Consumer complaint received 2023-08-02
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: IN
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-issue: Card opened as result of identity theft or fraud

Complaint:
Per the FTC, a creditor is to provide me with a copy of a fraudulent credit application filed in my name, which I had the unfortunate experience of in XXXX of this year. I have been trying to get a copy of that application from Bank of America ever since. After multiple faxed affidavits including copies of my driver 's license, they finally sent me a document, however it contains nothing of substance and I have just verified that they did not send ALL information in the application. 

My first instinct that the document was off were the referenced dates, which were inaccurate. They state I requested the application on XX/XX/23, but they didn't officially receive my written affidavit request until XX/XX/23. If they want to go by the first date I verbally requested the application, that would be XX/XX/23 when I got the email the application was denied. Then, they indicated the application was received on XX/XX/23, which I have proof is false because I have XXXX emails to prove this : the rejection email, received XX/XX/23 ( they somehow denied it 2 days before they received it?? ) and the initial email to verify my email address, received at XXXX XXXX Central Time on XX/XX/23, when I suspect the application was actually filed. I can't imagine they wanted to verify my email address in anticipation of a credit application they would not receive for another week. Furthermore, in testing the process, as laid out below, no verification email is sent unless the application is submitted, so this was applied for on either the late hours of XX/XX/23 or early morning XX/XX/23, NOT XX/XX/23. The information provided in the " application '' they sent me wasn't the least bit helpful, as it was all my own information. I know my own information and I know that's what they used already, so that doesn't help me. 

To try to determine what they are keeping from me, for whatever reason, I just located the same card that was applied for in my name and fully completed the application without submitting it in order to see what information they requested that could be helpful to a police investigation. The first interesting fact they didn't include in what they provided me is that they have the option to " send my statement to a different address '', which I imagine also sends the card to that address as well. I will call and play stupid and verify that tomorrow. If someone used my information to apply for a card, they wouldn't send the card to my address, so knowing what address they put here would be for more helpful than supplying my own address, which I, believe it or not, happen to already know. They also ask for an occupation and total income, source of income, and monthly housing payment. 

Then there is the option to transfer balances to the new card, in which the credit card institution, transfer amount, and account numbers must be provided, which could be subpoenaed by law enforcement to determine who is behind this fraud. 

In what would have been the MOST HELPFUL TO PROVIDE ME, they provide the option to add one OR MORE additional cardholders, that can be of ANY relation from legitimate to " other ''. If " other '' is selected, they do not require any specification on that. While an address is required for the additional cardholder ( presumably to get their card mailed to them ) and a DOB ( doesn't even matter if they're XXXX ), phone number and SSN are both OPTIONAL, so they don't even verify this is A REAL PERSON. Since they don't require submission of any government issued ID, such as Driver 's License, for the primary applicant ( which I had to supply to get a copy of my own address on the application, but the criminal didn't have to provide to try to get credit in my name ), it would make it much easier for the criminal to add themselves, under their real name, as a cardholder to avoid obtaining a fake ID. Again, all information they required and therefore obtained in order to process the application but neglected to provide to ME- the VICTIM. Details such as these would aid in an investigation and, by not providing them, they are protecting the criminals and further hurting the victims of these crimes and allowing them to continually be committed because they are hindering law enforcement from the information necessary to complete their investigation. 

I want the ACTUAL FULL application submitted using my information, including ALL of the following : Mail Sent to a Different Address? 
If yes, PROVIDE ADDRESS Occupation Total Annual Income Source of Income Balance Transfer ( s )?

If yes, credit card institution ( s ) Transfer amount ( s ) ACCOUNT NUMBER ( S ) Additional Cardholder ( s )?

-Name ( s ) -Relationship ( s ) -Address ( es ) An IP Address of where the application originated from. 

Failing to provide this information is in violation with the FCRA and I am already consulting a lawyer over all of the credit reporting and fraud issues I have had and this will be included and I will be seeking full damages to the fullest extent of the law. Any failure to provide requested information will be added to the case.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation