Costco Citibank Credit Card review: Credit card being blocked while traveling

I advised Citibank that I would be traveling from the UK to Dubai and onward to Australia for 3 months; to insure I would have no problems using my credit card. When bookings.com on 11/26/2024 tried to charge my hotel stay with the Hyatt Regency in Dubai for 11/27/2024 it was rejected by Citibank. I called internationally to Citibank and spoke to a representative and then the fraud department and they advised that the problem was not with Citibank, but with Bookings.com. I had previously called Citibank and informed you of my travel plans, and was given travel codes, to ensure that I would be able to use my credit card with no problems. I could not contact bookings.com, but got a message from the hotel saying that if I did not pay for one night, my reservation would be canceled. I tried paying the hotel directly with their payment link with my Citibank credit card, and was asked to verify the charge with a call at my home phone number in the USA, so I could not pay with my credit card. I cannot answer the phone when I am not in the USA! which I had advised them prior that I was in the UK and about to leave for Dubai and Australia, with a travel advisory posted on my card. So I had to make another international call to Citibank, again to a representative, then the fraud department all over again, and this time the fraud department said that the charge had been blocked, even though I had advised you of my travel plans. When I asked why this had happened, I was advised that you were trying to protect me! The first agent had lied to me, and given me erroneous information, to cover up their incompetency and system problems. All they were doing was making my life difficult, causing me two international long-distance calls for 40 minutes each, and sidetracking me the night I was leaving for 2 hours to sort this mess out! The agent said to try to pay the hotel again, which I did, and this time, he had removed the block and made the payment. If I had not done that I the hotel reservation would have been cancelled, and we would not have a room to say in Dubai. I requested that Citibank give me credit for my having to make the international calls to them to sort out this mess, and they refused, and hung up. When I arrived in Australia I purchased two SIM cards from Lebara for our cell phone service. When I tried to activate them on [protected], and place credit on the SIM cards, the 2 charges for 19.90 AUD each were rejected by Citibank. Again I had to call them internationally to sort this matter out. My first call to them I was transferred to the Fraud Dept. and a recording said that the department was closed! They are suppose to have 24 hours service for their customers. They advised that Lebara did not process the payment with the correct information, which is a lie and an excuse for their systems not working. I had to call back again, and was told that they were trying to protect my account from fraudulent charges! More nonsense. They processed several charges thereafter for more money with no problem and no blocks! The SIM card for our cell phone service was very important to us as we are senior citizens, needed the cell phone service to be able to arrange transportation and contact our family in Australia which I could not do. My partner is disabled, I have high blood pressure, and they entire situation has aggravated me no end, and raised my blood pressure, and my partners level of anxiety. Shame on you. When I asked for a credit for the two long distance telephone calls I had to make and pay for to sort out this matter and all the aggravation, the first agent just ignored the request, and the fraud representative said they could not arrange for same! Terrible service to say the least. I have been a long-standing customer of Citibank, but based on what has transpired, I am seriously considering switching to another bank and credit card provider. I again respectively request a credit for what Citibank has put me through, the inconvenience, aggravation, and cost for 4 international long distance calls lasting 40-70 minutes each, along with an apology which no one has given, only just excuses and false information.