Consumer complaint received 2025-09-08 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: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Denial of Venture Rewards XXXX Miles Sign-Up Bonus Despite Meeting Spend Requirement To Whom It XXXX Concern, I am filing a complaint against Capital One regarding the denial of the promotional bonus miles on my Venture Rewards credit card. 

Card : XXXX XXXX Venture Rewards Credit Card Offer : XXXX bonus miles after spending {$4000.00} within 3 months of account opening Annual Fee : {$95.00} Bonus Deadline : XX/XX/year> ( Extended period approved by capital one ) Transaction Made : XX/XX/year> ( within the deadline date ) Issue : Capital One denied the bonus because the merchants transaction did not post until XX/XX/year>. 

Terms Provided to Me In the official Account Opening Disclosures supplied by Capital One, the relevant section states : You will earn XXXX bonus miles if you spend at least {$4000.00} within 3 months of your rewards membership enrollment date. Once you qualify for this bonus, we will apply it to your rewards balance within XXXX billing cycles. 

Account_Opening_Disclosures ( XXXX ) This language requires only that I spend {$4000.00} in 3 months. It does not say the charges must also post by that date. 

Additional Context & History There was a delay in receiving and activating my card, which compressed the time available to meet the bonus spend requirement. 

I proactively reached out to XXXX XXXX customer care multiple times during this period to explain the situation. 

I was told by representatives that I should wait until XXXX to request an extension or adjustment of my spend deadline to ensure I could meet the {$4000.00} requirement. 

Relying on that guidance, I continued to use the card and made the final required purchase on XX/XX/year>, XXXX day before the official deadline. 

Despite following the instructions given and acting in good faith, XXXX XXXX is now denying the bonus solely because the transaction posted on XX/XX/XXXX, due to merchant processing delays completely outside my control. 

Had XXXX XXXX been clear from the outset that it enforces a hidden posting requirement, I would have immediately canceled the card instead of paying the {$95.00} annual membership fee for a product that I would not have used. The failure to disclose this critical detail in plain and easily understandable terms feels deceptive and unfair. 

Why This is Unfair The written terms say only spend {$4000.00} in 3 months. 

I met that requirement with my XX/XX/XXXX purchase. 

Posting is controlled by the merchant and processor, not the consumer. 

XXXX XXXX representatives gave me assurances that I could request adjustments, but the bank is now refusing to honor them. 

Denying the bonus under these circumstances amounts to changing the rules after the fact and misleading the consumer about how to qualify. 

The disclosure says : You will earn XXXX bonus miles if you spend at least {$4000.00} within 3 months Spend in plain XXXX means when the cardholder authorizes a purchase and obligates themselves to pay. At the time of swipe ( XX/XX/XXXX ), you spent the money it reduced your available credit and created a binding obligation.Nowhere do the terms say purchases must post. Capital One is imposing an additional condition not disclosed. 

When I had swiped the card on XX/XX/XXXX, the transaction was authorized by Capital One meaning Capital One approved and guaranteed the charge.At that point, I had legally incurred debt on your Capital One account that the bank themselves authorized the charge. Posting delays are merchant-controlled, not consumer-controlled. 

To my limited understanding, XXXX Ones enforcement standard is not transparent and makes it impossible for consumers to reliably meet terms. This could be an unfair or deceptive act or practice ( UDAAP ) under CFPB rules Thank you for your assistance. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA, XXXX XXXX : Documents attached as support in this case XXXX. Screenshot of terms & conditions in the promotional advertisement of Capital One XXXX. Account XXXX XXXX shared by Capital One on my Capital One account XXXX. Additional information XXXX XXXX. XXXX highlighting the disclosed qualification terms for this offer.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation