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 1839219 times)

Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1060 on: December 05, 2012, 04:38:11 PM »
Its called leverage

Im not sure if he meant this but I don't think he meant closing it without first transferring CL over...So once all CL is transferred...why downgrade as opposed to cancel?
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline SPLP

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1061 on: December 05, 2012, 04:38:35 PM »
I spent the most on my SP and freedom. And thanks for reminding me of the 7%. But I still don't understand why most people in this thread downgraded instead of cancelling and re-applying...

I think some ( especially young people )  want to retain the hard fought for credit lines they have with chase --even though you can transfer credit lines to other active cards--- when they reapply for a card-- they then can  offer to cancel a card and switch the credit line at the same time -- plus like myself i have 11 or 12 cards from chase -- if i just canceled when a fee comes up --it may be difficult to get back up to 12 cards--- i just keep trading them in with my next appo -- I am sure i only covered part of WHY!!

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1062 on: December 05, 2012, 04:39:16 PM »
Im not sure if he meant this but I don't think he meant closing it without first transferring CL over...So once all CL is transferred...why downgrade as opposed to cancel?
that's what I meant. Of course I will transfer the CL to an existing other card that I am keeping before closing...

Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1063 on: December 05, 2012, 04:40:29 PM »
I think some ( especially young people )  want to retain the hard fought for credit lines they have with chase --even though you can transfer credit lines to other active cards--- when they reapply for a card-- they then can  offer to cancel a card and switch the credit line at the same time -- plus like myself i have 11 or 12 cards from chase -- if i just canceled when a fee comes up --it may be difficult to get back up to 12 cards--- i just keep trading them in with my next appo -- I am sure i only covered part of WHY!!

Is it easier to get a card approved by offering to cancel a card then by just offering to transfer (some) CL?
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1064 on: December 05, 2012, 04:41:36 PM »
Is it easier to get a card approved by offering to cancel a card then by just offering to transfer (some) CL?
But then you get 1 pull for 1 card don't you?

Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1065 on: December 05, 2012, 04:42:28 PM »
But then you get 1 pull for 1 card don't you?

Not sure I understand your question...?
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1066 on: December 05, 2012, 04:44:22 PM »
Not sure I understand your question...?
If you are one the phone and tell the rep that you want to downgrade Ink Bold to Ink Classic:
1. Do you get one pull? (Therefore killing your option to do a 3BM online...)
2. Are you getting the sign up bonus for the Ink Classic?

Offline SPLP

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1067 on: December 05, 2012, 04:45:01 PM »
Is it easier to get a card approved by offering to cancel a card then by just offering to transfer (some) CL?

I think so , the rep knows you now have x nbr of cards  -- and it is a no brainier for him to say yes --but-- take myself ---if i had canceled 4 of my 12 cards and then tried to get 2 more for a total of 10 -- some reps will say -- u have enuf cards why do u need so many etc etc

Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1068 on: December 05, 2012, 04:46:12 PM »
If you are one the phone and tell the rep that you want to downgrade Ink Bold to Ink Classic:
1. Do you get one pull? (Therefore killing your option to do a 3BM online...)
2. Are you getting the sign up bonus for the Ink Classic?

1. IIRC no
2. Ditto

CMIIAW
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline AsherO

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1069 on: December 05, 2012, 04:46:34 PM »
Is it easier to get a card approved by offering to cancel a card then by just offering to transfer (some) CL?

They might go for the former before they reject the latter, but why fire all your cannons at once. Let me #ELI5 it for you:

1. Can you approve my app?
2. Can you please approve my app?
3. Can you approve my app because (rebuttals to previous rejections)
4. Can you please approve my app by transferring $____ in credit from my existing _____ card? There'll be no additional exposure to Chase.
5. Can you please approve my app by closing my existing _____ card? I prefer the new card because [specify card benefits here] (don't say you're doing it for the signup bonus, duh! ::))...

But then you get 1 pull for 1 card don't you?

Same discussion, for recon on 1 card, or 1 card out of a 3/4BM.

If you are one the phone and tell the rep that you want to downgrade Ink Bold to Ink Classic:
1. Do you get one pull? (Therefore killing your option to do a 3BM online...)
2. Are you getting the sign up bonus for the Ink Classic?

The pull (typically) happens when you apply, recon won't (IME) pull your credit again just to transfer a CL to push through an app.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2012, 05:15:35 PM by AsherO »
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Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1070 on: December 05, 2012, 04:48:46 PM »
I think so , the rep knows you now have x nbr of cards  -- and it is a no brainier for him to say yes --but-- take myself ---if i had canceled 4 of my 12 cards and then tried to get 2 more for a total of 10 -- some reps will say -- u have enuf cards why do u need so many etc etc

Aha..So I guess for a person who doesnt have ~12 active cards its no difference.  I'm usually only told that I cant open so many cards in 30 days...and I would need to cancel one (which I dont want to).  So I HUCA till a rep says I can just transfer some CL.
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline Shmelly

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1071 on: December 05, 2012, 04:51:11 PM »
1. Can you approve my app?
2. Can you please approve my app?
3. Can you approve my app because (rebuttals to previous rejections)
4. Can you please approve my app by transferring $____ in credit from my existing _____ card? There'll be no additional exposure to Chase.
4. Can you please approve my app by closing my existing _____ card? I prefer the new card because [specify card benefits here] (don't say you're doing it for the signup bonus, duh! ::))...
Hmm I never tried #s 1-3, I always just immediately do #4 and its accepted without any questions. (But this isn't the proper thread for recon strategies.)
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. - Dr. Seuss

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1072 on: December 05, 2012, 04:51:23 PM »
4. Can you please approve my app by closing my existing _____ card? I prefer the new card because [specify card benefits here] (don't say you're doing it for the signup bonus, duh! ::))...

Is it at this point that you ask to get a refund on the annual fee?

Offline mmermss

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1073 on: December 05, 2012, 04:53:01 PM »
They might go for the former before they reject the latter, but why fire all your cannons at once. Let me #ELI5 it for you:

1. Can you approve my app?
2. Can you please approve my app?
3. Can you approve my app because (rebuttals to previous rejections)
4. Can you please approve my app by transferring $____ in credit from my existing _____ card? There'll be no additional exposure to Chase.
4. Can you please approve my app by closing my existing _____ card? I prefer the new card because [specify card benefits here] (don't say you're doing it for the signup bonus, duh! ::))...


 ;D ;D
Got it!
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline mmermss

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1074 on: December 05, 2012, 04:54:11 PM »
Hmm I never tried #s 1-3, I always just immediately do #4 and its accepted without any questions. (But this isn't the proper thread for recon strategies.)
There are two #4's... :)
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1075 on: December 05, 2012, 05:03:21 PM »
Is it at this point that you ask to get a refund on the annual fee?
not at all, no need to mention anything it should happen automatically, if not you can call cs later.

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1076 on: December 05, 2012, 05:05:26 PM »
not at all, no need to mention anything it should happen automatically, if not you can call cs later.
great thanks. I'm still wondering if people downgraded if they are getting the sign up bonus on the new card they are downgrading to... That would save a pull...

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1077 on: December 05, 2012, 05:19:19 PM »
I'm still wondering if people downgraded if they are getting the sign up bonus on the new card they are downgrading to...
YMBJ

Offline AsherO

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1078 on: December 05, 2012, 05:20:33 PM »
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Offline Yossi.

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #1079 on: December 05, 2012, 05:21:24 PM »
YMBJ
Then I really don't get why people downgrade and not just cancel... besides for ppl with ~10 cards like mentioned above...