CitiBusiness Gold 'no longer available'

[vertisol]

I am only using mine for QFF earn so will be cancelling it. I have the AMEX Plat card as well whihc gives me 1:1 2:1 or 3:1 points depending on what I buy.

I've applied for the J* Plat card to pick up the 30,000 points bonus though.

 

[equus]

What exactly is Citibank looking for when they ask about business details regarding the ABN?

They are probably covering themselves from any possibility of Consumer Credit provisions applying. It is called a business card, you supply an ABN, and tell them some business details. You will have no chance of trying to use any consumer protection mechanisms (hardship provisions etc) against them.

All just a level of due diligence on their part, and possibly a lessening of protections for the card holder.

 

[SC9]

Got the upgrade letter last week to Platinum - honestly think this is a downgrade from airline miles transfer perspective, be it QF or KF. Will ring them up to see if there's any chance to get the Signature deal at $149 annual (unlikely).

Anyone that got offered Platinum, managed to score Signature upgrade yet?

Plan B is to close the card in Sept/Oct, and sign-up a new QF1:1 card:
Woolies EDR - 16K bonus
HSBC QF Plat - 20K bonus
J* Plat - 30K bonus

 

[Inver]

I received the letter today and will have to quote my ABN to keep it.

 

[trungiez]

Finally got the dreaded letter but was offered the signature card..

No ABN here so will miss the citibusiness gold.

 

[greenfrog86]

Finally got the dreaded letter but was offered the signature card..

No ABN here so will miss the citibusiness gold.

How does the signature card compare with the citibusiness gold?

I cant horde points in citireward then transfer when needed like before can I?

1. look through this thread - you'll see that a member has kindly prepared a table for comparison purposes

2. look at the Citibank website...

You'll pretty quickly see all the details, but to save you the effort - yes you can warehouse your points with Citi and transfer them when you are ready

 

[gumpy]

Get an ABN. Takes 5 minutes and it is free. You have nothing to lose and your CBG card to gain.

Hi is there an online way to apply?

Also what are the on going costs for keeping a dormant company open?

 

[mick]

Hi is there an online way to apply?

Also what are the on going costs for keeping a dormant company open?

Just go to the Australian Business Register at http://abr.gov.au and work through the info and questions. It doesn't look like there are any ongoing costs of keeping an ABN.

I started to look at getting an ABN, but I'm not entitled to one and I figured that keeping the CBG just for the benefit of an extra 0.25pts/$ and warehousing for QFF, I'm better off to just say "so long and thanks for all the fish" and switch my non-Amex spend to my EDR card, which I have fee-free at the moment. I realise there are others on here who have different circumstances and so keeping the CBG for them is a good idea, but not for me.

The other consideration I had was that Citi aren't actively promoting the card, which probably means it will be relaunched with "enhancements", which will almost certainly adjust the QFF earn rate. The T&Cs will prevent them from making the changes without warning, but I think it's inevitable. Just my two cents' worth, anyway.

 

[dji]

I was offered a Signature card but not sure whether to opt for the Citibank Rewards or the Qantas Rewards Programs, any thoughts?

 

[cove]

If you are wanting to travel overseas put the points earn into a warehouse and transfer them as needed to Kris Flyer to avoid the 3 year expiry. SQ have availability but like Qantas economy flights are poor redemptions based on the charges.

 

[lmere12]

I received the letter this week advising of change and transferring to Citibank Platinum. My husband has Select which was acquired without the strict 120k income, we've been with Citi for many years and got it on that basis. Winning

 

[greenfrog86]

Got the upgrade letter last week to Platinum - honestly think this is a downgrade from airline miles transfer perspective, be it QF or KF. Will ring them up to see if there's any chance to get the Signature deal at $149 annual (unlikely).

Anyone that got offered Platinum, managed to score Signature upgrade yet?

Just called about this and was read some dribble from a script about reviewing their products etc etc and moving people to personal cards etc etc.

I said that's fine but the Platinum card is a piece of junk and is NOT worth the $149 'reduced' fee and that I wanted to understand how I could get the Signature card at a lower annual fee.

He kept saying there's only an offer for Platinum for you... I suggested I would do a limit increase to the Signature minimum if that would help but he said the offer wasn't just based on limit but also spending etc.

After putting me on hold he came back to say that he could put in an application for a Signature upgrade but there would be no $149 annual fee.

I said this was just stupid as I could close my account and reapply in order to get a $199 annual fee for the first year. What about putting me over to Signature and letting me have it for $199 first year instead of $149?

No, I can't do that...

So basically Citibank would rather that I close my card completely and then perhaps if I'm feeling like pulling teeth I can reapply (three months after I close my account because being Citibank there is of course an EXCLUSION PERIOD) as a new customer to get the reduced annual fee.

Well done on losing a high earning 20 something who is aiming for Select eventually and has sung your praises to others depsite all of the negative reports people have heard about you Citibank.

A bit short sighted when it is cheaper for you to retain me (and foster a relationship that should expand across your full product range) rather than attract a new customer....

Your reputation for the world's worst customer service and dumb policies/procedures has lived up to its legend.

 

[d00dz]

You cant blame them, the call centre is overseas and this CBG -> Select/Signature/Plat is an offer created by CitiBank Australia.

In other unrelated news...

I found this interesting...

"The maximum 55 days interest free period applies when you pay your balance off in full for two consecutive months. If you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month, the 55 days interest free period does not apply and you are charged interest once you make a purchase."

That means you dont get the interest free period if you dont pay off your cc every month.

 

[gumpy]

Just go to the Australian Business Register at http://abr.gov.au and work through the info and questions. It doesn't look like there are any ongoing costs of keeping an ABN.

I started to look at getting an ABN, but I'm not entitled to one and I figured that keeping the CBG just for the benefit of an extra 0.25pts/$ and warehousing for QFF, I'm better off to just say "so long and thanks for all the fish" and switch my non-Amex spend to my EDR card, which I have fee-free at the moment. I realise there are others on here who have different circumstances and so keeping the CBG for them is a good idea, but not for me.

The other consideration I had was that Citi aren't actively promoting the card, which probably means it will be relaunched with "enhancements", which will almost certainly adjust the QFF earn rate. The T&Cs will prevent them from making the changes without warning, but I think it's inevitable. Just my two cents' worth, anyway.

that is a fair point... might be worth just switching...

No other visa/MC out there that can warehouse for QFF is there?

 

[greenfrog86]

You cant blame them, the call centre is overseas and this CBG -> Select/Signature/Plat is an offer created by CitiBank Australia.

In other unrelated news...

I found this interesting...

"The maximum 55 days interest free period applies when you pay your balance off in full for two consecutive months. If you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month, the 55 days interest free period does not apply and you are charged interest once you make a purchase."

That means you dont get the interest free period if you dont pay off your cc every month.

Fully aware, and my rant is aimed at Citibank.

The key here is that ther is no connection between the call centre and the product team. Those companies that provide the best solutions for customers have a connection between these teams so that someone in the organisation can make decisions and has been empowered to consider the circumstances at hand.

This officer didn't pass me to a supervisor or suggest that they could discuss with someone and get back to me. When I specifically asked if there was *anyone* who could consider this it was a blanket no.

On your other point, the 55 days has been around for a long time and Citibank has been known for this 'feature' as it makes paying interest *very very painful* should you not pay the full statement or be late...

 

[wxxnxs]

Fully aware, and my rant is aimed at Citibank.

The key here is that ther is no connection between the call centre and the product team. Those companies that provide the best solutions for customers have a connection between these teams so that someone in the organisation can make decisions and has been empowered to consider the circumstances at hand.

This officer didn't pass me to a supervisor or suggest that they could discuss with someone and get back to me. When I specifically asked if there was *anyone* who could consider this it was a blanket no.

On your other point, the 55 days has been around for a long time and Citibank has been known for this 'feature' as it makes paying interest *very very painful* should you not pay the full statement or be late...

Not a surprise from ****ybank Australia, I got strange experience from Signature application, did not get approved but they auto downgarded me to Platinum.

Their call centre staffs have barely ackonwlege about their products, different person can have different answer, you really need to be patient & strong enough to deal with them. However, they indeed are very good at reading T&C to you, I believe that is only thing they do very good.

 

[dji]

If you are wanting to travel overseas put the points earn into a warehouse and transfer them as needed to Kris Flyer to avoid the 3 year expiry. SQ have availability but like Qantas economy flights are poor redemptions based on the charges.

so selecting the Citibank Rewards option and transferring as required to Krisflyer offers better value than the QFF scheme?

 

[cove]

Yes the non Qantas style Citi card is the cheaper card I have by $49 (CitiSelect in my case). The non Qantas points accumulate in a holding points account and you can transfer them to Kris Flyer when it suits you.
As an example the Saver points on Kris Flyer in Suites from Singapore to either Los Angeles or London is around 90,000 and they are available.

 

[d00dz]

I cant wait to be transferred to Signature! Uncapped unlimited points baby!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Has anyone definitely been able to keep the Citibusiness card.

Am loathe to ring up again to find out if supplying an ABN worked for me.

Just scored my Plat ANZ QF card free for another year so am considering giving citibank the flick and just using my amex edge for SQ or DJ