Citibank Credit Card Troubles

Posted on August 25, 2006 10:36 PM by Joel Comm

Citibank credit cards - I have them in my wallet.

Why Citibank? Because these are American Airlines Aadvantage credit cards, and I charge absolutely everything in order to earn as many air miles on American Airlines as possible. I do a lot of traveling and enjoy flying free or upgrading to First Class when I can.

But I am really upset with Citibank at the moment.

For the fourth time in as many months, I tried to use my Citibank credit card and was told that the card could not be accepted, and that I should phone Citibank to discuss it.

Great.

It is their fraud department, flagging my card for potential illegitimate use. And as usual, they don't call me to discuss it. They just suspend the account.

So now that I am on the phone with their representative, they tell me the charges that are "suspicious". And as it turns out, these are charges that have been processed on my account month after month as part of a service I subscribe to.

I tell them, "can't you see that I have authorized these charges many times already? WHY are you flagging me?"

They hem and haw, apologizing... telling me that the computer does it automatically.

So I suggest that they tell the computer NOT to continue flagging my account for charges that obviously are associated with the account!

This KEEPS happening with Citibank and I've just about had it.

I hope others read this entry and decide to PASS on Citibank credit cards. Their fraud department is more concerned about them than about the customer. Time for me to get a Visa instead.

10 Comments For This Post

  1. DAMARI Says:

    Subject: IS IT LEGAL TO LIE TO THE DFEH & US DEPT OF LABOR? CITIGROUP DID & THEY LIE TO CLIENTS IN CARMEL PLEASE READ THIS LETTER SENT TO THE MONTEREY HERALD
    The Monterey County Herald
    Attn: Herald Executive Editor, Carolina Garcia
    8 Upper Ragsdale
    Monterey, CA 93940
    cgarcia@montereyherald.com
    (831) 646-4306

    Ms. Garcia,

    I have attempted through several sources to clarify my
    position regarding my unfair treatment by my previous
    employer, Citibank. I had no previous plans to leave
    my position as Head Teller at the Citibank branch in
    Carmel. After 4 years of employment with the company,
    the unfair and unequal treatment of employees led to
    medically supervised work-related stress. The manager
    of the branch then accused me of job abandonment which
    led to my termination via UPS delivery on December 15,
    2005, while I was at home on medical leave.

    Subsequent to my termination, I received numerous
    correspondences that referenced me as terminated, no
    longer with the company, and as a former employee. My
    401K and pension have both been forwarded to me.
    However, when interviewed by the Department of Fair
    Employment and Housing, Citibank representatives
    reported that I was terminated due to not personally
    reporting my absence, but rather having medical
    documentation reported by my physician. When
    interviewed by the U. S. Department Wage and Hours
    Division, Citibank representatives reported on August
    8, 2006, that I was still an employee of the company
    and that a letter indicating such would be forwarded
    to me. To date, this letter has not been received.

    I have continued to be in contact with several clients
    that have stated that Citibank representatives
    indicated that I was either on vacation, or that I
    voluntarily resigned in order to work with my husband
    in his new business. This is absolutely untrue. It was
    my intention to continue my employment as the benefits
    were extremely important to me, as well as to my
    family.

    Clearly, there has been a gross misrepresentation by
    Citibank, either to its clients or to the U. S.
    Department Wage and Hours Division. It is my position
    that I was unfairly terminated by Citibank. The
    unscrupulous behavior of Citibank and its
    representatives, locally and at the corporate level,
    is unacceptable.

    It is also my opinion that if a corporation as large
    as Citibank is representing itself on a local level,
    the local management and staff should act accordingly.
    A large part of the attraction of the Monterey area is
    the sense of community that is felt here on a day to
    day basis. If Citibank is allowed to misrepresent its
    actions to clients and government agencies, where will
    the corporate takeover end?

    Sincerely,




    Damari Stratford
    dcsbears@aol.com
    dcsbears@aol.com wrote:

    Subject: Re: Your message to the governor was received
    THE GOVERNOR HAS WRITTEN ME TWICE AND SAID HE WOULD
    HELP,, CITIBANK HAS LIED TO THE DFEH AND US LABOR DEPT
    WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION AND TO THEIR CLIENTS ABOUT MY
    STATUS, I NEED HELP, HOW CAN I FIGHT WHEN THIS
    CORPORATION IS TELLING LIES AND HAS ALL THE LAWYERS
    THEY NEED AND I CAN'T AFFORD ONE. HOW MANY TIMES ARE
    THEY GOING TO GET AWAY WITH MISTREATING EMPLOYEES
    ON 8/8/06 RONAN FROM THE US DEPT OF LABOR WAS TOLD BY
    A CITIBANK ATTORNEY THAT THEY WOULD SEND ME A LETTER
    EXPLAINING MY STATUS AS STILL AN EMPLOYEE, I HAVE YET
    TO GET THIS LETTER, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PUT A
    LETTER TOGETHER IF THEY ARE TELLING THE TRUTH?
    YOUR OFFICE AS WELL AS THE FIRST LADY'S OFFICE HAS
    CALLED ME BUT WE AREN'T GETTING ANYWHERE. IT HAS BEEN
    7 MONTHS SINCE I FIRST WROTE THE GOVERNOR. CITIBANK
    ATTORNEYS HAVE CANCELLED 2 DEPOSITIONS AT THE LAST
    MINUTE THE LAST INE THEY CANCELLED WAS AFTER TALKING
    TO THE US LABOR DEPARTMENT,WHY?
    MY JOB WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MY FAMILY AND I PLEASE
    HELP ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALL THOSE BEFORE ME THAT
    HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY TERMINATED BY CITIBANK FOR NO
    GOOD REASON
    WHY IS EVERYONE SO AFRAID OF CITIGROUP? WHY CAN'T I
    FIND AN ATTORNEY WILLING TO STAND UP TO THEM ON A
    CONTINGENCY BASIS? I VOTED FOR THE GOVERNOR AND I NEED
    HIM NOW
    PLEASE CALL ANN FROM THE DFEH AT 408-277-1916 THEY
    TOLD HER THAT I HAD CALLED IN ILL ON 11/15/05 AND THAT
    I TOLD THEM I WOULDN'T BE IN, THIS IS A LIE I WORKED
    THAT DAY AND I CAN PROVE THIS WITH MY IME CARD, THEN
    THEY SAY THEY MADE AN ERROR
    PLEASE CALL RONAN AT 415-744-5590 EXT 226 FROM THE US
    LABOR DEPT TO VERIFY WHAT CITIBANK ATTORNEYS SAID. THE
    ONLY REASON THEY OFFERED ME FMLA IS BECAUSE I FILED
    FOR DISABILITY, BEFORE THAT THEY HAD PAID OUT MY FINAL
    PAYCHECK, FIRED ME VIA UPS, SENT ME COBRA INFORMATION.
    PLEASE HELP US PLEASE SEE THAT THE GOVERNOR GETS THIS
    EMAIL AND ASK HIM TO MAKE A CALL ON MY BEHALF
    CORPORATE AMERICA NEEDS TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR
    GOOD EMPLOYEES AND NOT ALLOW A MANAGER WITH BAD SKILLS
    TO FIRE SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE HE WANTS TO
    SINCERELY DAMARI STARTFROD
    MOTHER WIFE HUMAN BEING AND I VOTED FOR THE GOVERNOR
    I MATTER TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    CITIBANK IN CARMEL LIES TO CLIENTS ABOUT WHY I AM NOT
    THERE. THEY TELL PEOPLE THAT I AM ON VACATION OR THAT
    I LEFT TO WORK FOR MY HUSBAND INSTEAD OF TELLING THEM
    HAT THEY FIRED ME AFTER MY DOCTOR FAXED IN A NOTE AND
    CALLED IN FOR ME TO PROTECT ME FROM HAVING MY BLOOD
    PRESSRE RISE. JEFF URSINO AND KATHLEEN MUNOZ LIES TO
    ANN AT THE DFEH AND THEIR LAWYERS LIED TO THE US DEPT
    OF LABOR. KATHLEN WAS DOING THE OVERDRAFT ON HER
    DAUGHTERS ACCOUNTS AND REFUNDED HER OWN DAUHGTER MONEY
    WHILE THE MANAGER WAS ON VACATION. SHE LIES ABOUT
    BEING FIRED FROM WELLS FARGO, SHE LIED TO THE WORKERS
    COMP PEOPLE AND WILL LIE TO ANYONE. KATHLEEN HAD
    INSTUCTED THE OTHER TELLERS TO COOK THE BOOKS BY
    HAVING THEM PUT IN FALSE REFEERALS AND JEFF URSINO DID
    NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT I GOT WRITTEN UP FOR MISSING WORK
    WITH A DOCTORS NOTE. THEY STATE TO ONE AGENCY THAT I
    WAS FIRED AND TO THE OTHER THAT I AM STILL EMPLOYED,
    THEY STATE I WAS FIRED FOR NOT CALLING IN YET I WAS
    RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO HAVE MY DOCTOEOR CALL IN AND FAX
    MY NOTE IN DUE TO THE STRESS AND HARRASSMENT BROUGHT
    ON BY JEFF AND CITIBANK, WHERE ARE THE ETHICS IN THIS
    COMPANY


    NOW THEY ARE TELLING MORE LIES TO THE DEPT OF FAIR
    EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING JEFF TELLS THEM WHY I WAS FIRED
    AND THEIR LAWYERS TELL THE US DEPT OF LABOR THAT I AM
    STILL EMPLOYEED
    PLEASE HELP US GET THIS STORY OUT TO THE WORLD IF IT
    ISN'T TOO MUCH TO ASK:) HOW DO YOU FIGHT LIARS, HOW DO
    THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT
    CITIBANK IN CARMEL 831-624-8258 CALL AND ASK THEM
    WHERE I AM ASK FOR KATHLEEN AND ASK HER WHY SHE LIES
    THIS WOMAN WAS HAVING CITIBANK PAY FOR HER DAUGHTER
    OVERDRAFTS AND HER A TELLER REFUND HER OWN DAUGHTER
    MONEY WHILE THE MANAGER WAS OUT ON VACATION SO WHY
    SHOULD ANYONE BELEIVE THIS UNETHICAL PERSON JUST AS
    JEFF URSINO THE MANAGER OF THE CAPITOLA BRANCH LIES TO
    HIS BOSSES TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK BETTER PLEASE HELP US
    WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME
    HOW DO YOU FIGHT A CORPORATION LIKE THIS
    Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
    DAMARI AND CITIBANK HERE IS THE TRUTH!!
    To set the record straight!
    Damari was fired by Citibank in Carmel!
    Damari did not leave the bank to go work for her
    husband!!!!
    DAMARI HAD NO PLANS TO LEAVE CITIBANK!
    DAMARI PLANNED ON STAYING FOR ANOTHER 16YRS.
    THE BENEFITS WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO HER FAMILY!!
    DAMARI WAS FIRED VIA UPS WHILE AT HOME ILL DUE TO WORK
    RELATED STRESS BROUGHT ON BY THE MANAGER AND THE
    UNFAIR AND UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES
    ALONG WITH BEING THREATEN AND HARASSED
    BY THE MANAGER FOR JOB ABANDOMENT.
    SEVERAL OF
    Citibank clients have TOLD HER that they have been
    told by the staff at the Carmel branch :
    THAT SHE LEFT TO GO WORK FOR HER HUSBAND!
    THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE!!!!
    What else will they lie about?
    Are they ashamed of what was done??
    WHY DO THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO SAY SHE LEFT TO GO WORK
    WITH HER HUSBAND
    ( I DO NOT WORK FOR MY HUSBAND)
    ( I DO NOT WORK FOR JND PLUMBING)
    (NOR AM I ON VACATION)
    INSTEAD OF JUST TELLING THE TRUTH ?
    IS THERE ANYONE IN THE CARMEL BRANCH THAT COULD SWEAR
    TO THIS? NO!
    You can reach Damari at dcsbears@aol.com
    ENOUGH WITH THE LIES CITIBANK!!!
    IF YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS PLEASE SEND HER AN EMAIL
    CITIBANK TOLD
    THE US LABOR DEPT WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION ,
    ON 08/08/06
    THAT I AM STILL AN EMPLOYEE
    YET I HAVE LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS
    THAT CLEARLY USE THE WORDS
    TERMINATED
    NO LONGER WITH THE COMPANY
    FORMER EMPLOYEE
    AND MY 401K AND PENSION HAVE BEEN SENT TO ME AS OF
    8/24/06 I HAVE YET TO GET THE LETTER FROM CITIBANK
    WHICH EXPLAINS HOW I AM STILL AN EMPLOYEE! HOW LONG
    DOES IT TAKE TO WRITE A LETTER IF YOU ARE TELLING THE
    TRUTH HOW CAN THEY SAY TO THE US DEPT OF LABOR THAT I
    AM STILL AN EMPLOYEE YET THEY TELL THE DFEH THAT THEY
    FIRED ME FOR NOT CALLING IN, WHAT IS THE TRUTH
    CITIBANK??????????
    CITIBANK STATES THAT I WAS FIRED FOR NOT CALLING IN
    YET MY DOCTOR CALLED IN FOR ME THE DAY BEFORE AND ALSO
    FAXED IN A NOTE FOR ME WHICH THE MANAGER RETURNED TO
    ME WITH MY LETTER OF TERMINATION. THEY KNEW THE DAY
    BEFORE THAT I WASN'T COMING IN SO WHY WOULD HE CALL TO
    ASK IF I WAS COMING IN IF IT WAS CLEARLY STATED ON THE
    NOTE AND TOLD TO THEM BY MY DOCTOR TO PROTECT MY
    HEALTH
    JUST MORE LIES BY THE CITIBANK STAFF IN CARMEL


  2. Damari Says:

    Thank you for all the comments, good, bad and indifferent.For those of you whom I upset I am very sorry. It has now been about a year and things are moving along, yes I have had some, alot of therapy, this hit me hard but we are moving on. I have 2 attorneys dealing with this. I admitt that I had alot to learn and I have learned that we really don't matter to corporate America it really is just about profits. My fight is not just for me but for all those wrongfully treated by corporate America. I didn't realize that all caps was so offensive, sorry to that one. Life is all about learning and this was a very hard lesson for us. Again, sorry if I offended anyone I am getting better now. As far as the manager goes, he will just have to live with what he has done and I wish him and his family the best hoping that no one ever treats them as he did us. God Bless Us All

  3. jimmy Says:

    You should thank Citibank. My citibank card was used fraudulently and unauthorized last night to purchase a $3200 computer. It has been a major hassle, and I wish they had not authorized that purchase. The card has never left my wallet, I shred all mail and documents at home, and have taken precautions against this happening. Don't understand how someone got a hold of my number.

  4. fakhruddin i cementwala Says:

    Please i told so many times in ur custmer service but not response from ur side my problem is nothing bill is come in my adress and i told 15 times in ur bank but no response and ur service is very bad .

  5. ravichandra Says:

    I got a msg from citi bank saying that my card is been dispacthed through blue dart,& they called me today ie 15.05.2007, they told the i should be there when they come to give the card & as told i was there & the person came from blue dart was mr Karthik. but i was surpised to know that he requried all the details like about my family members & he started to ask me wht they r doing & where they work & there age's off all the family members, so on for which i asked him why he requires all the details about my family memebers & others. i could like know why he is asking me so many details about my family members & so on .
    I could like to know from ur citi bank credit card division why all this details r required for & why . Hope u r issiuing the card to me or for all my family members ? .
    I could like to tell u that it is not good to send such kind off people ( karthik) bcoz he was very rude when he came to my place , i am sorry that u people have hired such uncultured persons to delivery the cards. I couldnt have appiled to citibank card if i was knowing that u hire such kind off persons , I am afraid that for delivering the cards u have hired such persons, then what kind off persons u may hire for collection off card payments .
    I ant to know is there any rules that i should give all the details off my family members, there age, where they work & so on . Then ur person called me for card they didnt tell about this & i could like to know is this requried & why is this required . I request u to kindly reply me at the earliest .
    Thankyou

    ravi

  6. rrrr Says:

    Because all information about your family and so-called emergency contacts will be sold to some marketing companies....they make bucks from those data

  7. Victoria Rose Perkins Says:

    Just another victim of citibank!

    http://www.helium.com/tm/840384/citibank-credit-offer-experienced

  8. CitiMan Says:

    You're right Joel, Citibank has a series of American Airlines Aadvantage credit cards.

    Credit card companies suffering huge losses due to fraud. And with "$0 liability on unauthorized purchases" for cardholders, the responsibility lies with the card issuers to protect themselves.

    But I've to agree with you that the computer should be intelligence enough not to block a regular transaction. I suspect instead of having a customized profile for each cardholders, the system would automatically block a high fraudalent rate transaction based on generic historical records.

    But instead of Visa, I would seriously consider American Express since they are offering great co-branded frequent flyer cards from Delta, Jetblue, etc.

  9. former employee Says:

    I just wanted to let everyone know that not only should you NOT get an account with CitiBank, but also they treat their employees like dirt. We were required to be 95% productive at all times. We could not even use the bathroom because if you use the bathroom, you must remain on productive time. We had to do quality and the manager is allowed to fail you for any reason. If you fail 3 months in a row, then you are fired. My manager failed me constantly just because he didn't like me. You can complain to upper management, but they don't care. They are already training a new hire class with your replacement in it. Once you get a raise, you are definitely on the way out. No one is allowed to make more than the minimum $10/hour. If you make above that then they start compiling a list against you so they can coerce you into resigning. CitiBank is all about the MONEY. They don't care about their card holder, and they certainly don't care about their employees. They force employees to sale cardholders crappy services that are unreliable and a scam. Employees aren't allowed to waive fees. For some reason, it seems CitiBank is always LOSING people's statements in the mail, and it always seemed to be the first statement...then the APR defaults.

  10. SharonLD Says:

    Well now citi is in trouble and APR's are going up...hoping to do some transfers soon!

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