So I just returned from Thailand this past Sat after 1 week. I was there last year and did not alert Citibank or AMEX that I would be there. So this year, I did advise both Citi and AMEX appr 1 month in advance(dates and location where I would be.) So day 2 in Bangkok, I use my Citi ATM card and I get declined. I try again...same thing. I use another ATM and no luck. I get back to my hotel and call the "scholars" at Citibank and they put me through to a manager. They have to verify my ID using 5 random questions. Then they also ask me how much $$ I had taken out during the last 24hrs(mind you there is a 12hr difference, I was trying to do the USD>THB currency conversion in my head...and I had had appr 15 beers that day!) Then they tell me that they froze my acct due to "suspicious activity!" Ok...I ask what the suspicious activity was. The genius tells me that they saw money being withdrawn in Thailand on my acct!! I ask if she sees the note that I alerted them that I would BE IN THAILAND during this time and she said, "Yes!" I said SO WHAT THE FLUFF IS SUSPICIOUS! If I was taking out money in NYC(where I live) during that time it WOULD BE SUSPICIOUS! She said that the debit feature still worked but the ATM access was frozen! How stupid is Citibank in this case!! "Hey guys, I will be in Thailand in March. FYI." Yet they freeze my acct as they saw activity in March in Thailand.
No wonder they needed a bailout!
Just wanted to vent. Everything was resolved but I just think it was funny(after the fact!)
No wonder they needed a bailout!
Just wanted to vent. Everything was resolved but I just think it was funny(after the fact!)
