Consumer complaint received 2020-05-18
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: CO
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Add-on products and services

Complaint:
I opened a Discount Tire credit card in XX/XX/XXXX to purchase tires for my vehicle and to also add an additional account to my credit. I purchased the tires in XXXX of XXXX and didn't receive my first bill till XXXX of XXXX. Prior to receiving my first bill I did receive a phone call from Synchrony bank informing me that my payment was late. I found this was strange news to hear as I still didn't have a bill yet. Durning the call I tried to make a payment from my PAYPAL debit card which is my main banking platform but there system kept rejecting my payment so I told them that I would have to get a new account to pay with. About a week later I was able to make my first payment of {$100.00} towards my balance of {$1100.00} with the contracted terms of no interest, if paid in full, within 9 months. I received my bill for the next month and found discrepancies on it so I called Synchrony Bank to get some answers. The discrepancies that I found was that they did not apply my full {$100.00} payment to my account balance but instead took out a card security fee of {$20.00} which made my first payment short and late because the minimum payment wasn't made, they then also charged me a with an additional late fee of {$39.00}. I did not sign up for a card security program. They refused to remove the card security fee from my bill and send me an accurate bill per the terms of my initial purchase receipt with Discount Tire and I've tried to explain on multiple calls with different representives that I did not sign up for the card security. 
I have been trying to pay my balance of {$1000.00} over the phone with XXXX since XX/XX/XXXX, well before the 9 months of interest free as shown in my agreement. They refuse to accept my payment and continued to demand I owe them card security fees, interest, and late payment fees. After Speaking with a local debt consolidation company I sent them a personal check for the remanning balance of {$1000.00} via certified mail on XXXX and due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the certified item was delivered and available for pickup at there PO BOX on XXXX. My personal check was cashed on XXXX and my account was credited in the amount {$1000.00}, even thought my check was written for and presented to my bank in the amount of {$1000.00}. 
According to my original agreement this should satisfy my financial obligations on this account. There should no be any negative reporting to the credits bureaus in regards to this situation. 
I appreciate the CFPB and your help in this matter, since after having to file com [ plaints with various other credit bureaus, as well as attempting to resolve this issue with Synchrony bank directly, several times. I felt as if i had no other choice, so thank you for your time.

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 monetary relief