Citibank catalog of problems

joshm_2

I applied for a platinum cashback card, having seen its details and benefits available on this site, a month or so ago.

My application was successful, I was issued the card and I went out to start spending.

But I noticed that on the bumph that arrived with the card, there was no mention of the cashback deal. So I phoned them up and asked whether the card was indeed a cashback one. I was told that since I applied over the internet then yes, it was a cashback card.

So I started to spend. That is, I started to spend where the card would be accepted. Anywhere I took the physical plastic would more often than not reject the card - embarassing.

In the meantime, I was issued online access and looked at my details there. There was once again no mention of the cashback deal, so I once again phoned them to ask about it. I was told that although I was eligible, the cashback registration would not be activated until my first statement was issued.

In the meantime, I had gotten fed up of having my card rejected so had ordered new plastic. I was assured that my exisitng card would remain active until I activated the new one that would arrive in the post. This was not true - whilst out of the country, my card was deactivated and I was left looking foolish at a hotel when the card was once again rejected. Great.

Anyhow, when my first statement was issued there was still no sign of any cashback benefit. So I phoned them again and was told that in fact my card was not a cashback card and that I could not have applied for one since they had only just been released (Q2 2005). This is just nonsense, so I asked to speak to a supervisor who basically fobbed me off with the same story.

I had, at application time, printed of the benefits of the card which clearly stated the cashback deal. But unfortunately I seem to have thrown it out, stupidly believing what the call centre people at Citibank had been telling me.

So, now I have cut up my card (both of them, actually) and given notice that I intend to cancel my account.

I don't think I have been treated fairly at all by Citibank. If anyone can help and perhaps provide the html of the page stating the cashback deal from around the time I applied (a couple of months ago, when they said that the cashback card had not even been rolled out) I would be grateful if you could let me know.

JoshM, searching for the next best cashback deal (I already have Amex but want a Visa card)

eagle

joshm wrote:

I applied for a platinum cashback card, having seen its details and benefits available on this site, a month or so ago.

My application was successful, I was issued the card and I went out to start spending.

But I noticed that on the bumph that arrived with the card, there was no mention of the cashback deal. So I phoned them up and asked whether the card was indeed a cashback one. I was told that since I applied over the internet then yes, it was a cashback card.

So I started to spend. That is, I started to spend where the card would be accepted. Anywhere I took the physical plastic would more often than not reject the card - embarassing.

In the meantime, I was issued online access and looked at my details there. There was once again no mention of the cashback deal, so I once again phoned them to ask about it. I was told that although I was eligible, the cashback registration would not be activated until my first statement was issued.

In the meantime, I had gotten fed up of having my card rejected so had ordered new plastic. I was assured that my exisitng card would remain active until I activated the new one that would arrive in the post. This was not true - whilst out of the country, my card was deactivated and I was left looking foolish at a hotel when the card was once again rejected. Great.

Anyhow, when my first statement was issued there was still no sign of any cashback benefit. So I phoned them again and was told that in fact my card was not a cashback card and that I could not have applied for one since they had only just been released (Q2 2005). This is just nonsense, so I asked to speak to a supervisor who basically fobbed me off with the same story.

I had, at application time, printed of the benefits of the card which clearly stated the cashback deal. But unfortunately I seem to have thrown it out, stupidly believing what the call centre people at Citibank had been telling me.

So, now I have cut up my card (both of them, actually) and given notice that I intend to cancel my account.

I don't think I have been treated fairly at all by Citibank. If anyone can help and perhaps provide the html of the page stating the cashback deal from around the time I applied (a couple of months ago, when they said that the cashback card had not even been rolled out) I would be grateful if you could let me know.

This sounds discusting. How can they get away with such cowboy tactics? I shall be approaching Citibank with caution - I've already put my application in for the very same card and won't hesitate to cancel it if I see the smallest thing I am not happy about.

The Platinum Citibank URL/link was posted here not too long ago. However, if you want a page dating back to the date you applied for then Google is your friend. Search for Citibank platinum and cashback. When Google returns a result (which should include the current page on Citibank's website), use the "Cache Pages" option to see if you can see older pages held by Google.

joshm wrote:

JoshM, searching for the next best cashback deal (I already have Amex but want a Visa card)

Ditto, but I would recommend you get the Nationwide card (classic or cashback one). I know the cashback is trivial for this card but it's a 0% commission on foreign currency purchases, so it might be good for you in that case.

Hope this helps.

joshm_2

Hi, and thanks for the reply.

I did a bit of burrowing around and produced the printouts/proof that they wanted (https://www.citicards.co.uk/plantinumbridge.htm). I in fact found the original printouts from when I applied...

Despite this they now claim that this URL (which, after i told them about it, is now inactive if gone to directly but can still be reached via Google) did not belong to them, is not reachable and was never posted by them. They claim never to have made their cashback card details public via web site, and say that I would need now to produce Ts&Cs stating that I have a cashback card. Which was my point in the first place. As for my application date, they themself state that I applied on 14 April which, when I last checked, was in the second quarter of the year. Every time I proved them wrong or provided the information they wanted they changed their story.

They have driven me so far up the wall I now don't even want their credit. I would just advise anyone thinking of doing business with them to be on their guard. They have been thoroughly dishonest with me as far as I can tell and show absolutely no remorse about it. I will probably inform Trading Standards.