Citibank Credit Card Complaint

Citibank Credit card department,

Advertising and marketing Alabama

This weekend I went into Costco to look at getting the Citi Visa card I saw advertised while previously pumping gas at a Costco gas station. My main interest was the cash back the card offered. the main advertisements I saw in different places were the high percentages of " cash back '' for different purchases. After consulting a Costco associate at the customer service desk, she confirmed all the things I had seen in the advertisements about the reward, I decided to fill out the application. The application was taken via iPad mounted on the desk. Near the end of the application it asked me to confirm that I had been given the full written disclosures in writing that I could keep. Before I confirmed I asked the associate If she had planned on giving the disclosure and she replied, " Yes, I have them here to take with you if you want when you 're finished. '' I then completed the application and was approved. It was n't until later at home when reviewing the disclosures did I find out that ( on page - of the brochure in much smaller font ) that the " cash back


find out in this process the true aspects of a false " cash back '' offer. Its also to be noted that the main informational brochure has on the front page " GO BIG WITH CASH BACK REWARDS '' ... keep in mind that the words " CASH BACK '' are by far the largest font on the entire brochure. On page - of the full credit card agreement it states, " Requests for cash MAY be fulfilled in the form of a check at Costco 's discretion. '' How is this in any way cash back? This is basically a coupon or gift card only to be used at Costco. It would be completely different if the advertisements stated 'Cash Equivalent Back '. As a reputational risk this could easily be viewed as predatory lending relying on customer 's relationship with Costco and the high likelihood that customers wo n't find out the true aspects of this reward program until far later causing unavoidable material financial harm.