I do not understand. There are so many banks out with Zero annual fees (free for life). Local banks issued credit cards are as good as those foreign banks. Why would anyone want to call in and beg Citibank to waive annual fee yearly.

The thought of calling and beg Citibank to waive the annual fee really pissed me off. That's why I cancelled mine many years ago and never apply for Citibank CC anymore, even when they offered many gifts on application.

Citibank CS also told me the same thing. Later I found out this is not true. All other foreign banks have some credit cards which are free for life. Citibank all cards also got annual fee.

It is just Citibank's strategy of maximizing profits. If got calls to waive, they will waive most annual fee requests. Those that didn't call or not persistent enough Citibank would whack them with annual fees. Imagine 50% either didn't call or persistent in requesting for fee waiver. That would mean multi-millions additional income.

Knowing what Citibank is doing and sick of begging for waiver like a beggar, I cancelled my Citi CC (that was many years ago). I am quite happy with my local banks credit cards. No whatsoever issue at all even using them in foreign countries.