Well, that Citi card has a zero balance anyway.
I guess I'll be sending to them in shreds with a little note attached.

I'm sure he's already aware of this post Bob, but in case he's not I forwarded a link to Insty. If he chooses to link it maybe a little publicity will help change some minds at CITI.

I am not tearing up my Citi-Bank Visa. I am not cancelling my account. I am reserving it to make all my online gun purchases. (I do have a C&R FFL.)

At least this is what I will do till June when the 0% interest special deal is up.

Sounds more like the legal departments have got them in a CYA mode.

They are exercising excessive caution possibly with the idea of not being involved down the line as a member of the chain in the sale of a gun that some hot shot lawyer decides to sue all the way up the distribution chain as enablers of some gun related incident.

They as bean counters look at the dollar volume in a year and balance their profits versus their projected worst case liability.

So it may be strictly a cold business calculation on their part.

Well having worked for Citibank in a previous incarnation, I can tell you they have cancelled accounts before for people and companies involved in the firearms business. It began with Sandy and apparently has continued. Too many self serving dolts in that company to survive if you have a mind and the desire to actually do something useful....

It would be interesting to see if they can notice how many NRa members/supporters they used to enjoy for customers.

Hmmm... I canceled $60k worth of credit with Citi after they sponsored the RaTHergate/Bush National Guard show on CBS.

I guess I'll have to get a card of theirs just for Gun purchases. I wonder if I can get one with an NRA logo?

Well, coincidentally, I was doing my online banking and ordering a check sent to them this morning. Then I read this. The check is now for the full amount and contains a cancellation notice referring to their anti-gun policy. Now I need to go write a letter to make it stick...

Well, coincidentally, I was doing my online banking and ordering a check sent to them this morning. Then I read this. The check is now for the full amount and contains a cancellation notice referring to their anti-gun policy. Now I need to go write a letter to make it stick...

PS: I think you broke mu.nu; it's rejected me repeatedly due to comment overload.

Never assume conspiracy where stupidity will suffice.

Both phones now roll over to voicemail:

June Rivera-Mantilla (631-683-7734) requests that you not leave a voicemail, but send email to questions@firstdata.com

Her purported supervisor, Robert Tenenbaum (631-683-6570) claims he is not her supervisor, and repeats the request that email be sent.

Fair enough. Sent email, with questions, and a request for a response. Left both individuals a voice message (I don't take direction well), asking to be informed as to who June's supervisor actually is, and for his/her contact information.

Sounds like they are both having a special day.

Kirk

Here is NSSF's response to the anti-gun corporate policy employed by First Data and Citi Merchant Services.

January 10, 2008

Dear :

This is to confirm the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s receipt of your e-mail response on behalf of First Data Corporation and Citi Merchant Services on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, concerning First Data and Citi Merchant’s unilateral decision to stop processing credit card transactions involving the lawful sale of firearms by law-abiding, federally-licensed, firearms distributors/retailers. Regrettably, your e-mail serves to confirm the anti-gun corporate policy of First Data and Citi Merchant Services and that the article in our publication “Bullet Points,” and subsequent posting to our Website, was based on a correct and accurate understanding of that policy as articulated in the December 26, 2007, letter to Mr. Charlie Crawford at CDNN Sports Inc.

We had hoped to hear from First Data Corporation and Citi Merchant Services that this was not your corporate policy and that the letter was merely the ill-considered actions of a single employee.

Your anti-gun corporate policy is based on ignorance of the law applicable to the sale of firearms. It is perfectly legal, in fact commonplace, for a federal firearms licensee in one state to sell a firearm to a non-licensee (consumer) from another state. What you fail to appreciate is that the firearm is not shipped in interstate commerce directly to the consumer. Rather, as required by federal law, the firearm is shipped by the selling licensee to another federal firearms licensee in the state of residence of the consumer who is purchasing the firearm. The consumer acquires the firearm from that licensed dealer in a face-to-face transaction after completion of a Firearms Transaction Record, commonly referred to as an ATF Form 4473, and a federally-mandated background check to ensure that the purchaser is legally permitted to buy the firearm.

Furthermore, the policy of First Data and Citi Merchant Services interferes with the receiving and shipping of inventory from and to federally licensed firearms retailers, distributors and manufacturers. This inventory supplies not only law-abiding Americans, but military and law enforcement agencies as well.

June River-Mantilla’s original correspondence contained so many errors that one could only deduce that it was an uniformed mistake that would consequently be corrected. Instead, we learned yesterday that First Data Corporation and Citi Merchant Services stands behind the policy, which affects not only firearms retailers, manufacturers and distributors, but also law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels of government and law-abiding citizens.

NSSF will not remove its Web posting nor will we rescind or alter our story. However, if we receive written confirmation from you that, after having researched the law, First Data and Citi Merchant Services have changed their corporate policy, we will consider publishing that fact in a follow-up story.

Sincerely,

NSSF

I'd love to know whether the VPC or a similar gun grabbing group sent correspondence to these guys trying to misrepresent the nature of what is going on with their customer's internet business. Thinks like "interference with contract" "alienation of prospective business relationships" and "defamation (per se)" come to mind.

If I were CDNN I'd file the lawsuit just to get discovery of whether those sorts of things were going on in the back ground. As it stands, they've got a basic "good faith and fair dealing" claim in most states anyway.

Here's a copy of the note I just forwarded to all my credit card providers through their various account management Websites
--------------

Please answer the following question regarding my account. Is First Data Corporation or Citi Merchant Services in any way involved or associated with my credit card account - including the processing of charges?

Unfortunately, it has been brought to my attention that FDC and Citi Merchant Services have initiated a campaign against Firearms Dealers.

I have been very pleased with my service from your company up to this point and it is my sincere hope that your firm has no exisitng relationship with FDC or Citi Merchant Services. As a lifetime participant in shooting sports and a lifetime member of the NRA - I could not abide such a policy and would be forced to cancel any associated accounts. Please advise as to the nature of any such relationship.

With Thanks,

SHOTandTACKLE,

I'm pretty sure you're asking the wrong party. If I understand it correctly, FDC and CitiMerchant are providing their services to the business (for example, a gas station) itself, basically handling the credit card processing for them.

Kevin,

Generally what you say is correct - but it is important to recognize that FDC processes many (in fact, I believe, the majority) of all credit card transactions in the United States. What's more, as I recall, they have the largest credit card production and distribution facility in the country (an incredibly secure site in Nebraska) and I know for a fact that they produce and distribute many of the cards issued by big name banks.

I agree that the problem is largely one tied to merchant services but I believe that a company must be held accountable for the actions of its employees, divisions, and key vendors. If my cards were issued or produced by FDC - then I will look to get a card from another issuer.

I have already cancelled one of my cards over this. I guess its just a personal choice - but as an FFL - it's a pretty simple one for me.

Is Bloomberg hidden somewhere in this picture?