Consumer complaint received 2022-03-09
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: MN
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: Store credit card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-issue: Application denied

Complaint:
I am resubmitting this complaint, because Citibank closed my prior CFPB complaint as falsely and intentionally saying there was a third-party filing my complaint, which there was not, and that I needed to provide them authorization to investigate my complaint. I have attached my signed authorization for Citibank to investigate this complaint and discontinue their deliberate attempts to violate laws by refusing to investigate my complaint of unfair, deceptive and abusive lending practices. See original CFPB Complaint ID XXXX and CFPB Complaint ID XXXX. The next step is me filing complaints with the FDIC for Citibanks intentional decisions to deny rights under fair consumer practice laws. I applied for a My Best Buy XXXX XXXX, My Best Buy Credit Card and My Best Buy XXXX  Gold credit card, all in one application, on or around XXXX XXXX, 2022. I was not immediately approved but instead advised that my application needed more time for review, and I would receive a response within 14 days. This online decision did not provide any reasons or justifications for why the application needed further review, but it was not reviewed by a human at all. On XXXX XXXX, I received an e-mail from Citibank regarding the status of my application, and it stated my application was denied because I had recently been declined. This decline reason provided absolutely no specific information on the " recent decline '' -- how long ago was the recent decline? Why was I recently declined? What were the decline reasons on the recent decline? When am I able to reapply? How do I dispute both declines? The XXXX XXXX letter is generic and scripted. As such, I am stuck with an unfair and deceptive decline that does not meet FCRA and other guidelines when declining me for credit. Furthermore, my credit reports from all three credit bureaus were disputed within the last 30 days, and they have now been updated to reflect derogatory information that has been removed since I applied for these Best Buy credit cards. I attempted to call the phone number on the attached letter to speak with a live human, as no actual human has reviewed any of my declines for these Best Buy credit card applications, and there absolutely no way to speak to a human to discuss the inaccuracy of the decline letter or how to go about disputing the decline ; the automated system only provides scripted, generic information that my application was declined and does not offer any possible way to discuss this. My understanding is that Citibank is basing this XXXX denial off a XXXX application for the same credit cards -- despite the fact that my credit report has been updated to reflect deleted derogatory information. All things considered in this complaint, I believe that Citibank has intentionally engaged in unfair, deceptive and potentially illegal credit lending practices in reference to my Best Buy credit card applications.

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