Consumer complaint received 2016-11-29
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Sale of account — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (OR)

This past Spring/Summer I started receiving notices from XXXX that they were going to be transitioning from XXXX ( which I am a cardholder of a XXXX ), to a XXXX Citibank card. I decided I would not 'opt in ' to make the transition, as I do not care to do business with Citibank XXXX and I certainly do not want another credit card. I want to say that the notices were so many, they started becoming a nuisance and easier to disregard than actually acknowledge. 
Soon, I started receiving mailings from Citibank, but because I did n't have a business association, I disregarded them as credit card offers and set them aside in the shred bin. Finally I realized XXXX of the mailings was actually Citibank issued cards, not just the fake cards that are sometimes mailed out with an offer. Then as I sorted back through the mailings, I realized they were actually statements because the account was charged for a XXXX membership renewal, and by this time, had accrued late fees. This week, I received a letter from Citibank, delivered by XXXX, offering a 'payment option '. At this point, I am well beyond frustrated, and concerned all of this will have a negative effect on my credit report. 
XXXX how to deal with the situation, I called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for assistance. I was advised that XXXX does have the right to sell and transfer my account to another party, without my consent. I do not have a balance on my XXXX, and have n't in probably over a year. So in my opinion, there was nothing to transfer. My frustration just keeps increasing. I was asked by the CFPB representative what resolution I was looking for, and it would be : XXXX. ) For the charges to the account to be reversed, with the account being brought to a zero balance, XXXX. ) The account to be cancelled, and XXXX. ) Absolutely no effect on my credit report/rating In my opinion, not XXXX part of this was consumer friendly. There should be other options for a business such as XXXX to transition to a new credit card company they choose to work with that puts the consumer first. For example, the ability to opt-in, not just an automatic transfer. In my case, I would have chosen to opt-out, but do not feel it was offered, unless it was buried in XXXX of the multiple mailings. Just because XXXX and Citibank have the understanding that they can transfer the account, does n't mean they clearly communicated that to the consumer. So, notices that highlights the fact that there currently is no option to opt in or out, instead of blasting customers with multiple, repetitive mailings that are general in nature. 
Speaking of the mailings, I believe they should be reduced to maybe XXXX or XXXX. XXXX to say the changes that are coming up, XXXX that confirms all the facts just before the change happens, and XXXX to confirm the change. Even the notices from Citibank looked like the average credit card offer that I am not interested in. They were very easy to disregard. 
In my opinion, there should be XXXX options : XXXX. Sign a form consenting to make a change to Citibank, transferring an XXXX balance, if that applies XXXX. To keep your existing XXXX account as-is, understanding it will no longer be associated with XXXX, or to XXXX. Opt-out completely, with no transfer to Citibank, cancel your XXXX, and if there is a balance on your XXXX card, pay it in full to close the account. 
Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your reply.