My sig other got an offer that Citi will change the existing Choice card (that's never used) to a Plat Select with 10.49 purch, 19.99 cash adv rate. No annual fee. 20-25 day grace. This is for a person with high 700/ low 800 scores. No balances ever kept but I still like to negotiate good rates in case. Now: 1. Is citi one of those that will sneak the grace from 25 to 20 hoping to catch a late payment? 2. The cash adv rate sucks and the prime + 4.99 is ok for now but later that rate could suck. Suggestions on the rates? fixed? lifetime? cash advance? do they have a 9.9 across the board like Cap1? 3. Any chance, since I wrote off a citi account in a bk but am NOT on the blacklist that I could be added as an AU? 4. If so, would my AU status (with all that Choice card aging) show? 5. Will Choice aging go with the card or not? 6. Who do I escalate to for rates? Retention? Citi isn't one of my cards so I'm unfamiliar. I'm searching old threads but would like to accomplish this before I hit another birthday. there are a LOT of Citi threads. Advice
I suggest he apply for a citibank platinum select, with the cool low intro APR, and BT, then merger what he has into that. With that scoring he should have no problems.
Well, maybe I wasn't clear enough. Citi is going to switch it to Plat select unless a form is sent in NOT TO. So switching isn't an issue. They want to change the card from Choice to Plat Select. It's a way to generate some business on the card, I think. That card stays in a drawer for emergencies and fortunately we've used it not at all in a few years. But I looked at the Plat Select terms and was unimpressed. My bad credit history and good payments and relationship got me 9.9 no hassle with Cap1. Just proving it's an odd world. Regardless, since I'm supposed to be the one who knows about credit, I'm trying to figure out what's the best rate, who to talk with etc. And I'm still searching the board... and searching and searching. LOTS of Citi threads.
ok. we just talked with Citi. Sure enough. the Plat Select offer is worse than the current Choice card that Citi bought out. Choice cards have the same interest rate on purchases and cash advances, Plat Select has prime + 4.99 and 19.99 cash advance. She did verify retention can do fixed interest rates. So she reduced the interest rate in the interim for good will and put a request for a line increase. there will be a callback on Tues or so and I'll have him talk with retention.
Marie, I think Sam was saying that your SO may want to apply for a new Plat Select with the 0% BT @ 9 months and then combine his existing one with that. The "go to" on the new Plat. Select is about prime + 4.99 anyway and you get the benefit of an awesome BT offer with which you can, if for no other reason, take the BT check (made out to your SO, if he chooses) and stick it in a MMA/CD somewhere. Pay Citi the minimum and keep the yield. Long story short - if it's better terms you want - your SO may get better terms with a *new* card without losing his current credit line. And, then when the 0% BT rate expires, he can get the 4.9% for life BT rate for existing card members. Note, his current account would be closed and he'd lose the history of that account if he merged it with a new one. But if you want to work with the current card alone: Transferring to retention (in my experience) is nearly impossible unless you have a great payment history, credit report, AND hefty payment history. But maybe Sam, with his P+0.9%, can give you pointers on how to get to retention. Regular CS took me from P+7.99 to P+3.99 to P+2.99 on the purchases in less than 5 months. Others have P+1.9 and P+0.9. And one person here did get it changed to 9.99 fixed. I'm not as bold as you to try for the cash advance reductions, so I have no clue about that. Credit line increases come about every 4-5 months based on excellent account history as noted above.
I'm guessing we'll keep the choice card and just take a credit line increase. with choice, the purchase apr is the same as the cash advance apr automatically so it's a better deal. Put in a line increase request and had to give new info etc which was fine. Last info they had was from 1993. The card sits in a drawer mostly... but the rep we talked with today took it to prime + 4.99. I was a bit irritated they wanted to switch the card to a higher interest rate card but with the words "platinum" on it I bet most people just do it. 10+ increase in cash advance apr. if he did nothing. Nice. Not very impressed so far, I must say. He doesn't really want another card. He uses the Amex and MBNA Quantum. Never once ever carried a balance unless it's a 0% deal. Good influence on me I definitely have a real issue with their ploy to increase the rates. they made it look like an offer for a "Hey, we've noticed you don't use the card... how about this enticement" deal. but I didn't think they issued the Plat Select with only a 1500 limit. odd. do you guys know if citi au's get reported?
I don't know, but to answer your earlier question about screening authorized users for BK: I don't *think* so. They don't advertise an internal AU blacklist system like AmEx does on it's website. Hopefully others with this experience can comment.
Marie, Choice Visa was a long time ago back in old days when Citibank used to have Visa. Citibank has already changed their grace period days from 25 days to 20 days couple of years ago. I don't think you're going to hava ny problems because you can make payments online. Cash Advance rate always high for all Citibank cards even purchase rate is low. Citibank get rid of Choice Visa because they're no longer to carry Visa and they don't issue any Visa Card themeselves except Citibank USA and the Associates National Bank. Citibank USA is not Citbank SD. Ron.
