So I'm in Europe and Citi decides to block my card because of suspicious activity. I've used it for small and large transactions. This is not my first overseas trip with it, it's like my 3rd or 4th.

In the Citi app it said please review these transactions and I tap on the link and nothing happens. So I make a call from overseas and they want me to get a special code. For some idiotic reasons, Citi doesn't send SMS messages, they will call you and tell you by automated system the code.

Well I'm calling back to the US on a VOIP app and I don't see an obvious way to pause it. Plus I gave them my Google Voice number, which I'm sure won't be able to send a call while I' overseas, unless maybe I use a VPN or something.

Plus the representative ASKED me which number to call for the code. WTH? If I'm committing fraud, and they want to authenticate me, why would they ask a potential fraudster which number to call? They should be calling the number registered to the account, not whatever number I tell them.

In the end I had to use Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay an $800 hotel bill. Would have preferred to use Citi Premier but I guess they want me to jump through some hoops. For instance, asked me the secret code word, which I didn't even know but he gave me hints. Then asked me about my other Citi accounts. Unfortunately, I didn't even pack Citi Double Cash or Citi AA Mile Up cards since those have FTX fees. So I don't know the full account numbers of those. Asked me for my ACH account number used to pay the account. I give him those and he says it doesn't match. He said the last 6 digits. I know I have that right.

I logged into citi.com, went to chat, they insist I call in again. Well I said I'm not going to make another international call which may not lift the block, I will call in a week when I return home.

Now see if they cancel my cards with them because I didn't call in right away.

Only thing I can think of for why they may have blocked me is that I've used this card mostly for hotels, restaurants. But on this trip, I used it for gas as well as supermarkets. Sometimes I'm spending 1 or 2 Euros at a supermarket for water and fruit or something. I don't want to dig up the coins so I charge everything.

Maybe the mix of low and high value transactions was a new spending pattern.