topic Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash in Credit Cards

Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

j615 — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 07:05:55 GMT

Approved for the card mid January 2017 for $4,600. Took a second HP to bring the CL to $9,600. APR was 16.49%, and a simple online chat on 3/1/17 lowered it to 14.74%.

Things I like:

- 2% unlimited cash back on *all* purchases

- Price Protection (Citi Price Rewind). They actually encourage you to use this as I get many emails reminding me of this benefit. I already did a manual protection claim on 4 new tires (my Chase card excludes tires on price protection) and received ~$170 to match the cheaper difference with Walmart.com.

Things I don't like:

- Pending transactions take longer to post than what I'm use to with Chase/Amex. I had one pending $1 verification charge from a merchant that stuck for over 3 weeks before it dropped off.

- No free card expedited replacements. This is useful if the card needs a replacement due to fraud and when I have the card linked to many online accounts with AutoPay. I can update it with the merchants in a couple days vs. waiting 2 weeks.

- Card is ugly and cheap. Now, ugly is a personal opinion and it really wasn't a dealbreaker for me to use the card a lot, but I seriously don't like the design. However, this is the cheapest built card I've ever had. I've had the card less than 2 months and the plastic on the back has already been peeling in 3 different spots needing a replacement already (it's separating like the back is a big cheap sticker slapped onto the plastic). I don't handle this card any different from any of my other CCs and my other cards in most cases will last years before damage. I know replacements are free, but there's no expediated delivery without a costly fee from Citi. I also don't want to need to replace it every 2 months.

That being said. It's kind of sock drawered for now and my Chase FU will be my main non-category card once again.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Discover2016 — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 07:42:50 GMT

I do agree that the card feels cheaply built, even though they have made recent improvements to the build quality. That is the first I have heard that they charge a fee for expedited shipping? I requested a new DC not too long ago and they gave me the option of regular delivery and of expedited delivery and I don't recall any fee. Must be a new thing? When did you get the replacement?

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

j615 — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 09:22:54 GMT

Discover2016: I haven't actually got around to replacing it yet as the card still works and didn't want to wait 1–2 weeks for a new one. It is getting worse though.

Online chat told me there would be a fee. I just checked the online card replacement option and it does give a choice to have it delivered FedEx with no charge. Thank you for pointing that out to me!

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Chris679 — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 12:19:50 GMT

I'm on at least my fourth one now and have not had any of the issues you mentioned with the card falling apart but 100% agree about it being ugly. Has to be the ugliest card I've ever had. In fact I just ordered a replacement a few weeks ago just hoping that they had changed the design.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

AverageJoesCredit — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 12:19:58 GMT

Cant you just have them ship a new one and keep using your old one until the new one comes and then activate the new one? To me the card feels like a credit card no more no less. Ive never had a card like a Ritz or CSR which are probably built better that im sure once someone has nothing else compares lol, but again it could be i dont use my card all the time.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

galahad15 — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 15:17:44 GMT

My first impression of the card was that it was unattractive as well. However, after receiving and having had the card for some time now, I actually think it is not ugly at all -- I like the blue/green color combo -- and is actually quite good looking, jmho and my personal $0.02 though.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 15:31:15 GMT

I have had two new card sent to me due to the fact I accidentally damaged one and lost another. Both times I used expedited shipping, neither time was i charged. This is the first I've heard about a fee.

As for the card design? Eh. I don't think it's a great looking card, but far from the worst I've seen. I actually like that all the info is on the back of the card and wish more companies would adoput this policy. Discover is the only other one that does to my knowledge.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 15:54:57 GMT

It is a weird looking card. On mine, the MC logo doesn't match up with the ridiculously large W O R L D E L I T E... I really don't care for how it's flat, either.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 16:02:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It is a weird looking card. On mine, the MC logo doesn't match up with the ridiculously large W O R L D E L I T E... I really don't care for how it's flat, either.

In some security circles ... the flat is suppose to make it harder to steal the carholder information ... believe what you will.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 16:11:40 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
It is a weird looking card. On mine, the MC logo doesn't match up with the ridiculously large W O R L D E L I T E... I really don't care for how it's flat, either.
In some security circles ... the flat is suppose to make it harder to steal the carholder information ... believe what you will.

Weird. Never heard that one before.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 16:42:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
It is a weird looking card. On mine, the MC logo doesn't match up with the ridiculously large W O R L D E L I T E... I really don't care for how it's flat, either.
In some security circles ... the flat is suppose to make it harder to steal the carholder information ... believe what you will.
Weird. Never heard that one before.

The thought behind the flat cards being "safer" is that people can get a quick imprint of your information, thus making a "fake credit card" where they glue the numbers onto another fake one and tell a cashier that the swipe strip is worn, and have the merchant enter the card manually, thus creating a fraudulent transaction with a physical card that has your card number on it.

But, today I feel like that is also fairly pointless, as people can just as quickly take a quick picture of your card with/without raised lettering. So, who knows.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 17:53:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have had two new card sent to me due to the fact I accidentally damaged one and lost another. Both times I used expedited shipping, neither time was i charged. This is the first I've heard about a fee.

As for the card design? Eh. I don't think it's a great looking card, but far from the worst I've seen. I actually like that all the info is on the back of the card and wish more companies would adoput this policy. Discover is the only other one that does to my knowledge.

Chase puts the card info on the back of many of its cards as well.

Regarding how the Citi DC looks, I think it looks fine. I don't personally have one, but I have a family member that does and I think i looks good. The only thing I don't like is that it is flat, rather than raised. For some reason raised information feels more premium to me.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

SunriseEarth — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 20:35:14 GMT

Ah, the Citi DC. Love it, or hate it, or both. Overall, I think it's a good gen spend card. The Rewards program itself, with the 1+1 structure seems to work fairly well overall. It's not the best cash back program in terms of thresholds and rewards posting, but it's also not the worst.

But there are some flaws. SLs and initial APRs aren't ideal, but can be fixed over time. However, I think the biggest problem with Citi DC is Citibank, especially in the area of their frontline CSRs. But if you can do most of what you need to do online or in the automated phone system, you'll probably be fine.

Also, I'm not a fan of the DC appearance. But then again, the Barclay CashRewards cards is much better looking, but with less rewards and a much higher redemption threshold.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

HeavenOhio — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 21:13:22 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The thought behind the flat cards being "safer" is that people can get a quick imprint of your information, thus making a "fake credit card" where they glue the numbers onto another fake one and tell a cashier that the swipe strip is worn, and have the merchant enter the card manually, thus creating a fraudulent transaction with a physical card that has your card number on it.
But, today I feel like that is also fairly pointless, as people can just as quickly take a quick picture of your card with/without raised lettering. So, who knows.

A friend of mine is a restaurant manager who's had to deal with employees who steal. She says it's much less conspicuous to grab an imprint of a card and write down the security code than it is to photograph it.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Kforce — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 21:35:45 GMT

Another feature that I like is the ability to pay on the statement date

and have it credit "NOW", allowing full control of how much is left on

the statement or pay in full at the last second.

I had fraud on it about 1-year ago, they sent out new cards, had them the next day,

no charge.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 23:58:47 GMT

I've reported my card lost many times and CITI always offered the option rush delivery a new card at NO charge.

One gripe though is Citi is very strict with their CLI.

#1 - They won't CLI for a newly open account even if you have an existing product with them with history.

#2 - There's a hard 6-month rule for CLI from when you had your last one. Even contacting Excecutive office will not get you much luck.

#3 - In order to speak with a Credit Analyst for a CLI, you must initiate a HP to speak to one. There's no backdoor to get directly in touch.

Other:

#4 - All front-line customer service agents are from a foreign country, unless you call during a nice time, which you'd get someone from Florida.

#5 - No fingerprint sign-in option available for Mobile App (Android).

#6 - if you want to get a Direct Deposit for your cash back, you need to establish history (and continue to establish history) by making payment from your bank account via Citi's Online system (and not through your bank's bill pay).

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

j615 — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 22:00:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
#5 - No fingerprint sign-in option available for Mobile App.

Fingerprint Touch ID works great on iOS now. Not sure about Android.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

SunriseEarth — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 22:10:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I've reported my card lost many times and CITI always offered the option rush delivery a new card at NO charge.

One gripe though is Citi is very strict with their CLI.

#1 - They won't CLI for a newly open account even if you have an existing product with them with history.
#2 - There's a hard 6-month rule for CLI from when you had your last one. Even contacting Excecutive office will not get you much luck.
#3 - In order to speak with a Credit Analyst for a CLI, you must initiate a HP to speak to one. There's no backdoor to get directly in touch.

Other:
#4 - All front-line customer service agents are from a foreign country, unless you call during a nice time, which you'd get someone from Florida.
#5 - No fingerprint sign-in option available for Mobile App.
#6 - if you want to get a Direct Deposit for your cash back, you need to establish history (and continue to establish history) by making payment from your bank account via Citi's Online system (and not through your bank's bill pay).

For #5, fingerprint works fine on iOS. As for #6, I recently had this problem, when I wasn't able to redeem to my NFCU checking account. I had "only" made three payments using that account, which apparently wasn't enough history. I left Citi some feedback that was very critical of that, and wound up getting a call from an account specialist looking to resolve it.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

EAJuggalo — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 23:41:30 GMT

I've only had my DC for a couple months but for over a month of that I couldn't use it. They put a FA on my card when I rented a moving truck, when I told them I was moving. Then wouldn't verify me over about 15 calls back and forth with them. Told me they would call me back, never did. Once I get done paying off my charges I don't know how much it will be used now that i have a Disco and Amex. I've actually been putting most of my non-cat spend on my Quicksilver lately.

Re: Things I like and don't like about Citi Double Cash

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 00:02:36 GMT

For #5, fingerprint works fine on iOS. As for #6, I recently had this problem, when I wasn't able to redeem to my NFCU checking account. I had "only" made three payments using that account, which apparently wasn't enough history. I left Citi some feedback that was very critical of that, and wound up getting a call from an account specialist looking to resolve it.

It will not be fix. It's just a policy that they have in place, which have been going on for 2 years now. Discover does the same thing when you try to redeem your rewards via direct deposit.