Consumer complaint received 2018-08-29
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: NJ
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers
Sub-issue: Didn't receive advertised or promotional terms

Complaint:
In good faith, rough draft summary, and with all due respect, on or about XX/XX/2018 I applied for a Chase credit card based on information provided by JPMC by phone. My exclusive interest was in a 0 % balance transfer offer to consolidate my last credit debt. A Chase representative advised me that the Chase Sapphire Preferred had the 0 % balance transfer offer. Chase reassured me that the Sapphire Preferred card had the 0 % transfer offer. In good faith I applied for the Sapphire Preferred card not knowing I was given wrong, possibly intentionally misleading information by Chase. I was approved for the Sapphire Preferred card for {$5000.00} after speaking with Chase 's credit department due to my credit reports having a Fraud Alert freeze per my request requiring direct contact with me regarding any applications for credit due to me surviving past identity theft by my family uncle and separately by my family brother -- -- both convicted drug felons. Again, I believed that the Sapphire Preferred had the 0 % transfer offer because Chase provided me said information more than once. Ironically, the initial Chase Sapphire Preferred card was stolen before I received it by US mail. Chase contacted me on XX/XX/2018 by email regarding possible fraudulent activity involving over {$2000.00} in charges at a New Jersey XXXX store despite the merchant not requesting photo identification and the store having video security. Chase replaced the card after I filed a fraud report with Chase. All these time wasting problems for one credit card. Next Chase sent me a replacement card via XXXX, which I received on Tuesday XX/XX/2018 at XXXX. Upon reviewing the card information and speaking with Chase and registering on Chase.com I learned the hard way that there was no balance transfer offer of any kind, especially 0 % as reconfirmed on Chase.com under my account. On XX/XX/2018 Chase customer service insisted I call their credit department during business hours and transfer from the Sapphire Preferred, not apply for the Chase Freedom card.

On Wednesday XX/XX/2018 I called Chase twice and two customer service employees made it impossible for me to speak with its credit department despite yesterday 's representative advising me that only the credit department could provide me with correct credit advise, not customer service. So today, XX/XX/2018 both Chase customer service employees were playing credit experts giving me wrong and misleading information.

One material fact was I was told to keep the Sapphire Preferred and apply for the Freedom card and that I will be approved. She no less promised me that I would be approved for she will also make a note in my account about the misinformation and interest in 0 % transfer offer with the Freedom. I applied online because said Chase customer service told me to and refused to allow me to speak with the Chase credit department by phone.

I was denied and now I have another strike on my credit reports for me applying for credit. And I have a credit card I do not want, but I already cancelled my Amex accounts to consolidate my credit lines and avoid Annual membership fees, though now I am stuck because the Chase Sapphire Preferred cost {$95.00} a year after the first year. And I can not apply for new credit without harming my credit reports and being rejected for new credit.

It is reasonable to believe that Chase intentionally acted in a maliciously deceptive and predatory manner to trick me in applying for its more costly credit card then lie to me to apply for a new card they promised me that I would be approved for knowing they can not make said promises. All the while Chase acted like they were acting in good faith while acting like they were doing me a favor when I reported these concerns. Chase staff attitude were subtly rude, arrogant, dismissive, and cold. Treating me like I am stupid. In the end, I have hits on my credit reports, a credit card I do not want but I am stuck in a Catch-22 while Chase acts innocent, and i look desperate for credit when I am not. In footnote, I have {$0.00} in credit card debt as confirmed by my credit reports. I only wanted to consolidate less than {$1500.00} in Amex charge card debt to help rebuild my credit as an identity theft survivor with damaged credit.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation