This year, we’re truly seeing an arms race in the premium credit card space. Amex and Chase have upped their game, with Citi joining the fray most recently, with the recent launch of their new Citi Strata Elite card. On Friday, I wrote about the Wall Street Journal’s latest piece documenting some of the most harrowing experiences that new Citi Strata Elite cardholders have experienced. As per Doctor of Credit, it seems like Citi is now making amends right away.
Citi Strata Elite Debacle
You can refer to this blog post for all the details. However, in a nutshell, Citi Strata Elite cardholders were facing multiple issues while using their card. Primarily, the issue was Citi locking them out after making a transaction. Secondly, Citi was asking customers to send a copy of their tax returns in 30 days to unlock their accounts.
As per the WSJ report, customers told horrific stories about how some of them got locked out of their accounts while traveling abroad. One customer also had to cut her trip short and fly all the way back to the US just make sure her six accounts with Citi were unfrozen.
Making Amends
It seems like Citi is making amends in two ways by sending emails to affected cardholder explaining the following:
- Citi will refund the annual fee for cardholders who have been affected and also refund the annual fee for any additional authorized users on the account
- Customers who have been affected no longer have to meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome bonus
The Pundit’s Mantra
In my blog post, I’ve already explained why I haven’t signed up for Citi’s credit cards, explaining my own history while dealing with Citi.
However, it’s great to see that Citi is indeed making amends for all the customers affected. If your account was affected, has Citi sent you an email offering the same concessions? Tell us in the comments section.
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