The management of CITIC Credit Card has caused some controversy. According to reports, some customers were not informed that they needed to pay an annual fee of 2,000 yuan when they agreed to upgrade to a platinum card. This is regarded as a potential consumption trap. Customers who originally held ordinary cards mistakenly thought that the upgrade was free due to the recommendation of customer service, but in fact this fee will be incurred during activation, and the annual fee cannot be cancelled. Even if a customer fails to activate the new card, the bank will still start charging the annual fee, which can lead to credit report damage and collection calls. Some customers upgrade without knowing it and face unnecessary financial losses and reputational risks as a result.

Many customers have complained about this problem to the China CITIC Bank Credit Card Center, but it seems that they have not been resolved satisfactorily. CITIC Bank's credit card fee system is based on tiers, with high annual fees allowing the bank to profit. For users who want to avoid the annual fee, the only option is to cancel the card and stop using it. This case reminds consumers that when upgrading their credit cards, they must clearly understand the relevant fee details to avoid unnecessary trouble due to opaque information. It is very important to proactively inquire and confirm all fee terms before accepting customer service suggestions.