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

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.