Introduction
First off, I still haven’t received my 50K AA miles for my Citigold bonus. I’m still unsure if I want to poke that bear. Because I didn’t want to get hit with the $30 monthly fees, I secure message’d Citi last month and told them I wanted to close my account and to send me a refund for the credit balance. This was their response:
Dear Vinh,
Welcome to Citibank, my name is XXXXX. Thank you for confirming your address on file. I will be happy to move forward and close your checking account ending in ZZ.
As requested; I have processed this closure on your behalf. Please allow 1-2 business days for this request to be complete. You will receive the check for the remaining balance of $XXXX.XX and a final statement confirming that your account is now closed.
In addition, your online access will remain available until your debit card is manually blocked, or expires. If you wish to cancel your online access now and block your card, please send another message, chat or call Citibank Client Service at the number below.
I hope that you will consider us again in the future to assist you with your banking needs.
A week later, I got the check in the mail. Sounds like a done deal, right?
Zombie Citi Gold member
Last week, I had applied for the Citi Prestige (post coming later,) and when I called recon, the first rep told me I was a CitiGold member and they’d have to forward me to that department to do the recon. I thought that was odd, but I had heard of zombie Citi Gold status, so didn’t think much of it.
A huge NSF fee
Also last week, I got this in the mail (sorry I was drunk when I took the picture):
At first, I thought this was a very angry sounding letter, which then got me angry! Did I accidentally forget to turn off an autopayment? Then when I logged on, I saw this:
I was about to send them a nasty secure message, but luckily, chat was available. I don’t have the transcript, but it went something like this:
Me: “WTF!?! I had closed this account last month.”
Them: “Please hold while I look into this.”
Minutes later
Them: “It looks like due to the $.01, the account wasn’t properly closed. I’ll refund the fees and make sure the account is closed.”
So it seems that due to one stupid penny of interest, my account was never closed. At this point, I’m not sure what’s going on. I’ll secure message them again and make sure it’s closed.
Lessons Learned
We all know Citi IT is not the sharpest tool in the shed (remember the 10 emails that were sent out about opening an account a month or two ago?) Well, if you closed your Citi Gold account recently, you may want to double check it or else you may get a nastygram like I did. Or heck, keep it going and keep complaining so you maintain your zombie Citi Gold status.
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Points posted from promotion. Only after CFPB route. Took two weeks after they responded. Might be on black list. Applied last week for AA Biz Platinum, denied. Blah blah blah. Moving on.
I was afraid of this. What was their reason for denial.
I was told after 3 reviews that I was eligible for the 50k AA promotion. After several calls, the CS rep said that their promotions department was overwhelmed and that it would be at least 30 days until the miles would post. Has anyone heard that from Citi?
They told me 60 days like 4 months ago and I’m still waiting. I have a feeling you’ll have to keep pestering.
I tried to close mine over phone 3 different times, each one agent told me it was closed. Earlier this week i got a lette saying i owed 59 dollars (monthly fees cuz it wasnt closed like i thought it was) and i was gon a goto collections and chex systems report.
I have had so many frustrations with citi – getting the citigold pts, pretige airline creidits, and now closing the darn acct.
Neighbor had exact same issues as me on all 3 too.
They are a mess!
Oh man… that’s what I wasn’t looking forward to.
I closed mine over the phone and they finally told me they closed it after nearly 2 months of waiting and 3 or 4 additional calls to prod them. It didn’t close all the way either, so I don’t think there is any good solution.
Oh man…. freaking Citi….
My account was once still shown as Citigold even after the downgrading. But now, it shows basic checking. Not sure if I will get the discounted annual fee if I apply for the Prestige Card now. Does anyone have the same experience?
I just got the Prestige in the mail, so I’ll let you know when my first statements cuts.
I had frequent conversations either on the phone or through chat, hounding them about the points a few months ago, just to make sure I got my points. Once I did, the closing process took a bit more effort than I liked. I secured message, chatted, and called multiple times asking why my account hasn’t been closed after one week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks from initial request.
Eventually, I drove to my nearest Citibank and had it done there. Case closed.
Thanks for data point. I may hound them for my points then.
Doc of credit recommends to downgrade first to the free basic account, then close. I’ve downgraded successfully via chat last week. Also closing CitiGold for others has resulted in a final $30 fee, hence the recommendation to downgrade, then close. http://www.doctorofcredit.com/psa-dont-close-citigold-downgrade-it/
Thanks I may go that route then.
This is what I did and I wasn’t hit with any fees. Downgrade happened when statement closed, and then I closed after that. I was one of the lucky ones to actually get my points it seems.
Why don’t you want your 50k AA miles?
I do, but not sure if I want to go threaten and CFPB them for it. I still might; just unsure right now.
I emailed the President & it was resolved favorably.
can you share specifics? email? how long did it take to respond and when were the miles finally posted?