Citibank Plus - No Fee No Overseas Transaction Fee Account

[JessicaTam]

My card had an expiry of 10/14 as well, and I was heading o/s. I rang Citi a couple of weeks before I left to ask when the card would arrive. They said it had already been sent! In the end they express posted me a new replacement which arrived a couple of days later (no charge). No complaints about Citi from me about fixing this. Even if the original replacement didn't arrive for whatever reason.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Some rules in relation to longish trips(or any for that matter) when needing regular access to local currency:

Rule #1 - have a backup
Rule #2 - see rule #1.

Citibank have a very poor reputation in regard to Customer service - that reinforces rule #1.

I agree with rules 1 & 2.

Rule 3: ring your bank/credit card provider and let them know your travel plans in advance. I did this with Citi and found that there were no problems in any of the countries I visited.

And yes, Citi have a bad reputation but to be fair I have found that they have significantly improved their game over the part couple of months.

 

[anat0l]

Rule 3: ring your bank/credit card provider and let them know your travel plans in advance.

This, +100.

It is fairly simple to do and doesn't take excessively long, but people often do not do it then end up having to sort out unblocking whilst they are overseas, and many times when they are in a compromising position.

 

[Jacques Vert]

This, +100.

It is fairly simple to do and doesn't take excessively long, but people often do not do it then end up having to sort out unblocking whilst they are overseas, and many times when they are in a compromising position.

Totally agree; you explain it so much more eloquently than I. One simple phone call can avoid a lot of issues and increase your security.

 

[Danger]

My card had an expiry of 10/14 as well, and I was heading o/s. I rang Citi a couple of weeks before I left to ask when the card would arrive. They said it had already been sent! In the end they express posted me a new replacement which arrived a couple of days later (no charge). No complaints about Citi from me about fixing this. Even if the original replacement didn't arrive for whatever reason.

Very interesting. Perhaps there is an issue with Citibank, rather than Australia Post.

 

[JessicaTam]

Very interesting. Perhaps there is an issue with Citibank, rather than Australia Post.

Having run my own post office for a few years in the past and having seen the system from the inside AP cops more than its fair share of criticism.

Not saying AP aren't blameless, just I would tend to look elsewhere first.

 

[Grimace1]

Do the Citibank Plus Debit Cards have the contactless technology now? Or are they still behind in times.

 

[Cynicor]

Just got contact less in the latest reissue. I think that is part of why people above have been having card issues/reissues

 

[Grimace1]

Just got contact less in the latest reissue. I think that is part of why people above have been having card issues/reissues

Thanks for that.

I spoke to some guy at the call center who had no idea what paywave/paypass/ contactless was ! :/ Oh well, Got a new card ordered tonight so shall see what comes of it.

 

[SIA1A]

That's perfect moa.

Foreign ATMs that charge for using the CitiBank Plus card:

1. Countries using Direct Charging - only machines on the 'home network' are free - eg. Aus, US (US$1-5), UK;

2. Countries with a Foreigner surcharge - eg. Thailand (THB150-180), Cambodia (~US$3), Philipines (~PHP200), PNG (~PGK20);

3. Unverified by AFF gurus, but beware - Germany, Spain

It seems that Australia is Cat 1. Free for Australians on the Westpac network - but a visiting friend from New York was charged AUD 3 for using her US Citi card in a Westpac ATM recently. A few months ago an identical transaction that she performed at the same Westpac machine in Australia using her US Citicard was free. She then shopped around and discovered that ANZ (unlike Westpac, ANZ is not a Citi network bank) only charges AUD 2/transaction. Go figure.

 

[SIA1A]

An update to the summary of contributions so far (to #474).

When using a CitiBank Plus card in a non-CitiBank Foreign ATM:

....

And, as most would know, Fee-Free ATMs in OZ are:
CitiBank, Westpac, St. George, Bank of Melbourne & BankSA.

...but no longer for US-issued Citicards when used in Australia, it seems.

 

[SIA1A]

I need to pay someone in the US ~$2000USD for a holiday home rental we're using on a trip next year. He's requested a cheque be sent to his address in New York, but I was wondering - would it be cheaper for me to transfer the funds to his account from the CitiPlus account? I haven't drawn up an international cheque before but assume it comes with a $30-50 bank fee, plus it would have a poorer exchange rate wouldn't it? What is the best method of paying this fee? Many thanks.

If he has a US Citibank account you can transfer the funds electronically at nil transaction cost from your Australian Citi account.

Another alternative would be to find a friend in AU who has a US bank account. Or open a US account (eg at Citi) yourself and fund it (fee free) from your AU account - it sounds like you plan to spend some time there so it might be useful to have a US bank while on US soil.

 

[thehound]

Another alternative would be to find a friend in AU who has a US bank account. Or open a US account (eg at Citi) yourself - it sounds ;ike you plan to spend some time there so it might be useful while on US soil.

Great suggestion. What's the best way to go about doing this? Will I need to go into a branch here in order to orchestrate that?

 

[Mr_Orange]

I agree with rules 1 & 2.

Rule 3: ring your bank/credit card provider and let them know your travel plans in advance. I did this with Citi and found that there were no problems in any of the countries I visited.

And yes, Citi have a bad reputation but to be fair I have found that they have significantly improved their game over the part couple of months.

This, +100.

It is fairly simple to do and doesn't take excessively long, but people often do not do it then end up having to sort out unblocking whilst they are overseas, and many times when they are in a compromising position.

I always did this and then forgot on one trip and my credit card got cancelled because Mastercard alerted my bank to possible fraudulent use. That was very inconvenient. I then had the trouble of calling Citi from overseas to inform them of my travel plans in case they got skittish. I now never forget to do it.

I can't recommend this course of action enough. There is nothing wrong with your bank knowing where you are.

 

[RooFlyer]

Myanmar

Both CB Bank and Kanbawza Bank ATMs add a 5,000 kyat (US$5) fee; fx conversion to A$ on the grossed up amount both 99% of spot (XE.com)

 

[Flashback]

No fee in Finland or Estonia.

 

[Major]

Used an ATM from the ASB bank in AKL with no fee

 

[RooFlyer]

Canada. Royal Bank of Canada tell me that my 'card provider' will charge a C$3 fee on withdrawals.

Cancel.

 

[Flashback]

Malta - no fee.

 

[Major]

Not happy with ANZ in downtown WLG. They wanted a $3 fee