topic Re: Citi Forward Recon in Credit Cards

Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:13:18 GMT

New to the forums and can't be happier that I found this place. I've been working on my credit for the past several years and am starting to turn a corner. Recently went on a small app spree and got a Citi Thank You Premier ($8,500) and Chase Amazon ($3,000). Then a couple months later got an Amex SPG ($13,500). I applied for a Citi Forward to reap the benefits of 5x on Amazon and restaurants and was given an instant denial. I have a CO back in 09 that occurred because it was a small CapOne card I got in college ($500CL) that I never changed addresses on. Completely forgot I had it or carried a small balance. I paid in full once I realized the snafu. Really put a damper on my credit. I spoke with several CSRs (I didn't even know you could do a recon!) and it got me nowhere. It seems that most people say Citi is the hardest to turn around. I took the advice of one of the forum posts and messaged Citi through their FB page and I've been forwarded along to their EO for a recon. Someone called me yesterday to say that they will look into it and will call me back in a day or two once they get my file in order (she said this way the recon doesn't result in another HP). I'm thinking this will be another dead end and the Citi Forward and me just aren't meant to be, but I'm so confused as to how I was approved for the TY Premier back in February and just approved for an AMEX SPG earlier this month. Aren't both of those cards higher tiered than the Citi Forward?

Any advice for my conversation with the EO when they call me back?

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Burned2manybridgesB4 — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:42:27 GMT

Don't give them a twenty minute sob story..be polite, and to the point. They're accountants by nature.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

navigatethis12 — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:50:41 GMT

The American Express approval has nothing to do with Citi, as their underwriting is different. I don't see why they didn't mention the negative account before, unless it was not reporting on the bureau they looked at before. You could offer to move some credit from the Premier to the Forward to get it opened.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:26:59 GMT

That's good advice. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the outcome!

Re: Citi Forward Recon

myjourney — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:34:10 GMT

Citi recon is a hard nut to crack but in your conversation I would mention why you want the card because of your spending habits when you mentioned it here it made seen to me analyst are people with spending patterns ,rewards and cards too..

Good luck

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:19:28 GMT

Citi didn't budge with the recon to the Executive Response Team. I followed up by asking if they could move a portion of my credit line onto the Forward card so that I can make Citi my primary cc company and that ended up being a dead end as well. C'est la vie.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

09Lexie — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:21:57 GMT

Darn it!

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:52:11 GMT

How did you apply for the forward? Did you call in or?

Re: Citi Forward Recon

vish1 — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:13:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Citi didn't budge with the recon to the Executive Response Team. I followed up by asking if they could move a portion of my credit line onto the Forward card so that I can make Citi my primary cc company and that ended up being a dead end as well. C'est la vie.

Citi is known to be bad with recons. Good luck in future.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:42:07 GMT

I applied online originally and followed up with CSRs via their basic customer service number. I then went the route of their FB page and it was escalated to the Executive Response team. I spoke with someone there for a couple days which utlimately led to a failed attempt.

Funny thing is out of frustration with Citi, I decided to go the Chase route instead (since I really wanted to couple the Citi Forward card with the Citi Thank You Premier). I applied for the Freedom and CSP and was approved for both. I'll PC my TY Premier to the preferred before the annual fee kicks in and SD the card.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:57:52 GMT

did u get the forward for college?

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:00:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
did u get the forward for college?

I applied for the Citi Forward for Students (currently in grad school)

Re: Citi Forward Recon

youngandcreditwrthy — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:28:33 GMT

Citi is redic. My theory is that bc they got hit so hard with subprime mortgage losses and bc of the requirements of th bailout, they have stricter lending standards than even Amex or Discover.
And unfortunately, their customer service has been rated some of the worst.
Just take it with a grain of salt and move on.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

CreditChampion — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:59:05 GMT

Call the Executive Offices

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:22:00 GMT

i went the EO office route and got my citi dividend with a reasonable CL

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:34:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
did u get the forward for college?

I applied for the Citi Forward for Students (currently in grad school)
odds are that they are a bit skeptical

You are definitely not their target demographic for the forward. Odds are that they are a bit skeptical of your student status given some of the existing lines in your sig. Getting approved might be as simple as calling in and sending them a document to verify student stauts.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:31:24 GMT

@youngandcreditwrthy wrote:
Citi is redic. My theory is that bc they got hit so hard with subprime mortgage losses and bc of the requirements of th bailout, they have stricter lending standards than even Amex or Discover.
And unfortunately, their customer service has been rated some of the worst.
Just take it with a grain of salt and move on.

Their new stricter lender standards are pretty much in line with the company's overall risk strategy under their new CEO's strategy. It's working for them though. Overall company performance is much better than it was.

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:44:04 GMT

I am a little confused as to why they aren't approving you. I know the underwriting is stricter for the TY Preferred and Premier than it is for the student Forward. I was approved for the Forward this past month as a senior undergrad and we have a similar line up of cards. Citi actually ended up giving me a higher limit than my TY Preferred that I got earlier this year and a better interest rate. Hopefully they will eventually give you the card...

Re: Citi Forward Recon

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:47:56 GMT

you might have reached their threshold of the maximum CL they're willing to extend to you at this point.

So they won't even let you move your CL around as well?
Did you contact EO?

Re: Citi Forward Recon

FinStar — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:58:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@youngandcreditwrthy wrote:
Citi is redic. My theory is that bc they got hit so hard with subprime mortgage losses and bc of the requirements of th bailout, they have stricter lending standards than even Amex or Discover.
And unfortunately, their customer service has been rated some of the worst.
Just take it with a grain of salt and move on.
Their new stricter lender standards are pretty much in line with the company's overall risk strategy under their new CEO's strategy. It's working for them though. Overall company performance is much better than it was.