Consumer complaint received 2017-01-24
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: VA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt
Sub-issue: Right to dispute notice not received

Complaint:
Citi Bank Corp. Credit Services Attn : IRU Dispute Department XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX XXXX I am writing to dispute finance charges accruing on a Home Depot credit card which I was informed was through Citi Bank . 

I made a purchase XX/XX/2016 at Home Depot in XXXX, XXXX. When checking out the cashier asked if I would like to apply for a Home Depot credit card and receive {$25.00} off my purchases. I always pay cash but decided to take advantage of the discount and the cashier said it would only take a minute. I agreed and she entered the information for me. I showed her my driver 's license for identification purposes. My purchase that day was I think XXXX gallons of paint and some tile. Subsequently, I NEVER RECEIVED THE CREDIT CARD NOR RECEIVED A BILL FOR ITEMS PURCHASED THAT DAY. Thereafter, I was extremely busy with the remodeling and then a hectic summer came and I forgot about the purchases and credit card. I never received a bill, credit card or any communication from Citi Bank by mail or by phone. 

I received a call in late Fall from a debt collector regarding this card and charges. I was shocked and explained that I had never received a bill to pay or the credit card. I told her that I had an excellent credit rating and would never not pay a debt. She said she would give this information to Citi Bank. If the collection agency had my telephone number and I assumed after that I would hear from Home Depot ( City Bank ) and finally get a bill so I could settle this matter. I did n't hear anything else until I received paperwork in the mail from XXXX XXXX, XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. The address listed on this correspondence was XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX. I DO NOT RECEIVE MAIL at this address. The local post office will not forward mail on to me with this address. ( Only reason I received this was another XXXX XXXX on duty and knew me personally and put it in my box as a favor ). I called the telephone number listed on the correspondence and spoke with someone ( last name XXXX ). I explained the same story to her and she in turn said she would return it to Citi Bank. I then asked her if I could call Citi Bank. She said yes, but to wait because she had to send them her information. She also said they would contact me. NO ONE has contacted me. I was filing papers last week and came upon the papers I received and decided enough was enough - I wanted to get this settled. In trying to settle by telephone, I was channeled through an off shore collection agency. In trying to inform them I wanted to settle the account I learned that Home Depot had closed my account and sold my debt to the collection agency. They informed me they would send me a copy of my credit card application. I have not received it. I was told to write a letter disputing the charges. I was told that no one from the dispute department would speak to me by telephone. I was told this dispute may take 30 - 60 days to be reviewed - another month or two of finance charges. Time marches on and interest charges build up. I feel this is a scam in order to build up credit card interest fees and to then blackmail the customer to pay up or have their credit scores bomb. 

Using common sense, someone with excellent credit scores and a history of always paying her bills in advance of due dates would pay this small credit card balance and not knowingly risk damaging her credit rating. 

I want to pay for the items I charged that day XX/XX/2016. I will not pay the interest charges accrued since the initial day of purchase. I reiterate, I DID NOT RECEIVE A BILL OR THE CREDIT CARD. I AM carrying this forward to credit agency watchdogs and state and federal credit card consumer agencies. I also have found that Home Depot has dinged by credit history and I want this expunged.i

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