FCBA Dispute Resolved

J

jessica thomas

Member
I’ve always taken good care of my credit my scores across all bureaus range between 800–820, I maintain around 2% utilization, and I’ve never missed a payment.


But recently, I ran into a frustrating situation. I used my Citi card to make a purchase and ended up getting scammed the item never arrived. When I filed a dispute, I submitted solid evidence: tracking info showing the package went on a weird cross-country loop and ended up at a P.O. Box (not mine), screenshots of the seller blocking me, and even a statement from the postmaster saying the package had two different labels on it and wasn’t deliverable.
Despite all that, Citi sided with the seller and closed the case. I called back, and they reopened it turns out the rep who originally filed the dispute marked the wrong reason code ("cancelled goods") instead of “item not received,” so Citi was waiting on a return tracking number that didn’t exist.

I was told it would be re-investigated and to wait about 10 days. But today, I got an alert from Credit Karma saying Citi added a note to my credit report

This showed up on Equifax, though when I called them, they said they didn’t see it yet. But I also checked Experian, and the same comment is there. I didn’t file any disputes directly with the credit bureaus — Citi told me they did it on my behalf. So now I’m confused. Should I just wait and let Citi go through their process, or should I also file disputes directly with the bureaus? I’m worried that doing both could create issues, or worse, backfire.

To make matters worse, I’m in the middle of house hunting, and this kind of remark on my credit file is freaking me out. I’ve heard that even something as small as a dispute comment can cause problems with mortgage applications.

So far, my score only dropped by 1 point, likely because the temporary credit Citi gave me was reversed and the $250 charge is back on the account. Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation before? Is it better to wait out Citi’s investigation, or should I act now with the bureaus?
And how much weight does that “consumer disagrees” comment actually carry when it comes to lenders?

Any guidance would really help.
 
Oh man, that sounds brutal. Especially with such a solid credit profile, I can’t imagine how frustrating this must be. Citi really dropped the ball here. I’d personally be livid if they slapped a dispute remark on my reports without me even initiating it. You’re right to be cautious, especially with a mortgage on the horizon.
 
From my experience as a loan officer: yes, a dispute comment can flag your file during underwriting. Some lenders treat it like a red flag until it’s resolved, especially if it involves revolving credit. You might want to call Citi and ask them to remove the comment now if they’re actively reinvestigating.
 
Why does it always feel like banks side with the scammer unless you scream loud enough? You had solid proof .... postmaster statement and all! Honestly, I’d be questioning whether this was intentional or just another case of incompetence. Either way, it should’ve never gotten this far.
 
Ah yes, nothing says customer care like getting gaslit by your bank and then surprised with credit report graffiti. Gotta love modern banking. Next up: your credit score drops because you dared to ask a question.
 
I went through something eerily similar with Capital One. They marked a dispute without my consent and I nearly lost out on a pre-approval. Had to get it manually removed before closing. Call Citi ASAP, escalate to their Executive Resolution team, and request the remark be deleted NOW.
 
You’re doing everything right. Keep records of every conversation with Citi. I’d wait just a little longer before poking the bureaus, since dual disputes can confuse the process. But if you’re close to applying for a mortgage? I'd get proactive and ask Citi to fix it fast.
 
File a CFPB complaint if they don’t fix this in a week. It’s free and puts real pressure on them to act. Mention the misfiled dispute reason and the credit reporting comment. It’s wild how fast banks move when regulators get involved.
 
Did the seller have a legit storefront or was this through a marketplace? I’m wondering if Citi’s systems just automatically defer to the merchant platform unless a human intervenes. Still weird that they dropped the ball twice.
 
This whole situation is ridiculous, and I feel for you. You're clearly a responsible consumer and yet being treated like a liability. That consumer disagrees tag is just salt in the wound. I hope you get resolution ASAP.
 
Don’t file with the bureaus yet. Let Citi finish the reinvestigation...... if you act now, you might interfere with the process. If you’re nearing mortgage underwriting, get written confirmation that they’ll remove the comment, and have your LO explain it to the lender.
 
Honestly, sounds like Citi’s dispute team either doesn’t care or is poorly trained. The fact that a rep used the wrong code and no one caught it until you chased them is wild. I’d switch cards after this, tbh.
 
Bro I had a chargeback once where the merchant literally ADMITTED they didn’t ship the item… and my bank still sided with them because not enough evidence. You basically have to send them a video of the package falling into the void.
 
Check the Fair Credit Reporting Act section 611. You’re entitled to challenge inaccurate reporting. Citi initiating the dispute should’ve been accompanied by written notice. If they didn’t get your consent, that’s a compliance issue.
 
The consumer disputes comment alone won’t tank your score but it can delay a mortgage process. Lenders don’t like uncertainty. You’re smart to be proactive about it now. Definitely keep calling Citi and document every step.
 
Yup i second this. I’m a loan processor and we do look at disputes closely. Anything active on revolving accounts can hold up an approval or force a manual underwrite. Better to fix it before you apply.
 
Honestly I’d switch to Discover. Every time I’ve had an issue, they handle it fast and actually side with the customer. Plus, their fraud team doesn’t seem like it was trained by pigeons.
 
I’ve never trusted Citi’s customer service. They botched my balance transfer a while back and it took 4 months to fix. If they added a dispute flag without your permission, that’s sketchy af. You might wanna talk to a consumer rights attorney.
 
If you’re worried about the mortgage app, ask your loan officer if they can do a soft prequal now to check how underwriters might view the dispute comment. It’s better to find out now than risk delays later.
 
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