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_________________ Mommy to Matthew Patrick...born 3/6/08!

I have a Citibank Mastercard that 146 days past due. The total balance is $2278.9. The minimum amount due 7/11 is $1,189.79. For the past year I've been paying them $60 a month. They keep calling but I don't answer. Today my husband got a hang up call from "Unavailable" which Citibank calls from (I only know this because I mistakenly answered once the "unavailable" but got scared & said I wasn't available).

I don't want my husband to find out about this debt. I can only afford $60 a month to Citibank.

Each month I do get an email saying that "No matter what my situation, they are sure they can help".

I should call Citibank & discuss this with them, but I'm afraid its too far gone.

Has anyone dealt with Citibank in trying to set up payment arrangements??

Are they easy to work with?

If one rep declines, would it pay to call back & get another rep and see if they can help?

All I know is I don't have the money, but I am willing to pay $60 a month. I have a baby & its hard to make more than $60 a month payment.

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:52 pm Subject:

The hardship program that they offered to me was a reduced interest rate (I don't remember exactly what it was) and a minimum monthly payment amount of 1% of the outstanding balance. It is a temporary program though for a few months (somewhere between 6 and 12).

I couldn't afford even the reduced payments, but if you could qualify for their hardship program (loss of income, etc.), your $60 a month should more than cover your minimum payment (although your account would eventually revert to the former terms, and I don't think you can qualify for a second hardship program).

I would definitely call them and see if you can work something out. That way, the phone calls would stop.

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:55 pm Subject:

What are the reasons for hardship?

I have other debts that are just so large and by the end I can't pay some creditors what I should.

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:08 pm Subject:

I'm not sure what all of their hardship situations would be. In our case, it was a loss of self-employment income due to the downturn in the economy. Has your income been reduced any since having your baby? I think they will want to see some reason that makes them think that your situation is only temporary, since the hardship program is temporary. (However, they didn't require any proof of our hardship before offering us their program.)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:16 pm Subject:

I was foolish & overextended myself...that's my main reason.

As far as the baby, I've only lost income since April. I pay rent, utilities and I am enrolled in a debt consolidation program with another company because those bills were INSANE. I didn't want to enter the citicard in the plan because I have a sears card through citibank (different than this citibank debt) and didn't want them to close the sears card. That sears card has a high limit & I have good credit on it.

I go back to work at the end of this month, but even then I can still only pay the $60. Everything I can put into the debt consolidation plan, I'm putting in there.

My husband doesn't know about my debts & I would like to keep it that way. Is it possible to tell them to not contact him at all if they are the one who called him today?

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:25 pm Subject:

I'm not sure about that. I know that my husband's creditors do not voluntarily talk to me. They call and ask for my husband, I say I'm his wife, can I help you, then they discuss the account with me (I'm the one dealing with all of the credit issues in our house). He does have an account with Citi, and they never identify themselves to me until after I identify myself to them--but then they readily talk to me.

What I have found with all of our creditors is that they don't necessarily read the notes on the account before calling, since most of the calls are auto-dialed and a live person only comes on the line once I pick up the phone. So even if they noted the account not to discuss it with your husband, I'm not sure that there's a guarantee that they would read the notes!

Maybe someone else will have a better answer for you on that question!

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:28 pm Subject:

Thanks Alias! You've helped a lot!

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:50 pm Subject:

I know I should call them, but I'm just so afraid of them treating me like crap.

would offering to settle work instead? I can't make a lump sum-it'd have to be in payments.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:53 am Subject:

Hi Lawn,

I think that you should talk to your husband at this point of time when you are in such a bad situation. Initially he might shout at you…but later you can sit together and find a feasible solution to the overwhelming debt. I think this is the best solution to your woes at this juncture.

Take care

Phoenix

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:26 am Subject:

Thanks Phoenix...I know I should tell him, but I want to handle this on my own. Telling him is the last option for me.

I really want to deal with this on my own, but not sure how to approach the creditor...

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:40 am Subject:

Since they are the original creditor it is almost impossible to stop the calls short of changing your phone numbers. Your options are change your contact info, try to negotiate with them or wait until they charge off the account and spin it to a collection agency so you can send them a DV with a CD attached.

I know it is probably hard but I would suggest discussing it with your husband instead of keeping him in the dark. If it makes you feel any better my wife did the same thing to my credit but for about 50-100x the amount of your debt. She had over $100,000 of unsecured debt in my name. I have settled most of it now with the exception of about 10k from 2 different creditors. One has never contacted me and the other I DV'd so they leave me alone. I might settle once I have the money but we are struggling right now.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:02 am Subject:

Lawn...I would suggest you "bite the bullet" and call Citi NOW. Once the account becomes 180 days past due, by law, they must write it off. Once they do this, it will be very difficult to work anything out with them. Then it goes to collections which if you don't pay, they will sue you. Your husband will find out one way or another.

See if you can get into a hardship program and get them to re-age the account. I would also recommend that if they do put you into a program that you take a little extra from the consolidation program ($20 - $40) and apply it to the card.

If you call them and they are rude, politely end the call and call again later. Maybe you'll get someone who is willing to work with you.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:42 am Subject:

For what it's worth, I have talked to numerous people at Citi, between my husband's and my cards, and also both of our AT&T Universal cards (owned by Citi). Nobody from there has ever been rude to me. I would also advise that you "bite the bullet", as desperatelyseekingsanity said, and just call them.

Also, is there any way that you might be able to add that card at this point to your debt consolidation plan? I know that you originally didn't want to because of the Sears card. However, many creditors will cut off all cards if any of the cards are delinquent, so you might end up losing the Sears card anyway.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:58 am Subject:

Thank you all for the advice. I really should call them. I can't add them to my consolidation plan because then my payment to the DMP would be too much.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:09 pm Subject:

Just an update that might interest you. I just received a phone call asking for my husband. I said he's not here, can I take a message. The person introduced himself from Citi, and asked if he could speak with the wife of ____. He then told me that although I'm not liable for the account, he can speak with me about it.

So it may not be possible to keep this account information from your husband! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

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