Consumer complaint received 2017-02-03
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: MO
Product: Credit card
Issue: Payoff process

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX, is XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX about two years ago. Her XXXX affected many of her XXXX including her XXXX and required her to purchase XXXX. Since she is on XXXX and has no income, the XXXX doctor recommended she use the Synchrony Bank card with its interest free promotion to purchase {$3000.00} XXXX. XXXX signed up for the card without fully understanding what she signed up for and purchased the XXXX. With no income, she should not have been provided credit. XXXX believes the Doctor told her that she would have 3 years to repay. But, she is not sure and has no paperwork. 
Upon receipt of each monthly statement, XXXX diligently paid what she thought was the amount needed to pay off the balance during the promotional period. Since the bill each month only provided her with XXXX choices ... '' minimum payment only '' or " pay off in 3 years '', she assumed that by paying the " pay off in 3 years '' amount each month, she would pay off her balance interest free. Again, that is what she thought the doctor had told her. Unfortunately, the promotion was an 18 month promotion period, not 3 years, and the deferred interest was charged after 18 months of {$1100.00}. XXXX is XXXX XXXX XXXX and was confused by the monthly bill and did not understand the bill or " warning '' they sent to her in advance of the promotional period end date. 
XXXX deteriorated further in XXXX 2016 and was no longer able to handle her bills or estate. Her son and I was required to assume management of her affairs and pay her bills. XXXX is confused as she thought she was paying the bill correctly based upon the options on the statement and what the doctor told her. The bills are confusing as they do not provide a correct payment option to pay off the balance in advance of the 18 month promotional period expiration. Obviously, the XXXX options provided each month on the bill do not pay off the balance in time. Had the bill included a payment option that paid the charge off in 18 months, XXXX would have paid that amount each month. In addition, charging a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX victim who is in a XXXX home surviving on XXXX a 26.99 % interest rate to purchase XXXX XXXX that she could not afford is an just inappropriate use of credit. 
XXXX 's son has called Synchrony and explained the situation. They have been unsympathetic to date and unwilling to assist in this matter. Using this type of credit card with the elderly for health related issues and then charging them 27 % interest is predatory. XXXX has no income and should not have qualified for a credit card. 
XXXX is requesting that Synchrony waive the almost {$1200.00} of deferred promotional interest charges. The principal amount of {$3000.00} has been paid. The current remaining balance is interest only and Synchrony continues to charge 27 % of interest on top of interest. This is a predatory card which preys upon the elderly who do not understand what they have signed up for or agreed to and, in this case, do not have the income to even qualify for credit.

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 monetary relief