I have a credit card with Associates National Bank and they were bought out by Citibank. I accidently must have tossed my last bill in the trash because it was in a Citibank envelope and since I did not have a Citibank card I thought it was junk mail. Today I received a phone call from a Collection department within Citibank demanding a payment of $40.00. I told the caller that there must be some mistake because I did not have a Citibank card.
I was told that yes I did have a Citibank card it was my Associates card. I was a whole month behind. I had missed one payment. I told caller I did not have my statement and any of my paperwork here at work and would take care of it after work today. That was not what they wanted they demanded immediate payment. I asked to be transfered to someone who would cancel my credit card for me, since I decided I really did not want a Citibank card. Well she tried to transfer me and cut me off. I called back and got Nick in Collections who wanted payment and would either do a transfer from my checking account electronically or I could sent payment in as long as I would overnight the letter. There was a $14.00 charge for the transfer from my checking and who knows what an overnight letter would cost.
I told him that I had told the other operator that I would mail the payment in and wanted to close the account. Nick told me that I could not close the account until I paid the $40.00. At this point I told him I would sent it in and hung up. I then called the automated service to find out exactly when my next payment would be due. I found out I did not owe $40.00 I only owed $20.00.
They were just getting me to pay what I owed on my next statement which I have not received yet. So basically they take over another company and then when you get behind by one payment they call you and lie to you about how much you owe and try to force you into paying over the phone and tacking on a $14.00 charge to do it. I will still have to pay a late fee on my next bill of $25.00. So I finally got another person of the phone and told them all I want to do is cancel my credit card and could I do that.
The lady that I spoke with this time told me that was not a problem and closed the account. I realize I owed them money but who has not at one time or another missed a payment and for them to call me and demand payment and then to lie about what I owed. All this for $20.00 bucks.
Now they have lost a customer and the worst part is now they have bought out Sears Credit cards too. Is Citibank in that much trouble financially that no one can miss one payment without being hassled about it, or are they so big that if all their customers miss paying their bills one month that they would go out of business?
0 comments