If you use Citibank, you may want to reconsider

[kstrongsyj]

So I have a Citibank credit card, and tied to it is a rewards points from ThankYou Rewards. In the past I have received many gift cards from them (you can request custom rewards) for Sportsmans Warehouse, Cabelas, and Midway USA. This week I have a bunch of points again, so I wanted to get a brownells gift card this time. I send in the request, and this is the BS I receive back...

"Dear Mr. XXXXXXX,

Thank you for submitting your request for a Your Wish Fulfilled reward
from ThankYou Network (SM). We are unable to redeem for weapons,
ammunition, or anything directly related to the act of killing another
being. Please feel free to submit another wish request at any time.

Should you have any questions regarding this YourWishFulfilled reward,
you may reply to this e-mail or call us directly at 1-866-625-1573.
Wish Specialists are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 9
a.m. to 12 a.m. EST.


Jordan Bain
ThankYou Network
www.thankyounetwork.com


© 2007 Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. All rights reserved.
Citi, Citibank, Citi with Arc Design, ThankYou Design and ThankYou are
registered service marks of Citigroup Inc. ThankYou Network is a
business unit of Citicorp Credit Services, Inc."


Needless to say, I am closing my accounts.

[halifax]

Couldn't state it any clearer, I guess. Next they will refuse to honor fast-food charges because it's bad for your health, or gasoline purchases because it contributes to global warming. What a bunch of self-rightous idiots.

Thankfully, I don't have any citibank accounts already.

[spsellars]

We are unable to redeem for weapons, ammunition, or anything directly related to the act of killing another being

In all fairness, "weapons/firearms" is listed in their T&C (https://www.thankyou.com/tc.jspx), but ammo isn't. And freaking wow to the B.S. bolded above. Have you spoken with his superior?

I know Smith Barney offers the same program, are SB and Citi related? Or is the "Thank You Network" its own entity?

[slowfire]

Thanks for posting this. Yes, I will be reconsidering their card, I did not know that they thought that way.:(

[robitrocks]

That's Bolshevik. "Directly related to the act of killing another being." What a nutjob.

[A324]

I cancelled my Citibank credit card last year after getting the worst customer service I have ever received from a bank while attempting to resolve a billing error.

[thomasanelson]

Based on this and their very weak security protocals, I will consider cancelling all my accounts with them. I bet all the major financial institutions are in bed with anti's. Corporations have become part of the totalitarianism problem just like big government.

[kstrongsyj]

I will be calling them Monday to close all my accounts, and move about $200k out of various things with them. I am also getting my Mom to close all of her accounts. Between the 2 of us they will lose about a half million. I hope you guys can help me spread the word. I understand they wont buy guns. I buy all of my supplies from Brownells. Am I no longer allowed to purchase directly using my card? Oh wait....that's right, they will let me use my platinum card with a $35k limit anywhere I want, I just cant get a gift card from them because I will kill another being :rolleyes: I am half tempted to go buy a few guns this week on my account prior to closing it, but I don't want to give them a penny more of my business.

[spsellars]

Apparently it's a more widespread issue than just the rewards - Link (http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/citifirst-data-anti-gun-policies-stir-controversy-calls-for-boycott/)

[Subvertz]

Do we have a comprehensive list of anti-gun companies to boycott?
There should be one, and it should be stickied.

[tygerpaw]

I used my Citibank Visa card two weeks ago to purchase a Weatherby rifle, and got American Airlines miles.....

[dwtt]

I cancelled my Citibank credit card last year after getting the worst customer service I have ever received from a bank while attempting to resolve a billing error.

This is dejavu all over again. I did the same thing. Then I got a Chase visa card that had better rewards program.

I think GOC put out a list of companies that are anti 2nd a few years ago. I'll try to find it.

[fireluvrandrew@gmail.com]

guns and ammo dont kill people, people kill people

they should say
We regret to inform you we can not honor any gift card to you, because you could kill another being.

[TonyM]

The original poster submitted a "Just for you" request for rewards points. This is where you can request a custom reward when you have 10,000 points.

Personally, I don't use the Just for you variation, and wouldn't expect them to be able to get cards from some places I could think of. Just because one person at an organization reads the rules one way and makes a decision is no reason to call for a boycott. In fact, for liability reasons and because American families are always sitting with a lawsuit waiting to file, I wouldn't expect them to honor many request for rewards.

In the last 2 years, I've gotten countless $100 gift cards to Cabelas, Home Depot, and various restaurants. Citibank has a cap on how many points you can earn in a calendar year, so I have 5 Citi cards and I think my wife has 4. We use them exclusively for the points.

Honestly, I probably spend about $5k a month on guns, ammo, and accessories with my Citi cards. Twelve days ago I bought a new Kimber and a new Glock at Irvington Arms on one, and will have the points in about a week.

My "Thank You" points paid over $5k last year to replace the doors in my house.

Best bet is, if they don't have an option you want, get a card for somewhere else, and sell it. Or, if you look under "Cash and Charity -> Cash Rewards" you can get cash, although at a higher point to $ ratio (10k points is usually $100 gift card, for cash it takes 16k points for $100).

Also, the Thank You Network is separate from Citi. Citi is your sponsor into the Thank You Network. They both have their own rules, which don't always agree.

[packnrat]

i just use cash. works every time no problems.:eek:

even get a discount at some shops for cash.:D


:TFH:


.

[bohoki]

that is it i'm putting my citicard away and use the cabelas visa

[domokun]

I've opted to just get cash back. Once you get the cash back at the end of the year, you can do whatever you want with it including buy more guns/ammo with it from any vendor that will accept your card.

[sorensen440]

Do we have a comprehensive list of anti-gun companies to boycott?
There should be one, and it should be stickied.

That would be a usefull list
needs to have the reasons attached to it as companys change policys from time to time

[Katana]

Although I can not vouch for its accuracy, this list has been floating around the internet for quite some time.

http://www.pinkpistols.org/antigun.html

[Darklyte27]

I still have a card with them but dont use it. I got it when I was about 18 or so Closing it would just hurt my credit. Untill they start charging me fees for no activity ill just let it be.

[artherd]

Looks like they did not list ammo in their T&C, I would sue for breach.

[robairto]

Based on this and their very weak security protocals, I will consider cancelling all my accounts with them. I bet all the major financial institutions are in bed with anti's. Corporations have become part of the totalitarianism problem just like big government.


I worked for Citi for years and left a couple yrs back after I couldn't take:
blatant fraud of consumers
Growth at the expense of profit
HR policies which were socialist
Anti hunter and firearms policies and support by Hand gun inc and the Kennedy's along with support of PETA

JPMorgan Chase is slightly better but hosted a town hall meeting with Hillary and supports The "Brady campaign and PETA" .. Yes I work at Chase now and at leat they know how to make money without cheating the public and shareholders.

[Sobriquet]

Wow... that killing another being language offended even MY sensibilities. lol.

If you've got money to burn, suing for breach might be interesting. Maybe there's a gun-friendly contract attorney willing to do it pro-bono.

[sobiloff]

Do we have a comprehensive list of anti-gun companies to boycott?
There should be one, and it should be stickied.
Guys, the NRA has been maintaining a list (http://www.nraila.org/Issues/factsheets/read.aspx?ID=15) for quite a while.

[hk4ca]

This post should be put up on different forums if there are no rules prohibiting it. It can go on off-topic section.

[MT1]

Wow... that killing another being language offended even MY sensibilities.

Yeah - that's offensive, and not even in a border-line fashion.

[kstrongsyj]

That is where my issue lies. So they dont wanna support guns, whatever. That is there right I suppose, as much as it is my right to be a gun enthusiast. My problem is the killing another being comment. So, just because I shop at Brownells, I am going to kill? It boggles my mind. Feel free to cross post all you want. I plan to spend some time in the next few days posting this all over the web.

[Guntech]

Ignorant *******s...they are the kind of people that give gun owners a bad name. Going around saying the only reason we get guns is to kill people? That is one of the top 10 things to say that show how smart you are.

[kstrongsyj]

So I got an auto email to "rate my experience" Put all negative. Today I got a voice mail from the Director of Service Relations asking me to call, apologizing profusely and saying the person will see strict ramifications for their actions, and that they were not speaking on behalf of Citi or Thank You Rewards. I called her back but she is East coast time so tomorrow should be interesting. I didnt even finish my letter yet .

[high_revs]

i used to have citibank. after they started dropping other vendors and gift cards lower than $100 (so you use up more points, like 6000 points for a $50 vs. 10000 points for $100), i got so annoyed.

nothing beats cash back these days. costco amex... 3% for gas, 2% for travel related things like hotels, airline ticktets, 1% for everything esle (though my credit union gives a flat 2% back on everything).

thank you now network is an independent company, last i complained to them about less and less gift cards available.

[jmlivingston]

I know Smith Barney offers the same program, are SB and Citi related?

Yup, Smith-Barney is a division of Citibank.

John

[BroncoBob]

Well I guess CitiBank loses my business.

[spsellars]

Yup, Smith-Barney is a division of Citibank.

John

I really need to start paying more attention to the companies I deal with, I never knew that.

[Ding126]

Just make them aware of why you are canceling with them or any company for that matter. I think the wording of the rejection letter raises an eyebrow and lacks taste to say the least.

[Draven]

And make sure you ask them if they allow their mutual funds to buy ATK, S&W, LockMart, Boeing, and other stock. Or if they have any VC invested in Cerberus.

And if they say yes, make sure to tell them what hypocrites they are.

[kstrongsyj]

Well this saga just keeps gettin better. Spoke yesterday to the director, she was very nice, and VERY apologetic. Long story short, she assures me the customer service rep experienced "Swift and appropriate action". She gives me a $200 Sportsmans Warehouse gift card comped, not using any of my points. She tells me I will receive a confirmation email and get my gift cards next week in the mail, and hopes I will contnue my business with Citi.

So at this point I am happy, I dont plan to use Citi any more, but I am no longer on a personal mission to take as much business as I can from them. Then I get this email last night...

"Dear Mr. XXXXXX,

Thank you for your reply. We are more than happy to redeem your
ThankYou Points at retailers which offer more than just ammunition, guns, and
other weapons. You mentioned Cabela's, for example: this website is
not dedicated exclusively to weaponry. Therefore we can redeem your
ThankYou Points there. Brownells, however, has items related only to
killing and nothing else. This is simply the policy of Your Wish
Fulfilled, as it is a potential liability for us. We appreciate your
understanding. Please feel free to place another wish request at any time -- as
long as the store has items other than just weapons, we can most likely
redeem your ThankYou Points there.

Should you have any questions regarding this YourWishFulfilled reward,
you may reply to this e-mail or call us directly at 1-866-625-1573.
Wish Specialists are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 9
a.m. to 12 a.m. EST.


Jordan Bain
ThankYou Network
www.thankyounetwork.com


© 2007 Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. All rights reserved.
Citi, Citibank, Citi with Arc Design, ThankYou Design and ThankYou are
registered service marks of Citigroup Inc. ThankYou Network is a
business unit of Citicorp Credit Services, Inc."

Now, I had replied to the original email with something snotty like its my right to own firearms, blah blah. Same dude replied back to me. I am pretty sure at this point that he has not experience "Swift" action

[ibanezfoo]

...We are unable to redeem for weapons,
ammunition, or anything directly related to the act of killing another
being....

So in reality, you can't get ANYTHING for those points. You can pick up damn near any solid object and beat another being to death with it. Unless they suffer from lack of consistency and are a bunch of hypocrites. I bet you could use the points to get something for the #1 killer: automobiles.

-Bryan

[AJAX22]

I would call, complain, demand to know EXACTLY what the swift and appropriate action was, and take it all the way to the top. If everyone involved in this doesn't get fired, then the action wasn't appropriate.

Their advancing of a political agenda is entirely inappropriate.

[Draven]

It is still technically their place to say so, just as it is your place to take your business elsewhere.

[xfilterx]

I have a small line of credit through Advanta specifically for online purchases. I've purchased from HDPS, HKParts.net, HKSpecialist.net, Ade's Gun Shop, Discount Gun Mart, Turners, and countless others with zero problems. They also offer a rewards program and their online utilities are awesome. I highly recommend them.

[spsellars]

Brownells, however, has items related only to
killing and nothing else.

Brownells might be interested in knowing that. New slogan for them?

[grammaton76]

Err, is this woman not aware that Brownells sells flashlights too? :)

I'd say it's time to dump Citibank, regardless of how they may be ok with non-dedicated gun shops.

BTW, dropping gun stores' merchant accounts over gun sales, and freezing assets? That's old hat - CWS had a number of credit card processors flip out on them for selling guns back when the OLL thing started

Ever noticed that the richest folks around tend to be anti-gun socialist jerks? Guess which folks run the banks...

[bigdave1121]

Damn all of my student loans are through those bastards at CitiBank :mad:

[kstrongsyj]

Long story short, I am getting a big gift card, and I am ssured the associate has been "addressed" I got the impression he was fired.

[dwtt]

Did you tell the Citi manager to look up this thread and read what some had to say about their company? If Jordan Bain is out looking for a new job, his name should pop up on the job websites like Monster.com soon. Interesting if it does.

[grammaton76]

Long story short, I am getting a big gift card, and I am ssured the associate has been "addressed" I got the impression he was fired.

I actually kind of doubt it.

The manager's responsibility is to make you feel like your concerns have been addressed so that you won't do anything to your account.

Actually firing the customer service rep is irrelevant to the manager as long as he's told the guy "Eh, don't do this in the future". Making you BELIEVE he fired the guy though, is very much in his best interests so that you'll be a happy and loyal customer.