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.
I got a Thank you for applying for the Platinum card! email after it said I was conditionally approved for the Signature. I then got an email congratulating me for being approved for Plat. I'm assuming it will be in the mail.
Bit peeved I didnt get the Signature. I had the earnings for it.
I understand, but don't worry too much.
Plat is still good without any annual fees.
Citibank is famous for offering upgrades under same condition so give it a year and ask them to upgrade or say cancel.
I've just applied because this got 320 positives. Applied for platinum, put 1 additional card because I thought it would be free, but then a poster saw $90 additional card fee on Fees and Charges page. I hope I won't get charged for that $90, it won't make any sense if so.
It's free for both the primary and supplementary cards for this promotion
Lol, finally go my Citibank Signature approved…. after around 3 days of stuffing around with sending documents….
You got approved on the weekend? I am surprised. I didn't think banks did anything on the weekends. Ha.
Still waiting…
I'm guessing since its a international bank.
They open on Saturday due to the time differences.
Sunday is usually closed.
I got a call from Citibank today to clarify some figures and ask more questions (Saturday).
Sounded like a international call center, e.g. the guy on the phone didn't have a "English" like accent from countries like US/England/Australia. He had a Middle East Accent.
Usually Manila.
They are based on Philippines.
Was expecting to get hassled by citibank to send documents and what not but applied online (5 days ago) and received the card yesterday
Looks like the Citibank forum over on AFF is about to get a whole lot busier :)
Guys, if they conditionally approve you for a signature does that mean you'll definitely be getting a signature? or can they conditionally approve you for a sig and then offer you a platinum later?
I think 'conditionally approved' is corporate speak for 'we will see'.
It's been almost a week and I am still stuck on 'conditionally approved' without hide nor hair of where the whole is at.
Very frustrating.
Conditionally Approved means "the info you have given us sounds like you should be good to go… however we need to make sure all your docs are in order just in case you were bulls$@!#"
Let me finish that for you
" however we need to make sure all your docs are in order just in case you were bulls$@!#, but we might just send it to you now anyway - heads or tails?'
i applied on the 18th Monday and sent in my documents 1hr later and advised my HR dept that they will receive a call from Citibank. cond approved and received two emails and two smss in the following days to send in docs, i called up to say i had already done that, and the filo lady told me to ignore the emails and sms's. Friday came no change, and i got a call from citibank saying he was from the verifications team and did a conference call with my HR rep. After HR confirmed my salary, i checked www.citibank.com.au/status and it was approved. Now i'm just waiting for the card.
On the other hand. My friend applied the same time as I did, got approved straight away. got the card same week….
Got a call earlier today. I think they said it's in the finalisation stage. Said Citibank was affiliated with Virgin Money (I have a CC with them I was intending to cancel upon getting approved with Citibank).
So they said they had to transfer the balance from the Virgin CC (was NIL), close the account and open my Citibank account. So, I think I will get approval, but still not quite there yet (at least not yet confirmed on their website).
They won't let you have both? I applied for this card, but already have a Virgin Credit Card. I didn't realise that's with Citibank as well. Still haven't heard anything about my application for this one.
I think I would have too much credit, and therefore be too high risk…
you can have both a Citi and a Virgin card. they may apply the "no new card within 9 months of a credit increase or card application" rule across virgin and citibank, though.
Re: Balance Transfer
The amount that can be BT for 6 months at 0% is only up to 80% of your total credit limit on your new Citibank Platinum/Signature. You can request for a cheque can be sent to you, which you can then deposit in any account.
When I called up Citibank to activate my card, they told me this. I haven't taken up this offer yet, but I think I will.
anyone know if you can signup, get the free priority pass and then cancel the card?
Possibly, but you'll only have the PP for a year - why not keep it forever?
Not sure about the passes, but how long would this be card extant (as averse to extinct), on a persons credit history?
Think it subsists for a period of 5 anni.
rectus.
duis te
cancelling the bankwest card will not help you get a citibank cc.
I applied for a Signature card and they approved me for a Platinum. When I queried why was I declined (as I meet all of their requirements listed online) I was told they can't divulge why an application has been declined.
They kept telling me to keep the Platinum card then apply for the Signature in nine months. I explained that would be useless to me as the only reason I was signing up was because I want to link it to my QFF account, as I travel nearly every week and accrue business expenses which I want to earn rewards on.
They have asked for additional information to show I have money (accounts etc). I will submit the details tonight, which should solve it as I have plenty of money and only use my CC to earn rewards. So if anyone else is looking to get the Signature and you already have money in an account you can provide it to strengthen your case.
same here, also applied for Sig, got Plat instead.
Do you think you should have gotten Signature? As in were your earnings high enough, good credit limit etc?
I wouldnt be surprised if they were knocking back sig apps due to the strong response etc.
I hope this isn't the case. It's entirely inappropriate to use one product (e.g sig) to fish for applications and then pushing people on to things they didn't apply for (e.g plat).
At least you guys are getting some contact or response. I am in limbo. Rang to follow up today and all I got to was the scripted runaround that they were still considering. It's been a week. WTF?!
Just got approved for the signature card.
I think they are pretty script on your regular income and other income as they need to call my payroll and need confirmation on my other income.
And originally i only request for $8000. But they called me to advise the min limit is $15K and asked me if i still want to proceed if the limit increase to $15K…. So i said yes.
I just got my card in the mail.
I applied for the platinum card and left the field blank on what I wanted the credit limit to be.
Funnily enough they've approved my credit limit to a figure that is above the minimum credit limit of the signature card.
Oh and the documents they provide you with the card say
"Annual Fee: $0 while you hold a Citibank Platinum Credit Card."
So keep that safe in case they ever start charging you annual fees.
Just a question for people who already have Citibank accounts, I also got a Citi Visa Debit Card in the mail today too, this is the one to allow me to withdraw cash overseas with no fees… can I link the debit and credit cards so that I can just carry one card with me and either press credit or savings at checkouts?
I don't want to clutter myself carrying more cards then I have to.
No. They're in the stone age when it comes to technological stuff like that.
Not sure if..
No, I am serious. Have you ever used their logins?
Oh haha, no I haven't, I'm new to Citibank.
I haven't even received the letter with my PIN yet so I can't create my login until that arrives.
It's a shame they can't link it to the one card.
Thanks for clearing it up though!
Awww. Reading this forum is making me feel worse and worse about my application… but I can't stop!
Haha.
I think I'm gonna head into a branch tomorrow and see what the heck is going on.
Thanks OP.
"I am delighted to advise that your new PLATINUM CARD application has been approved. Everything you need to start using your account - your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and account guide - will be with you shortly. "
ALL APPROVED.
Even though I am above the $75000 requirement field. They didn't approve me for signature card instead giving the PLATINUM card. Which wasn't the product I was asking for.
I Rang them up asking is there anything they can do about it or why did this happen. ONE WORD = NO.
They said it was strictly confidential and cannot be disclose.
WHAT IS SO CONFIDENTIAL ABOUT DISCUSSING MY OWN DETAILS?……
That's weird that you met the $75K and they didn't approve you. I only just met the $75K and I got approved…. After reading the comments, it just doesn't seem consistent.
It sounds absurd that they can't discuss the outcome of the application with us.
Call the ombudsman and demand an explanation.
My only guess now is due to credit history because of this happen.
Now I wonder if there is any use of the platinum card…???
I don't get why they would say your 'PLATINUM CARD application' when you did not apply for that product. Most bizarre. And there is definitely no reason why they can't discuss your own account with you. You an always lodge a complaint through their website.
Why would anyone who was approved for credit, or a credit increase, need to access the credit assessment?
Can anyone explain the cheque to self option?
I'd like to know too, can we ask for a bt after being approved for a card (without purchasing anything yet) or is it already too late?
I'm certainly no expert but from what I can gather, basically they send you (or anyone you like) a cheque for up to 80% of your credit. With the current promotion you have 6 months before you have to pay it off. You still have to make the monthly payments which are 2% of the amount you owe, this is then taken off the total balance owing.
But note that with this method you lose your 55 days interest free until all the balance transfer is paid off.
I think you can request this whenever you wish, so long as the promotion is still running.
Hope that makes some sort of sense :)
How come the 55 days interest free is lost?
Does that mean with BT … you can't use the card to purchase?
Because you already owe them shitloads.
Does that mean with BT … you can't use the card to purchase?
yes.
I haven't done the BT yet, but I purchased something last night on the Visa Signature. If I were to call up to get to the BT, when should I do it? Should I pay off my purchase before I request the BT?
pay off, wait for $0 statement, then BT (assuming it's still 0% then).
So I have to wait for a statement first? Oops, maybe I shouldn't haven't used it then. What date does Citibank send their statements?
I didn't think you could do the 0% BT after receiving the card. I thought you had to nominate it during the application.
You have 30 days from activating the card to take up the offer (according to the lady I spoke to).
Has anyone actually been able to get the cheque to self balance transfer?
I activated my signature card today and asked for this option, but they said that for the promotional rate the funds need to be transferred directly to another financial institution.
I guess one alternative is to balance transfer to my 28 degrees card and then withdraw cash from Westpac ATMs - a royal pain given the high credit limit they have given me.
The cheque option was offered to me over the phone, but I haven't taken up the BT offer yet.
Seems like this happens to many ppl here. lol
I applied the signature card and got the phone call to raise my credit limit to$15k as the min. limit for the card.
But one day after I got a email saying I am approved for the plantium card.
Tried to call them and the response I got is only rejection for my application and the reason is confidential…….
Don't know what to do now……Orz
Lodge a formal complaint with them.
It's like asking to buy beef and being given chicken instead and not told why. Not acceptable. IMHO.
it's more like asking to be given beef, then being offered chicken instead, for free, and being able to decline the chicken.
it's definitely weird, but everyone seems to be taking it like some slur on them as a person.
Keep me posted frOm your end result, because it's a whole different ball game, unless I can see more enlighten way of use of te card
Just called them again and the only thing I can do now is to apply for the reassessment.
The potential reason I got rejected is I only got $13.5k credit which is less than the min $15k.
But it was them to tell me no need to do anything until they call me and they never asked anything from me, no payslip, no bankstatemnt, no nothing……….
See how the reassessment goes then…..
Yeah I called up again , and they did also said to me that I can apply for reassessment, but there is no point for applying because my circumstance of income hasn't change….
Citibank better approve me for a signature card, else they'll be known as $hittybank lol
If they automatically try to give me a platinum card instead of signature I will cancel on principle alone
If they automatically try to give me a platinum card instead of signature I will cancel on principle alone
always sensible to take a hit on your credit report for no reason.
agree. if they do that to my application, i will cancel it straight away and lodge a complain to whoever
Got a phone call to say it need to be at $15k, said yes and they approved me straight away. Took a week all up
Thanks OP
Good to know others are taking a week also. Mine will officially be one week tomorrow.
Applied for Signature Tue last week, and received formal approval yesterday afternoon. Have to re send all the documents cause they cannot find them in their systems. This time by email, quite strict with their requirement like other source of income.
Cancelled my old platinum last week (with annual fee) and re apply for new Signature card.
just save me ongoing annual fees
Thanks OP
As a new Customer of Citibank (joined 1 month ago), I have to wait for 9 months before I am able to open another Citibank credit card which I was told when I called Citibank. I was trying to open a new Signature credit card. When I emailed Citibank to lodge my complaint their rep replied they will be able to upgrade my existing Citibank Platinum to the free for life Platinum and subsequent emails they said I am not eligible. Don’t understand why Citibank don’t treat their existing Customers as well as or better than new Customer. Not happy Citibank.
Don’t understand why Citibank don’t treat their existing Customers as well as or better than new Customer.
they do - if you'd had your card for 9 months, they would have let you apply for a free-for-life-Signature card. you've just fallen afoul of their "only get to take out more credit once every 9 months" rule.
Applied yesterday.
Was about to send the doco, but give it a try to check on citi website today.
Entered my 13digit application ID (received when you submit online) and some details, the result is surprisingly saying that "my recent application for a Signature card has been approved. Citi will contact me shortly"
?? Weird..
I just wait then and see how it go.. will update you guys once i heard something
Similar here. Applied Last night. Got an email to send docs. Did. Got an email this morning saying conditionally approved but to send docs. Checked the website just now it says approved.
??
jumped on the chat with them to find out if its approved or conditionally approved, if they have docs or not, but they can't say on chat and i need to call…so i don't know!
If it says approved on the website I'd say there's a good chance that you've been approved and just wait for the card in the mail…
Mine still says conditionally approved and I've been waiting for over a week now. They called and asked for more info, which I sent, and then after that I got another e-mail asking for info and I replied saying that I've already sent it. Nary a peep from them after that - seems my application is in limbo.
Go onto a branch if you can, I got much more information speaking to a branch person than the call centre.
Mine received today.
Very fast process without sending any doco et all..
Now i believe that they do have and share my details somewhere up there…but anyway..i'll keep my rating good!
Thanks again OP!
Registered an OzBargain account to say thank you for an excellent deal. I got approved for my Platinum card today.
For those that were declined or are still cond approved whose income is > $75K, what did you put down as your expenses?
I was a little too honest evidently, as they declined me for a signature card and gave me the useless platinum.
I have spoken to four different people as I have tried to cancel the platinum card twice, as without the ability to link to QFF it is of no use to me (which my current card does). Both customer services people have tried to talk me out of cancelling and I did submit an account with a significant amount more than the minimum credit level to prove I have the means to pay off my line of credit.
My experience is the first line of support is useless, however when it is escalated to customer support for cancellation they actually posses some communication skills. I have also been getting some conflicting information. For example, today I rang and the first girl had told me that my reassessment had been declined. So naturally I wanted to cancel the card so the call was escalated only for the guy to tell me it's still being processed and will take up to a week. Yesterday they told me to wait nine months on the platinum card, which I'm also not prepared to do. It really depends on how lucky you are with the person you get on the phone in my experience.
I have spent several hours so far just trying to get it sorted. If it finally gets approved I'll be happy but if it doesn't I'll cancel and never deal with Citibank again.
why would you cancel it? even if you don't use it, it seems like citi will offer you a free upgrade in the future, and it costs nothing to keep it, since you've already taken a hit at Veda.
Because I already have a credit card with QFF attached.
I wouldn't use this card so there really isn't much point having a card with a significant credit limit sitting in the drawer doing nothing.
Who's to say they offer a free upgrade for life in the future?
there's no guarantee, but there's seemingly a lot of people who took a "Citi free-for-life-Gold" card a few years ago who were upgraded to free Signature a while ago.
For the Savvy ones out there and those who have gone through the PDS with a fine comb, please help a novice answer the below for signature card. I havent received the card yet.
It says upto 55 days interest free, when does the date kick in. Is it from the day I received my card or a date that Citibank sets?
Is the travel insurance for the whole family or just me? I have ordered an additional card for my partner. What about the kids? are they covered?
Apart from the lounge pass and BT and no annual fees, is there anything else good about the card :)
If I convert all my payments to the CC, i.e insurance, petrol etc, will I earn points per purchase?
How do I redeem these points?
Thanks in advance.
This is in general on purchases every month. Your bill is due about 24 days after the last day of the billing cycle, so things you buy at the beginning are 55 days interest free, and things you buy at the end about 24 days.
Card holder and dependents in general. So kids are covered IF accompanied by a cardholder (usually does not matter whether primary or secondary, as long as they are cardholder)
The points you get are quite good. On the signature you would get a $50 supermarket voucher for each ~$6k spent (correct me if I'm wrong anyone). Also do not underestimate the value of travel insurance.
I think so. It all counts as purchases, even direct debits I believe.
See https://www.citibank.com.au/AUGCB/ICARD/rewmil/getEnrollInfo…
Many thanks for the detailed overview
It says upto 55 days interest free, when does the date kick in. Is it from the day I received my card or a date that Citibank sets?
same as every other credit card - from the statement date, which for the first month will be some random date near the "approval" date.
Is the travel insurance for the whole family or just me? I have ordered an additional card for my partner. What about the kids? are they covered?
this isn't fine-comb, https://www.citibank.com.au/aus/static/complimentary_insuran…
Apart from the lounge pass and BT and no annual fees, is there anything else good about the card :)
remember it's just you who gets to go to priority pass twice each year. and a free high-rewards visa/mc is rare.
If I convert all my payments to the CC, i.e insurance, petrol etc, will I earn points per purchase?
yes that's what rewards credit cards do.
How do I redeem these points?
https://www.citibank.com.au/aus/static/cards_rewards.htm . you get terrible value on gifts from them, or reasonable value converting to Singapore Airlines frequent flyer points. note that the reward rate is still only around 1%, so unless you have very high income or use it to pay business expenses you'll get more benefit from being very slightly better at budgeting or from getting around 30 days extra interest on your savings account.
unless you have very high income or use it to pay business expenses you'll get more benefit from being very slightly better at budgeting or from getting around 30 days extra interest on your savings account.
Agree with the interest. But you left out "or from visiting ozbargain religiously" (more benefit).
I end up getting a few hundred dollars worth of Coles cards each year using my signature card. Getting my wife a card now just so she can use the priority lounge.
Isn't it best though to convert the citibank rewards into velocity points for flying?
I would have thought this (and what I'm going to do). They offer 15% bonus's every now and then too.
Many thanks for the detailed overview
To those who sent their documents to citibank, how did you send it? I don't use fax, and they didn't provide an email address in their conditional approval email. If you sent via post, did you get the card approved and received within a week?
Fax and they got back to me exactly one week later. If you send it by post, use express post. Or I was told you can go into a branch and they can fax it for you.
I took a photo and emailed them.
Please send documents, together with your name and application ID to:
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 1300 301 304
Post: Citibank Credit Cards, GPO Box 1625, Sydney NSW 2001
Applied Thursday night, just been (unconditionally) approved.
Got a few calls - sent them payslips, gave them contact details and gave authority for payroll to disclose salary. Not an horrendously long process.
Did you get an email saying that you got approved or Conditionally approved for Plat? or Did you get the Plat card but when the card arrived, it just came in plat?