I just signed up for the Citi hhonors gold reserve. Instantly approved, and granted a "temporary" credit line that could be used immediately for any purchases I needed. I'm thinking "great" because I have an upcoming hilton brand stay at Hampton inn, which I promptly set up with MVP code and temporary card. This would easily qualify me for the $100 statement credit promotion.

At checkin temporary card is declined. Citi phone support sends me to fraud. Fraud says the temporary card can't be used because the card isn't activated.

I explain that the permanent card isn't arrived and that this was a temporary credit limit.

Placed on hold. Fraud comes back and says card can't be used because Hampton inn isn't a Hilton brand hotel (?).

I explain that no info was provided on that restriction, and explain that Hampton is a Hilton property and ask for more info. fraud runs out of info and I was then given a number for Citi card support to call back in.

Round 2: call citi support, explain issue with temporary credit at checkin. Transferred to fraud. Explain situation again. Transferred to a Hilton rep (?) where a very confused lady said she couldn't understand why Citi sent me to Hilton.

I'm trying again today to figure out what happened.

Does anyone here have info on restrictions that apply to the temporary Citi cards provided with online credit approval? Or a better route to find out why my temporary card number was actually declined?