Citi Forward Card (an my new cashback strategy)...

fffresh · 12:41 PM

3% on Amazon purchases isn't bad but I don't buy enough from them to make it worthwhile for me.

BearMeat · 08:21 PM

I've used the Citi Forward card very frequently for the last year with no issues about Thank You points until recently.

Be careful with restaurants inside hotels (especially Las Vegas). Citi just tried to screw me out of 3000 points ($600 in restaurant transactions over the weekend). They said because the merchant was listed as a hotel (MGM Grand) they couldn't give me the 4 additional points per dollar, even though I used my card at restaurants. I had to talk to an account manager for over 20 minutes. He wouldn't give me the full credit of 3000 points, but I was able to get 2000 points and some credit towards my account. Makes me want to look over all my statements now to make sure they aren't screwing me out of points.

Hope this helps!

Mogul of Pineapples · 07:58 PM

Bearmeat, unfortunately that's a potential problem you can have with any rewards card. The merchants sometimes classify themselves incorrectly,to pay lower fees. There was a independent gas station I went to that showed up under some completely different category of spending because they were trying to game the system.

By the way, Jeffysdad - I've started using my Amazon card again per your advice. Thanks.

jeffysdad · 10:25 AM

A restaurant I go to a lot is also a bakery and they're classified as retail rather than restaurant for interchange purposes. At this place I have to remember to use my Fidelity Amex (for 2%) instead of "wasting" the purchase on a lower return from Citi Forward. I can't remember this coming up anywhere else.

The card companies say they aren't responsible for how a merchant is categorized. Bear, I'm surprised Citi gave you anything. I think it's great that you gave them hell about it. More people should complain about stuff and we'd all get better service.

Mogul, hope the Amazon card works out for you.

Mogul of Pineapples · 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffysdad

The card companies say they aren't responsible for how a merchant is categorized.

You would think banks would care more about this, since misclassification means lower interchange fees. Does anyone know the approximate fees for each category? I'm curious to know exactly how much they vary.

jeffysdad · 08:31 AM

I don't know anything about how interchange fees are calculated. Maybe rather than sorting by purchase category they do it by dollar amount per purchase or based on a merchant's annual transaction volume??? I would be interested in learning more.

07:58 PM	#13
Mogul of Pineapples Centurion Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Where the smog from the 101 freeway coats my home's windows... Posts: 634	Bearmeat, unfortunately that's a potential problem you can have with any rewards card. The merchants sometimes classify themselves incorrectly,to pay lower fees. There was a independent gas station I went to that showed up under some completely different category of spending because they were trying to game the system. By the way, Jeffysdad - I've started using my Amazon card again per your advice. Thanks. __________________ “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” -Warren Buffett Current Cards: American Express: Blue Cash, Simply Cash Bank of America: Visa Financial Rewards Platinum Plus Chase: Rewards Visa, Amazon Visa Discover: More Current Everyday Card: American Express Blue Cash

10:25 AM	#14
jeffysdad Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 98	I've had that issue, too... A restaurant I go to a lot is also a bakery and they're classified as retail rather than restaurant for interchange purposes. At this place I have to remember to use my Fidelity Amex (for 2%) instead of "wasting" the purchase on a lower return from Citi Forward. I can't remember this coming up anywhere else. The card companies say they aren't responsible for how a merchant is categorized. Bear, I'm surprised Citi gave you anything. I think it's great that you gave them hell about it. More people should complain about stuff and we'd all get better service. Mogul, hope the Amazon card works out for you.

08:31 AM	#16
jeffysdad Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 98	I hadn't thot of that... I don't know anything about how interchange fees are calculated. Maybe rather than sorting by purchase category they do it by dollar amount per purchase or based on a merchant's annual transaction volume??? I would be interested in learning more.

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12:41 PM	#11
fffresh Centurion Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: the edge of the world Posts: 417	3% on Amazon purchases isn't bad but I don't buy enough from them to make it worthwhile for me.

08:21 PM	#12
BearMeat Green Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Orange County Posts: 1	I've used the Citi Forward card very frequently for the last year with no issues about Thank You points until recently. Be careful with restaurants inside hotels (especially Las Vegas). Citi just tried to screw me out of 3000 points ($600 in restaurant transactions over the weekend). They said because the merchant was listed as a hotel (MGM Grand) they couldn't give me the 4 additional points per dollar, even though I used my card at restaurants. I had to talk to an account manager for over 20 minutes. He wouldn't give me the full credit of 3000 points, but I was able to get 2000 points and some credit towards my account. Makes me want to look over all my statements now to make sure they aren't screwing me out of points. Hope this helps!