He wanted the 7500 bonus miles, even though he had another great Citi card. It is easy to get addicted to miles. He understands now, though, that he had better pay the balance in full BEFORE it is due if he doesn't want to hurt his scores. Citi is my second favorite credit card. It irritates me though, that creditors have such disregard for our scores. Actually, I'm afraid that it is more malicious than that. They WANT our scores to be artificially lower to keep away the competition. All of this credit stuff is so arcane, you almost have to become an expert to understand it, so no wonder our legislators are clueless. If they really understood what was happening, I want to believe they would do something about it. I still pine for my lost innocence. I can't believe how naive I was. Thank goodness for this board. (even if they are watching
Love, I don't know the answer to your first question about grace period. I didn't ask for the rate reduction, she just gave it to me. I think before I activate the new card, I will call CitiBank again to get confirmation from a second CSR that limit will be reported and history will transfer to the new card. ellen
Please confirm this fact and let us know a month or so after you get the card. Thanks for the info. -Peace, Dave
Well, the card has started reporting, and without a credit limit. However, my score did not drop. Originally posted by Ellen I got a similair email, and I called CitiBank to ask them about it. They told me that my credit line would remain the same, and they would continue reporting it. They told me the same thing.
I had the Gold card and it didn't report a limit. Love why don't you upgrade to Platinum Select? Call retention and ask them what they can do for you. When they ask if you're thinking of leaving Citi, say no, but you are reviewing your options.
