myinnerchef
Gold Member
- 288
I need to vent!!!
A few months ago, I decided to move my banking business from Citibank to WaMu. WaMu offers free business checking and is just more kid-friendly. So we moved our personal accounts too and we locked in a 12-month 6.5% APR on savings before the rates dropped. I decided to keep our Citibank credit card because I've been with them for almost 25 years. Now I'm thinking that was a mistake.
When I went into the local branch to close my account, I was told I could not close it until the following week. I don't recall what the teller told me but at the time, it made sense. I explained that I did not have computer access (mine had died and I was waiting for our tax refund to buy another) and I asked if they would cancel all of the future automated transfers, some of which were imminent. I was assured that they would take care of this for me. Thinking back, I think he was just agreeing to anything to move the line along because he didn't ask me for any info.
Fast forward one week - there are now charges on my account not only for an overdraft for the automated transfers that were not cancelled as promised but also service charges for having a zero balance on this allegedly free checking account. I went in to complain and heard a different song and dance than the previous week. This time, they said I could close my account if I paid off the overdraft. That would be fine with me, but the overdraft is for a transfer to a credit card that was paid off (also Citibank) and now has a huge credit balance. I can't pay the branch bank until the credit card refunds my money but the credit card won't send me a check despite my requests.
Since then, the automated transfer was made another time increasing my credit balance which I still haven't received. I finally have my new computer set up and I terminated the transfers myself but Citibank Banking calls me at least once an hour asking me to pay off the overdraft loan, which I can't do until Citibank Credit Cards returns the money that Citibank Banking sent to them. It's like a psycho catch-22.
The Banking Group grunts who call refuse to let me speak with a manager or supervisor, insisting that the complaints go into a queue and someone will call me back within 24 hours. Fine. Four weeks later, I'm still waiting for one of those return calls. They even refuse to give me the name of the manager who will allegedly call me. Yet, everyone I've spoken with insists that my complaints are documented in their system - which bizarrely continues to generate the calls but not from a supervisor. And they don't understand why I'm so upset.
The Citibank system is impenetrable. They have my money and won't give it back and want more of my money (which is less than what THEY owe ME) but I can't get it resolved because no one in charge will speak with me. Plus, they're charging me interest for the privilege of them owing me money. I'm considering pulling out my safety whistle and blowing it HARD into the phone whenever they call. Short of that, I'm at my wits end.
A few months ago, I decided to move my banking business from Citibank to WaMu. WaMu offers free business checking and is just more kid-friendly. So we moved our personal accounts too and we locked in a 12-month 6.5% APR on savings before the rates dropped. I decided to keep our Citibank credit card because I've been with them for almost 25 years. Now I'm thinking that was a mistake.
When I went into the local branch to close my account, I was told I could not close it until the following week. I don't recall what the teller told me but at the time, it made sense. I explained that I did not have computer access (mine had died and I was waiting for our tax refund to buy another) and I asked if they would cancel all of the future automated transfers, some of which were imminent. I was assured that they would take care of this for me. Thinking back, I think he was just agreeing to anything to move the line along because he didn't ask me for any info.
Fast forward one week - there are now charges on my account not only for an overdraft for the automated transfers that were not cancelled as promised but also service charges for having a zero balance on this allegedly free checking account. I went in to complain and heard a different song and dance than the previous week. This time, they said I could close my account if I paid off the overdraft. That would be fine with me, but the overdraft is for a transfer to a credit card that was paid off (also Citibank) and now has a huge credit balance. I can't pay the branch bank until the credit card refunds my money but the credit card won't send me a check despite my requests.
Since then, the automated transfer was made another time increasing my credit balance which I still haven't received. I finally have my new computer set up and I terminated the transfers myself but Citibank Banking calls me at least once an hour asking me to pay off the overdraft loan, which I can't do until Citibank Credit Cards returns the money that Citibank Banking sent to them. It's like a psycho catch-22.
The Banking Group grunts who call refuse to let me speak with a manager or supervisor, insisting that the complaints go into a queue and someone will call me back within 24 hours. Fine. Four weeks later, I'm still waiting for one of those return calls. They even refuse to give me the name of the manager who will allegedly call me. Yet, everyone I've spoken with insists that my complaints are documented in their system - which bizarrely continues to generate the calls but not from a supervisor. And they don't understand why I'm so upset.
The Citibank system is impenetrable. They have my money and won't give it back and want more of my money (which is less than what THEY owe ME) but I can't get it resolved because no one in charge will speak with me. Plus, they're charging me interest for the privilege of them owing me money. I'm considering pulling out my safety whistle and blowing it HARD into the phone whenever they call. Short of that, I'm at my wits end.
