Consumer complaint received 2023-06-18
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: TX
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers
Sub-issue: Didn't receive advertised or promotional terms

Complaint:
I am writing to bring a serious matter to your attention regarding false advertising practices employed by Southwest Airlines and Chase. I believe it is important to address this issue to protect the rights of consumers and maintain the integrity of our market. 

On XX/XX/2023, I visited Southwest Airlines ' website with the intention of purchasing plane tickets. During the payment process, a prominent offer appeared on the page, indicating that I was pre-approved for their credit card, promising a {$300.00} credit and XXXX points upon spending {$500.00} on the card. It also implied that I could use the card to pay for my tickets right away. Intrigued by this offer, I clicked on the " Learn More '' option. 

The subsequent page confirmed my pre-approval and even assured me that my approval status would be determined within a mere 15 seconds. Relying on the legitimacy of this promise, I decided to proceed with the credit card application. Regrettably, upon submitting the application, I was redirected to a page stating that I would receive correspondence in the mail within a couple of weeks. This unexpected deviation from the promised pre-approval left me feeling deceived and frustrated. 

In an effort to rectify the situation, I promptly contacted Southwest Airlines ' and Chase 's customer service for clarification. To my dismay, I was shuffled between departments and ultimately directed to cardholder services. After engaging in a conversation with the representatives at cardholder services, I was informed that my credit card application had been denied. This revelation not only created unnecessary complications but also resulted in a negative impact on my credit report, all due to Southwest Airlines ' and Chase 's misleading advertising claims. 

The misleading advertisement claiming my pre-approval has caused me significant inconvenience, wasted time, and unnecessary stress. It is disheartening to realize that neither the application nor the cardholder services departments were able to reverse the application or rectify the situation effectively. The false advertising employed by Southwest Airlines misled me into pursuing a credit card application that I would have never considered otherwise.

I kindly request that the CFPB thoroughly investigates this matter and takes appropriate action against Southwest Airlines and Chase for their deceptive advertising practices. Such practices not only harm individual consumers like myself but also undermine the trust and confidence that consumers place in businesses and their advertising claims. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that CFPB will take the necessary steps to address this issue and ensure that consumers are protected from false advertising practices. I am enclosing copies of the relevant documentation, including the misleading advertisement. Please feel free to contact me if any further information is required.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation