Consumer complaint received 2025-12-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account status incorrect
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
1. Summary of the Issue I am disputing the accuracy of a 30-day late payment reported by Citibank on my Home Depot Consumer Credit Card. The late payment is inaccurate and misleading because it was caused entirely by a Home Depot return processing delay, not by my failure to pay what I owed. I attempted to cancel the original purchase on XX/XX/XXXX, five days before the payment due date of XX/XX/XXXX. The return did not process until XX/XX/XXXX, creating a temporary artificial balance, a {$29.00} late fee, and subsequent negative reporting. This balance was never a legitimate debt owed by me, but rather the result of a merchant processing delay and error.

2. Timeline of Events ( Evidence-Supported ) XX/XX/XXXX- Purchase at Home Depot for approx {$3100.00}. 

XX/XX/XXXX - Went to Home Depot Store # XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX OH, to cancel/return the purchase. 
- Spoke with store management ( XXXX ) multiple times during the return. 
- Told the return was processed partially ( XXXX ) that day and remainder would be processed on Monday XX/XX/XXXX when higher management arrived. 
-On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX called me to say the remaining balance was being returned that day -At no point was I informed or had a warning a partial delay could cause a late fee. 
- Return posted partially on XX/XX/XXXX. ( statements attached ) XX/XX/XXXX Payment Due Date - Return had not fully processed.

- System incorrectly showed a remaining balance of {$32.00}. 

XX/XX/XXXX- Return finally completed.

- Late fee of {$29.00} generated solely due to merchant delay. 

XXXX XXXX - Artificial balance escalated.

- No paper mail or valid email alerts received. 

XX/XX/XXXX- Citibank reported account as 30 days late. 
- Credit score dropped over XXXX points. 
- I brought the balance to {$0.00} within 24hrs of knowing I was late XX/XX/XXXX -Citibank added consumer disputes account information remark.

-Numerous calls and attempts to remove the remark.

- Cardmember service sent a letter stating their investigation they denied my request to correct it, and they found it correctly reported. 

XX/XX/XXXX- Citibank Executive Response Unit denied goodwill removal.

3. Why the Reporting Is Inaccurate The late payment did not occur because I failed to pay. It occurred because : - The merchant caused a return processing delay.

- The balance existed only due to store delay, not active spending.

- Reporting this as a late payment is misleading under FCRA because the debt was not legitimate.

- I acted before the due date.

- I was told the return was complete.

- I never received statements or alerts.

- The reporting harms my credit unfairly and inaccurately.

4. Impact on Credit - My credit score dropped from around XXXX to the XXXX. 
- False derogatory information now appears in my payment history. 
- This has impacted my creditworthiness and caused severe emotional distress.

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