I opened a Citi checking account in early September, planning to park $30k to get the $500 bonus. But I figured there'd be no interest if I moved the money in too early, so I didn't transfer the $30k until early October. When I checked yesterday, the balance had dropped to $29,985—they'd deducted September's monthly fee. I got it refunded from customer service today, but the offer details page now looks like this. I figure I probably won't get the bonus. Should I cut my losses and move the $30k out now to earn interest, or wait until the end of November and, if I don't get the bonus, go argue with customer service then?
edit: I read the terms carefully and it looks like I won't get it, so I'm planning to move the money out anyway
Maintain your Balance. So long as you maintain at least a $30,000 Balance every day for 45 calendar days starting on the 46th day after you open your Checking Account, (“Maintenance Period”), you will remain eligible for a Bonus. Your Balance must be held in your new, eligible Checking Account. Please understand if your Balance falls into a lower Balance Level for even one day during the Maintenance Period, your Maximum Bonus will change (see Chart). For example, if your Balance on the 45th Day is $200,000, the Maximum Bonus you could earn is $1,500. If your Balance is $150,000 on day 50, however, the Maximum Bonus you can earn changes to $750.
I don't really agree with the call to "transfer the money out right away." You said that after reading the terms carefully, it's no longer available—but whether the page change is a system display issue or your eligibility has actually been revoked are two different things. If you're really going to fight this, leaving the balance where it is makes it easier to argue clearly afterward than disputing it later.