Consumer complaint received 2019-10-18
Company: Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.
State: MI
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers
Sub-issue: Confusing or misleading advertising about the credit card

Complaint:
Subject : Victim of Data Breach - Hurt, but more scared HOW my SSN was obtain/utilized without my knowledge/authorization.

Since most of my knowledge is from the 19th century, and were currently in the 21th century, I do realize businesses have revolutionize their computer procedure over the years related to processing a Credit Application. I personally only know of 3 Consent Category to process a credit application for a credit cards, loans, etc.

( 1 ) Consumers fill out a credit ( hard copy ) application with the consumers signature.

( 2 ) Consumers consent to a ( recorded phone conversation ) for a credit application.

( 3 ) Consumers consent to credit application by the way of the consumers electronic online signature or a Verbal Agreement between two parties on various devices ; such as POS Registers or  Tablets, etc., at that point, the consumers received Real-time approval. 

Please read timeline Documents : XXXX XXXX dated XXXX, 3 XXXX XXXX XXXX Call logs XXXX and 1 XXXX XXXX XXXX Call log XXXX, 2 correspondences to XXXX dated XXXX, 1 Updated correspondence to XXXX dated XXXX, 1 correspondence to XXXX dated XXXX mailed, 1 correspondence to XXXX   dated XXXX mailed. Correspondence from XXXX and to XXXX of XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( ID XXXX ) and correspondence from and to XXXX : credit file XX/XX/2019, Confirmation # XXXX against Comenitybank/XXXX Mastercard There were NO exposure or authorization for a credit card application before, on, or after XXXX XXXX, to anybody from Comenitybank/XXXX store to utilize my SSN. I received my mail XX/XX/2019 and just found out from XXXX that I was supposed to have applied for a XXXX Mastercard. 

On XXXX before XXXX XXXX to dated XXXX, I have not received a Credit Card rejection letter from Comenitybank/ XXXX   where I am supposed to have requested a credit card. However, Comenitybank/ XXXX wrote to XXXX after my first complaint to XXXX on XXXX. Message from Comenitybank : Inquiries are a factual record on file access SEE BACK UP Confirmation # XXXX, dated XXXX Today XXXX @ XXXX, I received a letter in the USPS mail box from Comenitybank . Their letter stated in part, they were unable to approve my application because they could not verify my SSN I provided in the application against information they obtain from the credit-reporting agency. I am confused because Comenitybank in fact did obtain my Social Security number and cause three negative impact : ( 1 ) A Hard Inquiry posted on XXXX which will stay on my credit report for 2 years and ( 2 ) A Hard Inquiry which caused my credit score to drop by 2 points ( 3 ) Both activity caused me extreme distress. The resolution : ( 1 ) I should receive {$500.00} compensation and ( 2 ) Comenity Bank need to delete the hard inquiry posted on my XXXX report.

I have 2 Questions to Comenitybank/XXXX  : ( 1 ) Comenitybank/XXXX admitted in writing to XXXX  they have my information on file to access at will. Therefore, If I or a criminal give out correct but limited information EXCLUDING my social security number ( part/whole ) Comenitybank automatically thinks its XXXX XXXX and preform a Hard/Soft Inquiries for such items as a loan, mortgage, cars, credit cards, etc. Does Comenitybank/XXXX   have my signature on file next to my SSN to release information to all 3 credit bureaus? Which Consent Category do I fixed in above? I need to be compensated for extreme distress. 

( 2 ) In Comenitys letter dated XXXX, they told me my credit score as of XXXX which is additional proof they did obtain my correct SSN. I did not expose my SSN on XXXX to anyone nor asked for a credit application ; Who gave permission to have a Record on File Access to Comenitybank/XXXX? 

Finally, Comenity Bank has always had all my information including my SSN in their database for years, I can show proof. Its common sense, Comenity Bank would not be able to verify my Social Security number against the credit-reporting agency because as soon as I received the notification on my cell phone from XXXX XXXX early XXXX, I called instantly all 3 Credit bureau and asked them to put a Fraud Alert on my account because of the hard inquiry done XXXX with XXXX. SEE XXXX XXXX XXXX CALL LOGS. The hard inquiry dropped off on XXXX and XXXX. 

Today XXXX, I plan to USPS mail hard copies as back up, if the uploan do not work.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief