Question for 5% cash back Citibank Dividend platinum rewards owners.

[StageLeft]

I just got this card. I put $24 on it at RACETRAC gas station. I see that the $24 finally has gone through and I've gotten $.24 in rewards money. That's 1%, and it should be 5%. I have two theories:

1) The remaining 4% will go through at the end of the billing period
2) RACETRAC, for some reason, is not considered a gas station; ie. it doesn't pull up on a list that presumably citibank keeps of gas stations (if that's how they do this).

Can anybody tell me what's up? CHeers.

 

[StageLeft]

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[isasir]

Why don't you call up Citibank and ask? Wait times are usually not too bad.

I have the card, and my guess is choice 2.

 

[sweetrugger]

Actually, I'm curious about this as well...I've gone to a Safeway (supermarket), Walgreens (drug store), and gas station, and it's all 1% (I haven't gotten my first statement yet though). So maybe at end-of-period it will apply the other 4%, or even end-of-year??

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: sweetrugger
Actually, I'm curious about this as well...I've gone to a Safeway (supermarket), Walgreens (drug store), and gas station, and it's all 1% (I haven't gotten my first statement yet though). So maybe at end-of-period it will apply the other 4%, or even end-of-year??

That seems pretty likely, considering safeway and walgreens are both definitely very popular places, and both definitely fall under the predominantly supermarket or drug store categories.

 

[RossMAN]

Skoorb - Call CitiBank and ask them WTF mate?

sweetrugger - Safeway is probably classified as a supermarket and Walgreens as a drugstore, you should be a-ok.

 

[Hammer]

stop going to crappy gas stations. problem solved.

 

[Reel]

I think that it does it at the end of the period. Wait until the end of your statement. I tried to look at mine to tell but I couldn't figure it out. If that particular gas station isn't working, then I am sure you could call up the customer service line but I suspect it will work in the end. I think that the companies may designate what type of business they are when they register to accept credit cards but I am not sure.

 

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[Demon-Xanth]

I've never used mine for anything that would be more than 1%. I think I have to blow $3k more before actually getting any cash back. I got a sweet 7.9% fixed though

 

[psteng19]

All I have to say is I got my first check recently and it feels good to get money back, whereas with other cards, you get squat.

 

[ironxman99]

it will go through as 5% at the end of the billing period (unless its simply not considered a gas station). i had this same concern, but when i got my first statement it adjusted appropriately. until then it will remain at 1%, so don't worry.

hope that helps.

 

[randomlinh]

I just noticed it's 1% for all my stuff too... hrmm.. just sent them a message so we'll see.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: ironxman99
it will go through as 5% at the end of the billing period (unless its simply not considered a gas station). i had this same concern, but when i got my first statement it adjusted appropriately. until then it will remain at 1%, so don't worry.

hope that helps.

Yeah it does, cool. I knew somebody here could say for sure!

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: ironxman99
it will go through as 5% at the end of the billing period (unless its simply not considered a gas station). i had this same concern, but when i got my first statement it adjusted appropriately. until then it will remain at 1%, so don't worry.

hope that helps.

Yeah it does, cool. I knew somebody here could say for sure!

but my billing period has been over... well, my 1st one anyway.

 

[StageLeft]

Well let us know what the ultimate reply back is from citi!

 

[ironxman99]

when your first statement is ready, it should update the dividend dollars appropriately. i've received 1 statement so far.

Under my current rewards activity it says...
(Dividend Dollars - Lifetime Activity)
Total Div Dollar Earned This Period 7.55
Total Div Dollar Available 14.12

Then there is the (Dividend Dollars - Unbilled Activity) section for my current activity (all at 1% still)

the $7.55 is based on everything being 1%, while the $14.12 includes the "bonus" 4% for purchases at certain places (gas, market, drugstore, citi merchants). i actually calculated it manually as well and the total was correct. i'd wait until your first statement is posted, and then if it isn't correct give them a call and find out why. PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[jdub1107]

I just applied for this and got approved a few days ago. Now I'm using this card instead of my Amazon card.

 

[Reel]

Hey guys, don't forget about those Citi Dividend Merchants. I have used that a few times on CompUSA and Barnes & Noble when ordering online. I think we get some bonus points when we buy in-store at a few places too.

https://www.citidividendmerchants.citicards.com/Default.aspx

 

[StageLeft]

Cool, all is well then

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Skoorb - Call CitiBank and ask them WTF mate?

sweetrugger - Safeway is probably classified as a supermarket and Walgreens as a drugstore, you should be a-ok.

I would love to see a list...4% is almost enough to base where I do my shopping at.

 

[sniperruff]

come on skoorb get some 95-octane for that maxima!

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: ironxman99
when your first statement is ready, it should update the dividend dollars appropriately. i've received 1 statement so far.

Under my current rewards activity it says...
(Dividend Dollars - Lifetime Activity)
Total Div Dollar Earned This Period 7.55
Total Div Dollar Available 14.12

Then there is the (Dividend Dollars - Unbilled Activity) section for my current activity (all at 1% still)

the $7.55 is based on everything being 1%, while the $14.12 includes the "bonus" 4% for purchases at certain places (gas, market, drugstore, citi merchants). i actually calculated it manually as well and the total was correct. i'd wait until your first statement is posted, and then if it isn't correct give them a call and find out why. PM me if you have specific questions.

That has never made any sense to me, the labels don't come close to describing what the numbers are.

I think there is a numerical code assigned to stores that indicate what type of business it is, and that's how they know it's a gas station even if it's a regional company. That's also how they know if you're trying to use your card for online gambling and reject the transaction.

Edit: Confirmed
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,112268,00.asp

Additionally, card associations, such as MasterCard and Visa, have transaction codes that banks can use to block suspect payments. Such companies do not accept online gambling sites as merchants.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/01/1028157816076.html?oneclick=true

Internet gambling transactions are identified by a code, a spokesman for Visa said, and banks could decline credit card transactions carrying that code.

There's a convenience store/gas station chain around here, I always use my card at the convenience stores figuring that they might all use the same code.

 

[StageLeft]

Got my first statement, and all is well. $312 spent and $3.12 base dollars, plus $15.52 I think "bonus" (4% on top of that 1% for my purchases), then $3.12 for some reason again, so $18.xx total.

 

[Chadder007]

How does this card work? Do you get money for spending money basically? Ive not messed or checked into money back or rewards cards before...