Consumer complaint received 2019-07-03
Company: BARCLAYS BANK DELAWARE
State: OH
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-issue: Card opened as result of identity theft or fraud

Complaint:
In XX/XX/XXXX, I personally opened a Barclay Card XXXX Rewards card. This card ended in XXXX. The only purpose for this was to obtain a new laptop. The cost of the laptop was XXXX. I made no other purchases did any other activity related to this card ending in XXXX other than making the monthly. My initial plan was to paid about XXXX per month in order to get it paid off within 18 months under the deferred interest plan, which everything was paid in full by XX/XX/XXXX. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, i discovered that my identity was stolen. There were several credit cards and loans that were taken out in my name. I immediately took action and put a credit freeze. It took several months, but by early XX/XX/XXXX i had a good amount of things clean up and did a lot to clean up my name and removed all fraudulent activity that occurred. 

XX/XX/XXXX- I received a notice in regards to a lawsuit from Barclay Bank for the amount of XXXX. I immediately called Barclay Bank and eventually i was push to their collection agency that was handling and dealing with the balance. 

I talk to their collection agency and i reported the fraud and the identity theft. I waited over two weeks for them to send me the initial paperwork. I filled out the paperwork and i mailed it in. 

About a week later, i i received a notice stating that they have denied the fraud claim and i still owe the balance due. This came directly from their collection/fraud department. 

I called Barclay and requested the statements. 
I received the statements. 

I notice the following : There were three different accounts on the statements. Barclay never could not tell me why they denied the fraud. 

The accounts were : ending XXXX ending XXXX ( the one i used to by the laptop ) and the current one with the XXXX balance.- XXXX Card ending XXXX, the only activity on the statements had cash advances, balance transfers and interest, late fees..etc.. 

My complaint is as follows : I only ever opened one account, which ended in XXXX- Only balance was XXXX, credit limit of XXXX I have no knowledge of the other two accounts and the transfers were credit cards that i were also related to the fraud/identity theft as well. 

>Barclay Continues to denied the fraud claim >continues to move the court hearing more in the future >Does not give any explanation on why the fraud was denied >Their internal collections never contacted me related to account XXXX or XXXX >There was no other contact by their collection agency other than the lawsuit notification >They violated the credit card act of XX/XX/XXXX and it's as follows : ( see attached statements ) First late payment fee charge for account XXXX ( {$37.00} ) - Should be {$25.00} according to the credit card act of XX/XX/XXXX Initial other late fees due to me not be aware of this account was {$37.00} well and should be {$35.00}. They also violated the over the credit limit rules as well without my knowledge or prior authorization. As noted before, my credit limit was XXXX, the lawsuit is for XXXX. There was XXXX added on over the credit limit in balance transfers, cash advances..etc.. 

From XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX, there was nearly XXXX in just cash advances and transfers. 

>Barclay Never Called me in regards to these actions as suspicious activity >Barclay never called me in regards to the due balance >Late payment fees started at {$37.00} and were each month >Unable to explain why the fraud claim was denied >Unable to provide records >Allow this card XXXX to double the credit limit per the statements and did not call or contact me any type of way >Has the wrong phone number on file > went directly to a lawsuit without any other contact >violated credit card act XXXX >Claims the cash advance check was " signed by me '', which was able to obtain the copy of the check and that is not my signature, they do not have any material facts for this. 
>The majority the accounts open in this identity theft period was from March 2016-December 2016. 
>This account ending in XXXX was open in XXXX or XXXX of XXXX XXXX has not yet been able to tell me the exact date. or how this occurred.

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