Date Received: 2020-05-19
Issue: Opening an account
Subissue: Didn't receive terms that were advertised
Consumer Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX I Opened a DISCOVER Savings account using their website. On their website it claimed that they have a {$150.00} or {$200.00} bonus if you open the account and deposit the respective minimums within a certain time frame. I met all the requirements and waited for my bonus to show up on my account. After not showing up on my account for a few months I called their customer support team on XX/XX/XXXX and asked why I never received the bonus. I was told it was because I did not input the " Promo Code '' for the offer which was pretty surprising to me because they advertised the bonus promotion on their OWN WEBSITE and on the same page that you click " Open An Account ''. After taking a look at their website I noticed in very small print on the bottom of the page they explain you need to put in a promo code on the following page to receive the bonus. I explained to her that this was very deceptive and was clearly built to trick people into thinking they were going to get a bonus but never receive it on a technicality. Why should the customer have to enter anything extra when the promotion is advertised on the their own page that leads to the sign up page? This was all on discover.com and not a third party website. I was transferred to a supervisor by the name of XXXX and I explained to her the situation. She said that she could put in a claim with the " Marketing Team '' and that since I met the requirements I should be able to get the bonus. She also agreed with me that it was very confusing the way it was setup and she could see how people would make that mistake. XXXX said in order to officially put in a claim I would need to provide her with the Promo Code and she would not be able to file a claim without a promo code. I laughed and explained to her that there is no way I would be able to retrieve a promo code that existed 3-4 months ago on their website. She kept saying that she could not file a claim without me providing her a promo code. After asking why multiple times- she said thats just the way it is on their system. This was very confusing and led me to believe this is also part of the deceptive behavior that Discover engages in. I told her I could look up a promo code online but it would not be the promo code that existed when I signed up since I obviously dont have access to that promo code anymore. She said it was fine and it should not impact the review process. I asked her multiple times to confirm that and she did. After receiving the mailed response weeks later it basically said they would not be able to honor the claim because the promo code I gave them did not match the dates. So I was rejected for the same reason XXXX said I would not be rejected for. Even though I met and surpassed the minimum requirements within the timeframe- they rejected it on another technicality that had nothing to do with the original bonus and offer. I put this on the back burner for a long time since I was busy with work. I called again the week of XX/XX/XXXX and was told the department I needed to reach was closed and they would get back to me. They left me a voicemail a couple days later and I called them back on XX/XX/XXXX. I spoke to another supervisor by the name of XXXX. I explained to him the situation and he gave me multiple reasons why they would not honor. When I explained the logic behind the reasoning was flawed, he had another angle to offer up. Which was also flawed. This went on for awhile until he finally said there was nothing he could do and it was all in the " Marketing Departments '' hands. I asked to speak to the marketing department and he put me on hold. After several minutes he returned and told me there was no way for me to contact the marketing department over the phone or email and he could provide me with a mailing address to send a mailed letter to. I told him in XXXX its ridiculous that I cant talk to someone on the phone or email them and I felt like I was getting the run around. As of XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX they still have the promotion on their website and it is still set up in this manner. To Summarize : - Discover Bank has set up a deceptive Bonus Offer on their own webpage that leads customers to believe they will receive a Bonus if they meet two guidelines which are to deposit a minimum amount of money within a certain timeframe of opening up the account. - Customers later find out they did not receive the bonus due to not entering a code they were suppose to enter which is not very clear on their website and is designed on purpose to mislead. - Their customer support team is trained to give you multiple reasons why they cant honor it and set you up in a matter as to reject your claim via mail and hope you give up. - Discover Bank uses a deceptive bonus offer and manipulative customer support to trick people into signing up for Savings Accounts and never deliver on their Bonus Reward.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 60607
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-19
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-19
Issue: Fees or interest
Subissue: Charged too much interest
Consumer Complaint: Account Statement Ending XX/XX/2020 and XX/XX/2020. My Discover A/c has three different types of balances : Purchase Balance 12.99 % APR Balance Trf 0.0 % APR Balance Trf 5.99 % APR I am surprised to find out that the company first applies portion of my payment ( minimum payment due ) to my lowest interest balance before applying any additional amount to highest interest balance. Generally, any payment first should go to highest interest balance after satisfying interest accrued. Otherwise those not able to pay off their balance will be forced to payoff their 0 % balance before high interest ( 12.99 % or higher ) balance which is unfair. Discover earns fees during balance transfer and then makes more in interest charges as the payments first are applied to 0 % balance before being applied to higher interest balance.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 60565
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-19
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-19
Issue: Fees or interest
Subissue: Problem with fees
Consumer Complaint: I had an automated debit scheduled with Discover credit card, on XXXX to take {$140.00} out of my checking account to pay my credit card bill. This is completely automated and has always taken processed correctly the day my payment is due, the XXXX. On XXXX I logged onto my Checking Account to see I got an return check fee of {$30.00} levied against my checking account. I contacted the bank and they told me Discover did not attempt to bill me till XXXX. My bank attempted to process this charge that occurred on XXXX, after a series of withdrawals and point-of-sale purchases that occurred from the XXXX to the XXXX, in order to force the bill to present against insufficient funds. There were sufficient funds on the XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. The bank deliberately processed a sale that occurred on the XXXX first before the credit card charge from the XXXX, in order to force the insufficient funds when they should have been blocked at point-of-sale. I contacted Discover customer service and spoke to XXXX, XXXX XXXX. She informed me that my payment was withdrawn from my checking account, and was cleared - I would not have any late payment penalty or fees and my bill from the XXXX was withdrawn from my bank and paid on time on the XXXX. I reported my bank for defrauding me with the return check fee, which is still pending resolution with the FDIC. On XXXX Discover filed a return charge of {$39.00} dollars and rebilled my checking account. On XXXX I logged into my online banking with Discover and return fee and rebill. This means that both my bank and Discover lied maliciously about the date of the transaction in order to defraud me with bogus fees.
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: 019XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-19
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-18
Issue: Closing your account
Subissue: Company closed your account
Consumer Complaint: Received a letter that my account would be closed to do inactivity for 18 months or longer this information is incorrect i have use the card 2 times and had paid in full and also prior to this letter I had spoken with CS agent and that will not be happening
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 90806
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-19
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-18
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Problem with customer service
Consumer Complaint: I filed a complaint with your office Case # XXXX. The case was closed due to the company responding. In their response letter they said if I had any further questions that I could contact : XXXX XXXX, Executive Office of Customer Advocacy, at XXXX. I left her two messages on her recording within the past two weeks and have yet to receive a return call. I feel Discover is using unfair loan practices in my case and are avoiding to return my calls. I would hope that perhaps this office can persuade a call back from her or any other Discover person in the Executive Office of Customer Advocacy. I know this office can not act directly on my behalf but I do feel it could further review their practice and determine if they are practicing unfair loan practices by referring to the practices I explained in my complaint. There explanation of my daughter 's debt to earnings ratio being to high at 22 % seems to be ridiculous. Or even better if they deem a lender that is not eligible to qualify to refinance and lower their rate is refused a cosigner? If they're truly concern is her inability to repay a loan why would they not want to accept a co-signer which gives the financial institution a greater protection on their loan? Perhaps because they know that the refinance would reduce their interest earnings. Sounds like an unfair loan practice that again should be looked into by the CFPB oppose to letting the financial institution continue oversee itself when their response makes no sense. Student Loans have a very high delinquency rate and financial institutions should treat those borrowers that are paying in a more fair or perhaps more legal loan practice.
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 33144
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-18
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-17
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Subissue: Debt was result of identity theft
Consumer Complaint: XX/XX/2019 certified mail via USPS I submitted : CA acknowledgement ; Notary 's Cert of Service ; Presentment under Notary Seal ; & an UCC 11 Lien Search showing no debt or liens in commerce nation wide. DISCOVER BANK:XXXX Amount {$200.00} A fraudulent account.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 95691
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-17
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-17
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account
Subissue: Transaction was not authorized
Consumer Complaint: I am writing for I have previously disclosed that I have been a victim of identity theft. This has lead to transactions being made using my information, including debit card, address and other information without my authorization. I provided to discover that I am a person with a XXXX and I have the experience of this being use against me from the part a third party who has being able to use my information maliciously.
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: XXXXX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-17
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-16
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Subissue: Information belongs to someone else
Consumer Complaint: On 7 separate dates ( on XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX ), I have disputed the erroneous Discover Card tradeline on my XXXX report to no avail. Even Discover Card has reported to me that they requested that XXXX remove the tradeline from my XXXX credit report. However, XXXX has failed to do so. I have sent several requests to XXXX requesting a description of the method that they used to verify that the debt belongs to me. After more than 90 days, they still have failed to do so even though they claim to have verified that debt on more than 7 different occasions. My rights are being violated.
Company Response:
State: MS
Zip: 39042
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-16
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-16
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Subissue: Card was charged for something you did not purchase with the card
Consumer Complaint: XXXX, XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX, XXXX, used my credit card information on XXXX for amounts of : {$42.00}, {$63.00}, {$300.00}, {$42.00}, {$63.00}
Company Response:
State: MO
Zip: 64506
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-16
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-05-16
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Can't temporarily delay making payments
Consumer Complaint: On XXXX I requested assistance from Discover Student Loans because of the Coronavirus and I was granted the disaster relief. However, as the situation hasn't changed much and XXXX XXXX residents are relatively still in lockdown at least until the end of XXXX as recently announced, I called Discover to extend the disaster relief on my account to find out that even though Discover has signed an agreement with Governor of California pledging to help private student loans borrowers with an extended disaster relief, now Discover is changing the terms of the original Disaster Relief and it will be charging interest during this time even though payments are not required. Not having to make the payment does help but charging interest during this time just creates a snowball that will only make the overall situation worse by the time repayment begins. On top of that, Discover is charging the variable rate wrong. Accordingly to the Discover Student Loan agreement, the variable rate is updated every quarter to reflect the new Prime Rate index so the rate is updated every XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. However, Discover current rate which should have been updated on XX/XX/XXXX, is showing a Prime Rate Index of 4.25 % even though such index was officially reduced to 3.25 % since XXXX XXXX. Therefore, not only Discover is charging interest to all borrowers during a complete global crisis, they are also charging such interest at a higher rate than it should be. It is pretty unfortunate to see how such an institution ( Discover Financial Services ) which received taxpayer money as BAIL OUT back in the 2008 crisis for the amount of {>= $1,000,000} is now taking advantage of the same taxpayers that helped them when they were in crisis. I really hope the U.S. government can see and take measures against such a despicable show of greediness.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 90036
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-05-16
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A