Consumer complaint received 2024-05-20
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement — Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (NY)

NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER INTENTIONALLY EXCLUDED ACCOUNT NUMBER : XXXX DATE : XX/XX/year> AMOUNT : {$130.00} MERCHANT : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX. 

ID IN SUBJECT LINE OF EMAIL : XXXX To Whom It May Concern : In XXXX XXXX of XXXX I made a reservation for a car from the above captioned merchant for the week of XX/XX/XXXX through the XXXX. Upon arrival on XX/XX/XXXX the vendor attempted to impose upon me a XXXX  ( XXXX ) mile limit per day restriction after I booked an unlimited mile reservation and checked same with the merchant by before my arrival in XXXX. They also tried to unscrupulously extract an exorbitant fee from me ostensibly to cover tolls. When I questioned such previously undisclosed items the merchant then refused to honor my reservation, ostensibly because I was a bit over an hour late due to a flight delay. I presented myself to the vendor the following morning and was able to secure a car but only after being coerced into paying for unnecessary supplemental insurance coverage in the amount of {$130.00}. Prior to this car rental I contacted my automobile insurance company, XXXX, who informed me that I was completely covered by them and told me in no uncertain terms that any supplemental insurance coverage being offered by XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  was completely gratuitous and unnecessary. 

The merchant insisted that I pay for this supplemental insurance coverage because my XXXX XXXX  insurance had deductibles. All car insurance policies have deductibles. Rental car insurance isn't mandatory in Florida. This fraudulent misrepresentation in conjunction with my immediate urgent need for a car induced me into a contract that is unenforceable. 

I think it is shameful that Citi Cards conducts business with this merchant. I have attempted to settle this matter with the merchant on several occasions to no avail. It is a waste of time dealing with a vendor that is clearly running a scam. I relied upon this vendor to my determent and its unconscionable overreach and undue influence robbed me of my free choice, not to mention my money. The contract I signed was under duress and demonstrably one sided and unfair. The vendor knew I was from out of state and in XXXX on business when no other cars were available from any other company because of the holiday week. And to add insult to injury, the merchant held on to my XXXX ( {$500.00} ) deposit for XXXXhirty days which charge was only removed from my statement through the efforts of Citi Bank / XXXX XXXX not the vendor. 

Again, in Florida, rental car insurance is not required by law. Supplemental insurance is optional, but the merchant wouldnt rent a car to me unless I paid for it. The man at the counter intimidated me into this bogus charge knowing I had a business meeting to get to. While rental car companies are required to carry insurance on their vehicles, theres no corresponding law that says renters have to purchase additional insurance and I was aware of that through XXXX, but was also in desperate need of a car. 

Should this charge remain on my statement I will be forced to consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau and taking my business to alternative credit card companies as I can not fantom why you would want to continue to do business with an outfit that treats your customers the way they treated me. 

What makes this situation so ridiculous is that it is my understanding that my Citi Card/XXXX  provides me with up to {$50000.00} toward the cost of repairs or the cash value of the car, whichever is less, if a covered accident or theft occurs when I pay for a rental car with My Citi Card XXXX XXXX which I did. As stated above I was coerced into accepting same because of my desperate need for a car. 

Thank you for your time and understanding and your anticipated prompt attention to this matter. 

XXXX XXXX.