I am currently eligible to convert my citi diamond preferred into any citi card. I am taking a good look at the Citi Forward vs. a thank you card. I see on the website that you can create a unique reward. It says:
"It's called Your Wish Fulfilled and if you can dream it, we will try to make it happen. If you can't find the right reward, let us know and we'll come up with a unique one just for you"
Sounds interesting. How does this work? Anyone have any luck getting something useful with this feature? Examples?
Start (Sept 2011): low-mid 600s. NOW: TU FICO: 801, EQ FICO 808, EX FICO 798 (PSECU). Goal: Achieved! Now Maintain!
@jsickz32 wrote:
Lol. I have the forward and its not that great...
I plan on apping for it in June. The rewards on eating out are nice and I plan on using it for extra payments to student loans which have a pretty good rate of return.
Duncanrr,
Is that student loan thing only the college student version of the card? How does that work anyway? How many points per dollar? How do you set up payments to a student loan? Does it matter who holds the loan?
@ztnjpv wrote:Duncanrr,
Is that student loan thing only the college student version of the card? How does that work anyway? How many points per dollar? How do you set up payments to a student loan? Does it matter who holds the loan?
Its both versions of the card. I believe you can setup savings account or pay to a qualified student loan. (I have Sallie Mae and I know they are eligible. I havent checked others). You get 5 points per dollar spent and the exchange rate is 1:1 I think for them (the point programs have a low rate of exchange on most categories.) My understanding is that the points can be transfered over to your SL account for payments.
Not sure of the exact mechanics as I havent gotten the card yet.
Well, It's in motion. I am converting from a Diamond Preferred to a Citi Forward. Granted, I am not overly THRILLED with this simply because I find Citi's cards rather unimpressive from a rewards standpoint. But at least, I'll have a card that may be useful once in a while as opposed to a card that sits in my sock drawer collecting dust.
I guess the clincher for me was simply the restaurants at 5 points. I currently have restaurants as one of my 5% categories (along with the glorious BILL PAY) on my US Bank Cash + card. By having the Forward, I can switch that 5% choice from restaurants to something else useful that I currently don't have at a premium cash back rate...probably department stores. And having the forward at 5 points for electronics makes in-store Best Buy visits a no-brainer as to which card to use. And besides, the US Bank Cash + separates normal restaurants from fast food and cafes. Two different categories. Now, they'll be one.
Some unclear points however, if anyone knows the answers:
The Forward gets 5 points for bookstores, music stores and electronics stores. Does that hold up online as well? I'm particularly curious about Amazon. My Spark Biz Visa lists Amazon (and Amzn marketplace) as a bookstore on my statement. Does that mean you get 5 points at Amazon.com? That would be great. And what about iTunes? The Citi CSR says it shows up as "record store". Any experience to share here? Thanks!
@ztnjpv wrote:forward at 5 points for electronics makes in-store Best Buy visits a no-brainer as to which card to use.
was Electronics always a Citi Forward category? I thought it was movies, bookstores, music, dining.
