Citibank Said to Hold Up Customers for Fee

     CINCINNATI (CN) – A federal class action claims Citibank demands a $482 “early closure release fee” from customers who never borrowed a penny on their home equity line of credit before the bank will “release a lien” to allow them to refinance.

     Plaintiffs say they paid $50 a year for access to credit – which they never used – then Citibank decided their home value had fallen too low, and refused to let them refinance unless they paid $482 to “release the lien.” Plaintiffs say “thousands” of Citibank customers were subjected to this, though they “like plaintiffs, had a $0 balance.”
     The class also sued Citibank’s creature, CitiMortgage.
     Plaintiffs are represented by Jeffrey Goldenberg.