More Bad News for Folks Who Pay Mortgage, Rent With Credit Cards

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Earlier today, I shared news that Plastiq has stopped allowing Visa credit cards for mortgage payments.

Now, via Frequent Miler, folks with the Citi AT&T Access More card (no longer available to new applicants) will no longer earn 3X Citi ThankYou points for rental & real estate payments, and purchasing or reloading gift cards online.  Starting July 22, 2017, you’ll only earn 1X Citi ThankYou point per $1.

I know many in our hobby who use the Citi AT&T Access more to earn lots of points paying their mortgage and rent each month through online payment services like Plastiq.  So this is a bummer!

I’ll fill you in on the details.

AT&T Access More Removes 3X on Mortgage and Rent Payments

Link:   My Review of the Citi AT&T Access More

The Citi AT&T Access More is no longer available to new applicants.  But folks who have it could earn lots of Citi ThankYou points by making the most of its 3X bonus category, which includes AT&T, online retailers, and travel sites.

This was a good deal because online payment services like Plastiq are considered an online retailer.  And even with the 2.5% fee, paying rent or mortgage payments through Plastiq was a very good deal.  Because the points you’d earn more than offset the fee for using the service.

Now, Citi says:

Beginning July 22, 2017, you’ll only receive 1 point, not 3X points, for every $1 spent online on the purchase or reloading of gift cards or rental and real estate payments.

Earning 3X points for rent and mortgage payments was an excellent deal, particularly for folks who also have the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier Card .  That’s because with those cards, you can combine your points and transfer them to Citi ThankYou airline and hotel partners, like Singapore Airlines.

I suspect it was costing Citi a lot of money to offer 3X Citi ThankYou points on large, recurring purchases like rent and mortgage.  While many folks won’t be happy about the new policy, it’s a good reminder that the miles and points world is constantly changing.  Good deals don’t last forever!

Bottom Line

The Citi AT&T Access More card (no longer available to new applicants) will no longer earn 3X Citi ThankYou points for rent and mortgage payments starting July 22, 2017.  Instead, you’ll earn 1 Citi ThankYou point per $1.

Online gift card purchases and reloads will also change from 3X to 1X on the same date.

This is disappointing for folks who earned LOTS of Citi ThankYou points each month making the most of these bonus spending categories.

Have you been paying your rent or mortgage with the Citi AT&T Access More?  What’s your plan going forward?