Consumer complaint received 2022-02-16
Company: Genesis FS Card Services, Inc.
State: FL
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Other problem

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I get payments direct deposited into my account each month until XXXX. I also get VA  XXXX benefits and Social Security benefits. Because of this I have not had use for any credit in a long time. In XXXX speaking with my family about getting my own home in a few years, they suggested I get a credit card and start building credit again. So I responded to one of the offers I received in the mail and got a credit card from Genesis FS Card Services, Indigo Platinum with an initial credit line of {$500.00}. 

Not long after I received the card and used it a little, I contracted XXXX XXXX and was in the hospital on and off for 9 months in XXXX & XXXX. At one point I was in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and was in the hospital that time for over XXXX months. While in the hospital my brother had a Power of Attorney for all of my money affairs. He was responsible for making sure all of my bills were paid and that I didnt get behind on anything or have any issues while I was in the hospital. My brother was able to pay every single one of my other bills with no issues whatsoever. The only issue he had was with Genesis FS Card Services, Indigo Platinum. My balance was less than {$500.00}. My brother contacted the credit card company and let them know that I was in the hospital and that he wanted to make a payment and pay the balance on my card. The representative with Genesis FS Card Services told my brother that he was not allowed to make a payment on my account because he was not me and didnt have authorization to get my balance or make payments. My brother told them he didnt need the balance as he had my billing statement. He just wanted to pay the full balance on my account and ensure it was paid off. He was told again that they could not take a payment on my account from anyone other than the card holder. So he waited a few days and called back thinking that maybe the representative was new or didnt know what they were talking about. So he called again and was told again that he could not make a payment on my account. 

When I was finally released from the hospital and got home I had letters from Genesis FS Card Services saying they needed a payment immediately or they would be charging off my debt and selling it to a collection company. Also at this point I was alerted that the balance was now {$820.00} when I only owed XXXX XXXXXXXX {$490.00}. I contacted the credit card company and told the representative what had happened and my situation and was told that they couldnt help me that my debt was already sold to a collection agency. 

I was furious and pulled a copy of my credit report and the credit card company and the collection company had reported the debt to the credit agencies. So this credit card I had taken out to build my. XXXX back up and get better credit had ruined it. I went back thru my paper work as I wanted to file a lawsuit and saw that I have the right to ask for Arbitration. So the week of XX/XX/XXXX and again the week of XX/XX/XXXX, I called on several occasions and asked to speak with someone in upper management and was told no that I needed to call the collection agency. I told them that I had a right to arbitration based on my documents I signed and was told they are denying my rights to arbitration. So I had no other choice but to contact you. 

I have no problem paying the balance I had on my card when my brother was trying to make my payment. I just want to get this taken care of and get it fully removed from my credit report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation