Very disappointed with Citi

[Amwar73mf]

I had a Citi secured card. They sent me back my deposit, but made no other changes to my account. I went online and asked for a limit increase, and they only raised it $250 to $450. I called and was trying to talk to someone about changing to the double cash back card, (Mod cut - not here please.  Please be mindful of the TOS and Forum Guidelines @Amwar73mf). I asked about a rate decrease, but NOPE. I then asked if they could change me to the double cashback card, and she said yes. I then asked her about an intro 0% interest, and she said NOPE, that everything else would stay the same. Then she started to read off a bunch of stuff that sounded like "If you screw up one time, you lose all the benefits and your account will be frozen (or maybe closed, I couldn't understand her)" I stopped her, told her I didn't understand half of what she said, and that I was just going to keep my current card, but since they were so unaccomodating as to rates, I would not be using the card except for maybe $10 once in awhile to keep it open, that Citi was going to get nothing from me by way of interest, then I said goodbye and hung up.

I plan to write them a letter outlining my bad experience and my plan to not use this card except for emergencies and enough to keep it open. If I could close it without taking my FICO score under $700, I would, but I figure at the very best, it will be money I can use for emergencies. Not a lot of money, but money. I hate even doing that, because at almost 23% interest, it would be a costly emergency, but what can you do? A friend told me that when he asked for a larger credit increase, they wanted him to send them his last two tax returns. NOPE. Not doing that.

I think a Citi secured card is good for rebuilding credit, but once that is done, unless you suddenly start making mega money, it's not good for much else.

Discover increased my credit limit to $2500 and gave me a choice of either a 2% lower interest rate or a year at 0% interest. I took the year, and have used the card to buy a number of things in that year, staying under 30% and making more than minimum payments every month on order to pay it off before the offer is over. I did this so they could see I was willing to make monthly payments. When this period is over, I intend to revisit the decreased interest with them.If they won't decrease it appreciably, I simply will continue to spend and pay off every month to see what they do. If they think they are losing out on making interest off of me, maybe they'll decrease the interest without my asking. I've had credit cards do that before.

[babygirl1256]

Greetings Amwar73mf ~ Don't take your Citi interaction personal . . . the overseas team is probably reading from a cue card. 

[Appleman]

Not sure you should be disappointed. In your post, you are saying that Citi was able to convert your secured card to an unsecured card. Awesome.

And, they more than doubled your credit line, $200 to $450. For Citi, those are big moves. I would suggest waiting 6 months before trying to make another move with Citi.

Also, it took me a long time to understand that available credit is not the same thing as having money. Yes, credit can be used in an emergency, but it is not the same as having cash on hand. I might recommend starting a budget, something like YNAB (You Need A Budget). This program was instrumental in helping me change how I view and handle money/debt/credit.

It sounds like you are off to a great start in the credit building world and I congratulate you for that. Continue to pay off those credit cards every month, your future self will thank you.

[JNA1]

I get that you didn't get all you wanted, but you would have been wise to have taken the PC to the DC card. That card would have likely grown in time, and you would have earned 2% cashback for using it. PC'ing to the DC isn't going make Citi put you on any shorter lease. The CSR was just reading the legal stuff they are required to. 
I would continue to use the card for a while and call back with a PC request and then ask for another CLI request. 

[GatorGuy]

They do not care about losing interest. They give CCs every day to individuals that they know will never pay a $ in interest. They are concerned that you will not pay your bills.

They gave you significant improved offers but unfortunately because it was not what you thought you deserved you did not accept. Just remember building credit is a step by step process.

[Anonymous]

---

@Amwar73mf wrote:

I plan to write them a letter outlining my bad experience and my plan to not use this card except for emergencies and enough to keep it open.

---

This might help you feel better, but consider if it worth the time.   What do you expect the reaction to be "Oh no, we've annoyed a customer we've give a $450 limit to, and he may only use the card very little from now on......."    They won't care. At all!

[calyx]

I had the secured card which was then graduated to the regular Diamond Preferred, so I understand the citi "experience" (they're a little slow and clunky with graduation).    When I called to product change my card, they said I couldn't for at least 12 months, and I had no other "offers," so I'm not terribly surprised.  I am surprised they would allow a PC upon graduation - that's great!   You graduated - and that's great, too!  But there's no reason to give you a higher limit or lower APR at that point.   Your graduation itself was an extension of credit.

As for this: "Then she started to read off a bunch of stuff that sounded like "If you screw up one time, you lose all the benefits and your account will be frozen (or maybe closed, I couldn't understand her..." - that's pretty standard TOS for a lot of accounts, which usually says they can shut you down for any (or no) reason.

You had to go with a secured card, so for some reason, you weren't coming from a strong credit place.  You also started with a fairly low limit, which doesn't really demonstrate that you're ready to have high limits.    No offense intended, but think about it from the bank's perspective - you have not (yet) shown them that you are going to generate much in the way of income nor that you're "worth" a high risk.  Plus asking for a lower APR sounds like you want to carry a balance - and if you started with higher risk (you had to go secured), that may not be a good flag.  

I opened my account 3 years ago, it took me time to show them that I am not a risk, and worth some swipe fees, to get where I am now - these things just take patience and an understanding that this is about risk and profit to the banks, nothing personal.

[Remedios]

We aren't entitled to anything, just like lenders aren't entitled to our "business" 

If Discover makes you happy, do business with them. Once they disappoint you (such are credit romances, they seldom last), there will be someone else and so on. 

[MisterWives]

As you found Discover is a lot more generous with things overall while Citi can be seen as a bit more of a stickler. I had to do a Hard Pull for them to even up my Costco Citi. In general I have found Citi's customer service and website to be pretty lacking which has made me not use their cards much at all now a days. If you feel they aren't interested in your business/attention then there's definitely no limit of other lenders willing to entice you, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Amwar73mf]

Thanks for all the feedback, although some of it sounded overly harsh and judgmental since you don't know me or my financial story. You may think that's a good thing to do, but it doesn't work for everyone, myself included. I respond angrily to judgmental, mean comments, and much better to encouragement.

I'm someone who likes to rant when I'm upset, which I should have indicated. It's just a rant. I still won't use the Citi card much, but then, I've read that they are like this before. I don't feel "entitled" to anything. I'm just having to rebuild credit and my life during a very hard time after 10 years of abject poverty through no fault of my own, and I've had enough hate and judgment for a lifetime. Still, I don't lash back because I simply don't have time for interaction with negative people.

I get good cash back on Discover, which I bank in case I hit hard times again and need to use it for payments, so I don't need to have to juggle the two cards just to get cash back from Citi. I really don't have a high income, so my spending is minimal anyway. I wanted lower interest because these cards are mostly for emergencies, and when you have to use them for that, lower interest for paying back is always better.

That's all I have to say. I'm sorry some of you seemed so offended by my post. Goodbye.

Message 10 of 10

[Amwar73mf]

Thanks for all the feedback, although some of it sounded overly harsh and judgmental since you don't know me or my financial story. You may think that's a good thing to do, but it doesn't work for everyone, myself included. I respond angrily to judgmental, mean comments, and much better to encouragement.

I'm someone who likes to rant when I'm upset, which I should have indicated. It's just a rant. I still won't use the Citi card much, but then, I've read that they are like this before. I don't feel "entitled" to anything. I'm just having to rebuild credit and my life during a very hard time after 10 years of abject poverty through no fault of my own, and I've had enough hate and judgment for a lifetime. Still, I don't lash back because I simply don't have time for interaction with negative people.

I get good cash back on Discover, which I bank in case I hit hard times again and need to use it for payments, so I don't need to have to juggle the two cards just to get cash back from Citi. I really don't have a high income, so my spending is minimal anyway. I wanted lower interest because these cards are mostly for emergencies, and when you have to use them for that, lower interest for paying back is always better.

That's all I have to say. I'm sorry some of you seemed so offended by my post. Goodbye.