Consumer complaint received 2016-08-26
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: TX
Product: Credit card
Issue: Credit determination

Complaint:
After getting XXXX mail offers from Walmart ( Synchrony Bank ) about applying for their credit card, I finally gave in and applied for the card. After I finished my online application, I got a message saying to contact the XXXX number. It did n't say if I was approved or denied for the card. After I called the XXXX number, I went through XXXX to get the account opened because they had issues with verifying my phone number. Here is what I have a problem with. I answered all the questions that were asked of me, including verifying my social security number, my name, my full date of birth, as well as my home address. She then said that we ca n't seem to verify your cell phone number, so unfortunately we ca n't approve your account. When did it become a requirement for credit lenders to start verifying phone numbers? How can you deny a person based on their cell phone number? 
So after talking to a representative and being on the phone for about an hour, they finally approved my account. I was given a lousy {$150.00} credit limit. Today, XXXX/XXXX/16, I called Synchrony Bank to request a credit line increase. Once again, I was asked a serious of questions that I verified correctly and then the representative asked for a good phone number so that she could send me a verification code and verify my information. I gave her my cell number of XXXX, which is the only number that I have. It 's also the number listed on all of my other trade lines. She then advised me that she could n't verify this number so unfortunately, she ca n't process my request for a credit line increase. So basically Synchrony Bank verified my phone number for me to successfully open the account, but they ca n't seem to verify the number to allow me to apply for an increase? I advised her what did she mean by she could n't verify my phone number? She then told me that she ca n't provide me with any more information. I then asked to speak to a Supervisor. The Supervisor was extremely rude and told me the same thing, that she could n't verify my phone number. I then asked to speak with her boss and was transferred to a rude Underwriter. He told me that there was nothing that I could do because they ca n't verify my information. No one was willing to help or explain anything to me. 
These type of practices are illegal and are a strict violation of The Equal Credit Opportunity Act. I recorded the phone call once I saw that the conversation with the first representative was going sideways, and because of my experiences in the past with Synchrony Bank. I have never been treated this way by a financial institution before. I have reached out to my legal counsel, and we are in the process of filing a lawsuit against Walmart & Synchrony bank for discrimination and direct violation of The Equal Credit Opportunity Act. I did not want to result to doing this, but I will spare no expense to make sure that other customers are not treated this way. I will be providing the entire phone call recording as well as the names of the individuals that I spoke with to my attorney. I I have also reached out to several major media outlets in regards to the situation, and they have agreed to hear and publish my story. This is not the way to treat your valued customers! 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX - XXXX, TX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Email : XXXXXXXXXXXX

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