25th April 2006 Citibank is the latest entrant to the world of consumer scam. They had launched their Fly for Sure scheme a few months back. I had sent them my voucher giving them choice of destinations in February for travel dates of April. In the first week of march I got a call saying that my choice of dates and destinations was not available. After that I settled for a different destination and choice of dates in the end of april. In the 3rd week of March I get a call saying that my choice of dates is not available. So again I settle for dates in the first week of May with a return in Mid-may. This time I am given a booking confirmation and am told that my ticket is booked and I will receive it a week prior to departure. A email I receive from them confirms this. Today, exactly a week before my departure date, SHITY BANK representative calls me to say that ticket are not available anymore and the only tickets they have are for end of may for a return trip period of 3 days, while my original trip plan was 13 days. All my hotel bookings and connecting train bookings are now done and connecting journeys planned and tickets booked. Only I dont have a ticket to my destination. thank you Shitty Bank .. you will have to answer me in a consumer court unless you redress this situation. ============================================= BREAKING NEWS ============================================= 27th April 2006 Either someone from Citibank read this review or Mouthshut informed them, I have just received a call from Citibank offering me tickets for my original itiniery without any charge. This however puts me in a fix as I had already gone ahead and booked my tickets on alternative airlines. I got one cancelled but I am not able to cancel the other. I have updated citibank about the same and they will let me know if they can bear charges for that ticket. Will update this review once I hear from them. This just goes to show that companies will redress a situation only when they face a irate customer who threatens to drag them to a consumer court. please stand up for your rights everyone. =============================================== UPDATE - 29th April 2006 =============================================== Citibank called today to confirm that they would credit the charges for a ticket I have already paid for, to my credit card within 7 days. This in effect means I have been offered a ticket for a Mumbai - Bangalore journey and a return on the Chennai-Mumbai sector. The original ’’Fly for Sure’’ Scheme offered a return journey to and from the same destination. Secondly I have flatly refused to pay the airport taxes which I was liable to pay in accordance with the scheme. So Citibank has taken corrective measures for their mistake since I wrote this review, but I would have been truly impressed only if they had offered alternative arrangements earlier. ============================================== UPDATE - 27th May 2006 ============================================== Citibank is yet to to give me the credit they had promised for the ticket I paid for. They have kept saying another week, since 3 weeks now. I am due to receive credit in the first week of June now, for the Indian Airlines ticket worth Rs.2304/- that I paid for and wasnt able to cancel. Will update this review again, when I hear from them next, if at all.
========Update 30th June 2006 =======================
After following with Citibank for a few times they finally credited my account with the amount which was due to me.
Just goes to show that if you take them to task they will deliver.
Really dissapointed with Citibank after this experience though.
=IMPORTANT Update 5th January 2007====================
After initially waiving off the airport taxes and surcharges, Citibank charged my card today for Rs.600 for both the airtickets. Six months after the entire episode. This just goes to show how irresponsible Citibank can be. I am going to ensure that they reverse these charges or be prepared to face dire consequences.