About two months ago (Sept), I received a notice from my credit monitoring agency that a new account was opened. I checked immediately and found a cryptic code without any clear indication of the company. I eventually traced it to an old, defunct department store card from at least 10 years ago that was bought out by Company A, which was bought out by Company B, which was bought out...
After searching MANY websites and following clues found in "consumer complaints", I was able to determine that the company was Citibank and the card was issued out of South Dakota. A call directly to the company was completely useless.
After weeks of sleuthing, I filed an online report with the State Attorney General's office in Columbus, Ohio. I received an immediate confirmation and an advocate's contact information.
ABout 10 days later, I was contacted by someone who claimed to be from Citibank and she referenced the Attorney General's case number only after she tried to get me to give her some of my personal information. The conversation went NOWHERE.
Three days ago (11/26/07) I received a letter from Citibank that the account would be closed because, I (and others) raised some concerns about the practice. There was also mention of the Attorney General's office.
I am waiting for confirmation from my credit monitors, and will see if it has led to a negative rating on my account - which would have occurred if I had closed the account myself, as an individual.
I want to be assured that their unethical (but legal) practice has been stopped.
Doc O'Malley
Columbus, Ohio
U.S.A.
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