Consumer complaint received 2022-11-15
Company: BARCLAYS BANK DELAWARE
State: WA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-issue: Card opened as result of identity theft or fraud

Complaint:
In XX/XX/XXXX, I went to the XXXX XXXX store located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, WA XXXX. During the visit, I was offered by a sales rep to open a store charge card in consideration for a discount on my purchase. I agreed, provided my driver 's license ( which has my name, XXXX XXXX on it ), and my social security number. I purchased some clothing on my card and left the store. 

I didn't think much of it after leaving the store, but several weeks later, realized I had never received my new store card. I called the store itself and reported the issue to a manager. I never received a card in the mail. 

About two months later, I received a statement from an entity, Barclay Bank, that showed over {$500.00} in transactions including restaurants and other businesses. It was clear that these transactions were somehow related to the account that I had opened at the XXXX XXXX, first of all, which I thought was just a store charge card, not a XXXX. 

Oddly, the name on the account was listed as XXXX XXXX ( a name I formerly used several years ago, but I legally changed my name to XXXX XXXX in XXXX, and had not used that name since. ). 

The day I received the fraudulent bill, I called the telephone number listed on the statement and reported the fraud, asking that the card be closed and that all of the transactions listed be reported as fraud. I was transferred to 6 different reps during this process and was on the phone for over an hour. I hung up from that call with the understanding that the fraud report was complete. 

About 30 days later, I received a second statement in the mail. This time, I called again to re-report the fraud, and also sent a letter to report the fraud in writing. 

Old XXXX Credit Card XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, DE XXXX After this happened, instead of the account being closed, I then received a physical credit card in the mail. Then, I received a late notice and I began receiving emails and phone calls about my account being late. 

I have Barclay 's upwards of 20 times by now, each time continually reporting the transactions as fraudulent and requesting numerous times that the account be closed and the charges reversed. It has been nearly 9 months now since my complaint of fraudulent charges and account information was submitted. I have received numerous letters and phone calls from Barclays, and the account is now significantly affecting my credit score. The account has also accrued about {$200.00} of additional late fees, so now the bill is over {$700.00}. 

Each time I call Barclays, I am passed around to multiple people and multiple departments, each department acting like they don't know about my previous reports. This feels like a racket, that they are doing this on purpose to get consumers to give up on this process and just pay the bill, due to the significant time investment and dozens of actions needed.

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