topic Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing? in Credit Cards

Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:39:32 GMT

I am the not-so-proud owner of a Sears Citi MC, owing to a bit of confusion when app'ing at the cash register. (Learned several good lessons there.) I am writing a GW, and I would like to throw in something about how I hope that with time, I will be eligible for one of their real cards.

Do they in fact ever let you graduate to a grown-up card? Or are the co-branded cards completely separate?

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

smallfry — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:58:10 GMT

As far as I know these cards are what they are and cannot be combined or converted to any Citi cards.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:02:58 GMT

Well, shoot then, if they don't GW my late, I'm kicking that one to the curb! (Thanks, ragcajun, that's my new favorite expression.)

edit: and thanks, smallfry, for the info! --'bout what I suspected

Message Edited by haulingthescoreup on 10-13-2007 08:02 AM

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:09:54 GMT

Even though I don't have any co branded it is my understanding too- they they are separate entities and will never be able to be converted to just a plain citi- etc.

Now there is an opposite thing that people try to get- they start w/ a Macy's and want a Macy's Visa, a Nodtstrom, and then want a Nordstrom Visa- (I am using the Nordstrom as an example)

and i.e. for the Macy's Visa (another example) it is based on how much money you spend /w them so if you dont' ever spend a lot of money w/ them unless they do lots of CLI's on their own you may never get to the Macy's Visa...

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:16:15 GMT

What's really stupid is that I didn't want a Sears card; haven't shopped there in years; but I was playing hooky right before Christmas with killer sales, and the nice 90-year-old gentleman at the cash register said that I would get some crazy discount for applying for a card. So I did, and I got the discount, and I spent the next three months looking for Sears statements and throwing out Citi statements as junk mail before my light bulb finally went on.

*sigh*

Back to the GW letter...

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:19:49 GMT

oh well live and learn. just like my rebuilder HSBC marbles card- w/ it's horrible 59 af- that I was in some type of delerium in and didn't read the fine print.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

smallfry — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:20:23 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
What's really stupid is that I didn't want a Sears card; haven't shopped there in years; but I was playing hooky right before Christmas with killer sales, and the nice 90-year-old gentleman at the cash register said that I would get some crazy discount for applying for a card. So I did, and I got the discount, and I spent the next three months looking for Sears statements and throwing out Citi statements as junk mail before my light bulb finally went on.

*sigh*

Back to the GW letter...

Why don't you try to go into the store and see someone there about this. You might have some luck with it. Good luck. Hey we all have blonde moments.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:22:30 GMT

I don't understand. what can they do? they can't change the card to just a plain citi- and for late payments will just need to GW like any other..

am I missing something?

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:43:35 GMT

My concern for the GW is that I don't really have a "hook", other than looking pathetically stupid and hoping that they will take pity. They're not actually Sears, so I don't know if I could mention the upcoming kitchen remodel with $5K worth of appliances that I MIGHT buy at Sears if they were nice to me. They won't upgrade the card to a real Citi, so I can't lure them with the prospect of how wonderful a customer I will (one day) be.

Maybe smallfry's suggestion will help, if I go to the Sears appliance section and kick some Jenn-Air's and look woeful. I don't know that Sears has any influence over what Citi does in GW land, but it would be silly to assume that they couldn't do anything. I'm afraid all they would do is a CLI, but whoops, stop assuming!

Oh, did I mention the 32.99% APR? (sound of hysterical laughter) Not that I would ever give them a penny of interest money anyway, so who cares...

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:21:52 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:
My concern for the GW is that I don't really have a "hook", other than looking pathetically stupid and hoping that they will take pity. They're not actually Sears, so I don't know if I could mention the upcoming kitchen remodel with $5K worth of appliances that I MIGHT buy at Sears if they were nice to me. They won't upgrade the card to a real Citi, so I can't lure them with the prospect of how wonderful a customer I will (one day) be.

Maybe smallfry's suggestion will help, if I go to the Sears appliance section and kick some Jenn-Air's and look woeful. I don't know that Sears has any influence over what Citi does in GW land, but it would be silly to assume that they couldn't do anything. I'm afraid all they would do is a CLI, but whoops, stop assuming!

Oh, did I mention the 32.99% APR? (sound of hysterical laughter) Not that I would ever give them a penny of interest money anyway, so who cares...

Bottom line who does you payment get sent to? Sears or Citi? That is who you would GW to. And for your GW just tell them the truth- i.e , I was blah blah- got so busy, ie.e- got so sick, got so etc that i missed payment and since I understand how impt it is to pay on time and really take my credit seriously etc, etc.

how long was the late for and when was it?

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:24:54 GMT

Bottom line who does you payment get sent to? Sears or Citi? That is who you would GW to. And for your GW just tell them the truth- i.e , I was blah blah- got so busy, ie.e- got so sick, got so etc that i missed payment and since I understand how impt it is to pay on time and really take my credit seriously etc, etc.

how long was the late for and when was it?

Not trying to make a GW seem silly- it is just that I think so many people try to think of all these outrageous stuff that could have happened to them- when the truth and seriousness from the heart and really telling them that you DO take your credit seriously helps so much than a copy and paste or insincere letter-- know what I mean?

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:42:35 GMT

On the topic of the co-brand -- I have several of the store/gas cards (no co-brands yet) that they manage (Home Depot, Exxon, Citgo, etc) - and out-of-the blue they sent me "preselected" for a MC. I have NEVER been late on any of these cards (actually not on any card anywhere) and it took about 8 months for them to offer a Citi MC $2500 CL, 14.99 %, $0 AF. My Exxon and Citgo cards have seen APR decreases since then.

ONE CAUTION - do not miss a payment on anything they manage - they will rate-jack across the board.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:49:29 GMT

Lady_Scarlet wrote:
On the topic of the co-brand -- I have several of the store/gas cards (no co-brands yet) that they manage (Home Depot, Exxon, Citgo, etc) - and out-of-the blue they sent me "preselected" for a MC. I have NEVER been late on any of these cards (actually not on any card anywhere) and it took about 8 months for them to offer a Citi MC $2500 CL, 14.99 %, $0 AF. My Exxon and Citgo cards have seen APR decreases since then.

ONE CAUTION - do not miss a payment on anything they manage - they will rate-jack across the board.

We are still talking about Citi here? Right? I think it is wierd they would'nt' take me for their upromise card but I was able to get Amex and Disc.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:53:58 GMT

I understand and agree completely. That's the whole problem, I don't have the reasons that normal people hitting a bad bump have. I work two jobs (70 hours/ week) and have a pretty spectacular case of ADHD, which otherwise I actually enjoy, and I *used to* come home from job #1, grab the mail, stand over the garbage can, and go "junk, junk, pay, DH's mail, junk", etc., and then go sit down at the home computer and start job #2. Since I wasn't aware that I had a Citi card, I just tossed the statements, thinking that they were the usual crap, until one day I received a rather brisk phone call.

Then ensued a 4 week period of trying to pay the fool thing off over the phone, and being given the wrong balance repeatedly, then getting a late charge, rewind and replay. An account manager finally intervened and reimbursed me for some of the late fees and I think removed one late, but there sits the original one (March 07) --> immediate 50 point drop on Equifax the day it posted.

So I'm sorta reduced to saying, "Hi, I'm an idiot, but I'm trying to get better, and I sure do wish that you'd take that late off, since otherwise, my others are about to go over 2 years, and it makes me very sad to look at this one."

"One day we'll look back on this, and it will all seem funny" --Rosalita/ Bruce Springsteen (1973)

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:02:25 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:
I understand and agree completely. That's the whole problem, I don't have the reasons that normal people hitting a bad bump have. I work two jobs (70 hours/ week) and have a pretty spectacular case of ADHD, which otherwise I actually enjoy, and I *used to* come home from job #1, grab the mail, stand over the garbage can, and go "junk, junk, pay, DH's mail, junk", etc., and then go sit down at the home computer and start job #2. Since I wasn't aware that I had a Citi card, I just tossed the statements, thinking that they were the usual crap, until one day I received a rather brisk phone call.

Then ensued a 4 week period of trying to pay the fool thing off over the phone, and being given the wrong balance repeatedly, then getting a late charge, rewind and replay. An account manager finally intervened and reimbursed me for some of the late fees and I think removed one late, but there sits the original one (March 07) --> immediate 50 point drop on Equifax the day it posted.

So I'm sorta reduced to saying, "Hi, I'm an idiot, but I'm trying to get better, and I sure do wish that you'd take that late off, since otherwise, my others are about to go over 2 years, and it makes me very sad to look at this one."

"One day we'll look back on this, and it will all seem funny" --Rosalita/ Bruce Springsteen (1973)

Ok- see here's what i am talking about. What you just posted is the exact way you should GW them in my opinion. People understand real problems- not the drama that is made up. Try to escalate it.

So what you are saying is that you thought you were supposed to pay Sears and you needed to pay Citi the whole time?

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:12:28 GMT

Yes, Netpanther -- I'm talking about Citi.

Hauling - you are NOT an idiot - almost did the same thing myself when citi re-issued all Exxon cards. It was litterally falling in the trash when I heard the something hard hit on a bottle. Fished it out and it was my new card.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:16:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Ok- see here's what i am talking about. What you just posted is the exact way you should GW them in my opinion. People understand real problems- not the drama that is made up. Try to escalate it.
So what you are saying is that you thought you were supposed to pay Sears and you needed to pay Citi the whole time?

Yep, I was expecting the cheesy little store card that my mother used to carry, and an envelope that said "Sears."

This is what I'm going to send them, repeatedly if necessary. I was just hoping to salvage the tiniest bit of dignity, but I think that's definitely water under the bridge by now! I'm OK with begging for mercy, I was just hoping that I could also dangle the promise of one day being a Citi Super-Titanium Diamond-Encrusted Ultra Visa card customer, but perhaps not.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:27:59 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Ok- see here's what i am talking about. What you just posted is the exact way you should GW them in my opinion. People understand real problems- not the drama that is made up. Try to escalate it.
So what you are saying is that you thought you were supposed to pay Sears and you needed to pay Citi the whole time?

Yep, I was expecting the cheesy little store card that my mother used to carry, and an envelope that said "Sears."

This is what I'm going to send them, repeatedly if necessary. I was just hoping to salvage the tiniest bit of dignity, but I think that's definitely water under the bridge by now! I'm OK with begging for mercy, I was just hoping that I could also dangle the promise of one day being a Citi Super-Titanium Diamond-Encrusted Ultra Visa card customer, but perhaps not.

Nope. I would send them EXACTLY what you posted here- it is the truth!!!! And in my book- the truth always beats anything else. My student loan GW letters didnt' have any great story to them- just the truth that I was young and dumb, and knew better and have finally come into the light. Got them GW'd off of one report- all I am waiting on is those jerks at CSC to finish w/ it- but it seemts every time I turn around CSC loses the information. My fault though to is that I let them get to me.

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:32:57 GMT

Thanks for the good advice, that's what I'll do.

And huge congrats on the student loans! I understand they're bears to GW. Maybe your experience with CSC will help give you patience if barbarino ever re-emerges on that other thread. hee hee --wondering how he's doing with the "imagine, one day I might have a rich wife."

Re: Does citi ever upgrade co-branded store cards to the real thing?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:34:09 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:
Thanks for the good advice, that's what I'll do.

And huge congrats on the student loans! I understand they're bears to GW. Maybe your experience with CSC will help give you patience if barbarino ever re-emerges on that other thread. hee hee --wondering how he's doing with the "imagine, one day I might have a rich wife."

OMG you just made me laugh SOOOOOOOOOOOO hard!!! And yes, thought I was going to have terrible trouble w/ school loans but actually after writing a pretty long but exactly the truth letter it took about 60 days and they took them off of one report- need patience w/ CSC and need to work on them-