Consumer complaint received 2025-03-05 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers — Confusing or misleading advertising about the credit card
Company: U.S. BANCORP
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
The Federal Trade Commission XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX , DC XXXX To whom it may concern, Id like to make a complaint about false advertising by the US Bank XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with account number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  for specifically, not honoring the introductory 0 % APR for 12 billing cycles that is still being offered to trusting clients online.

Please bear with my long letter of complaint as I deem it necessary to provide details of the whole scenario how it affected me as a careful consumer, and possibly other thoughtful consumers like me who simply believed what information US Bank credit card company selling online. 

Late last year ( XXXX ), the writer was shopping for a travel credit card primarily to avail of the introductory 0 % APR for 12 or more billing cycles that were being offered by many credit card companies. Since I had been comparing the other benefits of the credit cards, after careful consideration, I opted to apply for a US Bank XXXX XXXX XXXX card. I got approved, the card was mailed to me and I activated it XX/XX/XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I used the card for payment in the amount of {$1000.00} for I am aware the credit card I chose has the introductory 0 % APR, to the best of my memory, for 12 billing cycles ( offered at the time I applied for the card current offer, introductory 0 % APR for 15 billing cycles ). Nevertheless, last XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, I comfortably paid random choice of amount of XXXX and {$170.00} respectively. The same way I normally do with my other credit cards, pay for some, if not the full amount of shown current balance which is earlier than the due date and to somehow lessen the balance on my new US Bank credit card. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, when I randomly open the US Bank app, I noticed that there was an interest of {$12.00} that was charged on my new card dated XX/XX/XXXX. The next morning, XX/XX/XXXX ( business day ), I called the US Bank credit card customer service to clarify and dispute the said charge. I informed the lady agent I spoke to that my US Bank XXXX XXXX XXXX  is new and has the introductory 0 % APR for 12 months or billing cycles the reason why I was questioning about the {$12.00} interest charge. The agent verified that my card is new but then told me that what she sees in the system was my card has active 17 % APR interest and not the introductory 0 % APR for new clients. I got confused when I heard what the agent was telling me. I repeated myself that I am aware that my new card I got or applied for should have no interest charge at this time. I asked the agent if the 0 % APR that I saw in the terms and benefits of the card is false advertising, which at that time, I already felt completely deceived. I just remembered the lady agent saying to me that my card has 17 % interest in it, as I felt that what she was mentioning was what she just saw on her computer. Although, I understand the terms and conditions of US Bank credit card I applied for, I ended the call with the agent and thought about looking ( via online ) at the offer once more of the US Bank XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Upon checking, basically, the introductory 0 % APR still stands for 15 billing cycles compared to 12 billing cycles at the time I applied for it. Immediately, I called the US Bank credit card customer service again to dispute the interest charge of {$12.00} hoping that, this time, the agent will recognize the error for the said charge. As soon as I heard the voice of the agent, I communicated and gave the details of my concern to the lady. I remember the agent also told the same thing to me that what I have is the one with interest.

I told the customer service person that I shouldnt have the interest charge since my new card has the introductory 0 % APR for the first 12 months or billing cycles and was followed with a brief question to her if the one shown during my application was false advertising. The agent offered to look further into it and even mentioned to look at the footnote. As I was hearing her while she was reading the footnote, I can tell she couldnt also see at that time that there was a clause that stipulated that I should have specific interest rate per my qualifications as an applicant/client. The agent told me that she will ask someone, a supervisor or higher up, if I remember it correctly and asked me if I agree to be put on hold which I readily accepted as I maintain that I know what I agreed to when I applied for the US Bank XXXX XXXX XXXX  that has an introductory 0 % APR for 12 billing cycles. Since I was put on hold, I wasnt hearing anything for about 6 to 8 minutes. The agent came back, started speaking to me and mentioning about the cards cant be a rewards and has 0 % APR at the same time et cetera. The way she communicated it to me was for credit cards in general, the reason why I thought of comparing and mentioning to her my other travel credit card by a different company which honored the introductory offer of 0 % APR and being a rewards card at the same time when I first got it. I was attentively listening to each one of the potential reasons the agent was stating to me. I remember she also mentioned about the 0 % APR I saw was a promo and she asked me for a promotional code. She mentioned that she was sure there was a promotional code and shes willing to wait if I can get try get it. I was already getting more and more confused with all the possible reasons she was mentioning. Since I was the one who applied for it, I clearly remember there was nothing that I read in the US Bank XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  any information that needing a promotional code to get the 0 % APR introductory offer in the application, let alone, an email was sent to me containing the promotional code the agent was suggesting to me to look into. With all these things s being told to me by the agent that resulted to the interest charge on my credit card account with US Bank as their new client, to my mind, I was simply mislead by the information put out by the their company when I was carefully shopping for a travel card at that time.

The interest amount charged on my card may not be that significant, but I decided to formally file a complaint as this kind of practice of false advertising is a serious offense and hurtful to the resources of us regular consumers. Please help.

Your attention on the matter shall be highly appreciated!

Respectfully,

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 explanation