Consumer complaint received 2019-03-08
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: IA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report
Sub-issue: Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX : I received a notification from XXXX XXXX. It said I had a new report on my credit. Upon further investigation, I was about a hard inquiry that I didn't not apply/inquire about. 

It was by Syncrony Bank. The inquiry was for a XXXX XXXX XXXX/XXXX account. Supposedly the inquiry was made XX/XX/XXXX. 

I did not apply for this, I do not know what this is. 

XXXX XXXX provided me with a link to call Syncrony Bank and have this taken off my account. 

I had first called the number provided at XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX and talked to a representative. He said I didn't have an account, therefore, he didn't have further instruction or ability to help me because there was supposedly nothing to look into.

He ( SyncBank rep ) said I needed to contact XXXX XXXX, so I sent XXXX an email to their support on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX Once I found out numerous people have never received replies, I figured I could call XXXX , seeing how that was the bureau that the inquiry was reported under. 

I called TransUnion XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX 
The representative gave me instructions for how I can get this taken care of, she even provided me a file number : XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

She instructed me to request a form/letter of release to be sent to my address. Which I would then have to send to XXXX 's P.O. box in XXXX, PA along with my letter of authorization. 

I called Syncrony Bank a second time, XX/XX/XXXX, at XXXX XXXX I talked to a different representative, and he stated that this inquiry from XXXX XXXX XXXX/XXXX  was not affiliated with Syncrony Bank. It has no relation to Syncrony Bank, and they don't know why it would be on my credit. 

He also stated that XXXX XXXX has said that this was a common error, and they tell customers to call Syncrony Bank. He could not send me a letter of release because according to him, if I don't have an account with them then there is nothing to release. 

So then why would this be reporting on my credit report stating to be coming DIRECTLY from Syncrony bank? It makes no sense. 

Therefore, sticking me into a vicious cycle of contacting whoever the last person told me to contact. 

After various short phone calls, I have no patience to wait months before realizing XXXX XXXX will never respond to me, and if they did, they would just tell me to contact Sync Bank and the cycle continues. 

I did independent research and found someone who had that exact same problem as me, and this was the method he said worked for him. 

I need to file a complaint with Syncrony Bank, to take that report off of my account because that's exactly what they did for the man who shared this method to the internet. 

I need to file a complaint with XXXX XXXX. 

And I need to file a complaint with XXXX. 

I need my credit protected. I will be having my first child this year, and I need a house, and I can't get one with my credit sinking because a fake company wants to take money from me. 

Any help would be appreciated.

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