Consumer complaint received 2017-02-01
Company: BARCLAYS BANK DELAWARE
State: OH
Product: Credit card
Issue: Rewards

Complaint:
In the past, Barclaycard Arrival Plus provides a sign up bonus of XXXX miles. This XXXX, Barclaycard advertised a " limited-time offer '' of XXXX miles sign up bonus, which attracted me and I applied for it on XX/XX/2016, with the offer of " XXXX bonus miles after spending {$3000.00} on purchases in the first 90 days, redeemable for a {$500.00} travel statement credit '' ( I 'm copying the wording from the current application page. they should be the same ). 
I completed the required {$3000.00} spending on XX/XX/XXXX and I see the bonus miles credited on XX/XX/XXXX. However on XX/XX/XXXX I noticed my card account closed and all miles removed, including the bonus miles and miles earned from spending. I called Barclaycard and they asked me to refer to the mail being sent to me. 
The reason given in the mail is " Too Many Inquiries In The Past 6 Months '' based on XXXX credit report. I then checked my XXXX credit report and I see only XXXX hard inquiry on it within the past 6 months, which is from the application of the Barclaycard credit card itself, and there 's even no new inquiry after the application and approval. 
I called again and argued about the closure and the reason. The agent did n't give much useful information and all they said is like " it 's because of too many inquiries on credit reports '' ( the same as the letter ) " it may also include new accounts on credit report '' ( not on the letter ) " you 're welcome to re-apply for it after some time but we do n't generally reopen accounts '' ( meaning that I ca n't get the previously-earned miles back ) " I can do nothing to the miles ''. 
I did n't have much time complaining about this at that time and decided to do it now. I checked the application landing page and it 's still advertising the XXXX offer and it 's still saying it 's for " limited-time '', but it has been there for 5 months. It looks as if Barclaycard is advertising some higher offer and push people to apply for it as soon as possible by stating it 's for " limited-time ''. After a user applied for it and earned the bonus miles by completing the spending requirements, they try to find some reason to close the account and remove all the miles, together with miles earned from organic spending, even with a reason that is not true according to the fact. When they 're called, the agents try to find more reasons for the closure and refuse to pay out the promised bonus by all means. 

I also applied for a Upromise credit card, issued by Barclaycard too, on the same day, with a statement credit bonus offer. I do n't remember the exact terms but the statement credit was never applied. I found an offer email in my mailbox, saying " {$100.00} Cash Back Bonus after first eligible use of the card within 90 days '' and I expect that it should be similar. 
I already put several purchases on that card but together with the Arrival Plus card mentioned above, this card is also closed, with the same ( false ) reason as the Arrival Plus one. The time of closure is just close the 90th day after application, while the statement credit is never posted as of now, persuming the system does n't issue bonus to closed account. Obviously, a posted statement credit is more difficult to " remove '' than some reward points. This even confirms my assumption of " closing accounts in order to avoid paying bonus. ''

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