Consumer complaint received 2016-03-15
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: NV
Product: Credit card
Issue: Billing disputes

Complaint:
In XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I purchased XXXX tires from Discount Tires in the total amount of {$370.00}. I was offered by Discount Tire a rebate promotion if I will apply for a credit card ( which I later came to know as by Synchrony Financial XXXX where the purchase of {$370.00} will be charged. I filled up a credit card application provided by Discount Tire and then and there submitted it to Discount Tire. I wrote my complete address ( including apartment number ) in the application form provided by Discount Tires and it was only later that I discovered that Discount Tire did not include my apartment number in my address. Discount Tire then instructed me to WAIT FOR THE CREDIT CARD AND BILLING BEFORE PAYING SO I WILL KNOW HOW MUCH AND WHERE TO PAY. I did not, however, receive the credit card or any billing statement until I forgot about this account. Sometime in XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, my loan officer informed me that I can not qualify for the loan I was applying for because I have a very low credit rating. On my prodding, I was informed I have XXXX unpaid credit card charge in the amount of {$500.00} from a purchase from Discount Tire ( which was in the amount of {$370.00} ). The following day XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I went to Discount Tire to inquire on what happened since I never received any credit card or billing statement. Discount Tire called Synchrony Financial so I can talk to them. I was informed by Synchrony that the credit card and all billing statements are with them because they could not deliver them because of error in my address. When I asked them what attempt was made to contact me since my telephone number and address is with their promo partner Discount Tire. I was told Synchrony made no other attempt other than mail because it was supposedly my obligation to contact them. When I offered to then and there pay, I was informed that my account was sold to XXXX XXXX on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and that I should now settle it with XXXX not them. In the meantime, Synchrony had already destroyed my credit rating which disqualified me from the loan I was seeking when it reported my account to the Credit Bureaus despite the measly amount thereof ( {$500.00} ) and lack of any serious attempt to contact me for payment ( even without the apartment number, my house could be easily located by simply inquiring from the apartment complex administration office ). I now realized that the omission of my apartment number and lack of effort to locate my address may have been intentional and malicious in order for Synchrony to charge interest, knowing fully well that I will immediately pay the credit charge if presented to me ( until then I had unblemished credit history ). SINCE I NEVER RECEIVED THE CREDIT CARD OR ANY BILLING STATEMENT FROM SYNCHRONY OR DEMAND TO PAY FROM SYNCHRONY, I WAS NOT IN DEFAULT, SUCH THAT THERE WAS NO FACTUAL OR LEGAL BASIS FOR SYNCHRONY TO CHARGE INTEREST IN THE AMOUNT OF {$120.00}. SINCE I WAS FORCED TO PAY THE AMOUNT OF {$500.00} JUST TO BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY SETTLE THE ACCOUNT FIRST WITH XXXX XXXX XXXX THEN WITH XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( I ALREADY PAID THE FULL AMOUNT TO XXXX XXXX ON XXXX XXXX, XXXX AFTER GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND AFTER MY OFFERS TO PAY ), SYNCHRONY MUST RETURN/REFUND TO ME THE AMOUNT OF {$120.00}. AND REPAIR MY CREDIT RATING WITH THE CREDIT BUREAUS TO WHICH IT REPORTED ME.

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 non-monetary relief