Citi Product Change

[Vesey]

My original credit card from 1999 is a Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. I closed it in December after being approved for the Freedom and, after reading about credit scoring, was able to get it reopened by secure message center. Using the main customer service number resulted in being told that the account couldn't be reopened and that I should apply for a new card.

A few days ago I called the number on the back of the card and asked if I could do a product change to a rewards card. The customer service representative said I couldn't, and tried to get me to hang up as quickly as possible. I called again a few minutes ago, and after explaining I wanted a product change, I was put on hold, and then forwarded to an account specialist. At this point I was given the option to choose between the Dividend or the ThankYou. I asked if I was eligible for the Simplicity, and I was told I wasn't, and so I asked if I was eligible to product change to the Forward. The account specialist responded yes! And after hearing her read from her scripts, I responded "yes" twice, and was told that my Citi Forward will be active 45(?) days from now on May 1st. I did ask if MasterCard was an option, and she said the Forward is Visa only.

I'm very happy about this. I would have applied for the Citi Forward eventually, but now I can have one in a couple of months and it will have my original account opening date.

I guess the lesson is to call, call again, or send a secure message. I would prefer consistency, but in the end I'll get what I want.

[Carbon44]

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@Vesey wrote:

My original credit card from 1999 is a Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. I closed it in December after being approved for the Freedom and, after reading about credit scoring, was able to get it reopened by secure message center. Using the main customer service number resulted in being told that the account couldn't be reopened and that I should apply for a new card.

A few days ago I called the number on the back of the card and asked if I could do a product change to a rewards card. The customer service representative said I couldn't, and tried to get me to hang up as quickly as possible. I called again a few minutes ago, and after explaining I wanted a product change, I was put on hold, and then forwarded to an account specialist. At this point I was given the option to choose between the Dividend or the ThankYou. I asked if I was eligible for the Simplicity, and I was told I wasn't, and so I asked if I was eligible to product change to the Forward. The account specialist responded yes! And after hearing her read from her scripts, I responded "yes" twice, and was told that my Citi Forward will be active 45(?) days from now on May 1st. I did ask if MasterCard was an option, and she said the Forward is Visa only.

I'm very happy about this. I would have applied for the Citi Forward eventually, but now I can have one in a couple of months and it will have my original account opening date.

I guess the lesson is to call, call again, or send a secure message. I would prefer consistency, but in the end I'll get what I want.

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This is a great story. I had the Citi Platinum Select and tried product changing for about 7 months and everytime I called they said no. I finally got fed up I applied for the Dividend and got approved. I had the manager close down my platinum select and now have the Dividend. The best part was they gave me an extra $2200 CL compared to the Platinum Select. I had to waste an inquire, but this is the card I want. I was going to go with the forward, but I liked the rewards on the Dividend better for my needs. I am very jealous you got to PC and didn't have to re-apply. Enjoy your new card

[scientifics]

If you care about your interest rate, make sure you check it on the new card terms (you will receive them and still have a chance to cancel the PC). When I tried a PC, they wanted to raise my interest rate significantly. While I PIF every month, I didn't want to give up my lowest APR.

[pakman92]

I assume no credit pull was done?

[Vesey]

I haven't received an alert about a hard pull for the PC, but they have a recent credit report from reopening the account (hard pull for either that or my request to reinstate my original limit). As for my interest rate, I was told it wasn't changing. I don't carry a balance, so it's not really important to me. My lowest APR card is my PenFed Platinum Rewards at 9.99%. Suprisingly, the PenFed was the last card I applied for, with all my new accounts showing on my reports, and it was an instant approval. I have 0% APR on my Amex BCE until next January, but I'm not going to risk carrying a balance with Amex as my 2-3 inquiries for each CRA in the last 1-4 months and AAoA has dropped my CS a little. They have been SP me twice a month.