It is not sour grapes at being turned down (if I was turned down, never really found out) I thought I should let people know about the trauma I had whilst making my application.
As someone with a problamatic credit history I thought it was great that Citbank would consider all circumstances when applying for their credit card, as it is now getting to a point where they are almost essential.
It all started one fine spring evening when I decided I would see if I could find someone who might offer me a credit card.
I did a few searches on various sites and Citibank appeared in all of them as a company who might help.
I duly filled in their online application form. Pretty painless. (I would add at this point that I have never had any ccj's but had just recently had some defaults removed)
Unfortunately my application was referred, but a couple of hours later I received an email stating "to continue with your application we will need some further information. We will write to you in the next few days to explain in full what we require" Great I thought 'this sounds promising'
After about 10 days, when I still had not received anything I emailed their customer services in case the letter had gone missing.
NO REPLY.
I left it another week and then decided to phone them. I didn't want them to think I counldn't provide the info. and for this to darken my slowly improving credit rating.
After half a dozen phone calls spread over 2 days to various numbers I was given (some at premium rate) I eventually found someone who could help me.
They told me with what sounded like glee, that the email I had received must have been a mistake and my application had been declined in the first instance.
The saga continues....
About a week later I received a mailing from Citibank which read "you recently applied for one of our products but we were unable to help (my rejection I presume) however please contact your local branch of Citibank who have pre-approved you for a loan of upto £10,000 etc, etc."
I threw this straight in the bin. They then took it upon themselves to phone me at work of all places to see if I was interested.
NO!
You might think this is the end of saga, but alas you would be wrong!
It was now mid-June and I took my family on a weeks holiday to Great Yarmouth (Fantastic, but that's another yarn)
Upon my return, sitting proudly on top of a pile of post on my doormat was a letter from ....
Yep, you got it Citibank!
The letter read: "Re: your recent application for a Credit Card, blah-de-blah, could you please forward us two items from the following list (proof of address) to enable us to continue with your application."
I thought in for a penny in for a pound and sent off what they had requested.
After hearing nothing for several weeks (didn't bother to chase) I received the same mailing as above I.E. Loan for £10,000.
Out of pure curiosity I decided to give them a ring. They proudly offered to lend me £2000 at the very favourable rate of 3.5% per month (a whopping 42% per annum)
You can guess where I told them to stick this!
Seriously, If anyone out there finds themself in the same situation as me with a shakey credit history DON'T bother with Citibank.
Try Capital One (see my other report) or better still Barclaycard (report to come) both of these companies issued me a card with no problems altougth the interest is high and initial limit very low.
A bit of advice: If you do decide to apply for any of the cards aimed at people with dodgey history, no matter what your credit limit DO NOT spend more than you can afford to pay off each month (I use mine like a debit card) At these interest rates the slope comes very quickly and is more slippery than black ice!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
i would loved to have been able to give a higher rating but unfortunately as you don't have the credit card I couldn't class this as a VH review. sorry!
beccie 06.10.2003 12:53
A very useful and informative op. Luckily I haven't had any dealings with this company and I will not in the future after reading you advice. Thanks :-) Bxxxxx
Advantages: free £500 overdraft, able to draw money from all ATMs without charge,free internet banking Disadvantages: no high street presence apart from London
sivam 08.04.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Citibank
Aug 5th, 2003
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