Consumer complaint received 2021-12-01
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: VA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
Reference is made to CFPB XXXX. I am refiling this complaint because the response from Synchrony Bank is not factual. They state for security reasons they cant respond to someone who is not listed on the account. However, they are reporting to the national credit reporting companies that I am a co-owner on my wifes account as indicated on the document that I will upload with this document. 

This dispute centers on a purchase that appeared on my wifes XXXX monthly statement. My wife is totally disabled and it is not possible that she made any purchases, either in person or on line. XXXX refused to speak with me, indicating that the account belongs to my wife. I provided them a copy of a durable power of attorney, but they have rejected that also, indicating that they want my wife to notarize it and sign it again. The original document is signed, notarized by the attorney who wrote, with his seal affixed. I have also uploaded a copy of this document. Requiring my wife to sign it a second time is unreasonable as she can not hold a pen or sign her name. 

XXXX turned the matter over to Synchrony Bank for further action. Synchrony also refuses to allow me to be involved as a matter of security. 

Synchrony has rejected not only my CFPB complaint, but also a similar one that I filed with the XXXX XXXX XXXX. In both cases they state that they cant respond because the complaint lists someone who is not listed on the account or loan or authorized to receive the consumers financial information. If this is true, then why is Synchrony Bank reporting to the Credit Reporting agencies ( XXXX, XXXX and XXXX ) that I am a joint owner on my wifes account? I have provided Synchrony Bank a copy of my wifes account as it appears on XXXX and asked them to explain this dichotomy, but havent received the courtesy of a reply. I guess their de facto answer is that Im still not authorized, so why bother with a reply. 

Separately, I had asked that my XXXX account be closed, as Ill never spend another dime with them. Synchrony Bank sent a confirmation letter that was also addressed to my wife. If indeed they are so concerned about security on our individual accounts, didnt they just violate security by addressing the letter to someone who is not listed on the account or loan or authorized to receive the consumers financial information? 

I do believe that I have more than adequately demonstrated that I do have standing to address the issues with my wifes account. Furthermore, if Synchrony Bank truly believes that I am not authorized to assist my wife in this matter, ask them what provisions, required by Federal law, have they made for a disabled person? Writing to someone who cant hold a telephone, dial a number, or even hold a conversation and telling them to call if they have any questions, clearly doesnt meet the Federal requirements.

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 non-monetary relief