Consumer complaint received 2025-01-20 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — Store credit card
Issue: Getting a credit card — Card opened without my consent or knowledge
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: CO

Complaint narrative:
Dear Representatives of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, My name is XXXX XXXX, and I am submitting a detailed complaint about an incident that occurred at the XXXX XXXX store located at XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, in XX/XX/XXXX. I was offered to sign an agreement for a TJ Maxx card. Since I already have similar membership cards from other stores, I agreed. I immediately informed the employee that I do not speak, read, or write XXXX at all. However, I was misled by the store employees, who issued a credit card without my consent. I was under the impression that I was applying for a regular store membership card. I kindly ask you to review this situation as a violation of my consumer rights. 
Incident Description : 1. Initial Context : In XX/XX/XXXX, I was shopping at the TJ Maxx store, and during checkout, I was offered the opportunity to sign up for a card. I perceived this as a membership card offer similar to those I have from other stores ( e.g., XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX ). I informed the employee that I do not speak XXXX, to which they replied that it would not be a problem as they would handle everything themselves. 
2. Misleading Practices and Document Signing : I asked the employee specifically if this was a TJ Maxx membership card, and they confirmed it was. The employee requested my drivers license and filled out all the paperwork independently. I signed the documents, unaware that I was actually agreeing to a credit card application. I was not properly informed about the nature of the documents and did not know I was signing a credit account agreement. Since I do not understand XXXX, I was confident that this was a TJ Maxx membership card. I did not receive either the agreement or the card itself, and therefore I could not review them. 
3. Consumer Rights Violations and Subsequent Events : In XX/XX/XXXX, I received a notification that a credit card account had been opened in my name, of which I had no prior knowledge. Furthermore, over the course of a year, interest and penalties were added to the account, leading to a debt of {$500.00} for a purchase of {$100.00}. My credit score significantly dropped from XXXX to XXXX, severely impacting my financial stability. 
4. Refusal of TJ Maxx to Address the Complaint : When I contacted TJ Maxx customer support, they refused to investigate my complaint, claiming that my case was not related to identity theft. However, the core of my complaint is not identity theft but the fact that I was misled into signing a credit card agreement without understanding that it was one, as I can not read or speak XXXX. 
5. Violations of the Law : My actions were taken under deception, which violates my consumer rights according to the Federal Trade Commission Act and the XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX. Despite informing the employee that I do not speak XXXX, I was not provided with the necessary information. The terms were not explained to me, nor was I given an opportunity to review the full agreement. Furthermore, I did not receive the card or the agreement for its issuance. I was not provided with sufficient information about the credit card, and no explanation of the credit terms was given, which constitutes a violation of the law. 
My Requests : I kindly request that you conduct an investigation into this matter, as the actions of the TJ Maxx employees violated my consumer rights, including deceptive representation of services, inadequate disclosure of information, and coercion into signing up for financial products without proper explanation of the terms. I also request your assistance in resolving this matter with the bank and restoring my credit score.

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