Consumer complaint received 2025-07-29 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal complaint against Synchrony Bank regarding the continued and unlawful reporting of a fraudulent XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  account, despite prior confirmation that the account was not mine. 

Background : In XX/XX/XXXX, I filed a dispute asserting that a Synchrony Bank XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  account appearing on my credit report was fraudulent. Synchrony initially removed the account, acknowledging the concern. However, approximately 60 days later, they reopened the same debt under a different account number and resumed reporting the same information, attempting to hold me liable for a balance that I never authorized or incurred. 

Synchrony Bank has now opened and reported three separate accounts related to this same fraudulent debt : Account ending in XXXX ( initial account ) Account ending in XXXX ( created after initial dispute ) Account ending in XXXX ( created after the second investigation ) My Identity Theft Report : I submitted a valid FTC Identity Theft Report and supporting documents to Synchrony and the credit bureaus in accordance with my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), including 1681c-2, which mandates that a consumer reporting agency and a furnisher block and cease reporting any information resulting from identity theft upon proper notice. Synchrony failed to comply. 

Synchronys Response : In their XX/XX/XXXX, response to my CFPB complaint ( attached ), Synchrony claimed they denied my fraud claim because : The card was activated from a phone number allegedly associated with me Shipments were sent to my address The account had been open for over 12 months I accepted responsibility or had made payments ( which is categorically false ) These conclusions are speculative and lack evidentiary support. I never applied for, authorized, activated, benefited from, or made any payments toward this account. Synchrony failed to present any verifiable documentation ( e.g., application with my signature, IP address of application origination, or phone records ) proving I opened or used this account. 

They also created multiple new account numbers to maintain collection efforts, which is not only deceptive but appears to be a clear violation of FCRA and possibly the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) under deceptive practices. 

Violations Alleged : FCRA 1681s-2 ( b ) : Failure to properly investigate my dispute and continued reporting of inaccurate information.

FCRA 1681c-2 : Failure to block fraudulent information after receiving a valid identity theft report.

FCRA 1681e ( b ) : Reporting information that they can not verify or document. 

Possible FDCPA violation : Circumventing cease-and-desist by creating new accounts to pursue the same alleged debt under a different number. 

Relief Requested : Immediate and permanent deletion of all Synchrony Bank XXXX accounts ( ending in XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX ) from all consumer credit reports. 

Investigation into Synchrony Banks practice of re-aging and re-reporting disputed accounts under new numbers to avoid removal obligations. 

Civil penalties or enforcement actions for repeated violations of the FCRA and failure to comply with federal consumer protection laws. 

Please note : I have exhausted my efforts directly with Synchrony Bank and the credit bureaus. Their actions have significantly harmed my credit profile and caused financial and emotional stress.

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