Citi Double Cash

[dudley]

Hello, folks.

I am thinking about switching  to use Double Cash as my main driver.

However, I have read a lot of bad things about Citi customer service and also service after fraud has occurred. 

I have also heard that Citi can be obsessive about blocking purchases when they are a little different (i.e., in another state, etc.).

My wife and me will be taking a road trip through various states (unknown at this time) for two weeks in August.

I currently use AMEX Blue Cash Preferred for groceries and gas, and Chase Freedom Unlimited for all else. Citi DC sits in my sock drawer for all autopays.

I am a little reluctant, based on what I have read, to use Citi DC as my "all else" card, in spite of the extra half percent that Citi pays over Chase on everyday spend. I guess that peace of mind might be worth getting 1.5% instead of 2%.

This post is not about why don't I get another card . . .

Please share your thoughts !!

[redpat]

Never had a problem with Citi and use my AA exec card as my main driver and for some business spend as well.  Large monthly spend and never a peep. 

As for customer service, I have never had to call them since I had the card, between 9 or 10 years.

So IMO use as you wish.

[odd_dog]

My experience with citi is that their customer service SUCKS....automated lady, push 75 buttons to get to a human, ALWAYS. It is most annoying anytime you need customer support....even for something as simple as deleting a closed credit card on your on-line account...when you do get to a human - well, mostly they are cool and can help, mostly....but getting to them is a CHORE.

[JoeRockhead]

I don't have any Citi cards, but my wife has several which she uses a couple of them regularly.  She's never had an issue with any of the cards, or their customer service.  I would have heard about it if she did 

[Follower]

I have no negative experiences with Citi customer service, but that may be because I hardly ever need to contact my banks about issues.

But to minimize your feared declines/fraud tagging while traveling, there are two things you can do in Citi's app or website. You can alert them to times that you plan to be traveling, and you can optionally choose to share your location data with them.

citi1.jpg   citi2.jpg

You would have to align this with your own views on how private you want your personal data to be. However, if you would allow Citi to track your location using the Enhanced Location Services method, I would guess that you would likely never trigger a fraud suspicion/decline at any merchant.

[AndySoCal]

@dudley  When I travel i will have a travel alert or notice stating the dates of travel and the states i will be traveling in.  Doing so will save you some possible aggravation. From the creditor side is I have a customer who lives in California and I am getting a charge in Wyoming is this legitimate or fraud.  The creditor should select fraud first time everything time if there is no notice from the customer that they will be traveling.

[dfwxjer]

In my 2 decades of using Citi cards I've had exactly 1 time where they declined the charge for potential fraud. It was about 10 years ago in Prague at a... less than reputable establishment... so I can't say I blame them. Even then, I just got a text to confirm it was me making the purchase and then it went through. I've never had a problem with them domestically and I travel quite a bit. 

[Kforce]

Like most of the others, I have had no issues with using it or customer service.

In fact I used the double cash when I needed a card and was afraid other issuers would question the spend.

Only thing about "Citi" for me was low credit limits for my spend and credit profile.

[NoHardLimits]

In my household, we've had two completely different experiences with Citi Double Cash customer service. 

I have had no negative experiences and used DC as my main "catch all" card for almost a decade (just switched over to NFCU cashRewards Plus last year).  On the other hand, P2 spent most of last year having multiple charges denied and having to go through various types of ID verification.  After months of aggravation, P2 threw in the towel and just closed the account.  

[Varsity_Lu]

Never used Citi but a lot of people have them. They must be doing something right.  I would think setting travel notices would help limit the declines when out of town.