Topic Wiki

I'm trying to summarize success stories mentioned in this thread.
From @TC610
It never hurts to ask - retention is a big YMMV.  If you don't like the offer given to you when you call for retention, ask for a better one.  Scan through the thread (use the search bar - reading through 130+ pages of posts can be time consuming) to see what others have been offered. Please post what you've got if its better then whats in the WIKI

Citi:
AA
Retention: $95 Statement credit after 5 transactions (no minimum...) in the next 3 months
09/17/2014 $95 refunded no need to make any transactions + 1000 Bonus Points per month for 16 months if made purchases of $1000+
05/12/16 AA Executive: $50 credit every month spend $1500 or 15K Miles for $5K in 5 Months
08/14/17 AA Exec $250 credit for spending $3,000/m * 3m OR 15K Miles for $5K in 3m.

Chase: - Call 800-945-2006.
  • IB/IP
     Retention: 10k UR after 5k spend
  •  IC
     Retention: $50 SC
  • UA (Club)
     Retention: $150 account credit
     Retention: 10k Miles for spending $2000 in 3 months.
  • UA (Presidential)
     Retention: $100 account credit
  • BA
     Retention: 9k Avios for spending $1500 in 3 months
  • Freedom (5x catagories)
     Retention: 2,500 UR

Barclay's:
M&M
Retention: Waived by SMing

Arrival
Retention: 5K miles, for keeping the card open randomly.
AF waived, HUCA

US air:
AF waived

American Express

Seems to be clearly spend related while also no rhyme or reason to who gets offers

 • Business gold:5k-15k/$100 statement credit no spend required.
 • Delta Gold Skymiles - 12.5k Delta miles for paying the annual fee (no extra spending required) or $100 Credit on the account
 • SPG personal: 7k for 1k spend in 3 months.
 • SPG business: 10k no spend.
 • Personal Platinum - 20,000 MR for $3,000 spend in 3 months. (Actually gave me 5,000MR immediately, then 15,000 when I spend the $3k)/up to 50k/$150 SC for 1k spend.
 • Personal Platinum (another data point [zow]) - 30,000 MR for $4,000 spend in 3 months.
 • Business Platinum: 10k no spend/20k for 10k spend/30k no spend +50k for 40k spend

Retention contact numbers:
Citi: 800-444-2568
Chase: 800-945-2006
Amex: 800-452-3945
Barclays: 18664084064 (credit dept)
US Bank:

Click on link to get backdoor numbers for most banks:
http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Backdoor-Numbers/td-p/408066
« Last edited by zow on May 19, 2019, 06:47:52 PM »

Author Topic: Credit Card Retention Bonuses  (Read 1820175 times)

Offline AJK

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #500 on: February 27, 2012, 04:30:44 PM »
My year is up and I called to cancel my amex plat to avoid the $450 fee. Even though I was very serious about canceling they offered me $400 or 50K MR to stay another year.
Took the 50K MR of course.

Wow. Best retention offer I've heard of on a Plat.

Lotta spending?
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Offline AsherO

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #501 on: February 27, 2012, 04:35:18 PM »
My year is up and I called to cancel my amex plat to avoid the $450 fee. Even though I was very serious about canceling they offered me $400 or 50K MR to stay another year.
Took the 50K MR of course.

50k retention offer is super sweet, nicely done! How much were you spending on the card? BTW, if you still want to cancel then spend the points and cancel in a month or two.
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Offline Mikeoracle

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #502 on: February 27, 2012, 04:40:51 PM »
I didnt spend anything at all since August but during the first half of the year I put on aprox $140k.

Once the fee is paid I dont have any reason to cancel until the next annual fee comes up...

Offline AsherO

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #503 on: February 27, 2012, 04:46:58 PM »
I didnt spend anything at all since August but during the first half of the year I put on aprox $140k.

Once the fee is paid I dont have any reason to cancel until the next annual fee comes up...

1. Your retention bonus was probably because of the spend level.
2. If you CX in 2-3 months you can probably get a prorated refund, maybe even a full one.
3. If you don't spend next year like you did this year, you probably won't get the same offer again.
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Offline Mikeoracle

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #504 on: February 27, 2012, 04:50:08 PM »
Didnt think of the prorated refund- I guess I will give it a shot in a few months and see if they will prorate. If not i will just leave it open.

I doubt I will get this again as I dont plan on putting any spending at all on it.

Offline sawlw

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #505 on: February 27, 2012, 04:52:54 PM »
Co onepass (spouses) was offered 5k to stay asked for better got 10k after $2000 spent in one month  ;D
On my card was offered nada  :(

Offline joeb1

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #506 on: February 27, 2012, 05:30:33 PM »
how much spending on your wife's card?

Offline Devorah

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #507 on: February 27, 2012, 11:42:22 PM »
Co onepass (spouses) was offered 5k to stay asked for better got 10k after $2000 spent in one month  ;D
On my card was offered nada  :(
got the same offer. didnt think 2K spend was worth 5K.

Offline joeb1

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #508 on: February 27, 2012, 11:45:28 PM »
what # did u  call to get that offer?

Offline Devorah

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #509 on: February 28, 2012, 01:19:56 AM »
what # did u  call to get that offer?
number on back of card.

Offline sawlw

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #510 on: February 28, 2012, 01:42:12 AM »
how much spending on your wife's card?
Under 3k!!
got the same offer. didnt think 2K spend was worth 5K.
With Venmo/AP its really no big deal

Offline beny

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #511 on: March 01, 2012, 10:01:21 PM »
My recent experience with retention bonus':

Citi AA Master card: got the annual fee refunded, plus 2 miles per dollar for 16 months if I spend at least 750 that month.

Chase united: annual fee refund

Chase Continental: $100 statement credit (annual fee was only $85)

Amex premier gold: either $100 refund (out of $175) or 15,000 MR points. I took the latter.

weird thing is that on the SPG personnel card - where I do most of my spending, they offered me nothing. so I just closed.

My question is, does the thing with Chase - about moving credit from old cards to help get new ones approved, work for amex as well?

Offline sky121

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #512 on: March 01, 2012, 10:05:10 PM »
My recent experience with retention bonus':

Citi AA Master card: got the annual fee refunded, plus 2 miles per dollar for 16 months if I spend at least 750 that month.

Chase united: annual fee refund

Chase Continental: $100 statement credit (annual fee was only $85)

Amex premier gold: either $100 refund (out of $175) or 15,000 MR points. I took the latter.

weird thing is that on the SPG personnel card - where I do most of my spending, they offered me nothing. so I just closed.

My question is, does the thing with Chase - about moving credit from old cards to help get new ones approved, work for amex as well?

Good stuff!!  Wasn't worth the annual fee for the SPG?
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Offline Dan

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #513 on: March 01, 2012, 10:12:12 PM »
weird thing is that on the SPG personnel card - where I do most of my spending, they offered me nothing. so I just closed.
Do you really not get $65 value out of this card?  I mean just SBS should pay for that many times over with some free additional cards, not even counting all the other promotions they have had like Gift Chain, etc.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline askmoses

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #514 on: March 02, 2012, 12:22:00 PM »
"Dear _________________

After reviewing the application you submitted our records
indicate the 25,000 miles promotion was offered on the
application along with an additional 5,000 bonus miles if
an authorized user is added within the first two months of
the account open date, and the first year annual fee
waiver.

Each year, you are also eligible to earn 10,000 bonus
miles when you spend $25,000 on your card for a total of
40,000 bonus miles you can earn in your first year.

I have added an additional 20,000 miles to your account.
These miles will reflected on your next billing statement."

Got matched for CO! Did you also get 50k total or was it 50k and then another 5k for au??

Offline aj26

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #515 on: March 06, 2012, 01:26:59 PM »
I was offered to keep aa card open. Waived $85 fee for year. Will give 1,000 bonus miles per month if 1k purchases. Anyone think this is worth it or should I cancel the card and wait 12 month to churn it.

Offline AJK

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #516 on: March 06, 2012, 02:44:05 PM »
I was offered to keep aa card open. Waived $85 fee for year. Will give 1,000 bonus miles per month if 1k purchases. Anyone think this is worth it or should I cancel the card and wait 12 month to churn it.

Pretty sure closing the AA card does not make a difference for churning.
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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #517 on: March 06, 2012, 03:07:14 PM »
Pretty sure closing the AA card does not make a difference for churning.

Can  still churn it with a  A.A. citi card STILL OPEN -- I did it last month with 3 cards still open -- they go by application date  - best to wait 24 months , but some get it 12 -18 months after last application

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #518 on: March 09, 2012, 02:54:21 AM »
I have a very small line on my BA card. I was told by the credit analysts over at chase that "at any time" I can move the line over to one of my other chase lines and that way not shrink my credit limit whatsoever. My annual fee is going to be coming in April. Do you think I should wait until I get hit with the fee and see if I can get a retention bonus worth me paying the annual fee or is it better to roll the line over now before the annual fee comes?

Offline Dan

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #519 on: March 09, 2012, 10:49:43 AM »
Why not get new cards and get them approved by offering up the BA card as a korban?
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