Citigroup pays $18M for overbilling clients

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced its issuance of an order requiring Citigroup Global Markets to pay $18.3 million to settle charges that it overbilled investment advisory clients and misplaced client contracts. The SEC’s order finds that at least 60,000 advisory clients were overcharged approximately $18 million in unauthorized fees because Citigroup failed to confirm the accuracy of billing rates entered into its computer systems in comparison to fee rates outlined in client contracts, billing histories, and other documents. Citigroup also improperly collected fees during time periods when clients suspended their accounts. The billing errors occurred during a 15-year period, and the affected clients have since been reimbursed.