These credit cards are reward cards with free insurances. Platinum card has five insurances while Signature has six. Minimum income apply. These are the best fee free credit cards I can find to date: no annual fee + 0% BT offer + reward points(1.25/1.5 per $) + comprehensive insurances. Enjoy.
Edit: this has been extended to the end of March or July 2014.
read pds
http://www.citibank.com.au/aus/credit_cards/cards_signature.…
Complimentary Interstate Flight Inconvenience Yes
Complimentary International Travel Insurance Yes
Complimentary Transit Accident Insurance Yes
Complimentary Purchase Cover Insurance Yes
Complimentary Extended Warranty Insurance Yes
Complimentary Guaranteed Pricing Scheme Yes
Citi Guaranteed Pricing Scheme
Up to 60 days after purchase
Up to $500
Price difference of $75+
Same covered product advertised in a store catalogue.
This cover section does not apply to covered products purchased or advertised exclusively on the internet.
28degrees Price Protection
Up to 180 days after purchase
Up to $600
price difference of $10+ (once only)
SAME store only
Max $2000 per 12 months
Good comparison of the differences of the price protection.
Just to add to this, the Coles Mastercard (either zero fee, or $50 annual fee) has optional 730 day (2 YEARS) price protection, starting from $10 diff from the same brand of store (but can be different branch), up to $600 per item. Basically the same as 28 degrees but 4 times longer.
See page 11 here: http://www.colescreditcards.com.au/~/media/Files/CreditCards…
I am actually considering making this my every day spending card (or rather than Platinum version to earn points 4x faster to get $10 off my groceries more often - thanks to Coles I have already had around $180 of free groceries in the past few months).
I could have already claimed around $120 cashback on the price protection on some Officeworks chairs if I had used this card to pay for them.
i buy all my electronics on my 28 degrees card from major retailers (who do crazy discounts during clearance time)
claim GST, then claim price protection on depreciated price difference after half a year (inclusive of GST)
basically getting my devices for 50% off and then selling them on ebay soonafter to break even and buy the new model =)
Purely for price protection, Coles MC is definitely superior.
The conditions are the same, except as you state it's 4 times longer.
So @furythree, you should pay for them on a Coles MC!!
How do you claim the gst back?
I would also like to know.
you can only claim the gst back if you're taking it overseas or are registered for GST with the tax office (if you don't know what that means, you're not able to do it).
I don't think you're comparing like for like. Citi Guaranteed Pricing Scheme comes free with the card. 28 degrees Price Protection costs 0.5% of closing statement balance each month. If you want to compare, do it with the Citi CardGuard, which costs 0.59% of closing statement balance each month.
how do u get protection on 28 degrees?
Call them up and ask to have it, they'll read you out a bit of info which they'll ask you to agree to and then they'll send you out the info booklet too. Easy done.
Or you could keep reusing the $5 off for every $40 purchase that you get printed on the docket.
Currently I have a Citi Platinum card with annual fee, though the fee is waived after I call to cancel the card each year, maybe I should ask citi to upgrade my card to Signature card with $0 annual fee for life
Same here. And, I tried just then. They said that I have to submit the form online and get a new one and cancel the old one.
The chance of getting another one of the same card is pretty low i think. Citi dont really treat existing members well, unless you threaten to cancel, theb they wil waieve the fee.
That's pretty much the standard process for all the banks. I was with standard chartered for sometime and always had to call them and tell them I wanted to cancel. They'd then waive the fee.
I am not getting the same one.
I have platinum already. Applied for signature card through this link and sent the documents via email. Waiting for the cards to arrive now.
ah fair enough. Are you paying the full fee for plat?
nope. always got them waived.
I got email about 30 mins ago that mine is now conditionally approved pending ID checks, so easy enough.
I have an existing Citibank Plus and Platinum CC (no rewards/hardly used) and applied online this morning.
I just got a phone call to confirm before submission and been advised that if I'm already an existing customer, they can review my existing details so I do not have to submit docs.
Also got offered the credit card insurance which I opt-ed out of.
Same here, called them up and they said the offer only valid for new customer, existing customer can't upgrade. Not sure if you're an existing they will honour the new application, they might as well reject the application on the base that you're already a customer.
Regardless I'm already on platinum with free fee for life of the card, but this was from more than 10 years ago when I applied for the family-friends offer for the Gold card, then few years back they phased out Gold card and upgraded mine to Platinum.
I just applied for a new Signature and application seemed to go through just fine. Ever since the whole Westpac Altitude Black saga (i.e. I applied right from the get-go and got my card way before people who were waiting for the bank to upgrade them), my motto has been "apply, apply, apply".
yeah, but if you're already a citi customer you won't get it, unless the cs lied to me on the phone.
you can't be a customer if you're already a customer, pushing your luck too far.
I'm willing to put money that the CS lied to you. I managed to get to the conditional approval stage (request for ID) at the end of the application, which is not a "no". The only thing I'm curious about is whether/how I will get this card added to my existing online account, considering how stupid their system is.
just applied for the Signature card, immediately got an email of conditional approval, received a call from Citibank in 5 minutes, confirmed a few details, and was told that no documents were required (I am an existing citi customer with both bank account and credit card), another 5 minutes later, I received an email saying that my application has been approved, so easy.
Should I take my chances to follow excite and zzyss just to apply the 'new' card and see how it goes? It would be really dodgy if I ended up having 2 platinum cards with both no annual fee for life. I wouldn't mind if the other one is Signature.
I already have a signature card, applied another signature card and got the email saying "I have been conditionally approved".
and to fax forms and details.
lol
Maybe Ill have two signature cards!! ha ha
Will fax forms tomrow.
i can't get a signature card (even though my taxable income easily surpasses the minimum income requirement) because i increased my credit limit in the last 6 months!!! on that basis, my application would be automatically denied, even though my financial position is clearly strong enough to support the minimum required credit limit!!!
:(
unfortunately i just chose the absolute worst possible time to increase my credit limit (after asking/waiting years for a free upgrade to signature)!
so infuriating!
I supposed too rich can be annoying too
aha, definitely not too rich! (i wish!!!) :)
without expressly confirming anything (which they are unable to), the CS rep pretty much admitted that if I hadn't increased my credit limit within the last 6 months, i was clearly an appropriate candidate for the signature card and likely would have been approved (obviously without being about to confirm either way)…
We have conditionally approved you for a credit limit of $$systemCreditLimit but as a responsible lender, we need to verify your identity and income details before issuing the card. To ensure that we can provide your funds as quickly as possible you can download this fax cover sheet and fax in your latest payslip.
Looks pretty decent, if it wasn't for the $49 annual fee to use QFF I would be all over this. Does anyone know how many points it takes to buy a $100 gift voucher at Woolies or Coles using the citi program?
Edit: its 18,200 points so not bad $12,000 spend on the signature card.
18,800 points gives you $100 gift card …
https://citibank.com.au/AUGCB/ICARD/rewcat/searchCatalogue.d…
18,200 ($12,133 for Signature or $14,560 for Platinum) points for $100 coles gift card.
see https://citibank.com.au/AUGCB/ICARD/rewcat/displayPage.do?se…
Even with the $49 QFF annual fee, this would still be one of the better value cards to earn 1:1 on VISA.
Just FYI, I recently did a review of my credit cards to see which loyalty program gives me the best cashback.
Platinum Visa with Bank of Queensland (Q-Rewards)
spend $2,000 to redeem $10 cash back
= 0.5% rebate of $ spent
Coles Mastercard with $0 annual fee
spend $4,000 to get 2,000 flybuys points which = $10 off grocery shopping
= 0.25% rebate
Coles Platinum Mastercard with $50 annual fee
spend $1,000 to get 2,000 flypoints points for $10 off grocery shopping
= 1% rebate (best of above)
As long as you spend more than $7,000 a year on a Coles Platinum card, you will offset the $50 fee and earn more cash back than the zero fee card.
Equates to $10,000 spend for $100 cash back (I say cash back, as we all have to pay for groceries, but its actually redeeming 2,000 flybuys points for instant $10 off a Coles shop worth $10 or more)
Nice!
I was just forced off my Citibusiness Gold onto the Signature for $150 a year…looks like I am calling them tomorrow :)
I'm in the same situation, other comments indicate you might need to apply for a new card to get this offer. Let us know how you go?
Yeah - called them, and they said this is for new card holders only. The missus is the primary card holder for our Citibusiness Gold, so I just applied for the Signature card with me as primary card holder.
Don't know if this still works, but if you have an ABN you can still keep your business gold card. Maybe call them and get it changed back.
Yeah I saw a few of the guys on the Australian Frequent Flyer forums managed to do that, but I don't have an ABN, so it is likely more trouble than it's worth:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/citibank…
ABN takes less than 5mins to make on the ato website.
yeah but then you get heaps of mail from ATO and have to file returns ..blah blah blah.. too much hassle..
Nope. You don't have to register for GST as long as your turnover is less than some amount that I forgot, and I've never received anything from them (paper or e-mail) other than the initial correspondence about my application.
Also, I think it's ASIC or something, not the ATO.
$18,000
you mean $75,000
18200 citbank points for $100 coles gift card
which means you have to spend over 9000 bucks. hardly seems worth it
yeh credit card reward schemes are rarely worth the effort but it's OK since no annual fee.
I think the travel and purchase insurance are more use to me than the rewards - but $100 of free money each year is better than the $0 I currently get.
That's why you don't look at the rewards as a reason to get the card, they're just a bonus. If you use this card, pay it off in full every month, then it's practically free money.
As someone above said, the earn rate for QF is only 1:1 and you need to pay a $49 fee.
Apply too many good credit card offers -> Too many credit file queries recorded on your credit file -> Need lots of explanation when getting loans
I've got 11 credit cards, including the citi sig card.
Gotta collect em all!
Yeap. Got 8 myself!
If you can afford it, I say don't worry too much.
This is true and yet you get negged. Especially true when they change to positive credit history next year. They will be able to tell how many cards you have, the repayment history etc
I'd rather have a large number of cards with unblemished repayments than one card with multiple late payments. I'd suggest credit companies agree with me.
Spend between your means, if you can work the banks with credit cards you are #winning!
I don't own any credit cards, and wasn't planning on getting one for a while, but I will be traveling overseas within the next year, is this card worth it for the insurance alone? Anything a noob should need to know about before signing up for something like this?
yes it's worth it for the insurance alone. Just make sure the insurance cover (usually a third party provider) is suitable for your trip. (you'll have to look at the complimentary travel insurance part of the PDS)
You will need to purchase the airfares with the card to be eligible for insurance.
If you intend to use the card overseas (Foreign credit transactions), be aware of the foreign transaction fees Citi will charge.
DO you know how much is the foreign transaction fees? Cant seem to find it. I am looking for a card without foreign exchange fees but with rewards.
http://www.citibank.com.au/aus/static/feesandcharges.htm -> 3.3%. if you want rewards and no foreign exchange fees, only sensible choice is Bankwest Platinum Qantas Mastercard. $160/year, though, so consider if it is actually worth it - for most people this card + Bankwest Platinum Zero (no annual fee, no foreign exchange fee, no rewards) is probably a better option.
Ah ok, I already purchased the flights so that makes me ineligible for the insurance, thanks for saving me the trouble!
yeh but since the no annual fee offer is limited, you may want to get the card now for future trips? But then again, this is not the only free card that offers complimentary travel insurance.
Personally I will stick to my Bankwest Zero Platinum. IMO no foreign transaction fees > rewards scheme. (for my personal spend behaviours)
you need to turn 28 degrees bro
28 degrees no longer offers commission free cash withdrawals from foreign atms. Seriously devaluing the usefulness of the card overseas
well, it's still useful for overseas purchases (online or in person while overseas)…either 28 degrees or bankwest zero platinum are the go for that!
Does the Bankwest Zero Platinum give you fee-free cash withdrawals from ATMs overseas?
No. $4 fee. You'll need a Citibank transaction account to get fee free and commission free overseas ATM withdrawals.
not only does it work fee-free, but being a debit card, not a credit card, is a big plus for me.
I used the bankwest platinum card for overseas transactions fee free, travel insurance too if you purchase the whole flight with the card, for ATM withdrawals, I used a cash passport from the post office with small fees, I liked having more then one card.
Since when? I just used it O/S 3 months ago with no atm fees?
check the conditions carefully. For the Bankwest platinum card you need to spend at least $500 of "pre-paid travel expenses". So not necessarily (only) your flight. Hotel could be fine too.
Does that mean you can buy your flight (being in AUD) with another card (like the Woolworths Qantas), then buy your hotels/internal flights with your Bankwest card, getting both insurance and a low rate?
Best travel card is 28 Degrees master card.
No fees for buying in overseas currencies (just whatever the exchange rate is)
No annual fees, ever
Just remember to call them before you head overseas and tell them which countries you are going to. Their fraud protection service will then allow you to use it in the countries you travel.
No points, but if you travel often, then it's the best
EDIT: What I mean is 28 Degrees is best card for when you are overseas. For insurance etc. you are best to use the Citibank one to get the insurance.
28 Degrees is no longer the best, as you don't get fee-free withdrawals at ATMs abroad anymore. Bankwest offers the same zero commission foreign purchases deal, but with the bonus of international travel insurance.
28 Degrees was never intended to be used that way and I still don't get why people consider that the ability to make fee-free withdrawals was a standard feature of the 28 Degrees card. It was never an advertised feature.
Just to let you know though, the Bankwest card has always charged for ATM withdrawals overseas. $4 or 3% - whatever is greater.
Although it is true and correct that Bankwest -> 28 Degrees if you're purely looking at it from the point of view of the free travel insurance.
but why would you withdraw money from your credit card anyway?
Free method of doing foreign exchange when overseas. Load up your card with funds before you go and withdraw those funds from an ATM while holidaying.
What does it matter how it was intended - it was a source of close to free currency conversion. Now that it isn't, Bankwest Plat takes the cake, because of the insurance.
Has this always been available through this friends and family link?
yeah, i'm sus. If you go to Citibank, there's no friend and family thing and the application for a balance transfer involves divulging entire bank account details. That's awkward. You'd think you could find it on their real site, not a supplied link.
These Citi promotions have never been linked on their main page AFAIK.
Balance transfers always require bank details, otherwise how are they going to transfer funds?
Didnt think you can balanc tranfer to bank accounts?
Is there a minimum spend for this card? Or can I just apply it and not use it. I only plan to use it whenever I book flights.
No min spend
I've had one of these with no fee for a few years and I'm very happy with it. I've claimed in excess of $500 in vouchers and cash back and had never paid interest or fees. The travel insurance is underwritten by Zurich and includes lost income for up to three months, I've not seen this with other travel insurance.
Free wine at select restaurants is pretty cool too.
You get free wine at select restaurants even if you have a Citibank debit card. It's not just a credit card thing.
I just started a new job and the wife only works casual. Damn offer came at the wrong time. Would sit along nicely with our Citibank Plus transaction account that gets used a lot for overseas purchases and travel.
I just got fired :(
Here's an upvote to cheer you up :)
Gah I accidentally neg'ed your comment.
Can we retract comment negs yet?
best comment of the day, hands down
I'm pretty sure part of the reason was too much OzBargainig on teh work computer
you're a martyr, sir.
lets give this man an upvote…
Maybe Scotty will hire edwinlim88? ;-)
What you do? What job you looking/interested in? May be this community can hook you up with a job.
I know its bit off topic.
great find.
does the signature card have International Travel Insurance, Purchase Cover Insurance etc as well?