Consumer complaint received 2022-06-30
Company: Colony Brands, Inc.
State: MI
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent an email to ask Wards and Monroe and Main to report my full credit history since opening both cards in XXXX bc it will help me as I rebuild my credit. Between the 2 store revolving charge cards, Ive made 5 purchases and paid them in full over several payments. I am just asking that be reported as well as my credit line increase from {$750.00} to {$850.00} on my Monroe and Main revolving store charge card. 

In the past, Wards and XXXX both reported to the credit bureaus on the XXXX and the XXXX. Since the full payment history wasnt reported as requested, after I spoke to their credit department, sent an email to their credit department and disputed through the credit bureau process, I am now contacting CFPB to intervene on my behalf. 

I am still asking that my complete credit history with the companies be reported as well as my credit line increase for my revolving store charge cards. 

https : //www.wards.com/cm/frequently-asked-questions-faq.html # q1 https : //www.monroeandmain.com/cm/frequently-asked-questions-faq.html # q1 As you can see from the companies FAQs online page : both Wards and XXXX advertise that they report complete payment history for their store branded revolving charge cards and one way they offer credit is by sending out catalogues with pre-approved limits to potential customers, which is how I came to find out about each store. 

When I considered opening these charge cards, I called their customer service to find out more. I knew that after the cards were open 90 days and had a balance, they would start reporting to the credit bureaus and they would report complete credit history of their store branded revolving credit cards. I was also told in a conversation with customer service they would stay open if they were in good standing for a year and then possibly close due to inactivity if no purchases were made. Their FAQs advertise how they can help build credit history. I decided to open these cards and order products and rebuild my credit with positive payment history due to these reasons. I have made 5 purchases and paid each off. In between purchases my accounts were not closed. The credit was available to be used for new purchases without reapplying. They are open revolving charge cards. They are open today. ( I mention all this bc as I will explain XXXX, not only moved my revolving charge cards to other loans, which they are not by their own companies website, they also marked them closed ) ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS : my COMPLETE PAYMENT HISTORY be reported for my Wards and XXXX  cards. From XXXX to XXXX. The companies report payment totals from the XXXX and last of the month. 
report my CREDIT LINE INCREASE on my XXXX  card from {$750.00} to {$850.00} which has been active for a few billing cycles. This helps rebuild credit score as well. I should not be denied the benefit of the credit line increase I earned from good payment history. 
my REVOLVING STORE CHARGE CARDS return to that section of my credit reports where they belong ( because thats what they are and it is also stated on both WARDS and XXXX  websites ) it is also where they were since the cards first started reporting on my credit reports and were for many updates over months. They were only placed in a different category, which isnt reflective of they type of credit they are after I requested a COMPLETE PAYMENT HISTORY. They seem persecutory and retaliatory for requesting a complete payment history and UPDATED CREDIT LINE INCREASE. I dont think I should be punished for merely asking for what the company advertises because it will help me as I rebuild credit. Their so not right. I have been a good customer, who made 5 purchases and paid off each of those purchases on my OPEN REVOLVING STORE CHARGE CARDS over 1-2 months as required. All payments made on time. More than the minimum paid. 
XXXX to mark my Wards and XXXX  revolving store cards as OPEN XXXX, XXXX and XXXX to return my REVOVLING STORE CHARGE CARDS to the section of my credit reports they were 1st listed, the proper one, that describes they credit product they are. Where the rest of Wards and XXXX customers have their cards reported It shouldnt be this hard to request a complete payment history or updated credit line increase. 

If I could send you the total of payments I made for each card I would but the statements in my online store accounts are not hyperlinked and never have been, except for the last statement when there is still an amount owing. That is all I have asked for. For Wards and XXXX  to send the COMPLETE PAYMENT HISTORY, total of payments made on each card : ( and CL increase on MM ) TOTAL PAYMENTS MADE ON WARDS AND XXXX  CARDS : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Again, if I could just tell you the totals from looking at my statement I would, if that made it easier. 

These are the purchases I have made at each online store : The are generally due after 30 days after purchased. Wards has a minimum of {$10.00} per month, XXXX {$20.00} per month. After each payment my revolving store charge card remained open to make new purchases and they are open now. They have reported on the XXXX and XXXX in the past. I dont care if the companies dont report on month where there are no purchases. I just want credit for all the purchases and payment I made because unless I am incorrect, that is my right and is fair credit practices. 

WARDS Order History : ( after each order my account remains open, is open today ) Minimum payment of {$10.00} per month, 30 days or more after purchase XX/XX/2022 XX/XX/2022 XX/XX/2022 MONROE and MAIN Order History : ( after each order my account remains open, is open today ) Minimum payment of {$20.00} per month, 30 days or more after purchase depending on date of purchase XX/XX/2022 XX/XX/2022 XX/XX/2022 RESOLUTION : WARDS and MONROE And MAIN report my complete credit history ( as they advertise they do ) to the 3 main credit bureaus XXXX, XXXX, XXXX update to reflect my complete payment history from XXXX - XXXX the 3 credit bureaus all update my XXXX card to reflect my credit line increase from {$750.00} to {$850.00}. I made a minimum of one purchase after the increase but I believe it was 2 purchases after my credit line increase so it shouldve been already reported. 
XXXX to mark my cards as OPEN which they are XXXX, XXXX AND XXXX to make sure my WARDS and MONROE and MAIN REVOLVING STORE CHARGE CARDS are reported under the correct category, along with other revolving open loop credit cards and closed loop revolving store charge cards. 

It is BIZARRE that they were moved to other loans and/or marked closed and it seems like a retaliation for requesting a accurate reporting of COMPLETE CREDIT HISTORY and possible because I said I opened these cards to help improve and keep my credit utilization % under 30 which 100s of 1000s of article on credit building recommend. It is when I carefully chose to become a new Wards and MONROE and Main customer. I knew they cards remain open, would not be closed until there had been inactivity. There has been no inactivity. I knew they would improve credit utilization %. I dont think there is anything wrong with saying thats why I opened them and thats how they benefitted me. I benefitted them by making purchases and paying on time and with a little interest. I should not be punished by having my accounts which reported for several updated reports over months under the correct category of revolving store charge/credit cards moved to other loans as a punishment bc it is less beneficial to my credit rebuilding. My WARDS and MONROE and MAIN should be reported the same way all the rest of their customers have their cards reported, like they were for months. 





https : //www.wards.com/cm/frequently-asked-questions-faq.html # q1 https : //www.monroeandmain.com/cm/frequently-asked-questions-faq.html # q1 Does Montgomery Ward report to credit bureaus? 

Wards reports information regarding its open, active accounts. Information reported includes all relevant historical information, including the account open date and ==> the complete payment history. <== Does Monroe & Main report to credit bureaus? 

Monroe & Main reports information regarding its open, active accounts. Information reported includes all relevant historical information, including the account open date and the ==> complete payment history. <== On-time payments to your Monroe & Main Credit account are an effective way to build a strong credit report and improve your credit score. 

How does Montgomery Ward Credit work? 

In many ways, Wards Credit works in the exact same way as any ==> store-branded credit card <==, however there are a few notable differences that make our plan more customer friendly. 

Wards Credit is open-ended, meaning that you do not have a fixed number of payments, like a car loan or mortgage. 

How does Monroe & Main Credit work? 

In many ways, Monroe & Main Credit works in the exact same way as any ==> store-branded credit card <==, however there are a few notable differences that make our plan more customer friendly. 

How do I apply for Montgomery Ward Credit? 

Wards offers credit to thousands of people each year. Most credit accounts are opened in response to a ==> pre-approved credit offer that was included in a catalog <== ( how I became a customer ) or offered online. 

To CFPB : It should not be this difficult to ask a company to update my report with a complete payment history. It should not result in having a revolving store charge card moved to a less beneficial category which is inaccurate as a punishment for simply requesting information that is accurate that can benefit a consumers credit report. It should not be this difficult to request an accurate reporting of a credit line increase. A request for a complete payment history should not result in having accounts that are open marked as closed. This should all be corrected ASAP bc its hurting my ability to apply for credit and causing me so much grief and taking so much time. It was a simple request. It should have been a simple solution. 

I will include a number of screen shots and documents but I can send more such as the dates of all reports that showed my Wards and XXXX  cards reported in the correct Revolving / STORE CHARGE / CREDIT CARD categories where they belong if necessary Both cards are open today, I could use my WARDS {$480.00} limit and MONROE and MAIN {$850.00} to make purchases from their store if I chose to right now. They are not closed and have never been in between purchases.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation