Consumer complaint received 2015-08-02
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: LA
Product: Credit card
Issue: APR or interest rate

Complaint:
I want to file a serious complaint against Citicards/Citibank. I had XXXX credit card accounts with them, XXXX Choice Visa, and XXXX ATT Universal card. Both had interest rates around 11.25 %. Immediately after the bank reform act of XXXX, they jacked my rate on both to 29.99 %, even though my account had always been in good standing, and not been late over the years. It caused my minimum payment to go from around {$450.00} and {$350.00} respectively to around {$800.00} and {$500.00} per month. I contacted them immediately to please take the rate back down, as I had been a long time client since XXXX and XXXX respectively. They refused to do so. I told them that that excessive increase was not fair and bordered on usery. They informed me that they were .10 % less than usery! I tried everything to get them to take the rate back considering my account had always been in good standing. They told me that was the only rate available to me at the time. I told them that eventually, I was not going to be able to meet that high payment. They did nothing to help me. Since that time, they added a " Credit Protector Fee '' for around {$24.00} per month that I did not notice on the statement ( since I always paid it online, and just did n't see it on there ). I have called them over the course of five years, I have called them at least XXXX times to ask for help in a reduction of the interest rate, and they told me they could not offer me any options unless I defaulted on payment! That was exactly what I was trying to avoid happening, to damage my credit. Again, sorry. No options available. Finally, my husband became unemployed as a corporate pilot for four years, and we finally exhausted our bank accounts and funds. I asked if the credit protector insurance that we never authorized, could help pay the bill. They referred me to to the insurance company, and they told us no, we would not qualify. I then went back to Citi and told them I wanted a refund for all that they had charged me for the service that would not pay, plus I did not authorize. They said no. I went into default, not because I wanted to, bu because I had no choice ( no pun intended ). Either pay my mortgage or Citi. I chose to save my house., I am now in collections on both cards, and I feel Citi has completely ruined my credit by what they did with my interest rate, and have put me on the verge of bankruptcy. I feel they owe me a refund for all the excessive interest, since the accounts were always in good standing, and a refund for the Credit Protection Services that were no good. I do n't know what to do, as they have never cooperated. Even when I called to tell them I could not pay their bill at that rate, they refused to make a payment arrangement that I could afford so I could pay them. There must be others out there that they have done the same thing to. Ca n't there be some sort of class action suit brought against them, or some sort of writeoff of the excessive interest? I feel I have paid them all I am going to thru their unjustified excessive interest. At this point, they have turned it over to a collecton agency. Can you help me in some way? I am not opposed to paying them some sort of arrangement, but they have been unwilling to do so in the past, which is why I finally decided to let them go pound sand. I would welcome any help or advice you could give me. Citi has caused me to such financial hardship, that I now am in default with XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX, but I am going to contact them tomorrow to see about an arrangement with them. They both have always been wonderful in the past, and I want to pay them what I owe. Not so Citi. I would welcome any help to go after Citibank. Thanks so much!

Company public response: Company chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief