Dear Readers,
I am a citibank card holder since last 5 to 6 years and have found it to be one of the best services I have enjoyed.
Of late, I must admit that the treatment and the responses received by me have been quite disturbing and discouraging.
First of all I noticed that the statement dates and the period of billing are being changed at random. When enquired the response is that it is done as per the payment pattern of the customer. I have never failed to make my full payment on the due date. So I am at a loss to understand this logic. This severely affects one’s budget, more so when they change the payment due dates too.
Recently there was an offer called the ’’Fly for Sure’’. In the last week of January 2006 I received a letter (undated) from Citibank’s Business Manager-cards congratulating me on my becoming eligible for the offer and advising me to send the booking request form enclosed indicating my options for the dates of flying and the destinations.
This was to be sent to them using the business reply envelope provided. I had followed the instructions and sent the same on 4th Feb 2006 by ordinary post. (I presume such envelopes, where it is mentioned that the postage is paid by the addressee, have to be sent by ordinary post only)
Further I was to contact help desk at WIPL (I honestly do not know what it stands for) for the status but the tel. no. provided turned out to be eternally busy.
First I wrote to citibank through the citibank’s net banking site to enquire about the status. The reply was that they have not received the request form and that I should inform them the details as to when it was sent and who has received in their office.(They dont understand that I would not have asked for the status had I known who received my form in their office, absolutely ridiculous) When I tried to respond through the net banking it was not processed due to some server problem.
Then I contacted their help desk through email. I was again replied that they have not received the form and wanted to know the proof of despatch and airway bill no etc. (I wonder how could they get so funny. Once they tell me to send by reply paid envelope where is the question of airway bill No etc.) The saving grace was that they advised me to send the scanned copy of the form by email. This also I have complied a week back. My first choice for flying is 02-04-06. Till now there is no response from them.
I am compelled to believe that the whole offer was a hoax and they have succeeded in making many people spend more than 30000 in three months, the prerequisite for becoming eligible for the offer.
I would like to know if anyone has succeeded in getting the confirmed air tickets from citibank under this offer, so that I can reconsider my opinion about citibank.
Thanks and regards
S Chander