Consumer complaint received 2021-03-30
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: NY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I purchased a ticket for a concert through XXXX for {$350.00} using my Citibank AAdvantage Platinum Select AMEX Card. The concert was scheduled for XX/XX/XXXX but was postponed then later cancelled in XXXX due to the COVID-19 pandemic. XXXX sent me an e-mail advising the concert was officially cancelled and that I would be refunded my {$350.00} in 30 days. 

After 30 days, I received nothing from XXXX so I contacted Citibank who was my card holder to dispute the charge ( Dispute ID # : XXXX ). During the initial phase of this dispute Citibank discontinued my AMEX as they advised they are no longer doing business with AMEX so WITHOUT MY CONSENT they converted my AAdvantage Citi Platinum Select AMEX card ending in XXXX to a AAdvantage  Citi Platinum Select MasterCard ending in XXXX. All charges were including the dispute was migrated from the AMEX to the MasterCard. I advised Citi I did not want the MasterCard nor was I consulted about change to another one of their cards. 

During the dispute, I was given a temporal credit during their investigation and which was later reversed by XXXX as they advised they did not have the money back from the event organizers so they could not refund me and the {$350.00} was put back on my card as a charge. 

Citi asked if I would like to appeal the decision which I did as I had XXXX 's e-mail advising I would be fully refunded due to event cancellation. On XX/XX/XXXX I advised them we will appeal. I was given a second temporal credit by Citi for the appeal which was also reversed by XXXX as they were investigating the appeal. On XX/XX/XXXX Citibank advised me we won our appeal and they successfully recovered the {$350.00} from the merchant. 

I then advised Citibank to close the account which has carried a {$0.00} balance for three months during the dispute and appeal process as I advised I intended to close the credit card upon the resolution of the appeal. On XX/XX/XXXX I received the {$350.00} deposited into my checking account with XXXX XXXX  and on XX/XX/XXXX I received my {$99.00} membership fee reimbursement as the card had renewed during the appeal. 

I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX confirming in writing that we successfully recovered {$350.00} from XXXX and refund has been awarded and that the investigation was now closed with no further action required of me. 

In XX/XX/XXXX XXXX then reversed their refund of {$350.00} after my credit card was closed. Citibank never sent me any correspondence advising of this for 3 months. Until in XX/XX/XXXX, I received a debt collection call from Citibank in attempt to collect a debt for {$350.00}. I explain that was in result of an appeal vs XXXX in which we won, I was refunded and the card was closed with a {$0.00} balance. I asked Citibank on numerous occasions to produce this in writing to my home address which they still have not sent but call my cell # daily to advise of the debt which I do not owe. 

I filed a XXXX Complaint against XXXX and Citibank as both blame the other and while my credit score dropped -250 points from Excellent to Fair due to falsified and erroneous debt collection against me as XXXX advised they fully refunded Citibank and Citibank denying being refunded as they claim there was the 3rd reversals in XX/XX/XXXX. 

I had to dispute with both XXXX and XXXX due to the misreporting and damage this cause to my credit score as I was attempting to apply for a loan to purchase a home but the credit score search revealed all of this and I was denied. 

I will escalate this to a court of law as I'm well versed with the legal field as I have been a XXXX for over 10 years and have never missed a payment on any of my credit cards. I advised both XXXX and Citibank that they are committing fraudulent and unethical business practices and I will sue for all future attorney services, fees, filing costs etc. if they do not rectify this error that they both do not want accountability for while I'm a victim of consumer abuse and having my credit ruined in the process. 

Please assist me with review of this complaint as I feel Citibank and XXXX are conducting irresponsible and unethical business practices and are wrongfully pursuing a debt that I do not owe. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

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