Consumer complaint received 2017-02-21
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: TX
Product: Credit card
Issue: Identity theft / Fraud / Embezzlement

Complaint:
This started in XXXX of XXXX, when I received a phone call with a program to receive a zero-interest rate credit card and complete a balance transfer. I agreed verbally but then realized the only debt we had was Discover and at the time was at a zero-interest rate. 

I immediately called the person back and told him I was NOT interested since my Discover was already at a zero-interest rate. That seemed to work and I never received another phone call or anything in the mail. 

Nothing was ever sent to us : no transfer was ever made. 

Then the following happened : On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I received a phone call from an individual by the name of XXXX XXXX representing herself as a Legal Representative of Discover. She informed me that XXXX ( XXXX ) was trying to locate me because I owed approximately {$4900.00} in fees and dues. She also told me that a subpoena was being issued if the balance was not paid that day. 

She recommended that I call XXXX, XXXX XXXX at XXXX and get the information to make the payment. 

Both my husband and I were out of work and trying to get work, so a subpoena would damage any prospect of employment. 

XXXX XXXX suggested that we complete a Cash Advance with Discover and make the payment. We went to XXXX locally, made a Cash Advance and deposited the funds into an Escrow account, XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, account number XXXX. 

We spoke with XXXX XXXX the following Monday, gave her all the information. She assured us that she would get all the money back by the end of the week. 

Well, the following Friday, XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I received another call from a XXXX XXXX with Corporate XXXX in XXXX stating that we owed another {$4300.00} for past taxes and fees. 

I immediately called XXXX XXXX and reported the call. She again took all the information and stated she would help. 

I gave her the phone number of XXXX XXXX to call and ask on our behalf the exact amount due. She called back and reported to me what she was told. She also stated that since she had them on a recorded line they could never come back and request any additional funds from us. 

She made arrangements for a balance transfer to be made from my checking account to pay the {$4300.00}. Once the funds were available, I was instructed to go to XXXX XXXX XXXX and make the deposit into account number XXXX in the name of XXXX out of XXXX, Florida. 

I have been trying to contact XXXX XXXX with Discover for the past two weeks with no answer. The phone number she gave me was XXXX and stated that was her personal work phone. I asked her for an email address and was told that they did not have email access but I could always contact her via Secure Messaging with Discover. 

I have called customer service with Discover several times asking for a Legal Representative and was told that no such department exists. I have also sent a Secure Message and got the same answer. 

Now I am receiving calls from someone claiming to be with XXXX credit card again. And they are wanting {$4900.00} for processing fees to issue a credit card with zero-interest rate. Once I make the deposit, they would issue a cashier 's check in the amount of {$7000.00}. I told them I did not want any such credit card and wanted to cancel any such association with them. The representative informed me that there would be a cancellation fee of over {$4500.00}. I requested all the terms of the card and membership to review and was told I would receive this after the processing fee was paid. 

Again, I was given the banking information to make either the processing fee or the cancellation fee. The transfer information provided was : XXXX XXXX XXXX, account number XXXX in the name of XXXX out of XXXX, Florida.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation