topic Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced? in Credit Cards

Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

smc733 — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:20:49 GMT

Not of any interest to me, since I converted away a while ago, but it appears that the Forward card is going from 5x TYP to 2x TYP, rendering it essentially useless.

Citicards: Citi Forward

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:52:07 GMT

Yeah, there have been several threads on this, but no one really seems to have gotten any confirmation on if previous card owners are going to be changed over as well.

I hope not because I agree, my Forward would be pretty much worthless, would go from like my top used card, to bottom of the barrel.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

athensguy — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 04:41:30 GMT

You can still apply for the 5TY point version, so it confuses me. I started a conversion to a Forward from the crappy Thank You card they turned my Driver's Edge into, and it should happen soon. I hope it's still the 5 point version.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:24:47 GMT

I'm a brand new Thank You card holder (last month) and if this change goes into effect I wasted an inquiry and a new account.

I wonder if that's some test promotion though. I noticed that it has a date code of April 2001, and the Forward card still lists itself as having 5X categories on their website:

https://creditcards.citi.com/credit-cards/citi-forward/

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:57:52 GMT

I hope this isn't true....I just applied for a PC. I have 45 days to change my mind, so hopefully this won't take effect.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

kc12286 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:09:56 GMT

I noticed that 2TYP card the other day and didn't think much of it. But seeing as the other link lists 5TYP my question would be , if you applied for the 5 would you get that or 2? And vice versa?

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

trumpet-205 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:53:53 GMT

God, if this applies to my Forward card I would merged it with Dividend Platinum Select and close the Forward card.

I would then apply Amazon Chase as a replacement.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

kc12286 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:56:51 GMT

Do you have Dividend Platinum or would you do a PC? I was considering applying for the Forward and Discover More to replace a low limit CC. I want a decent rewards package and Discover has what I want for gas purchases and Citi has it for other purchases.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

trumpet-205 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:04:07 GMT

I currently do have Dividend Platinum Select MC and I like it. Especially virtual account number Citi offers for phone/online purchase.

Like I said if my Forward's reward gets reduced to 2x points on entertainment I will combine CL of both cards and close the Forward card. I will apply Amazon Chase to replace the role of my Forward card.

If you are using Discover More strictly for gas purchase all around, maybe Discover Open Road is better suitted for you.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

smc733 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:01:23 GMT

@kc12286 wrote:
Do you have Dividend Platinum or would you do a PC? I was considering applying for the Forward and Discover More to replace a low limit CC. I want a decent rewards package and Discover has what I want for gas purchases and Citi has it for other purchases.

Orange indicates replacing a lower limit with a lower limit.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

kc12286 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:04:50 GMT

I was thinking that too, but a couple of users said More was better because of the percentage back. 5% vs 2% (or 1%) and I'd agree. If I apply by this next week, I'd think I'd get the card in time to use it for the July-Sept cash back period. Plus I've received pre-approval offers for More not Open Road.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

smc733 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:05:14 GMT

@kc12286 wrote:
I was thinking that too, but a couple of users said More was better because of the percentage back. 5% vs 2% (or 1%) and I'd agree. If I apply by this next week, I'd think I'd get the card in time to use it for the July-Sept cash back period. Plus I'd probably find a use for the other categories.

Keep in mind the first $3,000 on more spent on non-5% categories only earns .25%. I'd go for Chase Freedom first.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:06:14 GMT

@kc12286 wrote:
I was thinking that too, but a couple of users said More was better because of the percentage back. 5% vs 2% (or 1%) and I'd agree. If I apply by this next week, I'd think I'd get the card in time to use it for the July-Sept cash back period. Plus I'd probably find a use for the other categories.

The only issue with the More 5% catergories is spending is extremely limited. For example, for the July-Sept 5% category (Gas, Hotels, Movies) you only get 5% on $300, after that it's the standard 0.25% (or 1% if you're at the $3,000 threshold for the year).

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

trumpet-205 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:12:10 GMT

For 5% rotating category cards,

If you do online shopping a lot,

Go with Discover More (ShopDiscover)

If you shop at a specific rotating category a lot,

Go with Citi Dividend Platinum Select (No limits on each rotating category, annual limits of $300)

If you shop all around,

Go with Chase Freedom (No annual limits, only each rotating category has limits)

Keep in mind you can use website like ebates with Citi Dividend Platinum Select and Chase Freedom to increase online cashback.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

kc12286 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:11:02 GMT

I see what you're saying. But isn't Open Road restricted as well, it's 1 or 2% for every $250. I don't remember exactly. I'm sure that I'll end up using it for more than just gas. But the purpose for the most part is to use it for gas. I'm not spending much on gas, probably $120-130 a month.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:13:43 GMT

@trumpet-205 wrote:
For 5% rotating category cards,

If you shop online a lot,
Go with Discover More (ShopDiscover)

If you shop at a specific rotating category a lot,
Go with Citi Dividend Platinum Select (No limits on each rotating category, annual limits of $300)

If you shop all around,
Go with Chase Freedom (No annual limits, only each rotating category has limits)

Keep in mind you can use website like ebates with Citi Dividend Platinum Select and Chase Freedom to increase online cashback.

The think I love about the Chase Freedom is it's limits on rotating categories are $1500 vs. Discover's $300-500. Also, there is no threshold for the 1% on everything else. I'm not sure why you recommend the Dividend Platinum Select over the Freedom because to me it looks like it's just a flat 1% on everything after the promo period.

Let's not get off topic though as this is a Foward thread!

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

kc12286 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:13:19 GMT

So skip Citi Forward?

I had a Chase Freedom card and thru an unfortunate screwup I had to close, I'm paying that off currently. I won't be opening another one.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

trumpet-205 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:13:50 GMT

Open Road is 2% for gas and restaurant for first $250 per month, afterwards is 0.25% or 1% (depends whether you beat the $3000 threshold per year, bonus category don't contribute to the threshold).

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:16:19 GMT

@kc12286 wrote:
So skip Citi Forward?

I had a Chase Freedom card and thru an unfortunate screwup I had to close, I'm paying that off currently. I won't be opening another one.

I'm not sure where that link came from and I still see the 5x points on Citi's website, so I'm not sure that the rewards are actually being reduced. Has anyone seen this mentioned anyhwere else? I wouldn't rule out the Forward yet.

Re: Citi Forward Rewards Reduced?

trumpet-205 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:19:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I'm not sure why you recommend the Dividend Platinum Select over the Freedom because to me it looks like it's just a flat 1% on everything after the promo period.

Say the current category is home improvments (i.e. Home Depots, Lowes, OSH, etc). I want to make a large purchase on this category (say around $2500). With Chase Freedom, only the first $1500 gets 5% cashback, whereas Citi Dividend Platinum Select such limits doesn't exist.

So with Chase Freedom, I earned $90 cashback. Whereas Citi Dividend Platinum Select I earned $125 cashback (provided I have yet to earned $300 cashback per year on my Citi Dividend Platinum Select).