Citi Drivers Edge Platnium Mastercard

[3boysmom]

Hi,
Wondering if anyone has used this card's "rewards" when they bought a new/used vehicle? Ease of redeeming?

You get 2% rebate towards a new or used vehicle, to a maximim of $1000/year.

I need a new (to me) vehicle in the next 2.5 years and think this would be a way to get $400-800 back on money that I have to spend anyway. (Groceries, gas, travel etc..)

I don't carry a monthly balance so I'm not worried about the interest rate at 19+%

Curious as to what others think?

[p110232]

Hi,
Wondering if anyone has used this card's "rewards" when they bought a new/used vehicle? Ease of redeeming?

You get 2% rebate towards a new or used vehicle, to a maximim of $1000/year.

I need a new (to me) vehicle in the next 2.5 years and think this would be a way to get $400-800 back on money that I have to spend anyway. (Groceries, gas, travel etc..)

I don't carry a monthly balance so I'm not worried about the interest rate at 19+%

Curious as to what others think?

I use this card and have redeemed last year. No hassles at all, process was straightforward. You just fill-up the form and send it to them (fax or mail) together with your invoice or lease agreement. In 3-4 weeks, you get your rebate cheque in the mail. In my case I got $500 back.

This reward program is perfect for people who wish to replace their vehicles every 4-5 years, whether brand new or used, purchased or leased... it doesn't matter, you still get the rebate. You can even allow a family member to use your rebate dollars if you choose to share it with them.

[Birdman]

What's the difference between the card levels, Regular, Gold, Platinum?

[p110232]

What's the difference between the card levels, Regular, Gold, Platinum?

If I'm not mistaken, one of the differences is the maximum rebate dollars you can earn in a year. For platinum, you can accumulate upto 1000 rebate dollars per year.

Rebates are forfeited after 5 years since earned, so this card only works for families who buy vehicles at a minimum every 5 years.

[Mark099]

What's the difference between the card levels, Regular, Gold, Platinum?

I don't think there is a gold card -- despite what the website says. I applied for a gold card a while back and received a platinum. The gold card has purchase assurance and extended warranty. The platinum has travel insurance and car rental warranty.

[bfr]

I used it last year with no hassles and got a $1000 cheque a short while later. Great card if you're planning to buy.

[Mark099]

I used it last year with no hassles and got a $1000 cheque a short while later. Great card if you're planning to buy.

Almost everyone has a car, and will usually buy more than one in their lifetime. This is probably the best "no fee" card to have.

[MCScoop]

I've bought 2 used cars since I've had the card and got my money in about 2 weeks both times.

[Prof]

Got about $1900 back on my rebate. Seem to recall it took between 2 and 3 weeks. Must say, it felt nice. The platinum card's extra features, in particular the extended warranty is a great feature. If nothing else, it gives you a reason to say no thanks to extended warranty protection.

[Gloaming]

I am about to buy my second car with this- I have built up about $1700.00 and I expect it to go pretty flawlessly in terms of receiving the rebate.

BUT

I am then going to reduce the card's limit down to the minimum and hibernate it permanently for one main reason. We keep on getting our purchases denied at random with this company. We have a 9K limit and MULTIPLE times we have been at the purchase counter, only to have the cashier get the typical worried look before calling the manager for help. We then are forced to give ID to prove it is our card so they don't report the card as stolen.

CitiBank considers it fraud prevention, but a PLATINUM card should provide PLATINUM buying power- If I want to buy my wife a 2K watch, I shouldn't have to call the company "3 weeks before you plan any big purchases or any time you travel" That is an actual quote we received the first time I called to complain about the card being deactivated.

In total, the card has left us looking like no credit thieves 5 times now, so we no longer use the card when we travel. It just pisses me off because you can't find a better return then the flat rate 2% that this card provides.

With that said- if you are only going to be making small purchases in your home town you will likely ok- just don't expect to use this card for travel as you WILL get it canceled without the benefit of them calling you to verify the transactions before leaving you high and dry.

[boyoflondon]

What's the difference between the card levels, Regular, Gold, Platinum?

The cap on Gold; $25k or $500 a year -- Platinum $50k or $1000 a year.

Besides that, Platinum has Travel Insurance (up to $500k)/Baggage delay (up to $300), Car rental insurance coverage on top of ext warranty.

I am about to buy my second car with this- I have built up about $1700.00 and I expect it to go pretty flawlessly in terms of receiving the rebate.

BUT

I am then going to reduce the card's limit down to the minimum and hibernate it permanently for one main reason. We keep on getting our purchases denied at random with this company. We have a 9K limit and MULTIPLE times we have been at the purchase counter, only to have the cashier get the typical worried look before calling the manager for help. We then are forced to give ID to prove it is our card so they don't report the card as stolen.

CitiBank considers it fraud prevention, but a PLATINUM card should provide PLATINUM buying power- If I want to buy my wife a 2K watch, I shouldn't have to call the company "3 weeks before you plan any big purchases or any time you travel" That is an actual quote we received the first time I called to complain about the card being deactivated.

In total, the card has left us looking like no credit thieves 5 times now, so we no longer use the card when we travel. It just pisses me off because you can't find a better return then the flat rate 2% that this card provides.

With that said- if you are only going to be making small purchases in your home town you will likely ok- just don't expect to use this card for travel as you WILL get it canceled without the benefit of them calling you to verify the transactions before leaving you high and dry.

What I really Love is people like you!

You will complain in cases like this, but then if you were to have fraud on your account you would still do the same. :confused: In any case, its Citi's fault, correct?

Just a bit of FYI; the system follows your spending pattern. So, unless you buy a $2k watch or anything else with a bigger price tag regularly, it will bring it up and security dept will temp block it.

On the side note, I have seen people who spend $50k+ yearly on this card and have never had it blocked as their spending pattern remains consistent.

[p110232]

Just a bit of FYI; the system follows your spending pattern. So, unless you buy a $2k watch or anything else with a bigger price tag regularly, it will bring it up and security dept will temp block it.

Another thing security does is to call the cardholder right away when a redflag is detected by the system. They can take away the block quickly by simply talking to the cardholder to confirm if they indeed made the purchase a few minutes ago. Make sure you give them a number where they can reach you right away, any time of the day (cell phone).

We keep on getting our purchases denied at random with this company...

I've been on the receiving end of Citi's security practice. I appreciate the proactive approach. It is inconvenient, of course... and embarrassing. I just carry a 2nd card (visa) with me. On the flipside, I don't mind getting my card blocked, so long as I don't get defrauded. One time Citi security called me they are cancelling my card and issuing a new one because according to the most recent police report (raid on some hacker), my card number was compromised. That's how good their security process is.

@Gloaming: Don't give up on Citi's security procedures just yet. They are being proactive to keep you safe. I don't know if the other card companies are as vigilant as they are. I only got 1 "blocking" incident when I was with other Mastercards...

[superdeals]

Can you purchase any car related stuff (like winter tire ) using your rebate?

[D-3vil]

Can you purchase any car related stuff (like winter tire ) using your rebate?

No. However, you can apply the rebate to pretty much any vehicle that is insurable (as you have to provide proof of insurance when redeeming). Any car, truck, motorcycle, motorhome, or ATV purchase qualifies.

When I file for redemption in '07, they were only granting the rebates on cars purchased in Canada (thus not when importing from the US), but I have a feeling this has changed since then.

I've redeemed 3 rebates so far, all without a hitch (one time it was for a car a family member had purcahsed). Got the money in less than 2 weeks every single time.

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Why can't I ever get this card? Citi must have unreasonably strict requirements or something?

[scouzer]

Why can't I ever get this card? Citi must have unreasonably strict requirements or something?

doubt it. i've got the platinum @ 21

[boyoflondon]

Why can't I ever get this card? Citi must have unreasonably strict requirements or something?


Get a basic card, use it for 6mths, call in and convert to this ... ;)

[tkyoshi]

I don't think there is a gold card -- despite what the website says. I applied for a gold card a while back and received a platinum. The gold card has purchase assurance and extended warranty. The platinum has travel insurance and car rental warranty.

I used to have the gold card, this was when I was issued a card with $3000 and the requirement for Plat was min $5000 credit limit.

[scouzer]

I used to have the gold card, this was when I was issued a card with $3000 and the requirement for Plat was min $5000 credit limit.

i have a platinum with a $3200 limit, fwiw

[CompWizrd]

Citi blocks my card every couple of months, the first time they said it was a random block as part of their security process, the second was because i was making so many online purchases... there was _one_ that month, and i believe one or two the previous month.. I finally had them put a note on my file that i do actually use my card online, and hopefully that'll reduce the blocks they put on. The places I've used the card online are places I've been using it for years and years, so apparently they don't care WHERE you're purchasing, just that you're using it.

[pulsar]

When I file for redemption in '07, they were only granting the rebates on cars purchased in Canada (thus not when importing from the US), but I have a feeling this has changed since then.

I've received the rebate with a US vehicle that I purchased. No problems whatsoever.

As for Citi blocking the card on certain occasions. Yes, it has happened to me. However, it was only when my spending habits changed. I was purchasing major appliances on several different days during the week. I have no problems with that. I just call up the 1 800 number on the back, I get transfered to security and it's done. I can use the card again.

[tkyoshi]

i have a platinum with a $3200 limit, fwiw

Mastercard relaxed the requirements awhile back. They now give descretion to the issuing bank on how they want to issue their Basic/Gold/Platinum.

Generally it is $2500 Gold, $5000 Platinum. If you recieve less than $5000 you will probably have to call for an upgrade, you won't recieve platinum plastic off the bat.

[nabeel]

The cap on Gold; $25k or $500 a year -- Platinum $50k or $1000 a year.So, the maximum reward earned per year is $1K, and their website says redeem upto $5K. Does that mean $5K is the maximum you can accumulate before you HAVE to redeem, or that $5K is the maximum redemption per vehicle purchase?

I realize it's more than likely I will buy a new car in less than the 5 years it takes to hit this limit, but just wanted to be clear.

[scouzer]

So, the maximum reward earned per year is $1K, and their website says redeem upto $5K. Does that mean $5K is the maximum you can accumulate before you HAVE to redeem, or that $5K is the maximum redemption per vehicle purchase?

I realize it's more than likely I will buy a new car in less than the 5 years it takes to hit this limit, but just wanted to be clear.

$5k is max redemption, you can redeem anytime

[maniacshopper]

sounds like I should cancel my bmo airmiles and go for this.

[boyoflondon]

So, the maximum reward earned per year is $1K, and their website says redeem upto $5K. Does that mean $5K is the maximum you can accumulate before you HAVE to redeem, or that $5K is the maximum redemption per vehicle purchase?

I realize it's more than likely I will buy a new car in less than the 5 years it takes to hit this limit, but just wanted to be clear.


You can earn UP TO $1000/year (with platinum) for UP TO $5000 over 5 years. The points not used start expiring day by day after 5 years.


For Eg. Jan 1, 2009 you make your first purchase of $100 = $2 of rewards. On Jan 2, 2014 those $2 would expire if they are not used.

[Gloaming]

Well- I'm about to redeem my $1800 -but then I'm not using the card anymore- I will just use a cashback card as I have two new vehicles in the last 2 years and I likely won't be buying again for ~7-8 years.