Consumer complaint received 2015-10-23
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: CA
Product: Credit card
Issue: Rewards

Complaint:
Hello, After numerous personally addressed literature and emails from Citicards I applied online for the XXXX XXXX XXXX Citibank credit card in early XXXX 2015. On all the literature and emails I received, which used my name and my XXXX account number, there were dangling carrots, if you will, of the promotion of spend {$3000.00} in 3 months to receive XXXX XXXX XXXX miles. I decided to apply and was instantly approved. Since I have excellent credit I was not surprised but I was excited as I was planning some big ticket purchases which would help me achieve the promised miles amount to plan a special trip this winter. Once the card arrived I called to activate, but I was suspicious that there was no mention of the promotion. After speaking to several representatives at Citicards I was transferred to a sympathetic supervisor, XXXX, who nonetheless, still could not remedy a situation that kept getting worse. 

I am writing to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau for help and guidance to correct what has become a devastating wrong by Citicards. Not only was I told there would be no XXXX miles, there would be no miles period to my account because I did n't make the 18 month cutoff date from my previous card. Never was this explained clearly to me, the consumer, on any of the literature and emails I received. Worse yet, why was I approved for the card, for the promised promotion, if the system knew I should n't have been eligible? To make matters much worse, I now have to wait an additional 18 months from this current card ( which I immediately cancelled and hope my credit report is not damaged by Citicards egregious misleading actions ) to apply for a new one. It devastates and frustrates me that I was so misled, lied to, and deceived by Citicards and now not only do I not have what I was promised, but the situation worsens because I have to wait an additional 18 months because of this card that was activated for a minute, literally, but was applied for under dubious advertising lies. 

I ideally would like Citicards to honor the promotions they sent to me, personally addressed with my account information. All I ever want is what I am promised, what I applied for. There is a serious problem with banks if one is not only invited to apply but then approved for something that they are then deprived of. It is a gross injustice of bait and switch. No more lies and deception and tricking the consumer! At the very least, I would like Citicards to allow me to apply for the mileage card from the date of the earlier card from nearly 18 months ago, not this new, non-existent, fraudulent card they sent to me until false pretenses. 

That is the bottom line - do not punish me because of the false pretenses you establish by contacting me and approving me for this card. 

I hope the CFPB can help in this matter and I hope every consumer, of which I know there are many, can unite and bring a stop to the credit card companies ' tendency to deceive and mislead consumers. There must be more reform and only if we all raise our voices can something be done. 

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

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