a l e x f a l k e n b e r g

So I send Citibank another request (now the 4th time asking the same question) for the straight, simple answer to my simple question.

All I want is for them to give me a ballpark figure on my new payment amount. A simple number. I’ve been repeatedly outright ignored and given one math puzzle so far. Our exchanges via their website have been going on since Nov. 24th.

This time Citibank replies with:

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

We appreciate your feedback. Our goal is to provide you and all our customers with the highest standard of service in the industry.

To better assist you regarding the minimum due amount on your account, please contact us at 1-800-950-5114. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Outside the U.S., call collect at 605-335-2222.

My reply:

Citibank, I WILL NOT CALL YOU for this information.

I’ve asked repeatedly, and continue to only get the runaround, over and over and over again. Completely unacceptable.

I’m VERY angry about how I’m being treated. Do not expect my business relationship with you to last much longer. I may also consider making a formal complaint to the Wisconsin Attorney General and Consumer Protection offices.

Never, EVER, have I been treated so poorly before. And please, stop apologizing, because clearly, VERY CLEARLY, you guys really don’t care at ALL.

So hey, answer the question…or don’t. At this point, the damage is already done.

Citibank is clearly and completely failing at their goal of “the highest standard of service in the industry”.

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I’ve got a credit line with Citibank that has an introductory period that’s expiring right now in December. I can’t seem to get a straight answer from these buffoons.

I’ve now asked them 4 different times what my new monthly minimum payment will be once the intro period is over and the regular APRs kick in. Should be a simple-enough question, right?

The latest I got from them was this:

The calculation begins with any amount that is past due plus any amount in excess of your credit line. Then the greater of the following is also added:
- The new statement balance if it is less than $20; or
- $20 of the new balance if it is at least $20; or
- 1% of the new balance plus the amount of billed finance charges plus any applicable late fees or
- 1% of the new balance plus the amount of billed finance charges or
- 1.5% of the new outstanding balance, rounded down to the nearest dollar.

Gee, Citibank. Really? That is your answer?

After practically begging you for an actual ‘ballpark-is-fine’ dollar amount, you sent…THAT? What am I supposed to do with that? More specifically, why should I have to do anything with that?

I really do think it’s time to take my money and business elsewhere. I can’t imagine what their motivation even is for not answering what has to be a common question among their customers who sign up for intro-period agreements. It strikes me as unethical in some way; I can’t quite put my finger on it. At the very least, it’s not helpful, and certainly feels dishonest and slimy to me…which is more than enough to get me to walk away from them as a customer. I don’t need this kind of hassle, and transferring my account away from them isn’t even remotely difficult to do.

Citibank, being the mega-corporation that it is, will learn nothing from this, despite my repeated attempts to ‘enlighten’ them about my dissatisfaction with their customer service, with each support email I send. What’s one customer, eh, Citibank? Bzzzzzzzzzt.