Well, it was a good try, but I was denied for Citibank AA. Basically, the lady on the phone said that I was on Citibank's no-card list even though there was NO chargeoff or BK or anything like that. I had a Citibank classic card a few years ago. In mid 1997, I was 30 and then 60 days late. In late 1997 I continued my late-pay shenanigans again leading up to a 90-day late in February 1998. Then I remained paid-up in good standing for four additional months. In June 1998 I was SHOCKED to get the "Sorry, we are closing your account" letter. Even though I had been on-time for 4 months, Citibank's computer had pulled my name as being uncreditworthy and revoked my card. At that time, I was very late on many other accounts as well, though, and I realize that those things are considered also when companies like Citibank, MBNA, and Chase do their periodic evaluations of their customers. Well, now we're almost 3 and a half years later. I've had no late-pays since mid-1999. I've NEVER had a chargeoff or a BK. My credit is trashed, though, because of so many 60 and 90 and 120 day late pays incurred from 1997 through early 1999. And I'm on Citibank's bad-guy list. The nice lady suggested I try again in 6 months. The silver lining was that I didn't waste an inquiry -- I was booted during the preliminary blacklist check and it didn't get as far as their pulling a report on me. Thanks to Roni and NanaC and others in the late night chat room for helping me find the application. If I hadn't had that bad history with Citibank I would have gotten the card, I think. Doc
Doc, How were you able to apply (the application) without get hit with an inquiry? I am definitely curious about this. ledo
Doc, I had a 1997 CO with Citibank (Visa) that was paid in 1998. I applied for the AA in March 2001 and was auto-denied due to their blacklist (they didn't even pull a report). I called 1-301-733-5501, pressed "1", and requested to speak with a supervisor for re-evaluation of my application. I told them some of what you wrote above: that I had worked hard to rebuild my credit since 1998 and really, really wanted to re-establish a business relationship with them. The next day I was approved. My post about it is somewhere on here (Search "citibank miracle marci"). I got a second card in June (applied directly for the Plat Select this time, got auto-denied, and asked for supervisor over-ride.) There were some issues in getting the second card (inquiries and debt utilization) but a faxed explanation of my debts resulted in that approval, too. If you e-mail me, I'll give you the name of the supervisor I spoke with. I'll enable my e-mail preference. Btw, she told me that they needed a two year lag time between the last Citi default and the present in order to consider approval.
Doc, Also, if you want, feel free to modify this letter to fit your situation and send it via Plantefeedback to Citibank for reconsideration. Their Office of the President does respond very quickly to PFB and are extremely nice/professional. http://consumers.creditnet.com/stra...id=59568&highlight=sample+CO+letter#post59568 Hope this helps,
Marci: Thanks!!! I will try that. Wow, I thought I had hit a wall, and you've pointed the way to at least a possibility. People on this board are amazing... and specifically, Marci, I appreciate your one-on-one help so much. Ledo: If you're on Citibank's "blacklist" for whatever reason (in my case, for a series of very late payments), then they don't even bother with pulling a credit report. On a different note, it was Momof3 in the chat room that night... not NanaC! (Lordy, help me. I guess people in the famous Gang of 3 are held in such high esteem by me and others that it's easy to call one by the other once in awhile, ack...) Now off to email Marci! Doc
Thanks to Marci's post wherein she gave the telephone number to Citibank, you can call them to find out whether or not you are on their internal "blacklist". I thought I would be on it for sure since I had discharged a couple of Citibank credit cards in my '93 b/k filing, but when I called, I was surprised to find out that I am not on their list. So I may just take a shot at applying now. Thanks for the info everyone, esp. Marci.
Doc and Chris, I'm glad the information was useful. Pushing for a reconsideration was the best financial decision I've made this year - resulting in three significant improvements in my overall financial outlook. I hope it works for you, as well.
Doc, I agree. Some people have succeeded in being removed from Citi's blacklist once they paid their debts (long after charge off). If yours is already paid, I don't see why they won't be able to have your name removed from the list, too. On a side note, Citi has an Early Warning Department, which may or may not have a say over the black list. Their direct phone # is 877-296-0187. I was declined enrollment for their "c2it.com" service for no apparent reason. I called that department and was told the system rejected my SSN. I offered to show evidence that this is my true SSN, but they wouldn't discuss it. Note this happened even after I had opened 4 Citi bank accounts -- all under this same SSN. They still wouldn't budge. I wrote to the executive offices through PF. Didn't get a response, but the next time I tried to enroll, it went through successfully. After months of repeated attempts to resolve it, the problem was gone. Saar
I am on citis blacklist as well. They do not even pull my credit when I apply. No inquiry at all. I had a c/o m/c with them in 1995. I settled the account in 1998 at about 50%. My wife was an au on the account and it still appears as a chargeoff on her tu report although its been deleted from mine. Nevertheless she got citi AA with a 9k limit in April and a universal card with 11k limit in June. I tried to pay them the settled balance and they refused to accept it. I guess Im on citis list forever.
After about 3 or 4 online disputes with eq it was deleted. It never appeared on TU and was deleted on the first dispute w/ exp. All disputes were "not mine". I have disputed the au lines on my wifes report many times but it keeps coming back verified, Also I am an au on my wifes two new citi accounts.
I have a closed account with Citibank that was in good standing and a charge-off I'm trying to negotiate on my report. I was think of waiting about a year and then applying to citibank again. I think I've read that if the bad stuff is old, then you are more likely to get a card with them. My other CC is fine. Hoprfully, they will take into consideration my past good experience with them.
Ahhh Doc, I am sorry. I was crossing my fingers for you, but as marci posted it's not over yet. I would do what she suggested. And please keep us posted and good luck to you By the way, my daughter gave me quite a night, up for most of it and I thought about you!! I hope you are getting more sleep these days.
Doc, Hey man. I am sincerely sorry about how this all turned out. But I am very glad that someone gave you a possibility at getting the card. I didnt know about your old history w/ citibank. I didnt even think to ask about it. I knew they had a blacklist...but I didnt know how extensive that list was. Hope to see you in chat soon. And Good Luck with Citibank.... smoochies!
I have had a Citi Card since 1994. I started with 500 student card and my limit today is a paltry 1350. They are very stingy with me with increases. I don't even bother ask. They always want to pull a report. I have some account on my report (not mines or don't remember) that was originally owned by Comerical Credit. It says charged off, but Citi bought Commericial/Travelers and then put a duplicate entry on my report for the same debt. I am a perfect customer, debt paid in full every month no lates. I am thinking to use reverse psychology and not use the card for 6 months to see if that makes a difference. I would like to call to see of I am on their black list. What is the #?
I have a charge-off with them from '91 that I paid off in '96. I guess that's long enough to be removed from the list. I think having an acount just become paid in full with citifinancial didnt hurt either. Mike G.
UPDATE: I was approved!!!!!!!! (I apologize for sounding like one of those people who always post only the good things -- this has been a good week for me. Those who know me realize that I'm usually the sad sack, so I hope nobody disparages a victory or two, lol!!!!!) WHAT I DID... I took a lesson from Momof3 and applied PERSISTENCE. I also used the phone number Marci provided and asked that they "reconsider the application" (exact words, lol). They reconsidered, asked me to provide a recent paycheck stub and a couple of solid proofs of address, and then they approved me! BIG THANKS go to Roni for helping me down that path to begin with. The next hurdle (if you can call it that, LOL)... getting upgraded to Citi Platinum... They gave me a $4,500 credit line. I understand that you really need at least a $5,000 credit line get upgraded. Any suggestions will be appreciated (and, as you've seen, implemented to the letter). THANKS AGAIN to all my friends here on CreditNet (and I'm serious about the friends part); although I've not met any of you personally, I so appreciative and grateful for your support and help. Doc
I'm doing the "victory dance" for here at my desk, Doc! la-dee-da-dee-da-dum! (Thought I'd toss in a little ditty, as well!) Congrats!!
Doc, First, a big congratulations. You have a nice credit line. Second, don't worry about the credit limt of $5K for the platinum select. You don't need it. I converted my first $3000 AA to a Platinum Select, no problem. When you do call in for a "product conversion" (I converted the day I got my AA card) - you may run into some resistance. Tell them: 1. You want a product conversion to the regular Citi Plat Select... 2. That you will benefit more from a "no annual fee" card than a rewards card at this point in your life... 3. That you want the Plat Select b/c it comes with a lower apr than the AA series. Make sure they don't upgrade you to the AA World Platinum Select. You want the regular Citi Plat Select. If the rep refuses, thank him/her, call back and ask another rep. (Some reps are more compliant than others). Congratulations, Doc, and good job on the hard work...
