My Citibank Miracle!!!

Hi all,

I just needed to share this with the board, as just another example
of the invaluable advice, information and support offered here - for
which I am so grateful.

I defaulted on a Citi card in 1997, resulting in a charged-off account.
I paid the account in full in 1998 and recently disputed it with no luck.
Wanting to escape "sub-prime hell" I looked wistfully at those of you
who were getting the AAdvantage cards with spotted histories. I was
told, "if you've ever burned Citibank, forget it.". Well, I took a chance,
applied for the silver AA card, and - as anticipated - was denied for
previous account history with Citibank.

After Flagirl reported her success below, I called Citibank credit dept,
explained what had happened wrt the CO in 1997, and shamelessly
begged for a second chance with Citibank. The supervisor agreed to
override the automatic ban on my application, and allow it to process.
Well, this morning a supervisor called me and said that I had been
approved for a silver AA mastercard!!!!!!!


I never would have thought it could have happened, had it not been
for this board. Thank you all so much.

Now I can read all the Citibank threads without feeling so guilty about
squandering my relationship with them.

Thank God for second chances!!!

Marci

 

Re: Congratulations!!

Thanks, mother2!!! I am so excited. I tried to upgrade to Plat Select today, but
the reps told me that my card isn't in the system yet. As soon as I get this
card, I will balance transfer from the horrible Household Bank and close
that account.

 

Re: I'm looking fwd to graduat

You will, mother2, you will. I'm now convinced that ANYONE, taking the proper credit
management and credit repair steps, can escape from sub-prime hell.

Thanks for your support.

Marci

 

Thanks, Mom!

Hey mom!

My goal, now that I have a new Citi card, is to convince them to delete the neg. entry on
my reports (i.e. hurts my business relationship with Citi, etc...) and that would
clear the way for me to get the AMEX.

Congratulations on your card success re AMEX. I knew you'd get it.



Marci

 

Re: How much time did it

I don't know if you're referring to me or Momof3, but I'll share my story.

I got two unsecured sub-prime cards in late 1998 with a history of 2 paid CO, 1 paid
collection, 1 unpaid CO and 6 unpaid student loans in collections. I also got a car
loan in late 1998 as well (the rates were sky-high). I then began student loan
rehabilitation and faithfully paid my new accounts on time.

I didn't think much about credit repair until May 2000, when I applied for
credit, and saw my report (this is the FIRST time I ever looked at a credit report).
My report was merged with someone who had several medical judgements, and it
showed the student loan collections and unpaid CO still outstanding. In July 2000
I paid the CO ($90.00) without negotiating for deletion (I didn't know that
I could). In September 2000, my student loans were up for rehab, and that's
when I started reading this board. The student loan entries came off my credit
reports, and I began calling each creditor who listed a paid CO or paid collection.

Every single creditor, except Citibank, agreed to remove the CO entry either out
of mercy or b/c I demanded verification of my payment history, which they didn't
have.

My first CRA dispute was in November 2000, and since then I have seen 12 of the
13 accounts I disputed deleted from my reports. The last account, Citibank, still
remains, but I hope to have that gone this year due to new account status with
them.

Hope this answers your questions,

Marci

 

Re: How much time did it

Oh yeah, I got the judgements removed immediately since it was obvious that my
file was merged with a man's file and none of them belonged to me. That was in
May 2000.

In every single case of a deletion, I talked directly with the creditor and had
written agreement from the creditor for the deletion.

I was very blessed to have had things go so smoothly, so quickly.

 

Jim

Jim,

Citibank customer service is 1-800-950-5114. The credit department whch handles approvals and denials is 1-301-733-5501. Call cus service and they will transfer you, so you don't have
to pay long distance.

I applied online for the silver AA card, got the "needs further processing" answer and a week
later got a denial letter. I called the 301 number, pressed 1 for "if your app was denied" and
asked a rep to speak with a supervisor to request re-evaluation of my application. I said
that I needed to "explain what happened in 1997". I got a supervisor, and cited my college
immaturity and job problems as reasons why my account defaulted (all true). I stressed that I did pay promptly in full when Citibank asked me to, and that I would "give anything to have a
second chance at re-establishing a business relationship with Citibank". I told her that I was
fully aware of credit management and often discussed it and related matters on credit
discussion boards. I told her that many good people, having learned their lessons re credit
management, were desperately trying to escape "sub-prime hell" (she laughed) and that I was one of them. I tod her that many people had reported success with getting the AA cards. The supervisor looked at my account history and said that since it happened in 1997, she'd over-ride
the automatic ban and allow it to process further. That was yesterday afternoon.

This morning another supervisor called with news of approval.

 

LB

I agree that charging "at risk" people higher int. rates (translating into more money owed)
seems backwards. But in credit-land, it isn't backwards.

The interest rates for "at-risk" borrowers is so high, that a company will make a profit
even when the higher rates increase odds of default for some people. Why?

Because there are people like myself who, having learned our lessons, will do ANYTHING to
maintain a good payment history - and we are the ones who pay the extra costs of default
for the people who aren't able to pay in our "group". The companies make money in the
end from sub-primers who are very responsible. We're paying for the people who don't
meet their obligations.

Marci