topic Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard in Credit Cards

AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 02:27:19 GMT

Out front, I've had this card for 25 years, and it hasn't been much value since the categories just about stopped rotating. Only really keeping it for the multi-decade history.

Got a letter today from Citi stating that my next card will be a Mastercard. I'll be getting a new account number, expiration date and security code (duh on the last two).

The Q&A on the back of the letter is interesting. Citi's marketing group needs an overhaul. Check this:

1. Why are you replacing my card? Your Citi Visa card is being re-issued as a Citi Mastercard as part of a larger effort to offer a more consistent experience across many of our products and to look for new ways to enhance your experience in the future.

...

4. Will my card contain an EMV chip? Yes. ... enahnced security when used at chip enabled terminals and increased ease of use in other countries. To learn more, visit citi.com/chiptechnology (404 not found!)

The only real future I see is that I'll likely cancel this card once I get to a ThankYou Point milestone and snag a gift card, unless someone tells me keeping this multi-decade old account has any value. Already have high credit scores.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

NRB525 — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 04:09:54 GMT

What is the earn rate for TY points?

Since it is AT&T branded, does it offer any ATT perks?

Kind of strange to move it to MC since they have the Costco VISA but maybe Citi is not enjoying the VISA arrangement.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 05:04:18 GMT

My card is very old, and not equivalent to the one currently on the Citi card site. I doubt you can get this type of card, or even product change into it. It was first offered in the early 1990's.

It earns just 1 ThankYou point per dollar spent. Occasionally a 5x deal, currently dining and ending July 31 and only for spend of $500. But I haven't seen a 5x deal in over a year, and only one quarter each of the last 3 years.

In the ThankYou portal, it appears to be a 50% haircut if one uses TY Points for cash, a 20% haircut if you get a recent purchase refunded, or 0% haircut on a gift card. Merchandise not explored.

I don't think I even get 2 ThankYou points on AT&T purchases - Haven't tried, since I haven't had services from them in over a decade. The card might have or did have 30 mins free long distance calling, which worked out great in college early 1990's to dial a 1-800 number and get around university billing costs (high!). And 2 free directory assistance calls. Unused features mostly.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

FinStar — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 05:12:07 GMT

It's kind of interesting these old legacy CCs still around, albeit soon to be converted. Mine was issued as MC (not Visa) back in 1994 (Universal Bank) before Citi gobbled them up.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 06:30:51 GMT

Yes, originally I recall AT&T offered both Visa and Mastercards, and the Mastercard hologram was sort of unique for that time.

I had both cards, so I could get an hour of calls per month back in the day. I probably cancelled the then Mastercard for the Dividend card, which I still have as well.

Apparently I own relics.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

NRB525 — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 07:31:01 GMT

On another thread a couple weeks ago, someone got irritated with a CSR and said they “slammed their phone down”, presumably to hang up?

I’m thinking, “how do you slam a cellphone down?”

#RotaryPhone

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

AverageJoesCredit — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:11:39 GMT

Uhm, having a multi decade credit card , no af, is the value

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:22:23 GMT

Wondering who my AT &T Cards were issued by? Obtained Visa and a MasterCard AT & T Cards with $26,500 CL on one and $28,000 CL on the other. Do not remember why I even closed them with the large CLs which for the time, were huge! Both were way back in time ... interesting that Citi wants to increase their usefulness?! Legacy for sure. Back in the time, my memory said they were useful as I had no AT & T products or telephone service?

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

kdm31091 — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:19:28 GMT

Citi still issues an AT&T card with 2x online shopping and 2x AT&T purchases, paid in Thankyou points. Obviously not very useful because you can get 2% on everything with a Double Cash.

As far as the OP, why not just convert the card to something better? You'll maintain the credit history.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:23:45 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
On another thread a couple weeks ago, someone got irritated with a CSR and said they “slammed their phone down”, presumably to hang up?

I’m thinking, “how do you slam a cellphone down?”

#RotaryPhone

I'm sure that somewhere there is an app where when you gently put the cell phone face down, it emits a load sound and drops the call

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Trikoret — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:40:13 GMT

My Citi double cash card was converted from att universal card. I've had this account since 94.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

zerofire — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 17:21:45 GMT

I am fairly certain that Citi is a MasterCard issuer primarily. Now they do have the rare Visa like the Costco Visa but that is because the co-brand had a special requirement for it, they have the compatible infrastructure for both, and they are the largest issuer of cards worldwide. Being able to push around the networks even in cases where there are only a few cards means that Citi can do almost anything they want. In fact they were the first ones to tell MasterCard that their World and World Elite branding was not going to have the minimum limits honored and that if they did not like it they should take a hike. My guess is that they no longer like to have old Visa cards dangling and sucking out profit without a contract since AT&T does not want to deal with propping up two networks. Citi is basicly playing in a world that they make themselves and everyone else is just in it for the ride.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

FinStar — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 17:40:59 GMT

@zerofire wrote:
I am fairly certain that Citi is a MasterCard issuer primarily. Now they do have the rare Visa like the Costco Visa but that is because the co-brand had a special requirement for it, they have the compatible infrastructure for both, and they are the largest issuer of cards worldwide. Being able to push around the networks even in cases where there are only a few cards means that Citi can do almost anything they want. In fact they were the first ones to tell MasterCard that their World and World Elite branding was not going to have the minimum limits honored and that if they did not like it they should take a hike. My guess is that they no longer like to have old Visa cards dangling and sucking out profit without a contract since AT&T does not want to deal with propping up two networks. Citi is basicly playing in a world that they make themselves and everyone else is just in it for the ride.

Actually, they have the infrastructure to support any network. In other regions of the world, they issue dual, co-branded network CCs, whether it's AmEx/MC or AmEx/Visa. That said they still have older legacy products on the Visa network, besides the AT&T Universal Card as well as AmEx branded products and some Visa cards have been slowly phased out. The AmEx CCs still live on for the time being so there's that. And, while their primary contractual agreement is currently with MasterCard, they've also been known to flip flop networks over the years. Nothing new for Citi.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Save-n-Invest — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 18:10:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Out front, I've had this card for 25 years, and it hasn't been much value since the categories just about stopped rotating. Only really keeping it for the multi-decade history.

Got a letter today from Citi stating that my next card will be a Mastercard. I'll be getting a new account number, expiration date and security code (duh on the last two).

The Q&A on the back of the letter is interesting. Citi's marketing group needs an overhaul. Check this:

1. Why are you replacing my card? Your Citi Visa card is being re-issued as a Citi Mastercard as part of a larger effort to offer a more consistent experience across many of our products and to look for new ways to enhance your experience in the future.

...
4. Will my card contain an EMV chip? Yes. ... enahnced security when used at chip enabled terminals and increased ease of use in other countries. To learn more, visit citi.com/chiptechnology (404 not found!)

The only real future I see is that I'll likely cancel this card once I get to a ThankYou Point milestone and snag a gift card, unless someone tells me keeping this multi-decade old account has any value. Already have high credit scores.

I PCd my At&T Universal to Double Cash four years ago. DC is the daily driver now.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 06:38:45 GMT

Logged in for my Visa statement over the weekend, and they were mid process of cutting my account to a Mastercard. Sunday got emails introducing me to ThankYou with my new account. (HA!) Got the card Monday.

Not even a NFC chip! Just the 15 year old visible chip. They didn't continue to put "Charter Member" on the new card like my old card. Appears to have kept my account open date.

I need to product change this once Citi's next normal card comes out. It's a relic with my relic Dividend and DoubleCash cards.

My Visa expires 10/31/19. Wonder if I can take it that long to spite them.

Re: AT&T Universal Visa soon to be Mastercard

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 07:01:57 GMT

I got my AT&T Universal Mastercard last week. Yay, a chip in it! (Previous AT&T Universal Visa did not, my only non chip card).

I can't believe it still has raised numbers. Anyone seen a credit card carbon imprint machine being used in the last 10 years?

I need to PC this, if only for the 25+ year history. Likely my only option is the Rewards+ card, which isn't very enticing.