Citibank Credit Card Complaint

Citibank Credit card department,

Transaction issue Ohio

I attempted to use my Sears Citi credit card for $1600.00 purchase for a washer and it was rejected even though I had zero balance and $2000.00 limit. I contacted them and was told they chose to put a hold on my card because $ amount was outside the scope of my normal purchase range person and this hold protected me.This hold discriminates against the consumer with a low credit limit and small purchase history for small purchase and payment history. Am I to know that a reasonable person should call ahead to get permission or is this a way for the credit card to anger the small user so that they will cancel their card is costly to credit card company to maintain the account. Also the attitude and demeanor when called the customer service line was that use of the card was up to them and not me. I believe the whole experience was very embarassing and the credit card does not care whether I ever use their card because I am a small fish in a very pond. - - e-mail --