Question
For various reasons I decided to apply for the Citi Gold AAdvantage MasterCard at the airport. About a week later, I got a letter which stated that Citibank could not verify my address and home telephone number, please send a copy of your phone bill. Interesting, because in a few days Citibank CALLED me to make sure I had the letter!
In the meantime, I also received another offer for Citi Gold AAdvantage MC, and decided to apply for this particular offer, letting the one noted above expire by not sending a copy of my phone bill. Strangely, I received another letter after the second application with the same 'copy of your phone bill' request.
I have applied for and recently received two other cards without this 'phone bill' application requirement. The question remains, why is Citibank so insistent on getting a copy of my phone bill to process a credit card application? Seems strange to me.
Answer
Al. I wonder if they want to ascertain your long distance carrier so they can sic MCI on you.
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Maybe when they checked your file with the credit bureaus there was some discrepancy with your address on file and they want to make sure no one is trying to steal your identity.
In several states one can get a free copy of one's report -- it's a good idea to see what's in there every now and then.
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SMessier - I agree. Having two residences this happens to me, not just with Citibank. They are confused because you apply with one address and they see another address on your CBR. Not that I am saying Premier Al has two addresses, just that they are definitely being diligent about verifying it's YOU that applied and gets the card. And yes, Federal law (so applies in every state) permits you one free copy per year of your CBR plus another copy if you are denied credit. I usually mail them the request, though you can probably do it online or phone now.
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I would have believed the address concern myself, except that I have successfully received a Visa and a MC with the same credit history and address information as submitted to Citibank AA Gold.
I think Lindsy may be close to the truth, that Citibank wants to give my phone number to MCI for some more of those dinner time solicitations!
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Originally posted by Premier Al:
I would have believed the address concern myself, except that I have successfully received a Visa and a MC with the same credit history and address information as submitted to Citibank AA Gold.
But were those other cards issued by Citibank as well? Remember that there are three credit CB (Experian, Equifax and Trans-Union), and your file will not be the same at all three. Two years ago I found a very significant (and negative for me) error on one of the three which was not on the other 2. [The problem was easily resolved.]
Different banks will use the reports from different CB, and deal with possible discrepancies in whatever way they choose. The fact that some banks pay little information to your address on file is one factor making identity theft possible.
I would offer Citibank a bill from a different utility, if available, to see whether they are on a secret mission to stick you with MCI or have more legitimate concerns. (Though in my experience MCI will sometimes call you even if you are one of their customer as their record keeping pretty much sucks).
A few months ago, fwiw, I noticed that Equifax had a different address on my record than the other CB, so these things can and do happen.
keithnj: Only (unless there have been recent changes) residents of certain states (MA, VT, MD, NJ, GA -2 per year- and CO) can get a free copy per year without any conditions. In other states one must meet one of the following criteria:
1) be unemployed and plan to seek employment within 60 days...
2) be on welfare
3) report is inaccurate due to fraud.
4) within 60 days of being adversely affected (denied credit) due to information in your credit report.
But since Premier Al lives in CO, a free report from these agencies should be no problem. Regardless of the Citibank situation, I am a strong believer in checking one's report.
Another personal note: on my report last year *four* closed CC accounts were listed as being open. Not good for your rating!
TransUnion (http://www.transunion.com/Personal/OrderOnline.asp)
Equifax (http://www.econsumer.equifax.com/webapp/ConsumerProducts/pgConsumerProducts)
Experian (http://www.experian.com/consumer/index.html)
[Edited fOR UBB coding]
[This message has been edited by SMessier (edited 08-17-2001).]
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I had a similar experience about a month ago when I applied for a Diners Club card. I had cancelled my Diners club card about 2 years ago and thought it would be a fast process with probably my same card number.
Instead, I got a letter saying they could not verify my phone number even though I have a citi click and an AA citibank card with the same phone number. I Faxed them a copy of my local phone bill with my name and phone number. About 2 weeks later, I got a letter saying that they were turning me down because they were unable to verify my telephone number.
I can't understand it, but I decided not to waste my time dealing with them about that.
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A hunch as a merchant who accepts credit cards - I have found the most-simple, yet fraud-averting "proofs of residency" can be water bill or telephone bill, in one's name, at a verifiable physical address.
Another "proof of ID" I have used over the years was simply *having* a fax number.
All of these characteristics combine to provide comfort when I accept a credit card over the phone from unknown parties. Put another way, never been defrauded when a party had one or more of these simple proofs of ID. Hunch Citibank uses the same logic.