Consumer complaint received 2024-08-31 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — Store credit card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers — Confusing or misleading advertising about the credit card
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I wanted to purchase an item from Home Depot. At the check out page, it said apply for a Home Depot card and receive {$25.00} off your purchase. They made it sound like it was a quick, easy way to get {$25.00} off the purchase, but that is not what it was. The {$25.00} offer was BAIT for collecting people 's private information, marketing to people, and sharing people 's private information, and in the process, it caused a HARD PULL on my credit. In effect, they were offering {$25.00} BAIT to get people to divulge their private information including legal name, address, DOB, SSN, phone number, etc. for nefarious purposes. 

Unfortunately, I did not realise what would happen, so I began the on-line application process and provided all of my information including name, DOB, SSN, address, phone number, etc. Instead of being approved or disapproved, I was then directed to another screen which said they needed me to answer some security questions. I was not happy, but I continued. 

First question was which year did I open account X? I had no idea. It is not information I have off the top of my head, so I had to call that company. I was on the phone with them for 23 minutes just to confirm what year I opened the account with them. I then had to answer more questions about where I have lived previously, etc. I was not happy, but I answered the questions, yet I STILL did not get approval or denial. 

Next, I was told I had to phone them with reference number XXXX. I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEGUN THIS PROCESS IF I HAD KNOWN IN ADVANCE WHAT THEY WERE UP TO. I was really upset by this point. 

I phoned them. I was on the phone for 9 minutes before the woman intentionally hung up on me because I was upset and told her I was wasting too much time on this. Then, I had to call back a second time. I was on the phone with them the second time for 34 minutes. Even at this point I STILL was not either approved or denied. 

Now, I was told I had to get a text message to my phone. I said, I do not do texting with people I LOVE, so I have no intention of doing it with YOU. Too, bad. I was told I HAD TO DO IT. I was so angry, but they already had tons of VALUABLE information on me. I knew then I would never be able to trust these people or do business with them, but I needed to finish this up. 

She texted me a code and I verified the code, and then I was placed on hold for a few minutes. She finally came back and told me I was APPROVED. She said the care would come in 7-10 days, etc., etc., etc.

Once she was finished, I told her that all they were doing was paying {$25.00} to access and store people 's personal, sensitive information. I spent 66 minutes on the phone not counting the time it took to do the online application and now subsequent complaints about what they were doing to people. 

I told her to CLOSE THE ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY and NEVER even dream of sending junk mail to my home or sharing my information much less EVER AGAIN CONTACTING MY PHONE. 

I demanded my information be deleted from their files. Before even ten minutes passed, I receive ANOTHER text message from them with a link. I am beyond angry. She said she was closing the account but would not assure me of anything re my admonition not to send me junk mail ; not to market to me ; not to share my information, and not to store my information. 

I have not done business with them. I closed the account as soon as it was FINALLY approved. I have already received another text message as I mentioned. I have the dreadful feeling that I will start to receive junk mail and that they will keep my personal information in their files indefinitely. This was nothing more than an invasion of my privacy. I would NEVER have consented to a waste of 66 minutes of my time and sharing my private, financial information with them for {$25.00} ( or even for {$1000.00}!!! ) if I had realised what they were doing. This was SHAMEFUL, DISGRACEFUL, UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR. 

I have not used their card. I do not want their card. I will NOT accept their card. They better not send me a card. I want my information DELETED from their system. I NEVER want to anything sent to my address or my phone, and I do not want my information shared with ANYONE. 

I want EVERYONE to know what to expect IF they click on the {$25.00} off purchase BAIT.

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 non-monetary relief