Citibank Free For Life Credit Cards and MyCard Terms and Conditions

[JohnGlav]

I think this issue deserves a separate thread.

One that card holders who object to the plans NAB has for the Citibank Fee Free for Life Credit Cards can find more easily.

Link for background discussion context (pages 14 and 15 only):

O

Thread 'Who else still holds the Citibank Free For Life Premier Card?'

Jan 18, 2021

Hi,

I still hold the Citibank free for life card from ages ago - it has been upgraded over the years and is currently a Citibank Word Premier Mastercard. Its reward program is not very good, and I only use it for certain small spending (under $20k per year).

Recently I applied for a Citibank card that had a $500 gift card promo signup offer and I was declined. I can't remember the last time I was declined for a card. It could be due to a number of reasons which I would only be guessing (two other premium cards open with not enough income, or Citibank can see my history that I pay my...

• one9
• Replies: 452
• Forum: Citibank

Link to the MyCard Terms and Conditions.
https://www.cdn.citibank.com/v1/aug...edit-Card-TCs-Other-Important-Information.pdf

On Page 4:
"We may change any of the terms and conditions that apply to your Account, including your Credit Limit, by reducing it, Annual Percentage Rates, fees and charges, the calculation of repayments and other Account features."

Paragraph 11 states:
'We may change the terms and conditions applicable to your Account, including changing any condition, APR and fees and charges.'

A unilateral and absolute discretion to the Bank to charge fees.
This looks a lot like NAB's Citibank Plus playbook.
If there is significant cardholder outcry, expect NAB to try dividing and conquering cardholders by offering a fee waiver.
Which wavier of course is only going to be for a season.

If you are a card holder who objects, feel free to contribute your comments and suggestions.
Together we can aspire and try for a better outcome.

Please do not be offended if you are a doomer, clandestine operative, suppressor of narratives, hornet, wasp and/or bee keeper and are ignored.

 

[aikman]

It's all speculation at this stage.

 

[JohnGlav]

Unfortunately it is not speculation.

I wish you were correct.

Link to the MyCard Terms and Conditions.
https://www.cdn.citibank.com/v1/aug...edit-Card-TCs-Other-Important-Information.pdf

 

[JohnGlav]

Hat tip to Wyler.

"Then wait until we use it".

If you are a Citibank Fee Free for Life Credit Card holder and object to the new MyCard terms and conditions, then we need to refrain from using (perhaps even activating) the new MyCard.

The moment we use it, NAB will have a legal argument that we have accepted the new MyCard terms and conditions.

I'm guessing that NAB may even have slipped a 'deemed acceptance' of the terms and conditions sentence or paragraph somewhere in the document.

That's what I would do in my old Corporate Counsel role.

Make no mistake, this is the tail end of a carefully orchestrated campaign by NAB's decision makers undertaken with the support of their corporate counsel and external lawyers of the highest calibre.

The pushback by cardholders who object needs to begin now.

In October 2025 before the new MyCard is used.

 

[CaptJCool]

Fee free for life

NJ man has flown 23 million miles with $290K lifetime pass: ‘Best investment of my life’

“I just really love everything about flying.”

nypost.com

Here’s how to honour the deal

However, seems the free deal at Citibank got them plenty of market share, boosted the sales price and leaves the new owner NAB stuck with a portfolio of “unprofitable accounts.
“
At the time it was announced I had a Citibank card paying a 50% annual fee so didn’t apply. It reflects the loyalty tax paid by long term customers who get zero ….

 

[Phillippe M]

I am trying to work out if I should transfer my points out of there before the change over.

 

[mokuni]

I am trying to work out if I should transfer my points out of there before the change over.

I am Cant risk not having it with the lack of information.

 

[JohnGlav]

Dear [John]

Blah Blah Blah

"We confirm that the account has $0 annual fee and when your account is migrated to MyCard Premier, the $0 annual fee remains unchanged unless we advise you otherwise."

Blah Blah Blah
UNLESS WE ADVISE YOU OTHERWISE.

Not a conspiracy theory.

 

[CaptJCool]

Dear [John]

Blah Blah Blah

"We confirm that the account has $0 annual fee and when your account is migrated to MyCard Premier, the $0 annual fee remains unchanged unless we advise you otherwise."

Blah Blah Blah
UNLESS WE ADVISE YOU OTHERWISE.

Not a conspiracy theory.

The citi app died today so the no annual fee for life is
likely on “life support”

 

[liveinsydney]

MyCard App is available in Apple Store.
Just downloaded it but it’s not usable yet.

 

[AIRwin]

 

[liveinsydney]

.

 

[sydney]

Following as curious whether they'll charge a fee. Will close account if they do.

 

[JohnGlav]

I have received a lengthy written reply from NAB in response to my letters.
They have confirmed in writing that they "will begin charging annual fees on MyCard accounts" as part of the transition.
They acknowledged my experience and have offered to pay me a goodwill payment to rectify the situation and restore my trust in NAB.
I appreciate NAB's reply and the thought that has gone into it.
I hope cardholders will find this information helpful when they consider what course of action is best for them.
I extend my thanks to others in this discussion, like LEGOMAN, who have provided thoughtful and helpful contributions.
I am sure I've forgotten to acknowledge others (and for that I apologize).

 

[sydney]

I have received a lengthy written reply from NAB in response to my letters.
They have confirmed in writing that they "will begin charging annual fees on MyCard accounts" as part of the transition.
They acknowledged my experience and have offered to pay me a goodwill payment to rectify the situation and restore my trust in NAB.
I appreciate NAB's reply and the thought that has gone into it.
I hope cardholders will find this information helpful when they consider what course of action is best for them.
I extend my thanks to others in this discussion, like LEGOMAN, who have provided thoughtful and helpful contributions.
I am sure I've forgotten to acknowledge others (and for that I apologize).

They acknowledged your experience? What experience do they mean? The free for life card that will now be charged a fee?

 

[JohnGlav]

They acknowledged your experience? What experience do they mean? The free for life card that will now be charged a fee?

I guess so. I asked them for assurances that the fee free arrangements would continue unchanged the way they have traditionally been. They were not able to provide those assurances.

 

[Happy Dude]

And what payment "rectifies your situation"? If they are not going to waive any annual fee on the MyCard in the future, then your situation has not been rectified. They've short-changed you and you've either settled for less or grabbed something on the way out.

For the life of me I can't think of any reason to contact them and ask if they're going to start charging fees. Wait till they do it, then have the argument. Strewth.

 

[JohnGlav]

And what payment "rectifies your situation"? If they are not going to waive any annual fee on the MyCard in the future, then your situation has not been rectified. They've short-changed you and you've either settled for less or grabbed something on the way out.

For the life of me I can't think of any reason to contact them and ask if they're going to start charging fees. Wait till they do it, then have the argument. Strewth.

This is/was the risk of waiting while having used their card.

Extracted from page 7 of their credit card terms and conditions document.

You’ll accept our offer and agree to the terms of
your credit contract:
• when you or an Additional Cardholder uses
your Account or uses or activates your Card
(this includes us debiting your Account to
process a Balance Transfer requested by you);
or
• by following an acceptance method we may
make available after you submit an online
application. We’ll let you know if we make this
acceptance method available.

I used the word "deemed" or "deeming provisions" to refer to this kind of legal mechanism in earlier posts.

Elsewhere in their terms and conditions document - e.g. page A38 - they reserve to themselves the right to charge fees and charges whenever they see fit.

I work with these kind of provisions all the time.

Do these provisions mean they will win against cardholders? No, but it gives them arguments to muddy the waters.

In my view, the best time to approach them was before the date Citibank transitioned to MyCard -i.e. before these MyCard terms and conditions became operative.

 

[hueofwind]

I have complained this to them via their online chat and requested them to keep the original T&C to waive my annual fee but they declined it. Their customer assistant replied:

"When we migrated to the new MyCard system, some card features and fees changed, and these updates were communicated to all customers in May 2025. Unfortunately, the annual fee on your current card cannot be waived."

This is ridiculous and they are lying! They never communicated with me! All they did was sending an email telling me that the card would be migrated to MyCard with a link to the T&C of MyCard. Actually their MyCard includes several types with different annual fee, including the MyCard Simplicity with Zero fee. They never explicitly told me that my card would be matched to MyCard Rewards which has an annual fee of $199. This is very dodgy! I didn't know my card would be converted to MyCard Rewards until it was migrated to MyCard system in the end of Nov!

I have already submitted a complaint to AFCA for them to investigate such a scandal. Please all of you who are also concerned with this issue join me by filing complaints with AFCA!

Below is the response received via online chat after I told them I had filed an AFCA case.

• Hi xx_XX. This is Japhet from Chat Customer Service. We apologies for the delay. Let me assist you with your concern.
• To answer your query, the standard Annual Fee for MyCard Rewards is $199. Also, no decision has been made to change any rates or fees at this stage. Under our Terms & Conditions, we reserve the right to amend rates and/or fees; however, any changes would be communicated to impacted customers, and we would ensure that the required notice is provided in accordance with current regulations.
• I also understand that you have filed an AFCA case. This is under review and someone from our Complaints Team will contact regarding this concern. Again, we apologise for the inconvenience.