CITIBANK Gold to Platinum Free Upgrade WARNING

[jandk]

I'm not sure whether i missed something on the letter telling me i was eligible for the free upgrade but i'm 99% certain it said you wouldn't need to update your direct debits linked to the old gold card number.

I just got a failure notice from AGL (gas) along with a note saying they'll be adding $23.10 onto my next invoice because of the failure.

I'm on hold now to citibank to get reimbursed for the $23.10. It's not going well so far. I'm now on hold waiting for a supervisor.

SO MAKE SURE YOUR DIRECT DEBITS HAVE BEEN UPDATED.

[netjock]

I'm not sure whether i missed something on the letter telling me i was eligible for the free upgrade but i'm 99% certain it said you wouldn't need to update your direct debits linked to the old gold card number.

I just got a failure notice from AGL (gas) along with a note saying they'll be adding $23.10 onto my next invoice because of the failure.

I'm on hold now to citibank to get reimbursed for the $23.10. It's not going well so far. I'm now on hold waiting for a supervisor.

SO MAKE SURE YOUR DIRECT DEBITS HAVE BEEN UPDATED.

Read the other thread. I'm sure it has worked for others. You sure your gc wasn't past expiry?

Just checked. Works for me without updating DD

[one9]

When I activated my Platinum cards I told Citibank that I did not want the old card number to continue to work for direct debit. They said fine. But when I checked I can see that some old billers were still able to succesfully debit using the old card number.

But yesterday in the mail, I received a letter from Citibank saying that I should contact my billers and update the card details as direct debits have/will stop working.

So I am not sure what is going on.

[netjock]

Because you asked for the card to be deactivated you must change your direct debits.

In the other thread someone said when you activate your platinum they ask you to cut up the gold card but they don't say it is deactivated. Result is all direct debits go through gold card will continue until the card expires (which is the same date your platinum card expires).

Good luck.

[trancedavy@gmail.com]

I'm very upset as well at Citibank.

Here is the FAQ on the back of the Gold to Plat free upgrade letter:

What will happen to my direct debits?
Your recurring payments will continue to function as they do today. Your chip credit card will not impact them in anyway.

I got a letter a few days ago titled "IMPORTANT NOTICE: ACTION REQUIRED". This states "We have identified that you have one or more direct debit arrangements set up on your card that can not be automatically transferred to your new card", with the letter telling me to ring all my companies I have direct debits with to update them with my new credit card number and expiry date!

I understand there may be issues and problems on their end with the upgrade from a Gold to a Platinum card and contining the old Gold credit card number to work for direct debits but not the actual card itself for other transactions, but I wouldn't be so upset if they hadn't made the claim that everything would be all fine with my previous direct debits. They have lied to win over more customers upgrading their card than may have without this misleading claim.

Do we have any rights to complain to an ombusdman about this?

Do you think they are only doing this to get more fees out of companies (as per various other threads they get more fees out of Merchants with Platinum cards compared to Gold/Standard cards). Note, the card number (gold or plat) that the direct debit is charged against is clearly itemised on the Citibank Platinum monthly printed statement for each transaction so you can see which were charged to which credit card (gold or plat) and which credit card number.

[jingles]

I have direct debits with to update them with my new credit card number and expiry date!

Check the expiry date on your gold card.

Does it run out soon?

If it does then that is why they are telling you that you will need to let automatic debtors know.

When the gold card expires you MUST tell everyone your new Plat credit card details, they cannot charge an expired credit card.

[trancedavy@gmail.com]

Check the expiry date on your gold card.

Does it run out soon?

When the gold card expires you MUST tell everyone your new Plat credit card details, they cannot charge an expired credit card.

No, my Gold Credit Card has an expiry of 06/10 so that shouldn't be the issue.

I totally understand and know I will need to update my direct debits from the old Gold credit card number/expiry to the new Platinum credit card number/expiry after the Gold card expires ...

[straitman]

This sounds like a typical Citibank left hand, right hand story

I don't even use Citibank and from what I've read here I'd never trust anything they told me.