I got this card specifically to use for a balance transfer. I activated the card (or thought I did) and went online the other day just to check on the transaction, and it still hadn’t gone through. There was a banner telling me that I still needed to activate my card, and so I did, but there was also a banner trying to tell me my account may be restricted until I contact the number 1-800-825-0393.

I contacted that number and it had me enter my last 4 of my card, and answer my security question. Then I got connected to a representative who told me that in order to do anything they have to “verify my identity” and asked if they could send a code to my phone, which supposedly did not work. Then they started asking what other accounts I had; if I had any open credit cards. I answered yes and listed some names. Then they asked me for my Wells Fargo account number. And I said I did not feel comfortable giving out that information and asked what that has to do with my Citi card? She could not give me an answer and just said it was part of the “verification process.” I ended the call with her.

The number I called was listed directly on the website banner, and I logged into the legit Citi site. It also pops up in the app for me.

Is this something Citi really does? I’ve had cards in the past from them and had NEVER had to do this. I am not giving out my credit card information for a completely unrelated account to a stranger. This whole thing seems fishy to me.

EDIT: I ended up calling the number on the back of my card another day maybe a week later and it STILL transferred me to the “fraud department.” They asked what they could help with and I said, “I’m just trying to figure out why my balance transfer hasn’t gone through yet?” And apparently that was enough to prove that I initiated the transfer…? I have no idea. Then my balance transfer went through within like two days or something. I just think their whole process was not cool. Very strange overall, in my opinion.