Consumer complaint received 2025-12-24 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX I charged {$180.00} to my CareCredit card ( Synchrony Bank ) ; the charge was to pay a XXXX in XXXX XXXX, NY. According to the doctor, all charges made at her office are automatically put on a 6-month, 0 % promotional period. I confirmed this with her office at the time that the charge was made. The charge then appeared on my XX/XX/XXXX billing statement. There were no other previous charges on my account, making my full balance {$180.00}. 

I then paid the full amount of the bill ( {$180.00} ) on XX/XX/XXXX, prior to the closing date of the next billing period, which was XX/XX/XXXX. 

Unbeknownst to me, I was then charged interest of {$4.00} on {$160.00} -- the balance subject to a 32.99 % interest rate -- as interest is calculated on my balance from the first day of the current billing cycle until CareCredit receives the payment in full, even if I pay the balance in full and on time and make no new charges in the current billing cycle. This interest, plus interest on that interest, is then reflected on my next billing statement. 

I say " unbeknownst to me '' because it was my understanding that my charge of {$180.00} was applied to a promotional period of 0 % for six months. I didn't know about the {$4.00} charge, nor about the additional minimum interest of {$2.00} on my XX/XX/XXXX statement, or the additional {$2.00} interest on my XX/XX/XXXX statement. I received my monthly bills via email, indicating these charges, but I didn't read them because I didn't think anything was on them having paid my balance in full, well within the promotional period. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received notification from another credit card who offers a service to me about keeping an eye on my credit report, notifying me that Synchrony Bank had sent my {$8.00} balance to collections, thus lowering my credit standing ( XXXX  score ). Also, other credit card companies have increased their annual interest rate on myaccount all due to an {$8.00} balance that, in my view, was done in error since I was told that the original charge of {$180.00} was applied to a 0 % interest promotional period of 6 months. 

Most importantly, I was never given notice by CareCredit that I would be sent to collections if I didn't pay the {$8.00} owed. 

So, my complaint is twofold : 1 ) I should never have been charged interest in the first place ; and 2 ) I WAS NEVER GIVEN FAIR WARNING THAT I WAS BEING SENT TO COLLECTIONS. 

I have since paid the {$8.00} balance even though, on principle, I don't believe that I owe it but what's worse is that I was never even given a chance to pay this debt in full prior to be being sent to collections! 

When I called CareCredit customer service on XX/XX/XXXX, I requested that CareCredit remove the negative report from my credit report and was told that it they will put my request " under consideration ''. I will be informed within 30 business days of XX/XX/XXXX whether or not they agree to do so. I was also told by the agent that I " have to read my bills '' ; while this is true, it is hard to know what is a bill and what is an email from CareCredit advertising to me one " perk '' or anotherads and bills are given equal weight. Nor did the agent ever take responsibility for NOT SENDING ME A NOTIFICATION OF ANY KIND THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING ME TO COLLECTIONS IF I DID NOT PAY MY {$8.00} BALANCE. 

I was never given notice. Never. Not by email or by " snail mail ''. 

I have been a CareCredit cardholder since XXXX and have never once been in arrears or ever even paid a bill late. Never. After seven years of being in perfect standing, this is the treatment I get from them. They should be ashamed of themselves. They're disgusting to me. 

I want them to know that they're dealing with real human lives here, real people. " Care '' Credit is the irony of the century. My credit report has taken a hit all over {$8.00}.

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