Consumer complaint received 2018-06-15
Company: TD BANK US HOLDING COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: Store credit card
Issue: Trouble using your card
Sub-issue: Can't use card to make purchases

Complaint:
Consumer Information : Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX PMB # XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Date of Birth : XX/XX/XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ) SSN:XXXX   E-mail : XXXX Phone # : ( XXXX ) XXXX Company/Credit Card Info : XXXX XXXX XXXX is the issuer of Nordstroms Credit Card Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX   Credit Card # : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX experation : XXXX   cvv/security code ( on back of card ) :XXXX  last 4 digits of account # :XXXX Account opening date : XX/XX/XXXX My complaint is regarding the the following : 1.The initial Credit Limit that was set, {$2000.00} 2.A Block placed on the card preventing future use. This was done by the Fraud Department of the issuing bank 3.Change in credit Limit to {$1000.00} I applied for a retail Nordstrom 's Credit Card on XX/XX/XXXX in person at the Nordstrom 's Store in XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX .

I used my Driver 's License to identify myself and after filling out an application with a Nordstrom 's Salesperson they said my Nordstrom 's Retail Card ( for use only at Nordstrom 's Stores ) was approved and that my credit Limit was {$2000.00}. They also said that on that particular day I could earn Triple Reward Points for every dollar I spend.

That being said I decided to do some shopping the same day using a temporary card, printed as Barcode on receipt paper. I made several purchases and had used close to 50 % of my credit limit the same day I opened my account. I wanted to make one last purchase that day ... that would put me at a little over 50 % of my credit limit. My card was declined and blocked ... even though I was told my credit limit was {$2000.00}. Even the sales person was shocked ; because usually the only reason a card would be blocked was if their was extensive late payments, but seeing how it was a new card ... they saw no reason for such a block to be in place.

About 2 days later ... .I called Nordstrom 's to see what the problem was, and they said after a more thorough review of my credit score/report they decided to reduce my credit line to {$1000.00} and that the block would remain in place until the balance was paid off completely and that after the balance was {$0.00} I'd have to wait 20 days until I could use my card again ... even if there were no late payments on my card ... it was still blocked by the Fraud Department ... I later asked who the " Fraud Investigator '' was, and their name is " XXXX '' I believe.

This is after I had properly identified myself using my Driver 's License and even made several payments there after ... .a block was still in place. They, The Fraud Department said it was for my protection.

I believe they were discriminating against me because of how I spent so much of my credit line on the same day the card was opened ... and then decided to reduce the credit line ... in other words I believe they may not have thought I was being financiall responsible ... or thought I was not who I said I was ... but still ... .even after I had made payments the block was still in place ... I could not take advantage of any sales Nordstrom 's had and I was embarassed when my card was declined when I was trying to make a purchase on the day I opened the card.

Here 's an analogy I can give you to better describe how I felt : Imagine you're in the market for a new car ... you go to your local car dealership and speak with the finance manager, and ask them to check your credit to see how much a bank is willing to finance to get a card. The manager returns and says " XXXX XXXX XXXX will finance any car you want up to {$20000.00} '' So you start looking around the lot and find a car you like, that cost {$20000.00}. You then ask the salesman to test drive it ... .you take it for a drive for 30 minutes ... and like it and decide that's the car you want to buy. As you sit down and start doing paperwork to complete the sale ... the finance manager comes over and says .... '' we're sorry but we looked at your credit report again and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has decided to only finance a car for you up to {$10000.00} '' ... .so now you can't by the car you want. So you then you pick out and buy a {$10000.00} car ... .but you as you try to drive it off the lot..the air bag randomly deploys ... you weren't in an accident ... but the salesperson says ... '' We're sorry ... that's just for your safety ... we want to make sure you don't hurt yourself ... it will deflate and you can drive it away after the airbag is repacked ... after you pay XXXX XXXX XXXX {$10000.00} ... owe and then it will be 20 days until you can drive the car without the airbag being inflated '' For the record ... when all the above happened ... there was know Fraud Alert issued by the Federal Trade Comission ... I did not call the FTC and say..please block any new credit card accounts from being opened in my name ... or if I do apply for a credit card please contact me personally to ask for identiity authentication to ensure it is in fact myself, XXXX XXXX XXXX, applying for a credit card .

I would have preferred for Nordstroms/TD Bank to take their time ... a few days ... .may a week or two ... to thoroughly review my credit card application ... and not flip flop on their initial credit line of {$2000.00} Irecognize that in the fine print ... of the application ... they may have the authority to change credit limits etc, but I believe they may have abused their power to do so by blocking my card ... because as a new customer ... they did not like my spending habits ... without having a payment history to show whether or not I would pay the balance off. That I believe is unfair, and the result is they embarassed and humiliated me.

They did finally remove the block off my card after I persisted for several months..making payments and complaining about my card being blocked ... but all of this could have been prevented if the bank took more time to decide on a credit limit.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief