topic Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF in Credit Cards

* UPDATE* Citi secured MC now has NO AF

pizza1 — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 23:11:26 GMT

Hey everyone! Just a little FYI for those interested in the future, or for those who currently have this card. I was browsing a few weeks ago in Citi's website at their cards for a friend, and scrolled all the way down the page and saw their secured MasterCard and noticed something a little different this time about it......

The card now has NO AF.

I just got this card 3 months ago as a sooner "in" with Citi on their legacy side, and at that time there was a $25 AF, which I paid on 1st statement in July!

So naturally I've contacted EO to have the $25 AF refunded to me along with the AF removed completely going forward since it's now being offered to public on their website with NO AF, (they have the potential to charge me one more time next June, before the 18month graduation). I will come back and update my thread once I've received resolution.

p.s. Frontline CSR and managers can't do anything, so don't waste your time, just go straight to EO. (This of course is for those of us who have this secured card already recently).

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:41:53 GMT

Sweet deal! Thanks for the information pizza.

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Discover2016 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:33:56 GMT

Citi has really improved their secured offering, I remember when you could only apply in branch for this.

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

pizza1 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:16:15 GMT

@Discover2016 wrote:
Citi has really improved their secured offering, I remember when you could only apply in branch for this.

Yea...this isnt too bad! So, maybe an option for those who are wanting "back in" with Citi on their legacy side after "burning them in BK or whatever. They also offer a free monthy EQ FICO bankcard score 08...

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

creditguy — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:54:45 GMT

@pizza1 wrote:
Hey everyone! Just a little FYI for those interested in the future, or for those who currently have this card. I was browsing a few weeks ago in Citi's website at their cards for a friend, and scrolled all the way down the page and saw their secured MasterCard and noticed something a little different this time about it......

The card now has NO AF.

I just got this card 3 months ago as a sooner "in" with Citi on their legacy side, and at that time there was a $25 AF, which I paid on 1st statement in July!

So naturally I've contacted EO to have the $25 AF refunded to me along with the AF removed completely going forward since it's now being offered to public on their website with NO AF, (they have the potential to charge me one more time next June, before the 18month graduation). I will come back and update my thread once I've received resolution.

p.s. Frontline CSR and managers can't do anything, so don't waste your time, just go straight to EO. (This of course is for those of us who have this secured card already recently).

So you did end up getting this card after all? I missed that somewhere along the line, I remember they gave you a helluva time about BK or something another that caused you to want nothing to do with them. Anyhow glad it got resolved and I know you'll get that AF resolved too. Thanks for sharing

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

gibeon — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:52:46 GMT

Pizza, that's good news! Thanks for sharing!

I got the secured card 10/2015 so I should write in.

Also, as an IN for Citi, it worked for me. Received a mail offer for Citi DP and ended up with a $7k limit (up from $5.5k with CLI at activation).

Cheers,
Gib

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

wasCB14 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 23:56:40 GMT

Dropping their AF isn't so significant when other no-AF secured cards offer rewards.

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

pizza1 — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 00:49:51 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
Dropping their AF isn't so significant when other no-AF secured cards offer rewards.

Its significant in the fact that I just paid the AF 2 months ago, and now its offered as NO AF. I find that significant.

Most of us on here know there are better secured cards out there with rewards. Some people have burned certain lenders in the past for whatever reasons....BK, CO...whatever. Sometimes the ONLY way back in with a certain lender is thru the backdoor, and that means...their secured card, no matter how awful it is. Depends on the person and how bad you want back in with them.

In my situation...Citibank was burned in my BK in 2013 with legacy and retail card divisions.

Citi will approve me all day for any retail cards they back....and I got everything I applied...Home Depot, gas cards, etc...Even approved for Brooks Brothers Mastercard, and Sears Mastercard. BUT...they have declined me for EVERY SINGLE legacy card application, including at one point...their secured card, which is their legacy card too.

Citi is a tough lender to get "back in with" on their legacy side...(DP, Simplicity, DC, etc..), and if you IIB them in a BK...they have a strong steadfast rule of 7 yrs post discharge before they will let you back in, with a legacy card. Some people on here still cant get in and its been years!!!

I didnt want to wait that long....so..I pushed and pushed, and got approved for their Diamond secured MC.....which in turn graduates after 18 months, and product changes to the Diamond Preferred card....aka....LEGACY!

I personally have lots of great rewards cards, but this was just to help me get back in sooner with Citi, and when this card PC's after next year...Ill be in at 4 1/2 yrs post discharge versus 7yrs or more!. Worth it for me, and for a few others here on the forums who are doing exactly what im doing now

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 01:10:45 GMT

Thx for the info Pizza!

Does anyone one know if the Citi Expedia is considered retail or legacy?

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

pizza1 — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 01:13:20 GMT

@Justagirl73 wrote:
Thx for the info Pizza!

Does anyone one know if the Citi Expedia is considered retail or legacy?

Its Legacy....Anything on their officlal website offering CC's is Legacy, even the companies they have signed multi year contracts with....Expedia, Costco, etc...

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 01:17:46 GMT

Thx!

Dang it ☹️

Im in the garden.....☘🌷🌺🌻💐🌹🌾 but I might need to bust out again and get that secured card 😂.

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

ddemari — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 21:01:16 GMT

I opened the Citi secured MasterCard in August, took several weeks to get the card and now I see the $0 annual fee, thanks to pizza.

there are a lot of good secured cards out there offering more than Citi's along with no annual fee and much smaller time frame on unsecuring.

But, I too, wanted to try and get in the Citi Legacy side as they hate me, so I did the secured card.

I reached out to the EO yesterday asking if my annual fee could be returned as I just opened this card and now it has no fee.

The gentleman told me he had no power to do anything but would have someone return my call with a decesion.

I just off the phone with the guy from Citi EO, he told me unfortunately the Citi secured mastercard is for rebuilding and the annual fee can not be waived. I said I dont understand because on your website the exact card I have, which was opened less than 2 months ago now says $0 annual fee. He said, well that might be so but unfortunately this card has a fee and citi has got strict on waiving card fees.

But, if you want to close the card and reapply for it you are more than welcome. I said that sounds stupid, I am just asking if you can give me my 25 dollars back as I just opened this card. He said no this can not be done. It was like he and I were not on the same page but I totally articulated the story easily and he is in the EO office, you would think he would know whats up? Im not mad at about the 25 dollars, just thiink they poorly handled my call.

The FNBO Visa and Discover It are two great secured cards for anyone looking for secured cards not to just get in with Citi.

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 21:44:09 GMT

@ddemari wrote:
I opened the Citi secured MasterCard in August, took several weeks to get the card and now I see the $0 annual fee, thanks to pizza.

there are a lot of good secured cards out there offering more than Citi's along with no annual fee and much smaller time frame on unsecuring.

But, I too, wanted to try and get in the Citi Legacy side as they hate me, so I did the secured card.

I reached out to the EO yesterday asking if my annual fee could be returned as I just opened this card and now it has no fee.

The gentleman told me he had no power to do anything but would have someone return my call with a decesion.

I just off the phone with the guy from Citi EO, he told me unfortunately the Citi secured mastercard is for rebuilding and the annual fee can not be waived. I said I dont understand because on your website the exact card I have, which was opened less than 2 months ago now says $0 annual fee. He said, well that might be so but unfortunately this card has a fee and citi has got strict on waiving card fees.

But, if you want to close the card and reapply for it you are more than welcome. I said that sounds stupid, I am just asking if you can give me my 25 dollars back as I just opened this card. He said no this can not be done. It was like he and I were not on the same page but I totally articulated the story easily and he is in the EO office, you would think he would know whats up? Im not mad at about the 25 dollars, just thiink they poorly handled my call.

The FNBO Visa and Discover It are two great secured cards for anyone looking for secured cards not to just get in with Citi.

Congrats on your approval! Sorry you weren't able to get the AF waived. It may be a good idea to wait and see what happens with pizza. If she has a positive outcome, I would try again. Best of luck to you both!

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

pizza1 — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 01:26:15 GMT

@ddemari wrote:
I opened the Citi secured MasterCard in August, took several weeks to get the card and now I see the $0 annual fee, thanks to pizza.

there are a lot of good secured cards out there offering more than Citi's along with no annual fee and much smaller time frame on unsecuring.

But, I too, wanted to try and get in the Citi Legacy side as they hate me, so I did the secured card.

I reached out to the EO yesterday asking if my annual fee could be returned as I just opened this card and now it has no fee.

The gentleman told me he had no power to do anything but would have someone return my call with a decesion.

I just off the phone with the guy from Citi EO, he told me unfortunately the Citi secured mastercard is for rebuilding and the annual fee can not be waived. I said I dont understand because on your website the exact card I have, which was opened less than 2 months ago now says $0 annual fee. He said, well that might be so but unfortunately this card has a fee and citi has got strict on waiving card fees.

But, if you want to close the card and reapply for it you are more than welcome. I said that sounds stupid, I am just asking if you can give me my 25 dollars back as I just opened this card. He said no this can not be done. It was like he and I were not on the same page but I totally articulated the story easily and he is in the EO office, you would think he would know whats up? Im not mad at about the 25 dollars, just thiink they poorly handled my call.

The FNBO Visa and Discover It are two great secured cards for anyone looking for secured cards not to just get in with Citi.

Hey D..

Sorry for your unfortunate phone call...glad it was you and not me...I would have closed it down long before, LOL...I dont do well with ding bats, and especially who would tell me to "re-apply" for a secure card that took me months to get anyways. What an idiot!

Ill keep everyone posted on my outcome, and report back here. I still havent received a phone call back from EO. They have until tomorrow, or then Ill make my presence known ....again

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 02:26:30 GMT

😃!!!!!!NOIICE!!!!!!!😃
_____________________________

Thks for info!!!

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 04:01:21 GMT

To be honest I think secured credit cards need to be regulated more.

If you think about it, the bank gets the interchange fees, an annual fee, and interest + other fees from the average person who holds this type of card, plus the abilty to loan out the money the person puts down as collateral while virtually taking zero risk with anything. I'm honestly suprirsed some banks like Key and Chase don't offer such a product.

Unless the secured card is really good... ie. (Bank of America who gives out generious CLI's and secures it in less than a year for most people), I don't see the point of paying an annual fee to have a secured card when many out there are free, and some are free and offer rewards. Everyone with experience on here knows Citi isn't generous with credit lines to most people, and even if the card does graduate, it looks like it would be product changed to a Diamond Preferred, which isn't anything special either..

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

happypill — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 17:25:32 GMT

I think the assumption is that if you get the secured card and it graduates in 18 months or whatever, you're back in and can then apply for legacy products. My question is, has anyone in fact been able to do that, or is it too soon to know so far?

Good luck with getting the AF removed.

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

morgacj2004 — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 17:34:27 GMT

Thanks Pizza I have the card 12 months now. Will call EO Also my wife got the CITI Costco card. I was declined. CITI YW told me at Recon that COstco card is not Legacy?

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:52:59 GMT

@pizza1 wrote:
Hey everyone! Just a little FYI for those interested in the future, or for those who currently have this card. I was browsing a few weeks ago in Citi's website at their cards for a friend, and scrolled all the way down the page and saw their secured MasterCard and noticed something a little different this time about it......

The card now has NO AF.

I just got this card 3 months ago as a sooner "in" with Citi on their legacy side, and at that time there was a $25 AF, which I paid on 1st statement in July!

So naturally I've contacted EO to have the $25 AF refunded to me along with the AF removed completely going forward since it's now being offered to public on their website with NO AF, (they have the potential to charge me one more time next June, before the 18month graduation). I will come back and update my thread once I've received resolution.

p.s. Frontline CSR and managers can't do anything, so don't waste your time, just go straight to EO. (This of course is for those of us who have this secured card already recently).

You are a real "team player," pizza, for sharing this!

Re: Citi secured MC now has NO AF

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 22:53:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
To be honest I think secured credit cards need to be regulated more.

If you think about it, the bank gets the interchange fees, an annual fee, and interest + other fees from the average person who holds this type of card, plus the abilty to loan out the money the person puts down as collateral while virtually taking zero risk with anything. I'm honestly suprirsed some banks like Key and Chase don't offer such a product.

Unless the secured card is really good... ie. (Bank of America who gives out generious CLI's and secures it in less than a year for most people), I don't see the point of paying an annual fee to have a secured card when many out there are free, and some are free and offer rewards. Everyone with experience on here knows Citi isn't generous with credit lines to most people, and even if the card does graduate, it looks like it would be product changed to a Diamond Preferred, which isn't anything special either..

I'm sorry the moment I see the words "need to be regulated more. "

I cringe...I HATE the idea of WHAT the government FORCING a business to extend credit based upon 'what'

the public's desire to TRY MORE TIME AT IT?

As mentioned, there are plenty of options out there ...if a vendor wants this type of business fine if not , it should be their call.

If they want to restrict whom the attract, again their call....

Ppl CLAIM that there isn't any risk...no big deal....great for the lender, well there is a REASON not everybody chases this business.

If it were SO GREAT...you'd see all the fighting and the rush to grab market share, this things are FAVORS ( and great GIFTS, to allow us to re-start or kick start ourselves again) I wouldn't go so far as to say 'wow, cash cows' ....again there is a reason these things aren't aggresively pushed and overly highly marketed.

You take a wonderful place like NFCU a generous lender, with what many would call rather EASY UW....but guess what they have a rather HIGH barrier to entry at a $500 deposit....again for a reason

If it were such a GREAT deal and could help grow biz why wouldn't they have a lower barrier....I'll tell you ...They don't want to headaches and to be bunt the TRASH that comes with the audience that can't put together $500 to secure an account....think of it $5 saving account for membership so so credit BAM approved...a bit whose credit ...nah you gotta find $500 more we won't freak with you...

BoA and several others will still run credit and tell certain folks NO even with the 'deposit'....if the deposit meant ZERO risk....they'd be given out like candy but many of the Big Boys still PASS for a reason....

But PLEASE no government REGS to force banks to extend credit to the non-credit worthy...let's leave a few things for the market to work on by itself.

Just like our wonderful forum here we SHARE info and tips on where to grow, whom to deal with based upon our experience and the market but please no politician hacks TELLING us and them ....who needs to get hitched...let of choose our brides I beg of you

You know I'm mostly ribbing but honestly no politicians: