Consumer complaint received 2024-01-05
Product: Credit card — Store credit card
Issue: Getting a credit card — Card opened without my consent or knowledge
Company: Colony Brands, Inc. (PA)

Montgomery Ward ( XXXX " Colony Brands '' ) is perpetrating a XXXX XXXX scheme in which they themselves are opening credit accounts without the knowledge and consent of existing customers. 
In XXXX 2023, I attempted to buy a quilt and 2 shams from Montgomery Ward website ( first purchase ever from XXXX. ) I charged the order on my XXXX  card, but the order was repeatedly cancelled by the company. I called and spoke to a rep who said there were fraud issues associated with the card, which was news to me. I was finally able to place the order via their customer service on XXXX XXXX and my XXXX was charged {$79.00} on XXXX XXXX for the XXXX XXXX, which were {$19.00} each. I assumed the remainder would be applied to shipping and the quilt. I received the shams, but the quilt was backordered. When I relayed XXXX XXXX concern about fraud related to my XXXX to the issuing bank, I was advised to replace the card, which I did, a process involving several weeks ( we had just moved and receiving mail had been a prolonged issue. ) The quilt was delivered in early XXXX, 2023. On XXXX XXXX, I received an email from XXXX stating that " payment on my account is due soon '' along with a posted charge of {$69.00} on an XXXX charge account THAT I NEVER APPLIED FOR, NEVER AUTHORIZED, AND NEVER OPENED. I called and spoke at length to a MW rep on XXXX XXXX who said that MW had attempted to charge the now closed VISA account and when the payment was declined, opened a charge account WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT and charged the balance to this account. I have NEVER had an online business ship merchandise prior to confirming payment or informing the customer of a payment problem. MW had my email, phone, and address on file, and the email on XXXX XXXX regarding " my charge account '' was the first time I had been informed of any concerns. Instead, MW FRAUDULENTLY OPENED A CHARGE ACCOUNT WITHOUT MY CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE. NOW MY CREDIT SCORE WILL NOT ONLY BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE FRAUDULENT OPENING OF THIS ACCOUNT, IT WILL BE IMPACTED AGAIN BY ITS CLOSING. During the conversation with the rep on XXXX XXXX, I paid the full amount due of {$69.00} on my legitimate XXXX  card, told the rep to close the MW account, and requested an email or letter confirming the closing and XXXX balance to be sent to me, as well as a letter sent to the XXXX credit reporting agencies stating that the account had been fraudulently opened and was now closed. I opened a complaint with the XXXX  on XXXX XXXX On XXXX XXXX, XXXX responded that they had " attempted '' to contact me via phone and snail mail ( I never received any contact ), so " the amount due was billed to you rather than cancelling the rest of the order. '' NO, it was not " billed. '' It was transferred to a fraudulently-opened credit account, complete with a minimum payment, credit limit, and advice on how to increase my limit, as clearly shown in the attached email. 
XXXX refuses to provide me- and the credit bureaus - any information that could repair/restore my credit that they fraudulently accessed.