Consumer complaint received 2023-10-03
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
PayPal is attempting to collect on a NONEXISTENT DEBT, ARISING FROM A {$1400.00} XXXX XXXX XXXX PURCHASED ON XX/XX/XXXX. The debt was extinguished as a result of {$1400.00} BEING REFUNDED BY XXXX XXXX IN THE AMOUNT OF $ XXXX ON XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX AND XXXX XXXX  ON XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, AS PER PAYPAL 'S OWN RECORDS. Worse yet, PAYPAL, THE CREDITOR, CREATED A FAKE CHARGE OF {$1400.00}, THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WAS ALREADY REFUNDED back to PayPal for an alleged purchase FROM MERCHANT ... PAYPAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A NONEXISTING DEBT AGAINST MY ACCOUNT FOR {$1400.00}, starting on XX/XX/XXXX, approximately four months later. To this day, PAYPAL CONTINUES TO COLLECT ON THIS DEBT AND CONTINUES TO ADD INTEREST TO THIS FASLE DEBT. 

PayPal is attempting to collect on a XX/XX/XXXX debt in the amount of {$1400.00} for a first-class plane ticket from XXXX XXXX , despite the ticket being fully refunded by XXXX XXXX as per PayPal 's own records on XX/XX/XXXX, partially applied to the purchase on XX/XX/XXXX ( {$120.00} for a seat upgrade ), then fully refunded on XX/XX/XXXX. The original ticket was canceled as I was attempting to coordinate with someone else. 

The first-class ticket purchase was no longer needed as I rescheduled the flight for a premium seat at a cheaper cost of ( {$1400.00} - ( new cost of seat + {$120.00} ). Thus, some funds were applied to the rescheduled ticket and the excess of the funds were refunded to PayPal. 

The rescheduled ticket was soon thereafter changed so I could sit next to a friend on the same flight. He later decided to leave from the XXXX XXXX. Since I was again a solo traveler that could fly in first-class alone, I wanted a first-class ticket, but didn't want to use PayPal credit for the purchase. I had more than XXXX. In order to book a flight for first-class with money and points, I would need to cancel the rescheduled ticket entirely and purchase a different ticket. On XX/XX/XXXX, I purchase a different ticket WITH MY DEBIT CARD ending in XXXX and use XXXX points for a new first-class flight. 

When I did cancel the rescheduled ticket on XX/XX/XXXX, 16 days later, this resulted in {$680.00}, amounting to the entire amount of {$1400.00}, being fully refunded to PayPal according to PayPal 's own records and account statements.

Worse yet, PayPal, after acknowledging the the debt had been paid off reinstated the debt by charging my account with a fake credit card charge that has been fully refunded by unilaterally creating a fake charge months later on my account. Four months later on XX/XX/XXXX, a brand new charge appeared on my credit with the merchant listed as PayPal and the charge amounting to {$1400.00}, the same amount as the original debt refunded to PayPal.

PayPal has refused to validate, delete, investigate, or reconsider the debt. Despite the phone calls, correspondences, and written evidence, INCLUDING DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS FROM PAYPAL ITSELF, PayPal refuses to correct its mistake and restore my account, so that it will reflect the truth : a credit card debt of {$0.00} with PayPal.

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