I’ve written about those $15 checks that credit card issuers send you to try out their overpriced credit “protection” programs, so when I ran across this offer from Citibank for $100 in free gas rebate coupons for enrolling in a free 30-day trial, I was a bit suspicious.
I’ve gotten these before, but they were broken up into $10 rebates, one a month, and only valid if you stayed with the service. On top of that, they take months to fulfill, and if by the time they finally decide to stop stalling and process the rebate you’ve already cancelled, then oops! no money for you. In other words, it was a pain. Would this be similar?
Probably, but maybe not as bad – According to recent reports on Fatwallet, the rebate coupon they mail you is for $100 all at once. One catch is that you must submit gas receipts within 30 days of purchase. So if you can’t spend $100 on gas in 30 days, you may not get the full $100. Others suggested just picking up old receipts off the ground to satisfy the $100 requirement. I also asked if you still need to be enrolled for the rebate to process, and will update if I get an answer.
As will most of these credit protector trials, you are automatically enrolled after the initial period unless you call to cancel. For my own memory, the number to cancel is 1-888-592-7344. The program fee is 85 cents per $100 of your monthly balance. Thus, you should always try to sign up with an idle credit card with no balance. That way, even if you forget, you won’t be charged anything.
Thanks to Reader Paul who reminded me of this and also reports that you can’t use the Citi Professional Card, which a lot of people have from the $100 bonus, have to sign up. I tried too and it didn’t work. I did sign up successfully using another Citi card. I’ll try my best to remember to update here when I get the forms, and also post again in 30 days to remind people to cancel.
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Yes, this is true. I got the 100 dollars rebate all at once. The tricky part is that all the receipts must be within the thirty days range. I’m not sure if the receipts that were before the sign-up date are valid to send in. Just to be safe, i asked all my siblings to give me there receipts from gas purchases.
I am about to mail in my receipts. I’ll report back and let you know if I get my $100.
Do the receipts need to indicate that you used the relevant citicard? That might be a problem.
If someone has a scan of the forms, that’d be helpful. I’ll post mine up when I get them.
Can you do the offer on more than one account and receive 100 dollars on each?
Yes, the company Citi uses to fulfil these rebates is slow. I mailed a rebate form in July. The form said 6-8 weeks. The status check said it was mailed mid-September. I still haven’t received it.
Anyone know if you have to use the citi card charge for the rebates or can you pay cash or use other credit cards?
Thanks John for plannig to post your scans of the forms. I signed up figure it’s worth the 100 and cancel w/in 30 days.
Here is the scan of my form.
Scan
Hi Jon,
I just received mine rebate ticket today.
It doesn’t say if we have to use the gas receipt on our own name and/or to be charge on this Citi card.
How do you think?
I am thinking to collect my friends’ receipt but not sure if that works.
Any updates here? Jon, do you think you could do an update post? Thanks!
I just checked http://www.rebatestatus.com on another rebate that I submitted and the $100 Citi Credit Protector check shows up as being submitted and scheduled to issue on 2/12 – you might want to check it out.
I just called to cancel my Credit Protector, and the CSR informed me that because I had recently moved I was eligible for 2 monthly minimum credits of $40 each. A nice quick $80 earned on top of the $100 in gas rebates. Way to go Citi!
Alistair,
So did you cancel your Credit Protector or Continue to received the 2 monthly payment then cancel?
thanks.
-luu
does anyone happen to have a scan of the latest $100.00 gas rebate form. (i think it says receipts must be mailed in by june 2007). thank you
thanks very much.
Signed up received the life event changes for moving benefit for 2 months, and the $100 rebate is showing check will send in June 8 2007.
Just cancel today, hope the checks still come.