Consumer complaint received 2020-10-20
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: NC
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report
Sub-issue: Reporting company used your report improperly

Complaint:
Starting with XX/XX/XXXX, Synchrony Bank opened account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in my name, without my written or verbal consent, and reported it immediately to all major credit bureaus. I have never applied for this account with Synchrony Bank. I do not know or understand what type of credit account this is. Currently, Synchrony Bank reports this account to my credit file as being a " XXXX XXXX. '' I swear to XXXX and our XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX, I never had a charge card with account number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. My credit file with all three major credit bureaus says that this account was opened on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Well, if this account was opened 12 years ago, according to Synchrony Bank 's fraudulent reporting and misuse of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, then why wasn't this account reported to all the major credit bureaus from XXXX up until XXXX? What happened with this account for 11 years? " XXXX XXXX '' accounts, again, according to Synchrony Bank 's fraudulent and misleading claims, don't come out of nowhere, so I would like to receive a detailed written explanation from Synchrony Bank as to where this account comes from and why they created it in my name without my consent. My credit file also shows that account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was closed on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Well, I keep copies of my monthly credit reports that go several years back, proving that from XXXX until XXXX, I never had an account with Synchrony Bank. 
The only credit card account that I have ever applied for with Synchrony Bank was a Lowes Credit Card account that I opened in XXXX to purchase a small tractor and paid off since then. Because of how Synchrony Bank has treated me, I will close the Lowes account as soon as I get a chance. 
Starting with XXXX, I contacted Synchrony Bank multiple times and requested that account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX be immediately removed from my credit file with all major credit bureaus. I also asked for proof that I applied for the " XXXX XXXX '' account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and a copy of my credit application with Synchrony Bank. Unfortunately, Synchrony Bank failed miserably at providing any proof and entirely and utterly refused to work with me. The only thing that Synchrony Bank sent me was a letter stating that I opened account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with them in XXXX, but they do not have a copy of my original application or any proof that I applied for credit with their bank back in XXXX. I attached a copy of that document to this complaint. Then Synchrony Bank proceeded to change account number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and, laughably so, they also changed the closing date from XXXX XXXX, XXXX to XXXX XXXX, XXXX. They reported these changes to my credit file with all major credit bureaus, further legitimizing their misuse of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. In other words, Synchrony Bank is reporting false information about my finances to all major credit bureaus, and that is not only immoral but also highly illegal. I want to remind Synchrony Bank that I keep monthly credit reports that go several years back. As such, I kindly ask Synchrony Bank to stop the shenanigans and playing with my credit file because they are inflicting massive damage to my financial life. I have been passed on as a customer by several financial institutions because of this account that Synchrony Bank is fraudulently reporting to my credit file by misusing the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I am sure that I am not the only person being abused in this manner by Synchrony Bank, as the sole purpose of reporting an account for which I have not signed up for is for Synchrony Bank to extort money out of people. 
I kindly ask Synchrony Bank to stop lying about this account and provide accurate and factual information. Since the beginning of XXXX, I have contacted and attempted to resolve this account multiple times with Synchrony Bank. It is not a matter of me trying to avoid paying a debt. If a debt is owed to Synchrony Bank, I will be more than happy to pay it. However, I need first to see proof that such a debt is owed. I need categorically need this account removed from my credit file with all major credit bureaus. By reporting it, Synchrony Bank is acting in bad faith and assuming the role of a collection agency, and breaking several state and federal laws, for which I fully intend to make them accountable. 
The resolution that I am seeking with Synchrony Bank is two-fold. First, I demand that Synchrony Bank immediately remove account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX from my credit file with all major credit bureaus. Please stop changing the account number, closing date, or any other shenanigans. Account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has no business to show up on my credit file with the major credit reporting XXXX XXXX and Synchrony Bank knows this. They are just intentionally breaking the law. Secondly, I demand that Synchrony Bank provides substantial evidence that overwhelmingly proves that I owe them money. At this point, and considering how Synchrony Bank has conducted itself in my case and treated me as a person and customer, I categorically do not assume any liability for the debt on account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. That does not mean that I am trying to run away and not pay Synchrony Bank if a debt is owed to them. However, they first need to provide proof. 
Below is a list of the actions that I need Synchrony Bank to take to make things right, along with the proof required to establish that I owe them money : 1 ) Immediately remove account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX from my credit file reported to all major credit bureaus. I have disputed this account multiple times. However, Synchrony Bank keeps lying to the credit bureaus, telling them that this is my account. I hold the credit bureaus just as responsible as Synchrony Bank because they failed to conduct a thorough investigation into the accuracy of the information provided by Synchrony Bank. Please understand that I am not trying to avoid paying a debt if one is  legitimately owed. However, this account has no business being reported on my credit file with the major credit bureaus. As I said before, if it can be established that I owe a debt, I will pay it. I understand that if I owe a debt and don't pay it, then that debt can be sent to a collection agency, and if I continue to refuse to pay it, then that collection agency can report a collection account to my credit file. That is the correct way to handle debt, and that is how Synchrony Bank should proceed with this account if I genuinely owe them money and not report it to the credit bureaus as a credit card account for which, and I can't stress this enough, I have never applied for with their bank. 
2 ) I demand a copy of the original credit application from XXXX XXXX, XXXX, when Synchrony Bank claims that I opened this account. I insist that the institution 's name that I applied for credit is shown on the said application and the account number. As I mentioned before, I have monthly credit reports that go several years back, and from XXXX until XXXX, I did not have a single credit account with Synchrony Bank. In XXXX I opened a Lowes Credit Card account. So I kindly ask Synchrony Bank to be truthful in their statements and abstain from lying. I also demand a written explanation that shows the financial institution 's name that I allegedly applied for credit with, along with the original account number and the type of financial institution that it was. It is of the utmost importance to establish if the financial institution that I allegedly applied for credit with back in XXXX was a bank or any other financial institution type, like a payment processor or a different kind of financial company? That is because the Fair Credit Reporting Act only allows properly established banking institutions to report activity to a person 's credit file reported to all major credit bureaus. 
3 ) I need printed and digital copies ( in PDF format sent to my email address ) of my monthly statements ranging from XXXX XXXX, XXXX, up until XXXX XXXX, XXXX. According to the allegations made by Synchrony Bank, I opened account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and closed it, at my request, on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Because of that, I need copies of almost eight years ' worth of statements. And since we're well past the information age and now live in the digital age, I find it hard to believe that Synchrony Bank would have any issue coming up with those statements. I also kindly ask Synchrony Bank to refrain from trying to " doctor '' or otherwise modify the original account statements if they truly exist. 
4 ) I also need printed and digital copies ( in PDF format sent to my email address ) of my monthly statements ranging from XXXX XXXX, XXXX, up until XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Synchrony Bank changed the closing date of account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX, XXXX to XXXX XXXX, XXXX, after I complained to them several times to legitimize the fraudulent reporting that they did to my credit file with the major credit bureaus. When Synchrony Bank did this, they also changed the account number from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, thereby hiding their tracks further and making the account history even more convoluted. As such, I need another XXXX years of worth of statements, and I kindly ask Synchrony Bank to abstain from trying to " doctor '' or otherwise falsify these documents. 
5 ) I need a truthfully written explanation detailing how Synchrony Bank came up with account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that they renamed XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Did Synchrony Bank fraudulently create this account in my name without my written or verbal consent, or did Synchrony Bank purchase or otherwise acquire this account from another company or financial institution without my knowledge? I want a written explanation about how this account came to exist and why it is illegally reported to my credit file with the major credit bureaus. 
6 ) I want a written explanation as to why account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was renamed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and the closing date was changed from XXXX XXXX, XXXX to XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Once again, Synchrony Bank is playing fast and loose with my credit file, reporting whatever they want, and that is highly illegal.

7 ) Synchrony Bank claims that account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( later renamed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) was opened in XXXX. I do have a written document where Synchrony Bank claims this. Then why hasn't account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( later renamed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX been reported to my credit file with the major credit bureaus for 11 years, that is, from XXXX up until XXXX? Because according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a bank has to report accurate and factual information to a person 's credit file with the major credit bureaus. So, where are 11 years of credit reporting for account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( later renamed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX )? Please provide a written explanation along with 11 years worth of monthly statement copies for account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( later renamed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), along with your written explanation. 
The information above that is needed to establish that I indeed owe Synchrony Bank a debt. However, because I can not trust that Synchrony Bank is, and will be, truthful and honest in their statements and documents that they may provide, I also need the following information : 1 ) The list of states and jurisdictions where Synchrony Bank is incorporated, along with the bank 's exact name. Is it Synchrony Bank or Synchrony Financial? The state or jurisdiction presides over Synchrony Bank and where all legal disputes are resolved. I need this information to contact the proper Attorney General 's offices and the appropriate authorities. 
2 ) I need the address and contact information of Synchrony Bank 's legal department.

3 ) I also need the address, email address, and contact information for Synchrony Bank CEO XXXX XXXX XXXX. My legal representative and I wish to contact her directly to discuss the illegal activity that Synchrony Bank has conducted on my behalf without my written or verbal consent. 
In closing, I believe that my request for 11 years worth of monthly financial statements, along with the other documents that I have requested, is more than reasonable to establish that I owe Synchrony Bank a debt. My other request for Synchrony Bank is to remove account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX immediately and forever from my credit file with the major credit bureaus. I wish to resolve this account with Synchrony Bank as soon as possible. I have no desire to escalate this issue by taking further legal action and involving the law unless Synchrony Bank decides to force me to do so. It is up to Synchrony Bank if they wish to resolve this problem in a civilized manner and undo my credit file 's trashing. Or if they want me to start contacting the Attorney General 's Office of various states along with the Justice Department so that they can take a closer look at what Synchrony Bank is doing. I wish for a speedy resolution, so I leave it to Synchrony Bank to decide how deep they want to get into trouble. Thank you.

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