topic Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity in Credit Cards

Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 15:36:09 GMT

Good Morning myFico Crew,

For debt reduction which is preferred? I am looking for a card with a higher CL. The amount is about $4,500.00 and while I typically pay my cards in full every month due to being in the process of purchasing a house I kind of let those slide a little (still paying well over the minimum).

I can't get a Slate due to the new Chase rules (I have gotten four cards over two years...two of which were their cards) I'm looking at Citi cards due to being pre approved for them over and over (and hearing that their pre approvals are spot on).

Is there a better choice between the two?

Thanks.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

yfan — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 15:49:35 GMT

Probably the Simplicity since Citi advertises it as having their lowest APR.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 15:51:57 GMT

Both come with 21 month 0% APR. So I'm not too worried about the APR as it will be paid well before then.

Thanks.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 17:04:49 GMT

If it were me, I would just take whichever one you got prequalified for. And after 6 months, PC it to the double cash card so you can use it to your advantage after your BT is paid off.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Pitt570 — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 17:08:15 GMT

either way there both good bt cards...my wife has both and she actually got the same limit on both cards so hard to tell which one will be higher.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

percy81 — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 17:27:33 GMT

The citi simplicity offers NO LATE FEE EVER!!! Not that you would want to be late anyway but that's their motto for that card. I'm using the 21% zero apr offer and like knowing that if life gets too busy and I ACCIDENTLY forget to make a payment then I won't get a late fee. I've never been late on a ANY payment..it's just a nice little incentive for "just in case" reasons. They offer a great starting limit from experience and what I've read in here. Good luck in any way you choose.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 20:19:16 GMT

I've had Simplicity for 3 years and get periodic 0% BT offers even though the intro period ended a year and a half ago. Not sure if Diamond does this but something to consider. Ongoing APR is 11.99% which isn't great for a no-frills card but not bad either. SP CLIs every sixth months have increased my CL from an SL of 9k to a current CL of 13k.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Kb109 — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 01:45:29 GMT

I use the Diamond card as my balance transfer card. Both of the cards have 0% APR for 21 months on purchases and balance transfers (but there is a 3% BT fee still). Looking like you can't go wrong with either one if you are using it for carrying a balance/doing a balance transfer. Good luck!

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Closingracer99 — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 04:44:17 GMT

i got my simplicity last year aound June an still have the 0% APR on it but has a 21.99% APR normally. Getting offers for 10.99% APR for balance transfers until like november 2016 with no transaction fee.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 01:32:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Good Morning myFico Crew,

For debt reduction which is preferred? I am looking for a card with a higher CL. The amount is about $4,500.00 and while I typically pay my cards in full every month due to being in the process of purchasing a house I kind of let those slide a little (still paying well over the minimum).

I can't get a Slate due to the new Chase rules (I have gotten four cards over two years...two of which were their cards) I'm looking at Citi cards due to being pre approved for them over and over (and hearing that their pre approvals are spot on).

Is there a better choice between the two?

Thanks.

I have the Citi Simplicity and it has been very useful for me. The 21-month zero percent is great and the added protection of having no late fees or APR increases (in the unfortunate situation that you miss or have a late payment) is also nice. BTs to Simplicity are cheap and easy, and the American-based customer service is good. City Diamond Preferred is also good from what I understand, but the APR is at best 11.99% -not much better than Simplicity after the 21 months -depending on your credit of course, so I can't see a major benefit of it over Simplicity. For me, Simplicity has been a useful line of credit to have.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

Sharingan — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 02:29:57 GMT

The Citi Simplicity was my first Citi card, and I got it in 2011. Ever since then, I have always had some kind of balance transfer offer. Currently, I have one stating 0% until December 2016. Then again, all six of my Citi cards have had BT offers, sometimes all at once.

I must mention that I have called twice to have my Simplicity PC'd, and Citi will absolutely not budge with this card. Their ridiculous response is always, "because the interest rate on this card is locked and will not go up if you are late on a payment, we are unable to change it to any other Citi card." Fortunately, I was able to PC my ThankYou Preferred in order to get a Citi Dividend. If your intention is to PC after the promotional period, I'd go with the Diamond Preferred.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

RandomSpirit — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 04:29:49 GMT

In addition to everything else that has been said about these two cards, the cash advance APR on the Simplicity (in case you ever have an emergency and need to us it,, not saying anyone should take CA's) is nearly half of what it is for the Diamond. I get tons of CC offers monthy, literally, weekly for these these two cards. I compared the two offers side by side and that was the difference between the two offers to me was 12.99% versus 24.99& Cash Advance APR.

Re: Citi Diamond or Simplicity

daniki — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 22:28:33 GMT

Simplicity. Applied a couple weeks ago and got an $8600 limit. My scores all average 755 and my util was about 28%. They ended up pulling EQ and EX. I only have one 21 mo old inq on EQ and 2 on EX that are 21 mo old and 18 mo old though.