Consumer complaint received 2023-05-01
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: ME
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Other problem

Complaint:
This claim I have against Citi is 2-fold : 1. An unauthorized {$2600.00} balance transfer in XX/XX/XXXX 2. An unauthorized 2nd Citi account opened in my name. I dont know if this was in anyway connected to said transfer above, but I closed it immediately when I found out about it. Recently I was told : Its the same account but the numbers were changed like they often do. Card numbers changed? Ive never heard of such absurdity. 

In XXXX XXXX  XXXX, I took advantage of a Citi Diamond Preferred Card balance transfer offer of 0 % for 16 months. This was better than most that only offer 12 months. My record of using 0 % credit card over the years, exclusively for balance transfers, is extensive and goes way back. All shown on my credit report. 

I called Citi in XX/XX/XXXX to check my balance, as the 0 % deal was up the month prior and I planned to move said balance over to a XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX 0 % card, which I did. I figured the balance to be around {$2500.00}. Much to my unwelcome surprise, I was told the balance was {$5200.00}. I then found that on XX/XX/XXXX, when my 0 % interest was up, {$2600.00} was added to my account and deposited in my business account. I did not want, need or authorize this transaction. 

The fact that I only paid on this card for said 16 months of 0 % and didnt add to it, like I do, it would be quite stupid and completely unlike me w/ my history to add {$2600.00} to an account that just started charging a 21.74 % interest rate. Why would I do this and then move it to a 0 % XXXX  card when I could have done it then IF I needed it? Which I didnt. 

This is federal issue, and they need to pay for it. Especially with how theyve blown me off, hanging up on me. Sending letters saying that after their research theyve concluded theres no issue. Oh yeah? Ive asked several times for Citi to produce a phone call, a letter, an email, ANYTHING with me giving authorization for this bogus transaction or opening a 2nd account. It never comes because it doesnt exist. 

This messed me up badly for a time. Due to XXXX, I had to cut back on expenses, bookkeeping for one, so much of the accounting was not being done. XXXX has accounts that pay at different times of the month. When I checked my XXXX XXXX business account in the latter part of XXXX to see if there was enough to cover my 2nd payroll ( I pay my agents twice a month on the XXXX and XXXX ) I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was a good bit more than I expected. I was thrilled that my business, barely breaking even months before, had grown and was doing better than I thought. I shared the news w/ my partner. We could actually double our loan payment. Then the following month the extra money was not there and my 2nd payroll bounced. I had to scramble to cover it w/ my home equity loan. 

I fully intend on pursuing this. Please advise as to how I should proceed. 

Thank you very much. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX 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