"Stay Away From Citibank"
Clark Platinum Edition® MasterCard® Review
Written by: mcnally on 2008-04-20
Overall Satisfaction
Customer Service
Rewards
Account Management
Delivery Time
mcnally's review: 
Terrible Payment Options and Customer Service!!!
Let me start from the very beginning: When I called to activate my card a service rep helped me and was very nice. As soon as he confirmed it was activated he tried to begin to sell me "payment protector insurance" basically a way for them to make more money (or in my case, make any money, because its a 0% interest for 12 months card). I told him I wasn't interested and he says, "Well its included in the card and when you get your first statement call and we will deactivate it" To which I reply, "Can't you just deactivate it now" and he says, "Well, you won't be able to realize the benefits if you quit now" and I retort, "I don't want this program, can you take it off my account or not?" By this point I can tell he's annoyed because they expect me to just agree with them and not think about the fact that my first statement will come one month from now meaning no matter what I will be giving them money for the program. So he says, "Yeah, I'll do it, you're done" and then HANGS UP ON ME. Hilarious.
OK, now a couple weeks down the road I've got a pretty sizable balance on my card and I want to make a large payment. So I sign up online and plan to pay online like every other card I use. And instead of letting me pay with my debit card they have to access my account using the routing code and account number. Whatever. So I enter all my info and go to make a payment and the system tells me that I can't make a payment for 6 business days while they "access" my bank account to "verify" it. 6 business days???!?!?! What is this 1959? Do they need to teletype my account number in? Do they need to retrieve it from my bank via horse and carriage? It gets even better. So I call the number on the back of my card and I get a rep on the line and tell him that I want to make a phone payment and he tells me its going to be $14.95, ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Every other card I've ever had has let me make a phone payment for free.
Here's their scheme: They assume you wait about a week in advance to sign up to pay your card online. The convenient 6 business day window will easily put you past your due date. Here is where the smart and dumb people diverge: The dumb people will wait past the due date for their account to clear and BAM! They gotcha. 0% expires the first month because of late payment, Hello 20% APR Hope you don't have a huge balance. The smart people will call to pay and realize that its either $14.95 or 20% on whatever balance they have. And that is that. The point is here to set up your online account ASAP and never, NEVER make a late payment. Enjoy.
Terrible Payment Options and Customer Service!!!Let me start from the very beginning: When I called to activate my card a service rep helped me and was very nice. As soon as he confirmed it was activated he tried to begin to sell me "payment protector insurance" basically a way for them to make more money (or in my case, make any money, because its a 0% interest for 12 months card). I told him I wasn't interested and he says, "Well its included in the card and when you get your first statement call and we will deactivate it" To which I reply, "Can't you just deactivate it now" and he says, "Well, you won't be able to realize the benefits if you quit now" and I retort, "I don't want this program, can you take it off my account or not?" By this point I can tell he's annoyed because they expect me to just agree with them and not think about the fact that my first statement will come one month from now meaning no matter what I will be giving them money for the program. So he says, "Yeah, I'll do it, you're done" and then HANGS UP ON ME. Hilarious.
OK, now a couple weeks down the road I've got a pretty sizable balance on my card and I want to make a large payment. So I sign up online and plan to pay online like every other card I use. And instead of letting me pay with my debit card they have to access my account using the routing code and account number. Whatever. So I enter all my info and go to make a payment and the system tells me that I can't make a payment for 6 business days while they "access" my bank account to "verify" it. 6 business days???!?!?! What is this 1959? Do they need to teletype my account number in? Do they need to retrieve it from my bank via horse and carriage? It gets even better. So I call the number on the back of my card and I get a rep on the line and tell him that I want to make a phone payment and he tells me its going to be $14.95, ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Every other card I've ever had has let me make a phone payment for free.
Here's their scheme: They assume you wait about a week in advance to sign up to pay your card online. The convenient 6 business day window will easily put you past your due date. Here is where the smart and dumb people diverge: The dumb people will wait past the due date for their account to clear and BAM! They gotcha. 0% expires the first month because of late payment, Hello 20% APR Hope you don't have a huge balance. The smart people will call to pay and realize that its either $14.95 or 20% on whatever balance they have. And that is that. The point is here to set up your online account ASAP and never, NEVER make a late payment. Enjoy.
15 Comments
Comment 1 by defserv
Ymmv 
on 2008-04-20
I added my bank info the same day I received the card and registered it online. Made my first payment and had it post the same day no problems. Also... When you call to activate after you put in your account #, it'll say "your card is now activated please hold for a rep to confirm. You can hang up at this point, your card will be activated and you will have avoided speaking to a rep that will try to shove that useless extra crap down your throat... Sorry to hear about your experience with cit.
on 2008-04-20 I added my bank info the same day I received the card and registered it online. Made my first payment and had it post the same day no problems. Also... When you call to activate after you put in your account #, it'll say "your card is now activated please hold for a rep to confirm. You can hang up at this point, your card will be activated and you will have avoided speaking to a rep that will try to shove that useless extra crap down your throat... Sorry to hear about your experience with cit.
Comment 2 by rockin35
Once Activated, Just Hang Up! on 2008-04-20
With my old Citibank card, I registered mine online the same day that I activated it and also scheduled a payment that posted in 2 days. Not sure what Citibank has going on these days. I agree with Defserv, when you activated your card via the automated service, it does indicate to the consumer to "Please Hold for a Customer Service Agent" once its activated etc etc, at that point I usually hang up to avoid having to wrestle with these over-zealous csr's who have numbers and stats to make off of how many people they sell Payment Protector to... Also, I've never been able to make payments over the phone with my debit card nor online. I've always had to enter my routing and bank account# for payments on Credit Card.
on 2008-04-20 With my old Citibank card, I registered mine online the same day that I activated it and also scheduled a payment that posted in 2 days. Not sure what Citibank has going on these days. I agree with Defserv, when you activated your card via the automated service, it does indicate to the consumer to "Please Hold for a Customer Service Agent" once its activated etc etc, at that point I usually hang up to avoid having to wrestle with these over-zealous csr's who have numbers and stats to make off of how many people they sell Payment Protector to... Also, I've never been able to make payments over the phone with my debit card nor online. I've always had to enter my routing and bank account# for payments on Credit Card.
Comment 3 by arod
Wrong . on 2008-04-20
I have my Citibank Platinum select and my wife has Citibank AA card. We have had no problem in calling they have good customer service.
They credit lines are the highest and in payments there are fast.
If you add a checking account it takes 5 days for you to make a payment but when you get the card and you go online to set up your account it isn't due until 30 days so what are you talking about further more you just don't read your account information.
Me my wife... My mother my father over 30 years and Citibank is great...
Guys this person don't know what he is talking about...
on 2008-04-20 I have my Citibank Platinum select and my wife has Citibank AA card. We have had no problem in calling they have good customer service.They credit lines are the highest and in payments there are fast.
If you add a checking account it takes 5 days for you to make a payment but when you get the card and you go online to set up your account it isn't due until 30 days so what are you talking about further more you just don't read your account information.
Me my wife... My mother my father over 30 years and Citibank is great...
Guys this person don't know what he is talking about...
Comment 4 by arod
Wrong . on 2008-04-20
I have my Citibank Platinum select and my wife has Citibank AA card we have had no problem in calling they have good customer service.
They credit lines are the highest and in payments there are fast.
If you add a checking account it takes 5 days for you to make a payment but when you get the card and you go online to set up your account it isn't due until 30 days so what are you talking about further more you just don't read your account information.
Me my wife... My mother my father over 30 years and Citibank is great...
Guys this person don't know what he is talking about...
on 2008-04-20 I have my Citibank Platinum select and my wife has Citibank AA card we have had no problem in calling they have good customer service.They credit lines are the highest and in payments there are fast.
If you add a checking account it takes 5 days for you to make a payment but when you get the card and you go online to set up your account it isn't due until 30 days so what are you talking about further more you just don't read your account information.
Me my wife... My mother my father over 30 years and Citibank is great...
Guys this person don't know what he is talking about...
Comment 6 by desihunk17
Citi Is Good on 2008-04-20
I never has making payment with Citi... There customer service is amazing... No matter when you call they never put you on hold... Always there day or night... I have them for year now... And I called them like 6 times each time for credit limit increase... They just ask me how much I need I tell them... And its approved in seconds... Other banks... Don't do that... I started with $2000 credit limit on there American Express card in June 2007... Now I'm up to $18000... Just in year... How is that... Citi is best... No question about it.
on 2008-04-20 I never has making payment with Citi... There customer service is amazing... No matter when you call they never put you on hold... Always there day or night... I have them for year now... And I called them like 6 times each time for credit limit increase... They just ask me how much I need I tell them... And its approved in seconds... Other banks... Don't do that... I started with $2000 credit limit on there American Express card in June 2007... Now I'm up to $18000... Just in year... How is that... Citi is best... No question about it.
Comment 7 by rivasglo
DC on 2008-04-20
Many banks do not take debit cards to make pymts... I don't think any do... Whether its online or over the phone its very rare for that to happen.
Checking account = debit card. Its the same thing ;)
on 2008-04-20 Many banks do not take debit cards to make pymts... I don't think any do... Whether its online or over the phone its very rare for that to happen.Checking account = debit card. Its the same thing ;)
Comment 8 by meya
Correct on 2008-04-20
Mines only takes checking, but they need to wake up and smell the coffee because like you said checkng account and debit accounts are the same thing.
on 2008-04-20 Mines only takes checking, but they need to wake up and smell the coffee because like you said checkng account and debit accounts are the same thing.
Comment 9 by hjm331
RE: Desihunk on 2008-04-21
Do they base those CLI's on your payment history or income?
on 2008-04-21 Do they base those CLI's on your payment history or income?
Comment 10 by eric
Lol on 2008-04-21
Wow... I don't know about anyone else here but don't you sign up for online services the same day you receive your card? I generally like to look at my balances online during the month. And yes banks are verifying bank accounts now. Ive had a few customers request a mgr... I talk to them and find out they mispunched a number for there acct or routing number... Then try to BLAME the BANK for it lol! Sorry about your luck Mcnally... Pay the $14.95 and call it a day.
on 2008-04-21 Wow... I don't know about anyone else here but don't you sign up for online services the same day you receive your card? I generally like to look at my balances online during the month. And yes banks are verifying bank accounts now. Ive had a few customers request a mgr... I talk to them and find out they mispunched a number for there acct or routing number... Then try to BLAME the BANK for it lol! Sorry about your luck Mcnally... Pay the $14.95 and call it a day.
Comment 11 by rivasglo
To Eric on 2008-04-22
Same here! I work in collections and just trying to figure out what happened to their pymt if they said they make a pymt is frustation, they sit there and yell and curse me out... After so many probing questions we find that they entered their wrong cc account # on their banks bills pay or on the online website they entered an old CLOSED checking account or missed a digit. First of all not even checking if the PAYMENT CLEARED their bank! Ugh oh well. Apparently its always the BANKS FAULT. Sure ;)
on 2008-04-22 Same here! I work in collections and just trying to figure out what happened to their pymt if they said they make a pymt is frustation, they sit there and yell and curse me out... After so many probing questions we find that they entered their wrong cc account # on their banks bills pay or on the online website they entered an old CLOSED checking account or missed a digit. First of all not even checking if the PAYMENT CLEARED their bank! Ugh oh well. Apparently its always the BANKS FAULT. Sure ;)
Comment 12 by eric
Lmao Rivas on 2008-04-22
I had an irate customer today that needed to speak to a mgr about a payment... Turns out the customer wanted to make a $1229 but instead made a $12229 payment! Well when a customer mispunches an amount into their computer, we can send the money back into there BofA checking accounts but it takes 10-12 days... She wanted the money in her account NOW... I told her she caused this trouble and if she needed the money immediately she could go to the bank and take the money via a cash advance and we would waive the fee... She said that wasn't acceptable! Now WE as the bank are bending over backwards, we are going to waive the transaction fee of 3% on $10k on a mistake SHE MADE! And she says its not acceptable! Anyways when you guys make your payments make sure you watch the numbers. Lol
on 2008-04-22 I had an irate customer today that needed to speak to a mgr about a payment... Turns out the customer wanted to make a $1229 but instead made a $12229 payment! Well when a customer mispunches an amount into their computer, we can send the money back into there BofA checking accounts but it takes 10-12 days... She wanted the money in her account NOW... I told her she caused this trouble and if she needed the money immediately she could go to the bank and take the money via a cash advance and we would waive the fee... She said that wasn't acceptable! Now WE as the bank are bending over backwards, we are going to waive the transaction fee of 3% on $10k on a mistake SHE MADE! And she says its not acceptable! Anyways when you guys make your payments make sure you watch the numbers. Lol
Comment 13 by rivasglo
OMG ERIC on 2008-04-22
That is freaking hilarious... No offense to anyone but I usually get this from really old people ;)
on 2008-04-22 That is freaking hilarious... No offense to anyone but I usually get this from really old people ;)
Comment 14 by mcnally
The Consumer Is At Advantage on 2008-04-23
I appreciate the responses from all the members. Good and bad. I believe in fairness as well.
From the beginning the consumer is in a disadvantaged position against the bank/credit card company (not just Citibank).
Here's why:
1. "Fine print", who among you read those from cover to cover? With the font at 6-8? Who in his right mind will have the time to read that extensively.
2. Even if you read that, which I now do... It confuses me. The language is so " legal" I feel I need an attorney to explain them to me.
3. The interpretation of the terms.
Ex. In my AMEX account, it says there that buying groceries will earn me points... Now I do my groceries at WALMART... And guess what, those are not considered as GROCERIES even if they sell one.
Please don't blame the consumer for saying it's the banks fault... Most of the times it is the banks' fault for making it "EASY" for the customer to slip away and get on default because it will earn them more money.
Re the one who paid 12,229 instead of 1229. I totally empathize with him/her. This is not the first time this happened right? So why not place preventive measures like... You have to write your payment in words just like writing a check to double check?? It's not that hard..
But no, it's more advantageous for the BANK that a customer makes mistake, so that they'll enjoy the period of holding the customer's money.
I can go on and on... Just like what's happening with the economy right now..
This VARIABLE APRs are forcing people to leave their homes.. And please don't blame the consumer again..
He can pay and is paying his 1500 mortgage, but the moment you raise it to 2400/month that's when the problem starts!
BANKS charge us for using other ATMs... And other local banks don't. They even return your money... So it means again, it's beneficial to the bank.
So please. STOP defending the BANKS. They have more than enough HIGH powered attorneys for that
on 2008-04-23 I appreciate the responses from all the members. Good and bad. I believe in fairness as well.From the beginning the consumer is in a disadvantaged position against the bank/credit card company (not just Citibank).
Here's why:
1. "Fine print", who among you read those from cover to cover? With the font at 6-8? Who in his right mind will have the time to read that extensively.
2. Even if you read that, which I now do... It confuses me. The language is so " legal" I feel I need an attorney to explain them to me.
3. The interpretation of the terms.
Ex. In my AMEX account, it says there that buying groceries will earn me points... Now I do my groceries at WALMART... And guess what, those are not considered as GROCERIES even if they sell one.
Please don't blame the consumer for saying it's the banks fault... Most of the times it is the banks' fault for making it "EASY" for the customer to slip away and get on default because it will earn them more money.
Re the one who paid 12,229 instead of 1229. I totally empathize with him/her. This is not the first time this happened right? So why not place preventive measures like... You have to write your payment in words just like writing a check to double check?? It's not that hard..
But no, it's more advantageous for the BANK that a customer makes mistake, so that they'll enjoy the period of holding the customer's money.
I can go on and on... Just like what's happening with the economy right now..
This VARIABLE APRs are forcing people to leave their homes.. And please don't blame the consumer again..
He can pay and is paying his 1500 mortgage, but the moment you raise it to 2400/month that's when the problem starts!
BANKS charge us for using other ATMs... And other local banks don't. They even return your money... So it means again, it's beneficial to the bank.
So please. STOP defending the BANKS. They have more than enough HIGH powered attorneys for that
Comment 15 by colonative
This Isn't Citi! on 2008-09-04
Do you not even know what bank issues your card? This is issued by Barclay's!!!
on 2008-09-04 Do you not even know what bank issues your card? This is issued by Barclay's!!!
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Disclaimer: This content is not provided by First National Bank Omaha. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by First National Bank Omaha. Review content is powered by Finance Globe.
