Consumer complaint received 2016-08-05
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: AZ
Product: Credit card
Issue: Other

Complaint:
Took out a " Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select Card '' credit card XX/XX/XXXX. Used the card for a few months. Did not use the card thereafter. 

In XXXX, XXXX received a statement that included '' Your account is past due '', showed a balance of {$95.00}, and had a " Payment due date '' of " XXXX/XXXX/XXXX ''. The mentioned statement is the only notification received by me regarding any amount owed. 

On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I telephoned Citi to find out why I allegedly owed money even though the card had not been used in months. I was informed the balance due was an annual membership fee, and ( importantly ) that my account was not really past due. I asked if I could cancel the card and subsequently owe nothing. I also specifically asked if my alleged delinquency had been reported to the credit reporting agencies. I was told no delinquency had been reported and that I could cancel the card and owe nothing. I then asked that my card be cancelled. 

I shredded my cards following the telephone call. Also, I later received in the mail a " Confirmation of account closure '' from Citi. The date listed was XXXX XXXX, XXXX. The notification made no mention of any money owed Citi. 

Today ( XXXX XXXX, XXXX ) I received a telephone voice mail asking me to contact Citi to retrieve a message. The telephone number given was XXXX. Upon retrieving the message I heard that I owed {$7.00} and that the amount was past due. 

I next telephoned Citi at XXXX. I explained the situation to the Citi representative ( hereafter Rep ). The Rep informed me during the conversation that the {$7.00} owed was a " prorated '' membership fee, the amount due was delinquent, and - most importantly - the most recent alleged delinquency had been reported to the credit rating agencies. 

The Rep further informed me that she regretted me not receiving any written notification of the {$7.00} fee. She confirmed my address which was correctly listed in the records. 

I was distressed and suggested that Citi listen to the recording of my XXXX XXXX, XXXX conversation. She said a supervisor would and that there was not anything else the Rep could do. 

As an aside I do not recall being informed that the XXXX XXXX telephone conversation was being recorded. 

I asked to speak with her supervisor. She refused saying none were available. She further stated that I would be contacted by a supervisor. 

I informed the Rep I would contact the CFPB while Citi reviewed my case. The Rep asked me not to until the situation was reviewed by Citi. I informed the Rep that Citi had ruined my credit rating so I would contact the Bureau. 

In summary, I received a past due notice from Citi for a membership fee that was not really past due. I spoke with Citi on XXXX XXXX to resolve the matter. I was informed I could cancel the membership, my account was not really past due, and that I would owe nothing. On XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( a few weeks later ) I discovered via a voicemail message I now allegedly owed {$7.00} and the amount was past due. Upon speaking with Citi I learned the {$7.00} was an unknown prorated membership fee added to my account, and the alleged delinquency had been reported to the credit rating agencies. I had received no written notice of the {$7.00} and the amount was added to my account even though I had been told I owed nothing if I cancelled my account.

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 monetary relief