Consumer complaint received 2019-02-20
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: TX
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem when making payments
Sub-issue: Problem during payment process

Complaint:
My son has been XXXX since XXXX. Me his mother have been attempting to make his cc payments to Discover card. XX/XX/XXXX Discover card refused to take a payment from me. I never called requesting information or wanting any information regarding this account - simply to just make the payment. It is documented in the system that they refused the payment even after I explained to them what was happening with my son. I did not have his mail so was unable to mail in a payment. Month after month I called and they refused. XX/XX/XXXX I spoke with XXXX, who told me as XX/XX/XXXX Discover card charged off the account. She went on to say she would be glad to take a payment but could not discuss the account. She said once given permission they would discuss options. She was asked why take a payment now that the account is charged off - when this could have been avoided had they taken the payment months ago, month after month. XXXX - permission was received to speak with my mother regarding the account. She explained he situation - stated she wanted to make the payments have the account reinstated and my credit history updated because it was not like we were not attempting to make the payments - DISCOVER was refusing to take them until the account charged off. XXXX, who said the account was charged off. XX/XX/XXXX spoke with XXXX XXXX - manager who said it was charged off and that was it all we could do is pay and nothing else. XX/XX/XXXX called Discover and XXXX to XXXX, who confirmed that XX/XX/XXXX Discovered refused payment it was documented in the system. He went on to say that the policy changed and they can now accept payment. It was explained to him that if that is the case then the account and the account holder should be made whole. He went on to say he did not see any calls regarding the account. It was explained to him that the regular number was called. XX/XX/XXXX - explained to XXXX we wanted to set the account on autopay and have the account reinstated remove late charges and have credit to no longer reflect negative due to them not accepting payments. XXXX said once charged off they were not taking it back and we could dispute it with XXXX - She said balance was XXXX could settle for XXXX and it still show negative on the account. 
XXXXThey wanted us to accept a settlement but did not want to send it out for us to review. XXXX said we had to verbally accept it first then they could sent it out. We explained that we should be able to review to see if it is in my best interest first. She said she could not do that. Discover stood in the way of this account being maintained successfully. Although, my son was not able to make payment he had someone willing to pay the card, not get information, or any thing additional about the account simply pay money and they refused it. Now they want to charge off the account and negatively impact his credit. It is unethical and simply wrong and distasteful. 

I am not a joint holder or card holder of the account - I am the parent of the account holder who is authorized 3rd party to discuss the account and make payments.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation