Consumer complaint received 2023-09-18
Company: Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.
State: CA
Product: Credit card
Sub-product: Store credit card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers
Sub-issue: Confusing or misleading advertising about the credit card

Complaint:
Hi Sir/Mam, Back in XXXX of this year, while shopping at XXXX, XXXX was being informed about a deal/offer that I would receive that would allow me to get a discount on my purchase. The way this was communicated to me, my understanding was that I was going to be opening up a store-specific card ( not a credit card ) something that stores like XXXX  XXXX XXXX etc provide. So as a customer I feel extremely deceived since there was miscommunication/false advertising on the store 's front to lure me into opening an account that I wasn't even aware of. On top of that, I never received a physical card, something which I wasn't even actively tracking down since I had no idea that this 'credit card ' account was set up in the first place.

I'm someone who takes pride in my credit score and has never had an account that was not in good standing. So, I was taken aback and sat in utter disbelief when I checked my credit score recently and realized that my sXXXX card has gone delinquent without my knowledge. This has really taken a toll on me ( and my XXXX XXXX ) since in this country, your credit score is everything! I'm someone who's had had a credit score of XXXX for the longest time and now for that to be taken away for something that I wasn't even aware of is extremely malicious and unfair. 

Upon this realization, I called Comenity and asked why I haven't received my physical credit card and they said they have sent one but then why have I not received it? I also went above and beyond and made a full payment of the amount ( and some interest ) that I owed on the credit card ( that I had no idea I had ) because I don't want my credit score to take another hit while I investigate and escalate this matter further. But to my surprise, they didn't even send me an email confirmation of the payment when I asked them several times to do so ( according to them, that's just not possible!! ). I just don't understand this behavior!! First of all, I was deceived as a customer and then I still went ahead and took ownership of whatever I could and paid the amount in full and there's still no email confirmation from their end! I'm just really frustrated because I would never not pay my card, that's something against my ethics and I'm financially capable to be able to pay off my cards. But because this was something that was set forth in the pretense of fall advertising, I wasn't aware of the existence of this credit card. Overall, I just don't think it's fair for my credit score to take such a major hit without my fault. 

I would sincerely appreciate any help I can get to get this addressed appropriately and disputed off of my credit history. I have noticed in other comments/reviews by other consumers that XXXX has a track record of doing this so looks like this is a broader problem and should be addressed as such so other consumers don't get impacted by similar issues! Please refer to the links below ( I have also attached some screenshots of similar complaints from other customers ). 

https : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX? XXXX Thanks in advance for looking into this matter. 
Your help is truly appreciated! 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX ( Married name ) XXXX XXXX ( Maiden name )

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief