Citi Matches Increased Welcome Offers After Approval
Citi isn’t the most customer friendly bank. They don’t always honor the terms of their offer. And they don’t always offer very good authorized user or spending bonuses. But one thing Citi does better than anyone else is matching increased welcome offers after approval.
Although they have some pretty good retention offers too!
I used this to my advantage this past weekend. This isn’t anything new, it has been reported on DoC multiple times. I thought I would highlight it again for people newer to the game or who just were not aware of it.
If you are interested in airline credit cards you check them out on our Tools Page.
Getting Your Offer Matched
Citi has always been pretty lenient on matching increased offers, even if those offers were considered targeted. That is the case here as well. I signed up for a 60,000 mile bonus for the American Airlines personal card knowing that I had a good chance of being matched to the 75,000 targeted offer.
Once I received my card in the mail and added it to my online account I sent Citi a secure message. It is not as easy to find this section as it is with other banks. Go to the bottom of the page and find the contact us link under Help & Support. When you open that page towards the bottom will be a send secure message link. These are the steps I had to go through to read the response as well. If someone knows a better way let me know. I think it may be easier for banking customers.
This is the response I received a few hours later (they seem to always be quick to respond):
If you are interested in airline credit cards you check them out on our Tools Page.
Data Points & Constraints
After reading various comments and data points on the subject it seems like there are a few rules:
- Citi will not match more than 15-20,000 points/miles
- You must request the match within your first 90 cards of cardmembership
- The earlier the better
- It is not guaranteed so HUCA may be needed.
- Secure Message or calling in seems to work.
Conclusion
This is a quick and easy way to turn a good welcome offer into a great one. If you recently signed up for a Citi card and notice a higher offer floating around ask to be matched. Worst thing they can do is say no.
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OK, so another data point. I tried to send a secure message but could not find the page to do it. Opened live chat and was told that the SM feature had been removed by Citi. I asked if the chat rep could put in the matching request (60k to 75k). They agreed to do that, took a couple of minutes. Next day there was a letter in the communications folder that Citi would add the extra 15k miles as part of the total monthly mileage within the next two billing cycles. So it may be YMMV but still working.
Awesome – glad to hear it worked!
When I signed up, it was for the 40,000 point bonus. It shows 50,000 on their site now. I was hoping I could match to the 50 but no dice!
Wow, I am surprised they wouldn’t do that if it is within the first 3 months since you signed up.
Me too! and yes I just got the card in the mail a few days ago.
As of 2/1/19 this no longer works unfortunately. Tried via chat and via phone.
There may just not be a higher bonus to match it to right now. I believe people have had luck matching business card right now to 75K from 70K.
So lame. I messaged them the exact same thing and they said…
“Our records do not indicate you were solicited for the offer you
mentioned. Please send a copy of the front and back of the offer you
received. Once we receive this information, we will review your account
and contact you.”
And provided a mailing address, what the heck!
I think the offers have changed since writing this so not possible anymore until another round of increased offers comes around.
You should try again in a day or two, this sometimes happens.
Thanks so much! I was able to match the 75k for my husband a couple of month ago, but wasn’t sure if it was still around. Just sent and received a SM and they matched on my new account too.
Glad I could be of help 🙂
[…] A few months ago Doctorofcredit blog was the first to report that there was also a targeted  75,000 miles offer floating around the interwebs. Most people were able to match to it after sending a secure message in their online Citi profile. Just this week, MtM blog has reported a successful match. […]
Thanks for this! Worked for me.
Awesome – congrats!
Mark
Thanks so much for this post.
It worked on the Biz Card instantly.
Getting the personal card too, and will try again for that card.
Thanks again.
Mark
Awesome glad it worked for you!
Works for the Business AAdvantage card too. I applied for the 50k miles+$200 statement credit offer after $2500 spend and then secure messaged to match to 70K miles+$200 statement credit.
Awesome – thanks John!
@John
does the AA business card fall within the 24 month language? thanks
Yeah the business card has it’s own 24 month cycle.
this is not from the mailer right? I only have seen 50k mailers…
TIA
Nope I applied through Miles to Memories link – we have the 60K offer 🙂
thanks unfortunately I am within the 24 month window so mailer is the way to go… thanks!
Definitely – hope you get one 🙂
Do you have a link to the 75k personal offer? I just received my card for the 60k offer today.
Nope I just mentioned it – no link sent 🙂
Thanks for this. I used the secure message and received the additional 15,000 on top of the 60,000.
Excellent – glad I could help
All good things must come to an end…
Would you mind posting wording you used ? Thanx
I just said I recently signed up for the card and noticed there was an offer for 75,000 miles and was wondering if I could be matched to that offer.