Consumer complaint received 2015-10-28
Company: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: OR
Product: Credit card
Issue: Advertising and marketing

Complaint:
When I was shopping at Kohl 's on XXXX XXXX, 2015, the salesclerk convinced me to apply for a Kohl 's charge card by promising that I would get 30 % off of my purchase. However, instead of the application being accepted, a receipt printed that said : " We are unable to complete processing of your application at this time. '' The clerk said that this meant that my application was declined. He could no longer provide me with the 30 % off. Additionally, he took back the written terms and conditions for the credit card. I questioned him if the application was in fact denied, since that was not what the receipt said. He said that the application was denied and that 's what that message meant. 
On XXXX XXXX, 2015, I called the Kohl 's Charge Account customer service number at XXXX. I spoke with XXXX, who then transferred me to XXXX. I wanted to confirm that the application was in fact denied and was not being processed. XXXX stated that my application was denied and I would be receiving a letter within 30 days explaining why it was denied. 
Since I did not receive the promised discount and was not able to keep a copy of the terms and conditions - and therefore was not able to read the terms and conditions - I wanted to make sure that the card was not processed. I fully understood that there would be a credit pull on my credit report ; however, if the application was still being processed and was not declined, I did not want a trade line reported or something showing that I closed the account, since this will negatively affect my credit. 
Imagine my surprise when, instead of receiving a letter stating why my application was denied, I received a credit card in the mail. So, on XXXX XXXX, 2015, I wrote to Kohl 's Credit Customer Service. I asked for a refund of the amount I should have saved if I had received the promised 30 % discount. I also asked for Kohl 's to mail me a copy of the credit card 's terms and conditions and train its employees to provide accurate information. 
I received a letter from Kohl 's dated XXXX XXXX, 2015. Enclosed was a copy of the Cardmember Agreement. However, Kohl 's declined to provide me with the promised discount because I did not make any purchases on a Kohl 's Credit Card - which I could n't do, because at the time of purchase, the application was still being process. However, Kohl 's offered a courtesy credit on a future purchase. This offer was not clear, so on XXXX XXXX, 2015, I sent an email to the address provided by Kohl 's to clarify the courtesy offer. 
Kohl 's responded that it could n't assist me by email so I called the customer service number on XXXX XXXX, 2015. I spoke with XXXX. She informed me that Kohl 's would provide me with a 30 % discount if I made a purchase with my Kohl 's card and then submitted a claim for a credit to my account. But, I could not combine the 30 % discount with any other discounts being offered at the store. So, for example, if the store was offering a 20 % discount, I would need to skip the 20 % discount and not use any coupons in order to receive the 30 % discount from the Kohl 's card. Or, I could go on one of the days when the store was not offering any discounts - XXXX checked and there were only XXXX such days in the entire month. 
Since I was not being offered the promised benefit that induced me to sign up for the card, I asked Kohl 's to cancel the card. Since Kohl 's refused to honor its promotion and I never activated or used the credit card, I asked Kohl 's to request that the consumer reporting agencies XXXX CRAs ) suppress the trade line. XXXX said that she could n't do that but that I could send a formal request in writing. My credit history should not be adversely affected by a company that does not honor its promises and does not adequately train its staff to correctly answer inquiries.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation