Consumer complaint received 2019-05-16
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: NY
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Problem with balance transfer

Complaint:
I have an app on my phone to track my credit score, called XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I opened the app to see my score and was presented with a " good offer '' on a credit card from Citi ( Citibank/Citicards ). The deal was, according to what I was presented with on the app, I could make up to 4 balance transfers on to the card up until XX/XX/XXXX. There would be 0 % interest on the transferred balances until XX/XX/XXXX. I applied for the card and was accepted with a balance limit of {$1100.00}. 

My first transfer was initially rejected because I went over the {$1100.00}. limit, not having factored the 3 % transfer fee. I spoke to a representative of Citi when it was rejected to find out why, and was told the above. She had said to me I could make more than 4 transfers, " as many as I like '', as long as transferred by XX/XX/XXXX. I allowed for the fee and made my first transfer for the max allowed on XX/XX/XXXX. My plan was to pay that down quickly so that I could transfer more over to the card. I made a payment of {$400.00}. on XX/XX/XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I called Citi so that I could make another balance transfer. The representative I spoke with, XXXX - ID # XXXX, told me that he was unable to make the transfer, that it had expired. Expired? I gave him the XXXX deadline and then he said I could only make one transfer. One transfer? He dug deeper and found the offer and said that it was unusual that it would be rescinded. He filed a complaint on it and told me to call back on XX/XX/XXXX. I called on the XXXX and was once again told the same thing, expired, only one transfer, to check periodically for new deals. Right. Nothing I said mattered. I talked to the next level up, I did not get his name, who said there was nothing he could do, that they had no control over a 3rd party offer ( XXXX XXXX ), and that " the decision was made 3 or 4 levels up the chain. '' I asked who that would be, and he said the vice presidents and president of the company! 

My complaint is Citi rescinded their offer with no explanation, no nothing. I would of never taken the card on a one balance transfer with a low limit, in fact it negatively affected my credit rating. The offer provided to me on XXXX XXXX seemed like a good opportunity to get my credit paid down. I was happy about it. That offer was confirmed to me in a Confirmation Letter from Citi, dated XX/XX/XXXX ( see attached ). I view this as reckless, wanton, callous fraud. Taking advantage of people who put their trust in you, your company, people like myself of modest means up against big, all powerful, greedy banks, well that's just no way to do business. Citicards, Citibank - you should be ashamed! 

Please excuse the marginalia on the Confirmation Letter made during two separate phone calls to Citi. 

Thank you!

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