Citi’s Pointless 2k Limit Thank You, No Thank You Card

You will receive 80k points after you spend 4k in 3 months. That’s not so hard to do compared to 15k in 3 months for Amex offers (see Oops!… I Did It Again: Min Spending Hell). The problem is trying to do so when my limit is only $2,000 and I had already spent $2003.13.

After destroying the minimum spend for the Alaska card (see Approved! Alaska Personal) in Madrid, I could not use my new Chase Ink Cash (see Recon Call After Recon Call, Finally Chase Ink Cash Approved) because 1) there are foreign transaction fees 2) I haven’t received it. This left me in the terrible situation where I would have to keep spending on a card whose min has been met while the card that needed love and had better bonus categories would go unused.

To remedy the situation, I tried to increase the credit limit online. I was denied. I tried to call to increase the credit limit. Again, I was denied. I tried to shift part of the $30,500 limit from my Citi Rewards+ card. Denied.

I tried something more novel. I paid the entire balance. That was on February 25th. The card showed a zero balance on February 26th. By Monday, February 27th, I tried to buy an espresso. It was denied. I called Citi. They said because it was a new account, the balance would not be reset until March 8th. Indignant, I hung up. I tried rationalizing using my Alaska card or my Ink Preferred. I could not. I called Citi again and demanded to speak to a manager. The agent said the manager wouldn’t be able to do anything. I said put him on the phone anyway. She did.

The manager said we could have a three-way call with my bank. If my bank verifies that the funds have been sent, my card would be available for immediate use. After a moderate hold, the banker came on the line and verified that I had paid my bill. The manager removed the block and I, once again, had the mighty purchasing power of $2,000.

Unfortunately for me, the casita in Rio Mar is in perpetual remodel like El Sagrada Familia, an appropriate reference to the country of my current residence. With a Costco President’s Day Sale, I maxed out the card on a new microwave and dishwasher.

Citi min spend is complete but what card am I supposed to use now? Maybe I’ll apply for another Business Amex Platinum and see if they’ll ship it here.

Conclusion: Citi is stupid.