Comments on: Citicorp Refuses to Process Firearms Transactions

By: Wilder Kirkland

Wilder Kirkland — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:11:36 +0000

I purchased a firearm from Bangersusa Feb 26 with a citibank visa. This is the first that I have heard of this company being a gun hater. I am a registered FFL and this is news to me. I will inquire to the company if this is true, and if the information is correct I will close accounts when other credit sources are availiable. Thanks for the heads up this news to me!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:21:03 +0000

#62. Nice shot!!! Ten ring all the way!!!

By: Debi Carll

Debi Carll — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:05:48 +0000

I work for a credit card processing company. Electronic Merchant Systems,a national merchant provider, operating in over 100 US Cities. Our corporate office is located in Independence Ohio. I welcome the opportunity to help any merchant/ web site wanting to change merchant service/ credit card providers. We offer competive rates and can do a free rate review for you. If you or anyone you know would like information on changing processors,I can be contacted at dcarll@emscorporate.net.

By: Douglas Greene

Douglas Greene — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:29:29 +0000

Thank you #37!!

There’s a lot more to this story than meets the eye. Citibank refuses to do business with one gun dealer (they won’t process a payment for a pair of socks for this retailer, let alone a handgun) and all of a sudden everyone is screaming about a conspiracy and gun control.

You can still go into nearly any gun dealer in the Unites States of America, including mass retailers like K-Mart, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop, and buy ammo and guns using the Citibank Credit Card. Citibank has absolutely no idea, or interest, in what you are buying…they are just processing a payment.

And to me, it only seems like common sense to know who you are selling a gun to.

By: Robert Davy

Robert Davy — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:16:08 +0000

This does not sound right to me— I just purchased 2 revolvers last month from a gun shop and used my Citi card. NO problems, no questions, no feedback from anyone yet. I am sure that the gun store would have contacted me if they had any problems getting their money, and as far as I go, no one from any agency has shown up at my door asking questions about that or any of the other half dozen gun purchases I have made in the past couple of years—-yep- used credit cards for all of them too- though not always Citi cards.

By: John Lerch

John Lerch — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:46:30 +0000

The merchant agreement the company signed specifically allows the credit card company to seize all funds at any time without cause and without merchant recourse. This was among many grossly objectionable clauses my small Santa Rosa company was required to accept when my local bank changed credit card processors. The bank said it was a new national contract used by all credit card processors. Other clauses included allowing them to seize all money in all personal and business accounts and preventing me from suing them even in the case of gross, intentional misconduct.

Fortunately my contracting business did not need to take credit cards. I offered to accept them as a service to my customers who loved to get mileage, etc. on large dollar transactions. I canceled my merchant account, but few businesses can afford to do that. Fewer still have read the agreement, IMHO, and fewer would dare to object or make the contract terms public.

Although this occurred more than five years ago. I doubt the credit card company terms have improved.

By: Douglas Greene

Douglas Greene — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:38:10 +0000

Citbank refuses to let you buy an automatic weapon with their credit card over the phone? How outrageous! Seriously folks, Citibank is still happy to take your money for that precious handgun or Uzi, you just have to do it in person! That doesn’t seem so wacked to me.

If I’m selling a handgun, at the very least, I should know for sure who I’m selling it to.

By: Chuck Feney

Chuck Feney — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:30:14 +0000

Not only did I cancel my citibank card, but I’ll be checking my others to see what their policy is.

These people no longer get the privilege of my business.

By: William Garland

William Garland — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:33:43 +0000

Comment #16 by Tracy makes a lot of sense to me. Citicorp may be within its rights to refuse to process certain transactions, but seizing the funds due to merchants is pure and simple theft. The money may be subject to forfeiture if it is the proceeds of an illegal transaction, but that is a decision for a Court to make in a proceeding where evidence must be presented and is subject to rebuttal and cross examination. Since City is seizing funds that relate to an interstate commerce transaction, there may be a federal as well as a state theft law that has been violated. If the facts are as the merchant alleges, and I have no reason to doubt them, the merchant should demand in writing an immediate wire transfer of the seized funds with interest from the date of taking. Allow 48 hours for the transfer and if it is not received, consult an attorney and file the appropriate criminal charges. Make no threat or mention of criminal action in any conversation with City or any of its agents,as that may be deemed an improper effort at extortion. Just make an unconditionmal demand for the funds.
P.S. I am cancelling all my citibank accounts.

By: s middleton

s middleton — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:25:27 +0000

What would happen if we just refused to pay Citibank one red cent instead of moving our accounts?

Dunno, but it’s worth contemplating. No firearms transactions, no payments. No return of funds to CDNN, no payments. No adherence to the Constitution, no payments.

Since Citibank can unilaterally seize funds without due process, why can’t we collectively do the same to them?