Citibank Mastercard
Soldier Charged Late Fees During Iraq Deployment Year

Hello,

I am contacting you for help in my dispute with Citibank Mastercard. I have been treated with disrespect and in a very unprofessional manner by this company. I have been a member of Citibank Mastercard since 1994.

I have been in the U.S. Army since 1988, so I took it for granted that Citibank knew my job before approving me for a credit card. I have been a good customer and had a good credit history with them.

In February I was carrying a balance of, I think, about $800.00 on the card. Early in the month I was alerted and deployed to the Middle East. My job then, and still, is rifle platoon sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division.

I was sent to Kuwait as part of the advance party before the invasion of Iraq, with little notice. I did have time to set up autopays from my bank account to pay my bills while I was gone.

However, my payment to Citibank was a few days off, so I racked up a lot of finance charges and late fees during my year-long tour in Iraq.

During my year of being overcharged by Citibank, I fought in Al Hilla, Baghdad and Mosul. I was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal for valor in Baghdad.

I returned on January 15th and contacted Citibank on January 26th. I explained the situation and that I was covered by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Act of 1940, so I should not be charged late fees and finance charges. They said yes, I was correct. All I wanted was for them to get my bill straight so I could pay the owed amount in full.

I have repeatedly contacted them and sent my deployment orders and enlistment contract several times to prove that I am a soldier. They have been nothing but rude and anything but helpful to me.

I have contacted them about 15 times. One time a customer service rep told me, "Well, you signed up to fight in the war, so it's your fault."

I feel I am being discriminated against for being a soldier, and I feel I deserve better treatment from them.

Desired settlement: other (requires explanation).

Settlement explanation: I am a soldier who went to war when called upon to go. I was gone for a year in Iraq, and by law I am covered by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Act of 1940. I want my bill to reflect that from February to January, and I want all late fees and finance charges taken off my account from February until now, because the entire time I have been waiting for Citibank to correct my bill so I can pay it.

Company: Citibank Mastercard
Country: USA
State: South Dakota
City: Sioux Falls
Phone: 8009342788

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