Loads of False Promises: 5% Cash Back card. Review on Citibank MasterCard Credit Card

I was looking for a 5% cash back credit card and I decided to go with Citibank card. I am an informed customer and averse to taking risk. I had lots of discussion with the Sales Person (Shakthi) and she promised me : 5% cash back on "all" transactions - at petrol outlets, eat outs, utility payments, etc. But when I actually got the card, I did not get any cash back and when I called customer service they said I have been misinformed. What is the point in having so many due diligence calls if they just LIE and sell the products? And the customer service is so bad that I did not get my online account and when I dialled the number on IVR it did not recognize the card number even after 2 months.

And worse, the IVR did not have an option to talk to customer service person. May be it was a case of unfriendly IVR setup, nevertheless it added to customer woes. I did not get my bill and I had to follow up (through Credit card lost option and asking the person to transfer to right department) only to find penalty levied. To be fair to them, I did get a good Citibank Customer Service Manager from Chennai - (Vijay) - who helped me close the card and one more person (dont recollect her name) who helped me revert the penalty. But I had to undergo some annoying time and give 100 explanations (all waste of my time) to come out of Citi. "Citi never allows you to sleep". And FYI...i didnt get my photo card for which I had given my photo.

Pros:

1. Well known brand

Cons:

1. False Promises

   
   




2. Useless IVR

   
   




3. Bad Customer Service (I was lucky to meet 2 good people in my endless tries who helped me out of my woes)

   
   




4. No customer centricity and they dont care. (Remember I didnt asked for photo card and got something else).