Citibank anyone?

el_pistol

does anyone bank or banked with citibank as i'm considering switching to there citibank access acount. just want some feedback on them regarding customer service and your overall banking experience with them.

i currently hold a barclays addition plus account (that's what it was called when i opened one). i got sucked in with all the additions like travel insurance,mobile insurance,breakdown cover,and more.
i'm currently paying £16 a month and i only use the mobile cover so i asked them could i swap to a normal current account and basically been told no.

any feedback would be appreciated.

thanks

premierfella

The only reasons I can think of for them saying no to downgrading the Additions Plus account are:
- you are still in some sort of contracted minimum term period or
- they have some sort of systems issue which prevents them downgrading from a closed issue account.
If you are otherwise happy with Barclays I suggest putting your request in writing with a couple of brief sentences asking to downgrade the account to (specify the free account you want) and advising that the reason for you wishing to downgrade is that you no longer need the additional benefits (which if refused will at least result in you getting the reason for the refusal).

As to Citibank, you will find from a search of the threads here that the main issues you would have are:
- lack of Citi branches
- very poor telephone customer service
- no faster payments service.

I have a Citigold account and am near a branch, which means I avoid the first two problems. The third stops me actively using the account. Even then, I have experienced Citi failing to be able to do something as simple as setting up a new Direct Debit. If you are looking to actively use the Citi account I would personally look elsewhere.

97trophy

Citibank = no loans, no credit cards, no mortgages, no ISA's.

You may not want any of those now but one day you will.

try Nat West.

fawinds

I have my main account with HSBC as they are very good. But mu second account is with Citibank. My main reasons for being with them is that I get a free £500 overdraft, free euro and us dollar accounts with free debit card withdrawals and purchases in the eurozone and the US respectively and interbank exchange rates in currency transactions for sterling sent from another bank to the us dollar or euro accounts.

Their customer service is not good. When I applies for the free overdraft, they say they'll let you know their decision within 48 hours. It took them 2 weeks to send a secure message letting me know it had been approved. They said the overdraft would be available at a particular date. It was available one week after that date.

When I ordered a cheque book they said no, I need to pay into the sterling account over £1,250. Well, in fact I do pay more than that, and sent a secure message explaining it. They said sorry and then sent the cheque book.

A good thing is they have free sepa transfers to the eurozone. However they used to be available to be made over the internet. Now they stopped it and you have to call to arrange one.

And the worst for me is the lack of faster payments. They say it will be available by June, but before the said the same for March and November last year, so little hope it will be implemented by that deadline.

However I will stay with them mainly because the free currency services and the interest-free overdraft. But my main bank account will remain at HSBC as they have been good to me.

By the way, another good thing about Citibank: they have an 0800 customer service while most other banks have 0845 numbers. They also give you a London local number for call from abroad and mobiles.

Hazzanet

fawinds wrote: »

A good thing is they have free sepa transfers to the eurozone. However they used to be available to be made over the internet. Now they stopped it and you have to call to arrange one.

The SEPA transfer form is still available to me, are they withdrawing it?

fawinds

Hazzanet wrote: »

The SEPA transfer form is still available to me, are they withdrawing it?

Is it?

Here is a screenshot of my internet banking and it is not available. It used to be a few months ago.



I can only think they disable it if you don't use it after a certain period of time?

Hazzanet

Click on "find out more" under the 4th box, then the green button on the next page. It then opens up the form for me.

Hazzanet

@ the OP - Sorry for hijacking your thread.

In response to your original query, they appear competent in respect of basic banking - card transactions, DD's, standing orders and cash machine, but I wouldn't entrust anything to their switching team.

Generally they're fine until you have a problem; unless you can get to a branch to speak to someone who (a) speaks English as their first language, and (b) understands the UK banking system, you'll be in the hands of their Indian (?) call centre. If you veer off script or send them a secure message they don't understand you'll just become frustrated, angry and suicidal.

My advice is that if you find yourself coming up against this, stop. Put pen to paper and write to them at their London address. Don't waste time, breath and heartache trying to get the call centre to see sense.

nick69g

I've had a Citi Access account for over two years and find the service to be fine.

I've got a cheque book and Visa debit card which is all I need from them and the banking is completely free.

Every time I have sent a secure message I get a reply usually within 48 hours and the odd occasion I've had to telephone the call centre, my issue was dealt with with no problems at all.

A lot of people bank online and via the telephone so not accessing a branch is not a problem (for me anyway). I had a Citi Mastercard which they "sold" to another business which I was a bit annoyed about as I then decided to close it and Citi currently do not offer credit cards or loans however they do have Investment ISA's. Having a credit card with another financial institution is not a bad idea anyway as you are not tied into one bank.

All in all, I'm happy with them.

N

fawinds

Hazzanet wrote: »

Click on "find out more" under the 4th box, then the green button on the next page. It then opens up the form for me.

I am shocked. :shocked: I didn't even try the more info link because a few months ago there was a direct link to the SEPA transfer form and the

We are currently experiencing a high volume of transfer requests. If you wish to make a SWIFT or SEPA transfer, please call us on 0800 00 55 00 where one of our CitiPhone Personal Bankers will be happy to assist. Citigold customers please call 0800 00 56 00.

looks to me as if they're saying "sorry, if you want to make a SEPA transfer they can only be done over the phone".

fawinds

Hazzanet wrote: »

Click on "find out more" under the 4th box, then the green button on the next page. It then opens up the form for me.

Now they have removed it for good. Only way is 0800 005500.