Citibank Simplicity - a Credit Card to Avoid Whilst Travelling

altomic on 08/03/2017 - 13:00
Last edited 08/03/2017 - 13:10 by 1 other user

so previously this card has been pretty awesome for overseas travel.

rang citbibank today to let them know I was going OS soon (when I went to Hawaii they cancelled my card as they thought it was being used fraudulently).

the citibank person quickly explained the current fees for the citibank simplicity credit card.

it now attracts a 3.4% of international transaction fee and a 3.5% ATM withdrawal if getting a cash advance.

link to fee schedule

(I do have other cards for travel - Bankwest platinum & 28 degrees. the citibank card is my emergency card that I keep seperately from my other cards incase I lose my wallet.)

Financial

Related Stores

Citibank Australia
Citibank Australia

Comments

  • redforever on 08/03/2017 - 13:04
    +1

    Are you sure you were not referring to the citibank plus transaction account that comes with a debit card?

    • Baysew on 08/03/2017 - 13:09

      No, OP is specifically referring to Citibank Simplicity credit card.

      Citibank Plus Debit card doesn't have these fees.

      • redforever on 08/03/2017 - 13:14
        +2

        I was asking if the OP mixed up the simplicity card with the plus account.

        I wasn't aware of the simplicity being a fee free card for overseas transactions.

        • altomic on 08/03/2017 - 14:28

          it was fee free once upon a time

  • FSTB on 08/03/2017 - 13:06
    +3

    The citibank plus transaction account - a transaction account to use whilst travelling

  • Kenb0 on 08/03/2017 - 13:07
    +3

    Not sure what you mean by "previously this card has been pretty awesome for overseas travel". What features about it previously made it so good for travel? eg. when compared with the Bankwest Platinum or 28degrees card.

    The citibank card that most ozbargainers(and people in the know) use is the Citibank Plus debit card, thats the card with no additional foreign currency fees or additional ATM withdrawal fees.

    • retiredfeline on 08/03/2017 - 13:19

      Maybe it was fee free until the recent changes which specifically exempted the Plus DC? OP should have seen the discussion.

      • altomic on 08/03/2017 - 13:43

        yeah, I hadn't paid much attention to any recent discussions. the citibank card has been my "back up card". it was a fee free card.

      • BadHorse on 08/03/2017 - 14:59
        +2

        I'm pretty sure it's had international transaction fees for quite some time. The only time I used it I got stung a fee and that was in late 2015

        • Kenb0 on 08/03/2017 - 17:08
          +3

          I agree. AFAIK, the Citibank Simplicity credit card has always charged international transaction fees and I've been keeping track of all the cards on the market which have offered fee-free international transactions since 2007, from the days of the NAB Gold Debit card, Wizard Clear Advantage Mastercard, etc..

          The Citibank Simplicity is/was fee-free, but that's only from an annual fee perspective, not from international transaction fee perspective. I think OP just got it mixed up or has been mistaken which card it was.

  • CyberMurning on 08/03/2017 - 13:55

    just cancel that and re apply for Citibank Plus debit card. still FREE international atm withdrawal

  • Brisxr6t on 09/03/2017 - 11:29
    +1

    Citibank are a bank to avoid full stop. They are the most underhanded and untrustworthy firm around.

    Also be careful with smaller banks as they often use Citi as their card service provider. Some of these smaller banks also wish they did not have to deal with Citibank due to their unprofessional ways.

    • Baysew on 09/03/2017 - 11:49

      Any examples you want to share?

      Some of these smaller banks also wish they did not have to deal with Citibank due to their unprofessional ways.

      Could you at least name these smaller banks

      Is there any source of this wish?

      • Brisxr6t on 09/03/2017 - 13:19
        +2

        I have had two cards with Citibank. One directly with Citibank and one through Suncorp. Both ended badly.

        The Suncorp example ended in a situation where I am suppose to make a formal complaint to the financial ombudsman (at the direction of a Suncorp employee) Due to the nature in which they (citibank) cancelled a credit card. The main reasoning for this was based on a formal letter sent to me from Citibank (using Suncorp headings) and then later retracted by a CitiBank employee on me queering it. This letter was then acted on (closure of an account) even though records state it was retracted. I was lucky I was in the company of a Suncorp employee when the Citibank employee told me this and then hung up on me when asked for more information (all whilst at Suncorp and on Suncorps phone system).
        The original letter was possibly based on a situation where I had overpaid (yes OVER paid) the credit card by $5000 or so for the month and was refunded. This caused a massive mess of the account, with them crediting and deducting money for a few weeks to offset the cash withdrawal interest rate and fee. (All which was approved by the Citibank employee I dealt with).

        The other card I had directly though citibank was cancelled after a phone call from them asking me if I was using my card for business based on Australia post expenses and the 5% cashback that was running at the time (I work in property management so fail to see how I can post my work out in parcels lol). Long story short they closed it on this basis ( I was receiving the full $150 maximum cash back per month based on %5 of $3000 spent through the card in cashback on paywave/paypass purchases).

        I do have other examples of Citibanks incompetence, but it is from other people and I do not wish to open myself up legally to such an unprofessional bank.

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