Consumer complaint received 2025-11-19 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this detailed statement to explain what happened regarding the SYNCBXXXX account currently appearing as a derogatory collection/charge-off on my credit reports. The purpose of this explanation is to outline the sequence of events, the inconsistencies, and the concerns about compliance with federal law that have affected the accuracy and legitimacy of the reporting. My objective is to ensure that all information associated with this account is fully validated, legally authorized, and properly investigated in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), and all related consumer protection standards. 

The core issue is that this SYNCB/XXXX account does not align with any financial activity I recognize or can validate through my own records. The account appeared on my credit reports as a collection/charge-off with a derogatory payment history, but I never received notice of this debt, never received billing statements, never recognized any charges related to this account, and never received any validation as required by law. When a consumer is unaware of an account until it appears as a negative item on their credit report, it raises immediate and legitimate concerns regarding the accuracy and validity of the data. 

From the beginning, the appearance of this account has been unusual. I never received monthly billing statements associated with this SYNCB/XXXX account. I did not receive late payment notices, delinquency warnings, charge-off notices, or even a right-to-cure letter. Under ordinary circumstances, if a consumer legitimately owed a debt, the creditor would be required to communicate in writing about missed payments. The absence of any mailed or electronic notifications indicates either that the account may not belong to me or that the furnisher did not follow proper procedures in communicating with the consumer about delinquency. 

Because no notices were received, I had no knowledge of the account until it appeared as a derogatory entry on my credit files. This is problematic because SYNCB, as a major creditor and data furnisher, is required to send consistent communications and proper billing statements. If they can not produce evidence showing that these communications were sent, then the accuracy of the delinquency reporting is called into question.

After discovering the derogatory entry, I immediately initiated disputes with the consumer reporting agencies. I requested that the bureaus verify the accuracy and validity of the SYNCBXXXX account. My expectation was that SYNCB would be required to provide documentation and proof demonstrating that the account belonged to me and that the information being reported was accurate and complete. 

However, the credit bureaus responded by stating the information was verified, without providing any details about how the verification was conducted. No documentation was supplied to me. No contract, no statements, no itemized records, and no evidence confirming that the account belonged to me was included in the reinvestigation results. Instead, the verification appeared to rely solely on an automated response through the XXXX  system, which is known to often return generic responses that merely confirm what is in the creditors database rather than validating the authenticity of the account. 

The FCRA requires that furnishers conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information. A reasonable reinvestigation must include examining underlying account-level documentation, not simply matching information in databases. If SYNCB verified the account without reviewing original documents, then the verification process is legally inadequate. 

In addition to the missing documentation, there are discrepancies between the dates and amounts reported on different versions of my credit files. The opening date, charge-off date, amount due, and status vary depending on which bureau is reporting the information. These discrepancies further undermine confidence in the accuracy of the data being furnished. FCRA 607 ( b ) requires that information furnished to the credit bureaus be complete, accurate, and consistent across all reporting platforms. The inconsistencies indicate flaws in the data management and reporting process. 

Furthermore, I am not aware of ever having opened a credit line or account with the specific identifier associated with XXXX. SYNCB manages multiple retail and promotional credit accounts, and it is unclear whether this account is linked to a particular store, promotional program, or retail transaction. Because I do not recall engaging with any vendor or platform that would be associated with XXXX, the likelihood of a file mismerge, clerical error, identity-related error, or misattribution increases significantly. 

Another key concern is that I never received a debt validation notice. Under the FDCPA, if a debt collector or any collection-affiliated entitywhether internal or externalcommunicates with a consumer regarding a debt, they must send a written validation notice within five days of first contact. I did not receive any such correspondence. If SYNCB/XXXX treated this account as a collection matter at any point, they were obligated to send a notice informing me of my right to dispute the debt. The absence of this notice suggests either that I was not properly contacted, or that SYNCB did not follow required procedures.

Additionally, if the account was sold to, assigned to, or handled by a third-party collection agency at any point, the creditor or collector must maintain and provide documents proving the chain of assignment. A chain-of-title document is necessary to confirm who legally owns the alleged debt. If SYNCB can not provide the chain of assignment, then the debt can not legally be reported. It is unclear whether any transfer or sale occurred, and no documentation has been provided to confirm the legal ownership of this account. 

I also have concerns that the account may reflect an internal systems error. SYNCB regularly updates and restructures its retail credit portfolio. During such transitions, accounts may become reassigned, misclassified, or duplicated. Without documentation showing the original origination, transaction history, and account authorization, it is impossible to confirm whether the reported account activity is legitimate. 

To summarize the major issues with what happened : 1. Lack of notification I did not receive billing statements, delinquency notices, charge-off notices, or any communication that would have alerted me to the existence of this account.

2. Lack of validation SYNCB did not provide any contract, billing records, or documentation proving ownership of the alleged debt during my disputes.

3. Inadequate reinvestigation The verification provided by the bureaus was vague and did not include documentation, suggesting the reinvestigation may not have met FCRA requirements. 

4. Inconsistent reporting The dates, balances, and statuses differ across the credit bureaus, indicating inaccurate reporting.

5. No evidence of FDCPA compliance I did not receive a validation notice or proof that I was contacted about the debt in compliance with legal requirements.

6. No evidence of a chain of assignment If the account changed hands, no documents have been provided showing legal transfer of ownership.

7. Potential data mismatch or file merge error The account may belong to another consumer with similar identifying information, but without documentation, this can not be ruled out. 

8. Potential internal system error SYNCB has multiple retail credit systems, and errors can occur during data transfers or account migrations.

9. Failure to ensure accuracy The furnisher is responsible under FCRA 607 ( b ) and 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data they report.

10. Harm caused The derogatory report has caused real harmlower credit scores, reduced credit opportunities, increased interest rates, and reputational damage. 

Given the amount of uncertainty about this account and the lack of documentation provided at any stage, the reporting of this SYNCB/XXXX account appears unsupported and possibly inaccurate. Because I have no documentation, no memory, and no communication related to this account, and because SYNCB has failed to provide validation, each of these unresolved points contributes to the concerns about the legitimacy of the reported derogatory status. 

If the furnisher can not validate the debt with original documentation, can not demonstrate proper reporting and notice procedures, and can not prove legal authority to continue reporting, then the current reporting violates federal standards. 

I am requesting that the CFPB investigate these issues and require SYNCB to provide full documentation supporting the accuracy and ownership of the account. If SYNCB can not provide legally sufficient validation, the only lawful resolution is the full deletion of the SYNCB/XXXX  derogatory account from all consumer reporting agencies.

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