chrissy - v - citi cards

[chrissy3554]

Hi Folks,

Sent off letter for back statements on the 10th Jan complete with £10 cheque and recorded delivery - cheque cashed on the 18th Jan and received all statements on the 17th Feb. Have done a quick calculation and it appears there are charges amounting to roughly £860 which I intend to claim back.

Just wondered how others have got on with Citi Cards?

Also where do I send my next letter requesting payment to?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Chrissy

[chrissy3554]

Hi All,

Just printed off letter for repayment of charges totalling £875.00 with interest £1032.03. After reading many of the threads regarding Citi Cards have decided to send it to Mark Clibbens, Office of the Chief Exec. Hope this is the right one - just need to get it sorted out. Fed up with all these institutions now that I have realised just how much money they have taken from me so have headed the letter 'Letter Before Action - Request for repayment of Charges'. They can have 14 days and then I am going to court - sod 'em!!!

Chrissy

[adamseymour]

Good for you, I agree with you about all these institutions....trouble is, they are all the same. From what Ive read so far, I don't blame you for not messing about, although Id send a letter to all available addresses I have for citi...just to be on the same side!

[chrissy3554]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for your support adamseymour.

It is annoying to think of all the people out there who have been made to struggle due to unfair charges on their accounts.

I remember one phone call I recieved last year from an operative from Citi Cards who was harassing me for a payment when it wasn't even due for another 10 days. Stated he was helping me as I had missed the previous month's payment and did I not realise how much I had paid in late fees, over limit fees. I pointed out that I would not have been late in paying or gone over the limit if they had not put them on in the first place and that if it wasn't for 'people' like me - he wouldn't have a bl**dy job!!!!! He was so smug. I wish I had known about this site then!

Chrissy

[adamseymour]

So true about them not having a job if we didnt have these accounts. bl**dy cheek ringing you 10 days before the payment is due though. Thats definitely a form of harassment. How dare they assume you need reminding just because you missed the last payment. If they really wanted to help you, they could start wiping your fees off thus reducing the amount you owe, not asking for money before its due!

Good luck, and keep us/me posted!

[Enron]

Unfortunately Citi are one of the harder institutions to claim against.

 

It seems that the Financial Ombudsman maybe a quicker route to claim your money back by raising a complaint - though in this instance you cannot claim interest.

 

Citi's solicitors will make the process as pertracted and unpleasant as possible.

[chrissy3554]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the advice Enron. I am not taking anything for granted with any of my claims but I figure that nothing ventured, nothing gained and I am prepared to wait my time and have my day in court. The thought of court does not perturb me at all. Within my employment court is becoming a regular event so it does not daunt me. Was recently at Leeds court and whilst sitting waiting I kept hearing -

Mr ****** - v - Barclays Bank

Mr ****** - v - MBNA

Mr ****** - v - Lloyds, now if I were to make a guess I reckon there were some bank charges being reclaimed there, don't you? The names kept being called out at about 15 - 20 minute intervals throughout the morning. Will keep all updated.

Regards, Chrissy

[MARTIN3030]

15-20 minute intervals ????

just enough time for the Judge to say....ok the defence have not turned up...call the receptionist and say can you organise the next case please.........

[chrissy3554]

Hi Folks

Received a reply to my request for my money back, as follows -

Dear XXXXXX

Re Acc XXXXXXXX

 

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about the charges which have been added to your Citi Card account.

On Wednesday 5th April 2006 the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) issued a statement regarding the default charges levied on customers by credit card issuers for breaches of contract such as making a late payment or going over their credit limit.

Within this statement the OFT has stated that it believes that those charges are too high and has recommended credit card companies review their position with a view to reducing their respective charges to a maximum of £12 unless there are exceptional reasons why a higher level should apply. Card issuers had been requested to review and respond to the OFT by 31 May 2006.

Although not a party to the OFT investigation that led to the report, Citi Cards is aware of the report and we have undertaken to reconsider our charges in light of the OFT statement.

In order to remain competitive with other lenders we have reconsidered these charges after a review of the market. From 28 June onwards we have lowered our charges to the OFT recommended rate of £12. This charge is not retrospective in effect.

In over a dozen recent court cases involving Citi, we have successfully argued the fairness of the above policy and the fairness of the £12 charges. The cases have all resulted in the claims being dismissed and the courts have implicitly held that the policy is fair and the charges reasonable, being in line with both the OFT guidance and common law principles of damage for breach of contract.

I understand that this was not the outcome you would have hoped for and if you would like an independent review of this, you may refer to the Finance and Leasing Association at the following address:

The Compliance Manager

4th Floor Imperial House

15-19 Kingsway

London

WC28 6UN

www.fla.org.uk

You may also contact the Financial Ombudsman Service. This must be done within six months from the date of the letter. I have enclosed their leaflet for you. If you have any other questions or would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below and I will be happy to assist you.

Yours sincerely

 

Mark Clibbens

Office of the Chief Executive

Te;:0800 146 188

Fax 02709050710

Email - [email protected]

 

I take it this is the usual fobbing off letter that everyone receives?

 

I feel a LBA coming on!!!

 

Chrissy

[chrissy3554]

Hi All,

Just checked when I posted my request for payment and it was the 21st Feb. So by my reckoning I should be sending the LBA on the 8th/9th March - can anyone advise if that is right?

Chrissy

[Empire Strikes Back]

hi chrissy

Looks llike a new type of fob off letter. I dont where they have dug the facts up re the Courts reaction to their costs and the subsequent dismissal of all the cases. I was in court on Monday with Citi Cards and the Judge has given them 14 days in which to reveal their true costs to me, I also know of another site memeber who was in court a couple of days before me and their Judge also ordered standard disclosure. I was gobsmacked at the letter they sent you, just goes to show the levels these guys will stoop to to try and put us off getting our money back. Of all the banks I have dealt with these are the lowest of them all and come out with so much b******t it makes you more determined to fight them. Dont give up, go get em!

Yes you are right with your dates for sending the LBA.

Cheers EMP

[mauritius]

Good luck with your LBA Chrissy. Out of interest, without me searching the thread, is your claim in relation to bank charges, or credit card?

[chrissy3554]

Hi All,

Hi Mauritius

My claim relates to credit card charges - which I might add I intend to claim every last penny back!!

Chrissy

[mauritius]

You go for it. The fact that they are reducing their payment NOW doesnt justify the £860+ they have already taken from you. I also recieved the usual up yours letter from another bank this week and its a little disheartening but it makes you more determined to follow it through for every last penny!

I wish you success x

[chrissy3554]

Hi Empire Strikes Back,

Thanks for your support and I will take this all the way. Citi Bank are just one of six claims I am chasing at the present. If I am successful with all the claims (and trust me they have a fight on their hands) then it will clear all outstanding amounts with about 3k left over. It is annoying to think of the distress that has been caused by these institutions to so many people, who are already struggling to manage their finances. In an ideal world these banks would be out of business as we would not need their services and then they would not have been able to unlawfully demand their over exorbitant charges. I have today been offered a partial payment from one equating to about a third of what I am asking so my next letter to them will be saying....'thanks but no thanks..pay up or else!' Hope that all goes well with your claim.

Regards, Chrissy

[SteveH2508]

I got the identical FO letter a couple of days ago. Counting down to the LBA myself and lacing the boot tightly ready for insertion!

 

Good Luck!

[munchkin0110]

Hi Folks

Received a reply to my request for my money back, as follows -

Dear XXXXXX

Re Acc XXXXXXXX

 

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about the charges which have been added to your Citi Card account.

On Wednesday 5th April 2006 the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) issued a statement regarding the default charges levied on customers by credit card issuers for breaches of contract such as making a late payment or going over their credit limit.

Within this statement the OFT has stated that it believes that those charges are too high and has recommended credit card companies review their position with a view to reducing their respective charges to a maximum of £12 unless there are exceptional reasons why a higher level should apply. Card issuers had been requested to review and respond to the OFT by 31 May 2006.

Although not a party to the OFT investigation that led to the report, Citi Cards is aware of the report and we have undertaken to reconsider our charges in light of the OFT statement.

In order to remain competitive with other lenders we have reconsidered these charges after a review of the market. From 28 June onwards we have lowered our charges to the OFT recommended rate of £12. This charge is not retrospective in effect.

In over a dozen recent court cases involving Citi, we have successfully argued the fairness of the above policy and the fairness of the £12 charges. The cases have all resulted in the claims being dismissed and the courts have implicitly held that the policy is fair and the charges reasonable, being in line with both the OFT guidance and common law principles of damage for breach of contract.

I understand that this was not the outcome you would have hoped for and if you would like an independent review of this, you may refer to the Finance and Leasing Association at the following address:

The Compliance Manager

4th Floor Imperial House

15-19 Kingsway

London

WC28 6UN

www.fla.org.uk

You may also contact the Financial Ombudsman Service. This must be done within six months from the date of the letter. I have enclosed their leaflet for you. If you have any other questions or would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below and I will be happy to assist you.

Yours sincerely

 

Mark Clibbens

Office of the Chief Executive

Te;:0800 146 188

Fax 02709050710

Email - [email protected]

 

I take it this is the usual fobbing off letter that everyone receives?

 

I feel a LBA coming on!!!

 

Chrissy

Hi

I've just had this letter too and am on here looking for advice. I thought it was a fob off letter as if they had really been successful in having cases dismissed then this would surely have been reported to the treetops.

 

What have you done about it as I need to decide what to do next. Do I write to them asking for evidence or just file my claim without further notice (I did say taht I would do this in my intial 14 day letter) which is what I am tempted to do. Although I am slightly concerned by all the post regarding Citi being difficult etc.

[chrissy3554]

Hi Folks,

Hi Emmajvassel - I will be posting my LBA on the 8th March. I do appreciate that Citi are one of the more difficult ones to deal with but I am prepared to take this all the way and not give up without a fight. From reading all the threads they use every stalling, scaring tactic going in order to disuade you from proceeding through to the court stage. We can fight them together if you would like and keep each other posted?

Regards, Chrissy

[MARTIN3030]

Hi

I've just had this letter too and am on here looking for advice. I thought it was a fob off letter as if they had really been successful in having cases dismissed then this would surely have been reported to the treetops.

 

What have you done about it as I need to decide what to do next. Do I write to them asking for evidence or just file my claim without further notice (I did say taht I would do this in my intial 14 day letter) which is what I am tempted to do. Although I am slightly concerned by all the post regarding Citi being difficult etc.

 

 

 

With replies like this Benny hill isnt missed so much.

Yes carry on with your claim,we have learned that Citi are no pushover and to their credit have put up a fight that makes Tyson look like a novice.

That said, consumeraction group have been hot to reply and theres nothing to be afraid of,although I will be perfectly honest without CAG I would not like to take these guys on alone and I think most of the seasoned Citi claimants will agree.

We have stuck togther on this and managed to contain them although the fight goes on.Its important that you keep posting your progress as this enables you to address each stage of the claim.

Go to Tesco and buy some folders............with these lot theres a bit more paperwork involved than there would be with a Halifax claim.

[chrissy3554]

Hi All,

Thanks for your support Martin3030, I figure I have nothing to lose, so what the hell!! I am spurred on by everyone's help and advice that I have received - not only on this thread but my others' also. Many thanks to all who help and advise.

Chrissy:D

[munchkin0110]

Hi Chrissy

Would be good if we can stick together on this especially as we are at the same stage. I will send my LBA tomorrow as well. Which template will you be using? I've modified the one from this site and added a bit in about the £12 charge which I found on a thread.

 

Chrissy - I have asked CAG to change my user name - as a new user not sure if I can PM you to let you know it's still me? How do I do it do you know?

 

Are you claiming from anyone else? I have 8 ongoing and 4 more to start. A lot to keep track of I know but still....

 

E x

[munchkin0110]

Hi

Just wondering if I should attach a copy of the N1 form to my LBA to show them I mean business. Or will it just give them advance warning of the content.

 

Chrissy - I've got a 2 x claim in for Capital One as well. Will start my own thread on that soon (I've got 8 claims in and 4 more to go so am spending hours on this site trying to read thru all the threads - my mind is boggling...). Posted a reply to you last night re sticking together re Citi but it's not on here so don't know where it's gone to...

[gizmo111]

Just wondering if I should attach a copy of the N1 form to my LBA to show them I mean business. Or will it just give them advance warning of the content.

 

No point - and they are likelyto make the point that you never intended to negotiate out of court anyway.

[chrissy3554]

Hi All,

Hi emmajvassel - It would be good to support each other throughout this battle and see it through to the end together. I am posting my LBA tomorrow. I used the template off the site with a bit of tweaking. Not sure about changing your user name issue - I have received a pm from another member so you should be able to do it. I think you click onto my user name and follow the boxes? Maybe someone else can help with this? I think we live about 25 miles from each other so maybe we can celebrate together when we get our money back. Regards, Chrissy

[chrissy3554]

Emma, Forgot to mention I am also claiming monies back from others. I currently have four claims running together. I am also waiting on statements from Egg and Barclaycard - and they are way over due!! Egg are again fobbing me off even though I have sent a non-compliance letter on the 20th Feb.........need to get on with this one. Barclaycard are just not responding again I have sent them a non-compliance letter with no response - again, need to progress this!

Chrissy