Consumer complaint received 2020-12-09
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
I received this letter and it was from XXXX XXXX XXXX. It said " They took my debt from JC Penney and Synchrony Bank and it says I owe {$480.00}. I had never heard of Synchrony Bank, to my knowledge. they had not attempted to contact me previously. I called JC Penney and they transferred me to Synchrony Bank. Synchrony Bank initially told me that the last charge on my JC Penney Card was in 2016. They also said that my account balance was XXXX dollars. I inquired about the letter I received. She said she saw another account that they said I had. To my knowledge I have only ever had 1 JC Penney account. She told me the account was locked and transferred my phone call to an automate service that attempted to collect debt from me. I called Synchrony Bank back and spoke to another customer service representative. She told me the account was locked and she was going to transfer my call. I objected and said I had already been transferred in a previous call. I asked to speak to a supervisor. She tried to avoid that by telling me " the supervisor also will transfer my call. I again asked to speak to a supervisor. My call was transferred to a supervisor who also told me my account was locked. They wanted to transfer my call. I declined and ended the call. I did internet research looking up consumer reviews about Synchrony Bank and XXXX XXXX XXXX. I found that both companies have been repeatedly accused of fraud, scams and unethical business practices. Seeing this I knew I had to report this immediately. 
So, I did, which resulted in claim # XXXX. In the interim of waiting for this claim to be resolved, I received a phone call from someone claiming to be from XXXX XXXX trying to collect this supposed debt. They said XXXX to start the call and I said yes. I explained to them why I dont owe debt and they kept trying to keep me on the phone and get me to confirm my full name. I have heard of these scams before, where people are tricked into saying yes or the full name and then the recording is doctored to try to make it seem like someone agreed to pay a debt. I did not confirm my full name and I ended the call. Today I got an email stating that my claim was resolved unfavorably to me. I called Synchrony Bank and the woman who answered the phone would not tell me when the alleged charges I am told I owe were made or where they were made. She transferred the call upon my request. Someone asked me who I was and I said XXXX. They immediately ended the call. This is clearly a scam and they are trying to collect debt that simply does not exist. I am at this point unwilling to call them because I do not trust they will be helpful. I would like to have another claim submitted where Synchrony Bank is required to state when and where and for what exact amount this supposed charges were allegedly made.

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