Citi Dividend card reduces cash-back to 2%

Joan.of.the.Arch · #1 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 05:40 PM

Just got a notice in the mail. Beginning October 13 the Citi Dividend card will reduce rewards on purchases at gas station, supermarkets, and drugstores to 2%. Preciously it was 5%.

b4freedom · #2 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 07:52 PM

The question now is: What card do I pick now?

I'll leave this one open, and go find one I like to get the 5% back. Or as near to the 5% as I can get. Any suggestions?

Joan.of.the.Arch · #3 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 08:25 PM

I don't know any others besides the other one I have. It is a Mastercard from Chase. It does still give 5% for many purchases. Try www.chase.com/creditcards.

Anyone else?

safari · #4 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 08:30 PM

I am using American Express Blue Cash card for all my purchases. They give you 5% cash back on everyday purchases (gas, supermarkets, etc.) and 1.5% on all other purchases after you spend $6,500. For the first $6,500 you earn 1% on everyday purchases and 0.5% on all other purchases. There is no limit on how much cash back you can earn every year. Cashback gets credited to your account automatically once a year, at which time the qualifying spending amount resets back to zero.

sweeps · #5 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 08:38 PM

Yeah, I use the Chase Cash Plus Visa also. Hopefully they don't downgrade that one too. My Dividend card will get tossed in the drawer on Oct 13th.

The problem with Amex Blue besides the $6500 minimum to get into the big percentages is that Amex isn't accepted at a lot of place. Didn't have that problem with the Dividend Mastercard.

Another option if you're into GM cars is the GM Card. 5% on everything. Only problem is you're limited on how much rebate you can apply to a car purchase.

JBinKC · #6 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 03:28 PM

Yeah that is not very good. Is there a time limit of use before the $50 reward expires?

b4freedom · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 07:15 PM

I got my notice today. I'm bummed. 5% back was very nice. However, 2% back on other things will be nice to. However, 2% on my $14.85 cable bill is only 30¢. PSE&G doesn't accept credit card (unless you want to pay an extra fee of $4.95). I guess I'll be dumping this card.

1/2 the people I know with GM cards end up disappointed when they go to purchase a new car. Besides, I don't really want a GM vehicle. But, thanks for the suggestion.

sweeps · #8 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 08:21 PM

You shouldn't get anything more than 1% on your cable bill anyway.

b4freedom · #9 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 08:24 PM

Do you think that all of the reward cards will slowly decrease?

WellManicuredMan · #10 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBinKC

Yeah that is not very good. Is there a time limit of use before the $50 reward expires?

If you're referring to the $50 minimum to get a cash back check sent to you, then no. As far as I know nothing else about the card is changing and whatever cash back you have acquired will stay until you have a check sent. They aren't cancelling the card or having it replaced with a different card.

greedy4chips · #11 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 09:23 AM

Are all Citi cards reducing the 5% rewards? I have 2 cards and just accepted a preapproved one last week that had 5% on the app.

3% difference is huge for me with about $1000/ month in expenses on their card, it ends up being about $360/yr. DOH!

geojen · #12 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

I don't know any others besides the other one I have. It is a Mastercard from Chase. It does still give 5% for many purchases. Try www.chase.com/creditcards.

Anyone else?

What is the specific name of your card?

Joan.of.the.Arch · #13 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 12:27 PM

Geojen, if you are asking about the Chase Mastercard, sorry, I miswrote! It is a Visa, not Mastercard. I think it was not initially a dividend/rewards card, but when I got the Citi Mastercard Dividend card, I called Chase to see what they would do for me, and they signed me onto the 5% program they were already offering some customers. Sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase. The card does not have any special name on it.

geojen · #14 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 01:07 PM

Oh, okay. Now I know why I couldn't find anything then!

TBH · #15 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 02:01 PM

I still haven't gotten my notice from Citi. I'm going to go look through my junk mail pile again and see if I missed it.

gavinmccallister · #16 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 05:33 PM

I just closed out my Amazon.com Chase Visa card, will look into it again around christmas time last year when I opened it I got a $30.00 credit and around 3 months ago I got a check for $20.00 to enroll in their card protection program you only paid for it if you had a balance I never used it since so chalk me up to getting $50.00 I owe Chase a nice thank you.

jdgay22 · #17 (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 07:45 PM

every one hsbc has the direct rewards card, 5% on the big three and 0.5 on thr rest until u spend 3000 then 1%. the best option!!!!!!!!!!!!

StressLess · #18 (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 09:27 AM

I haven't gotten the notice yet, either. But in a way I'm finding this a relief! It fits right in with my streamlining project.

It's so much easier to keep track of things when I don't have a lot of little charges for groceries and gas. I've felt like I had to do the rewards cc thing because if I didn't, it was like throwing money away.

But I've been doing more and more shopping at Aldi's, where I save more than the 5% I'd earn on buying the same things at a regular supermarket. I also get discounted gift cards, which also save me more than the 5% I'd get using the cc. With the small amount of 5% cash back purchases I'm making at this point, it's taking forever to build up. I'll be glad to get one final rewards check and be done with it.

LuxLiving · #19 (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 10:03 AM

Are you shopping with cash at Aldi's or using your Discover card, which is the one card I see them promoting????

I shop there with cash, but do have an open Discover card w/0 balance. Should I be shopping there with it? We've never used the card for the cash back, but since landing here in SavingAdvice.com land, am rethinking this option. What thinkest you peeps???

WellManicuredMan · #20 (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StressLess

I haven't gotten the notice yet, either. But in a way I'm finding this a relief! It fits right in with my streamlining project.

It's so much easier to keep track of things when I don't have a lot of little charges for groceries and gas. I've felt like I had to do the rewards cc thing because if I didn't, it was like throwing money away.

While I am still not happy about this change from Citi I tend to feel the same way you do. I've been thinking about getting the Emigrant credit card for awhile and it would make my cash back much simpler if I use only 1 card for everything. I feel that you and me think alike in this regard and it was nice to see someone that has the same thoughts.