topic Re: Citi PC offer + consequences in Credit Cards

Citi PC offer + consequences

User1123932 — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 07:30:08 GMT

In an odd coincidence, just as I was exploring possible Citi PC options in another thread (no need to get into the weeds here), I logged into my Citi account to check a card balance on another device (no shared cookies), and then Citi presented me with a pop-up offer to do one of the PCs that I was already considering. I saved the offer code for later, because I still need to clarify the offer language with Citi.

The offer was simply to PC to Rewards+. OK, I'd like that, but... I presently have three different cards managed in my Citi cards portal, while the PC offer failed to specify which existing card would be changed. I would only consider changing one of those cards of my choosing, while I need the other two to remain as they are.

This type of confusing offer seems par for the course with Citi. Maybe I can turn it to my advantage?

Questions:

(1) Because Citi presented an offer code, is there supposed to be an incentive with this, maybe a bonus of some kind? (1a) Would I need to PC from a specific card to redeem the offer and any bonus? I don't see any language specifying any of this anywhere. I'm hesitant to plow forward blindly.

(2) When doing any PC with Citi, does that result in any HP? (2a) If so, with which bureau? My last two new Citi applications were with Experian. Same with two other cards in the last 12 months. I see around here that Citi does pull other bureaus. I'm not sure if it's at random, or if it's different bureaus for different reasons (e.g., PC versus new app).

(3) When doing any PC with Citi, does the PC itself trigger any rules that prevent other PCs or block any new applications for Citi cards that I do not already have? E.g., 1/8 rule, 2/65 rule? Or does a PC not count toward such rules? I don't want to shoot myself in the foot here, as I was also considering another new application (CCC) soon. I was assuming I should do the new app first, as long as the PC offer doesn't expire (if there's any bonus or benefit at all to the offer code). Otherwise, I'm OK just to delay the PC, unless the PC timing really doesn't matter one way or another.

In any event, it seems I'll have to reach out to Citi customer service at some point soon. I've had to do that a lot this year for other reasons, mainly their IT issues, which seem mostly better than before.

Going in armed with extra knowledge of their hidden PC/app rules couldn't hurt. Thanks in advance!

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

Curious_George2 — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:37:04 GMT

1) The only way to know is to ask them. My advice would be to not focus solely on the offer code. Just call and ask to PC your chosen card to Rewards+. If they say you are eligible, you can ask if there's a bonus, but those are pretty rare at Citi. When they are offering a bonus, they tend to make it pretty obvious in the marketing materials.

2) No. They don't ever do an HP for a PC. I have done several PCs with them, always with all reports frozen. No issue.

3) No. Other than the waiting period for the PC itself to become final (90 days, if I recall), there are no timelines that get altered by a PC. I once PC'ed into and out of Rewards+ within just a few months. No issue.

In sum, they treat PCs like you are changing rewards programs, not opening a new tradeline.

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

User1123932 — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 21:28:28 GMT

Awesome, @Curious_George2, that should work for me and gives me some hope.

I'll follow up here if I encounter any unexpected problems. Thanks!

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

vinathi — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 23:40:09 GMT

Hello,

Can you please let me know which credit bureau Citi uses for pre-qualification? I am thinking about applying for citi costco. Here is my info:

1 enq in past 3 months. Total 10 in the year so far.

Credit scores: ~750 all bureaus.

Utilization: Less than 2%, except on card where I am an authorized user is 75%.

Last opened account: 6 months back.

Appreciate the help.

Thanks

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

RedKaos — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:26:56 GMT

I think it depends on your state. Citi always pulled equifax for me, but I know they also pull experian as well.

https://www.mybanktracker.com/credit-cards/credit-score/credit-report-citi-pull-273676

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

User1123932 — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 19:07:24 GMT

I'll add another DP now. The first PC went off seamlessly as expected, and then I also applied for a new CCC. That HP hit my Equifax this time instead of Experian. Fortunately, that means my HPs are well balanced across the bureaus and not looking suspicious, in case I get lured out of the garden sooner than expected. I'll try later to see if a Citi retail card not on Citi's PC-eligible list could nonetheless PC into a second CCC.

Also, that Bank Tracker link is interesting. The methodology makes it look more descriptive than prescriptive. A lot of those bureau-by-state listings seem to be based on only a small number of DPs for each state (and they don't match with my experience for the various states I've lived in while opening new Citi cards). There may be certain states where certain bureaus don't get Citi HPs, but it's hard to know exactly what to expect based on this. Still, more data and rules could make that into a useful resource. 👍

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

coldfusion — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 20:52:26 GMT

@User1123932 wrote:
I'll try later to see if a Citi retail card not on Citi's PC-eligible list could nonetheless PC into a second CCC.

That would be an interesting data point, but given that the retail cards are managed by a different business unit (Citi Retail Services) I wouldn't normally expect many opportunities to exist.

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

User1123932 — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:24:03 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
@User1123932 wrote:
I'll try later to see if a Citi retail card not on Citi's PC-eligible list could nonetheless PC into a second CCC.

That would be an interesting data point, but given that the retail cards are managed by a different business unit (Citi Retail Services) I wouldn't normally expect many opportunities to exist.

Indeed, I don't have high hopes for that one in particular, especially given Citi's published list, but maybe it's still worth asking as a long shot. The list does suggest some flexibility with some of the co-branded retail cards. Another community member has suggested the same:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Optimizing-Citi-portfolio-new-card-apps-PC-total-credit-ratio/td-p/6605810/highlight/false#M1832267

I forget exactly whether I opened it with GE or with Citi, as it was right around the time of that handoff. What's certain is that it's with Citi now. I'd estimate a 98% chance of getting a hard "no" on a rewarding PC at this point, but if I can spare the time to call the phone number on that card to ask about PC options, I'm curious to see what shakes out. It served me well for 10+ years, but I see pratically no benefit going forward, other than raising AAoA and total credit for the time being.

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

coldfusion — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:05:58 GMT

A product change is something that If you don't ask you don't get, and you really have nothing to lose other than the time spent making the phone call. You may just as well call and ask when you have both the time and the motivation.

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

CaptJOB — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 20:03:05 GMT

I'd like to add one data point here as product changes can have negative consequences for SUBs. I PC'd an AA Platinum to a Rewards+ right before apping for a Premier and was denied the SUB on the Premier. Based on the language I thought I was good but according to multiple data points that were floating around and I hadn't dug hard enough for, I was in fact ineligible.

I called to recon for the SUB multiple times and was finally offered 5k TYPs as a consolation. Those never showed in my account and I didn't have the energy left to call back again.

Not sure if this affects the Custom Cash since it's technically a cashback card but I imagine others have data points.

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

User1123932 — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 05:09:42 GMT

Thanks for the added heads-up!

That is something I would not have expected, given the nature of each product (Premier, Rewards+, and AA Platinum). That DP can serve as an actionable warning and a possible rule that can be planned around. I probably would have ordered my tasks a little differently had I known this.

As you suspected, fortunately, Custom Cash did not present this same problem for me. As another DP, I can confirm now the latest SUB offer is active on my new Custom Cash that I opened a few days after PC'ing Diamond Preferred to Rewards+.

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

summerterrace — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 16:58:04 GMT

We need to product change one of our Premiers and trying to decide on best choice. We already have a DC. Rewards+ or Custom cash restart the sub clock? What happens to the 97,000 points on the card if we product change?

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

User1123932 — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 19:24:39 GMT

@summerterrace wrote:
Rewards+ or Custom cash restart the sub clock? What happens to the 97,000 points on the card if we product change?

I can't answer in full, but I think the clock would be reset, at least for SUBs in those products (or related ones, based on this discussion?); more DPs welcome.

If the points aren't retained directly, I would think that there's a way to juggle them, but I would also expect Citi to notify you of what can be done. I would also be interested in what the options are and what others' experiences have been.

Re: Citi PC offer + consequences

RedKaos — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 01:59:06 GMT

@summerterraceIf you PC out of the premier, it does NOT reset the clock on the premier so you can get it again 2 years after the time you earned its original SUB. If you PC into the Rewards+ however, you might reset the clock (per the other person's example). That's because the Rewards+ is part of the Premier family and you can only earn one SUB from that family per 24 months. However, I'm surprised by @CaptJOB datapoint as just having another card in the family shouldn't preclude you from earning the SUB. The language on the premier explicitly says "...if you earned the bonus... or closed any of these cards" and PCing into a Rewards+ shouldn't trigger this. Good to know though and unforunate it happened.

As long as you keep your premier linked to your DC, you'll keep all your points even if you closed the premier.