Consumer complaint received 2025-01-21 00:00:00
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.
State: SC

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX I was charged on 2 separate credit cards by XXXX in XXXX, TN for a contract to begin working with their XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

I soon realized the company was engaging in misleading practices as well as activities that are illegal in my state of South Carolina. I spoke with 2 attorneys, both which advised me as such, and one which sent a letter to XXXX demanding my money be refunded. XXXX refused. 

So on XX/XX/XXXX, I filed disputes of the charges with each of the credit card companies. I received a response from one of those on XX/XX/XXXX that the investigation was complete and they decided in my favor. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a response from the 2nd company, for which the charge was half the amount ( {$5000.00} ) of the 1st one, stating " After investigating your dispute, based on the information provided we have come to the conclusion that we are unable to assist you at this time. We previously requested necessary documentation including a copy of an invoice or contract for the charge and we did not receive a complete response to our request. In order for us to assist you further with this dispute, please provide the date you contacted the merchant to request for refund along with their response. Lastly, please indicate the date on which you advised the merchant to pick up any materials that you received or deleted any software or digital content, if you received from the merchant along with the merchant 's response to your request for credit. '' Very confused by this letter, as I had spent hours speaking with 2 attorneys, researching, and providing documentation to show what had happened, I contacted Citi by phone on XX/XX/XXXX. They confirmed they received my response to this request on XX/XX/XXXX and stated they would consider my request to re-open the dispute and respond within 10 business days.

The way this is being handled is completely unacceptable. I have already waited for about 2.5 months and should not have to wait another 10 days when I have done all that has been asked of me, contrary to Citi 's claims in the letter. And it's inconceivable that there would be such drastic responses between 2 companies for the exact same issue, and in fact, a response like this from the company with much less of a charge.

I have attached the documentation Citi confirmed receipt of here with yellow highlights showing the information they claimed that I did not provide. The question this leaves me with is this -- Is Citi also attempting dishonest practices to hold me to these charges? Or are the employees handling the investigation so inept as to not read the information I sent and see where those things that were requested were provided? Either way, there are some serious problems here, and I wonder how many other consumers are being treated this way as well.

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 monetary relief