Consumer complaint received 2020-08-03
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: CA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
I met with a XXXX XXXX on XXXX to discuss her services on XX/XX/2020. She offered me a free consultation via XXXX, which we engaged in subsequently. During the call, she was barely dressed, which I found highly unprofessional, but I tried to just gloss over that fact and focus on what she could offer. We discussed her services at length, at the end of which I told her I'd think about it, as her price was very high and not something I could afford. 

She soon after, sent me a follow up email with links to her work, including a 50 % discount offer. I clicked on it, which took me to the following web address : XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX. 

I signed up for her full package at the discounted price of {$740.00}, and paid through a supported PayPal link, using the PayPal Credit feature of my PayPal account, apparently managed by Synchrony Bank Credit. Within minutes, she refunded me, saying that it was no longer a promotion she was offering, that it was for a friend, etc. I was fine with that, but also took that response as if I was not worth that price to her, of course. Fine. No problem. I thought we were done. 

Later in the day, she changed her mind, attempted to reverse the refund, and attempted to honor the discounted price. I was not okay with this, but she proceeded to bully me into business with her anyway. I did my best to politely engage with her and decline further business because I did simply did not want to invest in someone that wasn't willing to put 100 % in the work. And based on her erratic, back and forth behavior, she wasn't " selling me at all. '' She even changed her mind again, and tried to push the full price onto me, which I could not afford, as I had said. Eventually, I had completely lost trust in this vendor, and went on my way. 

Concerned about the transaction, I contacted PayPal directly and could not get through to anybody. Finally, I was able to reach PayPal Credit, since the transaction was technically initiated through them, or Synchrony Bank. They assured me that once a refund is issued by a vendor, there's nothing either the bank or credit card company can do, which came as a relief to my situation. 

The following Monday, however, I was notified by PayPal that the refund did not process. I immediately filed a dispute on the charge, which is still under review after several weeks. I supplied all evidence, which I will enclose herein this report. 

I wrote one last email to her, demanding she refund me for services not received. She did not respond at all for days. I contacted the police, filed further claims with other agencies, and then on XX/XX/XXXX, she apparently tried to refund me, but come 3-5 business days later ... THAT transaction also failed. At this point, it appears to be another transactional technical issue at the fault of PayPal, or they are simply dragging their feet. 

Regardless, this XXXX XXXX has essentially taken {$740.00} of my money and run away with it. Again, a dispute was filed through PayPal Credit, but they have been inconsistent in their responses and have not even issued a provisionary credit back to my account. I did find out that XXXX had rushed to take the money out through her bank, and that's why the refund did not complete the first time. But how can this happen again? The vendor is unresponsive and PayPal seems to be dragging their feet XXXX XXXX lives at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX. Her website link took me to XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX. 

The following domain emails were used in communication : XXXX and XXXX. 

Once again, we communicated on XXXX, XXXX and via email. The transactions are being disputed, but I have little faith that anyone at PayPal or Synchrony Bank Credit is taking the initiative to resolve this for me promptly and professionally. All they tell me is to wait 60 days for a dispute to resolve, which I find troubling given all the evidence I have provided, which clearly shows I have received nothing from this vendor at all ; nor desire to based on her behavior.

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 monetary relief