I could have been a Citibank Credit Card Holder.
Normally, people and more importantly I write a review only after I have come into direct contact and have used the product for a while.
But never in my life have I felt so strongly about a product before I have even seen the product, let alone use it.
The story goes a long way back, I think almost three week back. Allow me to elaborate.
A few months ago - as all MSians who read my reviews know - I had a job change, a massive job change. Well, The job change was massive enough for me to think of applying of a credit card. Since Citibank is well known and more importantly their ATM is just outside my official premises, I decided to give it a try.
My ambitions took a beating when I found that Citibank doesnt have a branch where I stay nearby. So what, I thought? We had been taught that an ATM is as much as a bank branch, how wrong those great teachers were.
However, I called up Citibank customer care from a citibank kiosk and applied for a zero balance account (Suvidha) and a Credit Card. I was told that they would get back to me in three working days.
Promptly, I got a call from a Citibank Customer Care and was asked about some relevent details, which I gave. Notice, I am a salaried individual with a PAN Card. I have my bank statement available on request, though I dont have a salary slip - as yet. For everyone else in India, all this would be well and enough for a credit card, but not me.
The Customer Care asked me whether I have my original mobile bills with me. I mean... what the hell do I do of my bills, do I eat them? She said that if my monthly billing was above 1000 INR, I was eligible for a credit card. Too good to be true? It was.
The next day, a person comes waving a credit card form, I give him my PAN card xerox and original mobile bill weighing in at a princely amount of 1373 INR.
I am told the process takes something like 21 working days or even 15 working days.
End of Story? Not yet.
Ever since the documents were taken from me, I havent got a single call from anyone from Citibank. I dont know where my documents are. I only know that the person who took the form from me and the woman who called me worked for a Direct Selling Associate/Agent (DSA). In effect, Citibank, the bank doesnt know cow about whether I have even applied for a credit card. And they can’t do anything about it.
Furthermore, I got a shock of my life when I spoke to a citibank customer care once and he told me that citibank doesnt have any offer of a credit card on a mobile bill... eeeps!
Only to be assured by another female that Citibank does indeed have a offer. Verbatim.
’’Damn sure. The bank has an offer.’’ For those who think that this language is a bit heavy, read on.
In the second week, I have been calling the number the person who took the form and documents and clearly, this DSA (it should be a abuse by now) doesnt train it’s Customer Care (Ditto) to at least have the decency to press the HOLD on their telephone or clasp the talker. No, I could have a crystal clear version of what these ’Yes sir, how can I help you’ types really think of us, the clients, the people who pay the bank and they therefore get paid for their jobs.
In the third week, this is what I heard when I called the DSA
’’Yeh XXXXXXX XXXXXXX hein. Yehs XXXXXX’ ka customer hein. Woh mujhe phaansi chada rahan hein. Woh janana chahata hein ke uska form reject hein ke submit hein. Kabse phone karke pareshan kiya hein’’
(This is XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX. He is XXXXXXXXX’s customer. He is sending me to the gallows. He wants to know whether his form has been rejected or submitted or what. He is calling me and troubling me since a long time).
If this ever is read by any Citibank official or just for the heck of it:
I have a very comfortable life and lifestyle and I do not NEED to call any one for passing my time. In fact, I hate calling people up.
Secondly, bubba, you are working for this thing. If you don’t like the job, give it up. If you don’t have the guts to give up a job then learn to vent your frustrations out with the take atleast covered.
Oh, as for the Suvidha a/c, after three remainders and request and a in-person talk at the Citibank Andheri branch, there is no person coming to our office or residence to ask about the Suvidha account.
If this is what Citibank is all about, I can make do with many other banks offering accounts.