Consumer complaint received 2025-10-17 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — Store credit card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems — Other problem
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Formal Complaint Regarding Deceptive Debt Collection Practices and Procedural Irregularities in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and Synchrony Bank To Whom It May Concern, I am filing this formal complaint with the Georgia Attorney Generals Office, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), and the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) to report what I believe constitutes a serious violation of consumer protection laws, contractual rights, and due process in connection with a debt collection lawsuit filed against me by the law firm XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, allegedly on behalf of Synchrony Bank. 

Background : I was recently named as a defendant in a civil action initiated by XXXX XXXX XXXX for an alleged debt originally owed to Synchrony Bank. I was never notified by Synchrony Bank that the account had been sold or assigned to a third party, in apparent violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( a ), which requires debt collectors to provide written notice of the debt and the name of the current creditor. Furthermore, under Georgia contract law and standard consumer credit agreements, I had a right to be informed of any assignment or sale of the debt, which did not occur. 

Arbitration Clause Ignored : The original credit agreement with Synchrony Bank included a binding arbitration clause. I was not given the opportunity to invoke arbitration before being sued in state court. This raises serious concerns under the Federal Arbitration Act ( FAA ), 9 U.S.C. 116, which preempts state court proceedings when a valid arbitration agreement exists. I request an investigation into why this federally protected right was bypassed. 

Misrepresentation in Court : During the court proceeding, a representative of XXXX XXXX XXXX openly stated that the debt had been purchased. Despite this admission, the lawsuit was filed under the name of Synchrony Bank, not the debt buyer. This appears to be a deceptive practice and a misrepresentation to the court, potentially violating FDCPA provisions against false or misleading representations ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e ). It also raises questions of standing and whether the plaintiff had legal authority to sue in the name of the original creditor. 

Lack of Court Transcript : To compound matters, there is no transcript or official record of the court proceeding. This severely limits my ability to appeal or challenge the claims made against me, and undermines my right to a fair defense. The absence of a transcript obstructs transparency and accountability, especially when material misrepresentations may have occurred during the hearing. 

Relief Requested : I respectfully request that your office investigate the following : Whether XXXX XXXX XXXX violated the FDCPA by misrepresenting the identity of the creditor and failing to provide proper notice of debt assignment. 

Why the arbitration clause in the original agreement was not honored, in potential violation of the FAA. 

Whether the court proceeding was conducted in accordance with Georgia civil procedure and due process, particularly given the absence of a transcript and the apparent misrepresentation of creditor identity. 

Whether the debt buyer had legal standing to sue under the name of Synchrony Bank after purchasing the debt. 

I believe I have been subjected to a miscarriage of justice and seek appropriate enforcement action, restitution, and guidance on how to preserve my rights moving forward. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Sincerely,

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