Consumer complaint received 2020-06-23
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: NV
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Collected or attempted to collect exempt funds

Complaint:
First incident ( during XXXX - XXXX ) : While on an XXXX XXXX XXXX overseas, during which my rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ( SCRA ), Citibank garnished my wages for a credit card debt that was under dispute. I wrote to my chain of command who referred me to Citibank. I then wrote to Citibank who referred me to my chain of command. The issue was never resolved ; Citibank effectively got away with violating my rights under the SCRA! As proof, Ive submitted the following documents : 1.  A copy of my XXXX effective XX/XX/XXXX. 
NOTE : I was XXXX from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. My wages were garnished in late XXXX ( sometime between XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX ). 
2. Copy of correspondence received from Citi in which they acknowledge receipt of the dispute we sent via certified mail on XX/XX/XXXX. No additional response was received regarding this matter. It should be noted that Citi improperly classified the {$29.00} recurring charge as Purchases and Advances when these were, in fact, Fees. 
3. Screen shots of collection-related charges posted to my account by Citi while I was XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX {$80.00} for SALARY OFFSET ENROLL FEE XXXX XXXX, XXXX {$29.00} for LATE PAYMENT FEE XXXX XXXX {$29.00} for LATE PAYMENT FEE XXXX XXXX, XXXX {$29.00} for LATE PAYMENT FEE In total, Citi availed themselves of approximately {$800.00} of garnished wages while I was XXXX! 
New incident ( in XXXX amidst the pandemic ) : Unfortunately, the XXXX XXXX has a relationship with Citi. As such, soldiers are forced to get a Citi credit card for government expenses. I had to, again, get a Citi card - despite not wanting to - to pay for expenses related to a permanent XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) move, which took place between XXXX and XXXX of XXXX. Despite having submitted all the necessary paperwork, my XXXX  failed to pay Citi. So they Citi began harassing me. I recently retired ( in XX/XX/XXXX ) and am now living on a fixed income. I paid the total amount due to Citi in monthly installments. I sent the last payment to Citi in XX/XX/XXXX. 
In XX/XX/XXXX Citi inexplicably sent notice that I owe {$100.00} and provided no justification for the new charges. I immediately sent a certified letter in which I indicated that I was disputing the debt. In fact, I am again sending a certified letter today, XX/XX/XXXX, to reaffirm that this debt is in dispute. Citi is threatening to garnish my retirement wages to satisfy this unsubstantiated debt. I believe Citi is emboldened to violate my rights again because they have already gotten away with doing so in the past. 
Citi should be held accountable for violating my rights. I believe I am owed the money they garnished from my wages in XXXX even though I was protected under the SCRA. Further, Citi should correct their records and clear the latest alleged debt that I am confident I do NOT owe!

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation