CostCo USA dropping Amex for Citigroup VISA

[ponyo]

Having dealt extensively with Amex, Chase and Citi Citi has, by far, the worst customer service of the three. Even the service for their top tier card sucks as the reps are clueless and have almost no power to do anything. I did not experience the issues you did when calling Amex's fraud dept at 3am EST. It was a quick phone call and resolution although Amex hasn't kept up with the times and their policies\procedures\offerings have fallen behind. Chase makes both of them look like terrible in comparison

So you were out of the country and called Amex's collect number from back of the card and was able to speak with someone at US Amex's fraud dept at 3am EST? When was this?

 

[ponyo]

This reminds me, Costco has amazing pesto. It's the one in the jumbo-sized jar, of course.

I don't know if I would call it amazing. It's cheap for such large jar. But it's too much for my need, and I prefer fresh pesto made with basil from the garden. It takes less than 5 minutes to make pesto whenever I want.

 

[Exterous]

So you were out of the country and called Amex's collect number from back of the card and was able to speak with someone at US Amex's fraud dept at 3am EST? When was this?

Yes sorry it was while I was in France last year. I assume from their very thick accent that they were not US based. There were some issues with communication stemming from the poor call quality (pretty quiet) but that could very well have been the hotel's desk phone

Not their fraud department but a few months later I had an issue with a FHR booking in Dublin. Found out when we were dropping off our bags (so probably 4am EST) that I had been erroniously booked for two rooms. Spoke to a nice lady with a British accent at Amex who took care of the issue with the hotel. I got 2x the food credit so I assume Amex ate the cost of the second room

 

[Kaido]

I don't know if I would call it amazing. It's cheap for such large jar. But it's too much for my need, and I prefer fresh pesto made with basil from the garden. It takes less than 5 minutes to make pesto whenever I want.

I can't remember if there's more than one brand there or not. But it was pretty good.

Growing basil & stuff is on my to-do list, especially since I saw that you could store them easily with a foodsaver.

 

[ponyo]

Yes sorry it was while I was in France last year. I assume from their very thick accent that they were not US based. There were some issues with communication stemming from the poor call quality (pretty quiet) but that could very well have been the hotel's desk phone

Not their fraud department but a few months later I had an issue with a FHR booking in Dublin. Found out when we were dropping off our bags (so probably 4am EST) that I had been erroniously booked for two rooms. Spoke to a nice lady with a British accent at Amex who took care of the issue with the hotel. I got 2x the food credit so I assume Amex ate the cost of the second room

I don't think you spoke with US Amex fraud department if you called collect after hours. Even if you did, they wouldn't have helped you since you called from a number that's not tied to your account unless you had the security code they sent to your US number. It's Amex policy and they stick to it like robots. What's dumb is when you try to verify the charges by using the Amex mobile app, it tells you to call to verify. They wouldn't let me verify by app or email and insisted I needed the security code which could only be sent to my US voice number they had on file in order to assist me.

Don't get me wrong, Amex regular customer service reps are great and willing to bend over backwards to help you. They along with Discover customer service reps are the best in the business. But the fraud is totally different department and my robot experience with Amex while overseas soured me. But I would still use their card if it benefited me. But I rather just keep one annual fee card and Chase cards now fill my needs better than Amex. Even though I like to keep cards from multiple different issuers, I can't justify keeping annual fee Amex when Chase and others have stepped up their rewards game.

 

[JEDI]

This reminds me, Costco has amazing pesto. It's the one in the jumbo-sized jar, of course.

jumbo?
it's only like 16oz.
4 servings

 

[Exterous]

I don't think you spoke with US Amex fraud department if you called collect after hours. Even if you did, they wouldn't have helped you since you called from a number that's not tied to your account unless you had the security code they sent to your US number.

Well I called after having issues using my card and the rep said something along the lines of 'Hold on while I connect you to the fraud dept.' I do remember needing to get on the hotel wifi to get, I believe, an email to click on. I may have received an offer to get a call which I would have declined or asked if they would pay for the international charges.

Overall my fraud issue with Chase was worse. I used to travel to LA regularly and always used the same gas station to fill up my rental car. One day my Chase Sapphire card kept getting declined at the pump. I called Chase and they first told me I was entering my zip code wrong. Then got transferred to the fraud dept. They said I was sent 3 text messages asking me to confirm my purchase. Rep said it was because I was outside my normal travel parameters - which was BS since I had used that gas station on 5 separate occasions so far that year with no issues and had just spent a week spending money within a short distance of it. I gave up and just used my amex at the pump.

 

[ponyo]

jumbo?
it's only like 16oz.
4 servings

It's 22 oz. Little pesto goes long ways. You're doing it wrong if you're only getting 4 servings from 16 oz.

 

[ponyo]

Well I called after having issues using my card and the rep said something along the lines of 'Hold on while I connect you to the fraud dept.' I do remember needing to get on the hotel wifi to get, I believe, an email to click on. I may have received an offer to get a call which I would have declined or asked if they would pay for the international charges.

Yeah, you didn't talk with the Amex fraud department. You can't resolve it with email, internet, or the Amex mobile app. Only if you have the security code will Amex fraud department discuss anything with you. And only way you can get the security code is if they call your US voice number they have on file or you call from your US number. It's Catch-22.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

So you just recently canceled your CostcoAmex, with age of credit, and now you've canceled your CostcoVisa almost immediately after opening the account? Holy shit dude.

I actually still do not want the Citi anything. Wife forced the decision. But just so you do not get too freaked out, my Fico is 850. It dropped to 848 after closing the Costco Amex, but then jumped right back up again--wife and I have excellent credit. Monday afternoon the account became unlocked. I went through Costco to reach an appropriate Citi rep, who apologized (about 8 times) and said the Friday incident was a big mistake on their part. Now let's see how the wife's buying behavior is treated moving forward. Over the weekend she used another Amex/Visa and we probably had 9-10 transactions, including at Costco, while not able to use the Citi Visa.

If the wife dies on me early, Citi dies along with her.

 

[Exterous]

Yeah, you didn't talk with the Amex fraud department.

I guess Amex and I will have to disagree with you about that

 

[JEDI]

it's almost the end of the 3rd quarter.
chase freedom's 5% on restaurants is about to end.

looks like Citi Costco will be in my wallet till next year because of 3% restaurants.
right now it's just in my car for Costco gas.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

it's almost the end of the 3rd quarter.
chase freedom's 5% on restaurants is about to end.

looks like Citi Costco will be in my wallet till next year because of 3% restaurants.
right now it's just in my car for Costco gas.

Why haven't you been loading CostCo cash cards to buy gas with your Freedom at 5%?

 

[JEDI]

Why haven't you been loading CostCo cash cards to buy gas with your Freedom at 5%?

I didn't want another card to juggle for only 1% more on gas. not worth the hassle for a couple of dollars.

but now that I don't need the freedom card anymore after sept 30 except for Costco, I should buy the cash card and leave the freedom card sock drawered.
so im dealing with same amount of cards.

I can buy max $1500 costco cards for 3rd quarter and $1500 for 4th Q on the Freedom card, right?
(for $75 + $75 bonus)

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I didn't want another card to juggle for only 1% more on gas. not worth the hassle for a couple of dollars.

but now that I don't need the freedom card anymore after sept 30 except for Costco, I should buy the cash card and leave the freedom card sock drawered.
so im dealing with same amount of cards.

I can buy max $1500 costco cards for 3rd quarter and $1500 for 4th Q on the Freedom card, right?
(for $75 + $75 bonus)

Yup. Just make sure you can pay it off instead of holding the $1500 as a balance carrying interest.

 

[JEDI]

so I bought a Costco gift card to take advantage of the 5%.

today was the 1st day buying anything.
I gave the cashier my gift card.
she said she still needed my membership card.
wtf?!

so I need my membership card when buying gas also, even tho im paying with the gift card?

 

[AznAnarchy99]

so I bought a Costco gift card to take advantage of the 5%.

today was the 1st day buying anything.
I gave the cashier my gift card.
she said she still needed my membership card.
wtf?!

so I need my membership card when buying gas also, even tho im paying with the gift card?

I think inside you still need membership card. Gas you don't need the card. Cash card will work automatically. Only recently discovered this too after I forgot my membership card lol.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

The Costco nearest me wants proof of membership to access the food court. I always thought you didn't need a membership for that. Like the pharmacy.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Why is this thread still active?

 

[boomerang]

Why is this thread still active?

It was dead last Monday evening until you brought it back to life today.

 

[IronWing]

Looking at the ad for the Costco Visa, it says the 4% doesn't apply to gas purchased at convenience stores. Has anyone figured out if they are getting 4% or 1% at Circle K?

 

[RossMAN]

Why is this thread still active?

because people keep bumping it?

 

[edro]

Perpetual Costco thread.

 

[Muse]

In case you were wondering (like I was) how you redeem your rewards, this from the card's website:

Cash back rewards are issued annually as a credit card reward certificate redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco locations.
This credit card reward certificate will be mailed with your February billing statement and expires on December 31st of the year issued.

So, yeah, it's very like the rewards redemption feature with the Amex Costco card.

I got 1% on the Kroger Fuel purchase.
I'm assuming the 4% is only on traditional big boy gas stations (Speedway, Shell, BP, etc).
Mom and pops, supercenters and grocery stores will likely be 1%.


Agreed.
There must be smaller margins on supermarkets and grocery stores.
The credit card company probably doesn't pass on the same discounts to the shop owners needed to supply the 4% back to consumers.

The rewards schtick (4%, 3%, 2% and 1%) is complicated by that "Eligible" word. IOW, see the fine print or worse to find out what level you get for a particular purchase.

I called card customer service when I was buying airline tickets some months ago because I wanted to make sure I was getting the 3% level of rewards. They told me I was. I wasn't purchasing directly from the airline and I was concerned.

 

[ponyo]

I received my $660 Citi Costco rewards check in the Feb statement. Last year it was over $1,100 for Amex Costco but I'm not using the Citi card much outside of gas stations and Costco now. It's good card but I started charging all dining and travel to Chase Sapphire Preferred and now Sapphire Reserve for the 3X dining and travel points. UR points are worth more to me than straight cash.