Synchrony Bank (Formerly GE Capital Retail Bank)

I posted a review yesterday about my JCPenney card limit being lowered by Synchrony Bank without good reason. My limit was a mere $500.00 to begin with; I have never charged up to my limit, and I have never been even one day late with my payments. I received a letter telling me my limit was being reduced to either my balance or $100.00, whichever was greater. My new limit is $260.00. After posting my review here yesterday, I received a call during my work hours (I'm a teacher) and a message was left for me to call back. I called back within minutes and got the voicemail of the person whose extension I was given. I, in turn, left a message with my cell phone number for them to call me back. That was yesterday and I'm still waiting on that call. After much research, I have learned that lowering credit limits for no apparent reason is common practice for this bank. I have several other cards that I have had periodic increases in limit on because of my excellent pay history. I certainly will check the issuing company prior to opening new credit accounts in the future. This is sure to have a negative affect on my credit score that I have worked very hard to bring up.

My review will sound like a broken record, I recently paid a substancial
amount on my credit cards with synchrony bank and a couple of them were
paid in full....to show their appreciation to a good customer with good payment
history, they closed my paid off accounts and made the balance on the ones
I made large payments on my new credit limit so now it appears my credit cards
are maxed out (even though I just paid them half off). This has had a large effect on my credits Score and their ability to penalize people for paying their bills on time is unbelievable.I will never do business with them ever again

Do NOT trust their credit cards. On many purchases they will give you a "deferred interest" period. However, if you make more than one purchase (as on my Care Credit account with them), they will not tell you, and it is not recorded on their website, the amount of each of your payments that is going to the different charges. So you are absolutely in the dark about when your "deferred payment period" is going to end. And if it does end, you wind up with an interest of more than 25% of your ORIGINAL charged amount.

DO NOT trust their minimum payment to get you paid off in time! I added up what my required payments were on my 2 La-Z-Boy purchases and would have gotten everything paid off well in advance of the final date, except that I wasn't told how much was going to the first purchase and how much to the second. So I ended up with an enormous interest charge this month.

It doesn't help that you get 6 months on one charge, 12 months on another, etc. That's just a way to confuse you.

DO NOT let your companies (such as the dentist or vet) let it charge as "Equal Pay/Deferred Interest". They didn't tell me that they were doing that! Then Synchrony sets you up with a minimum payment that is going on those charges only and isn't going to the simple "deferred interest" charges. And that isn't ANYWHERE on their website and isn't on the paperwork you sign when you charge the amount.

On the whole, they are as trickily deceitful as they can be without being illegal.

And if you try to contact them, good luck! You will spend at least 4 minutes listening to their machine before you even get the option of talking to someone. And then you will wait even longer.

Almost impossible to find someone to talk to, and when I did she was difficult to understand and when I asked where she was located at she said the Phillipines I suspect she meant she was from there. I did inform the retailer who was actively promoting a store card with a discount that my card experience he promoted has moved them from alpha head of the pack to just behind the blind dog with three legs.

WARNING: Synchrony Bank's recurring payment screen is purposefully set up for the customer to fail. I just received a $50 late fee. I am disputing it with them because I signed up for recurring payments and I have the approval email to prove it.

Their recurring payment system goes like this:

Choice of Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly. To last from 1-5 months. (Who makes 1 recurring payment?) You, the customer, then has to do odd math. If you're not prepared to do it, then you'll miss it like I did. THEY DEMAND THAT YOU ENTER THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ALL YOUR COMBINED PAYMENTS, NOT THE SINGLE PAYMENT AMOUNT, LIKE ANY OTHER SYSTEM ASKS FOR.

So, if I want to make 5 payments of $50, I have to enter $250. They do this for one reason, to trip you up, there's no other reason.

They have the same plan for two options: Option 2 they call Scheduled Installment Payments, and option 4 they call it Scheduled Future, Multiple Payments.

(This same thing also happened with my Amazon Store Card, also Synchrony)

I have never been late or missed a payment with my Amazon or Walmart until Synchrony made these customer-sure-to-fail recurring payment riddles.

There is no reason why Synchrony, other than the desire to collect dirty revenue from late fees, to simply offer what GE Capital had before them, recurring payments that don't end until the customer stops them. Or at the least, a year.

Shame on Synchrony.

I have had a walmert card with this company for a little over 2 years went into there automated system for the first time to make a payment in Dec. 2015 and the computer made an error and did not give a confirmation and did not take the payment when I realized that the amount had not been taken from my account I called them (this was 3 days later) and explained the situation and they were supposed to credit my account of the late charges but they added it to the principal and raised the minimum amount due so the next month I got another late charge because I only payed the original minimum amount and the last charge's continue to come making my account delinquent they refuse to solve the problem saying that I need to pay the minimum amount which includes the late charge's that they have added and they continue to harass me with phone calls saying that my payments are past due after I have already payed them my original payment with out the late charges this is purly bad business and If they dont fix this mess I am going to have to file a complaint with Revdex.com and the attorney general's office and if It doesn't get fixed I am going to take this poor excuse for a bank to small claims court so that I can save my credit from being messed up also they are not customer friendly everyone that I have spoke to refuse to fix this at all. nothing they said they were going to do have they done I had no problem with this account before THERE computer system ERROR and they still treat me like I am the problem I feel like they're trying to mess up my credit and get more money out of me in the end this is a scam and I would never suggest that anyone ever get a Walmart card as long as they do business with this company

My account is constantly assessed fees. Late fees when payments are made ahead of time. Payment balance changed without notifications.

I have a top tier credit rating, and always pay off all card balances every month. In June 2014, I opened a credit offer from Amazon, and subsequently purchased 5 books using this credit card. I heard nothing from anybody, never received a card in the mail, and never received any billing. Last week, I received an e-mail stating that my account was overdue, and that I would be charged a late fee. Today was the first time I could talk with a real live person. They looked into the matter, and admitted that my mail from them had been returned as undeliverable; they used my street address rather than my P.O. Box. I agreed to pay them in full using my debit card, and then requested the account be cancelled. All this was done; tonight, I looked at my bank statement, and see that they did charge me for LATE FEES, even though the mistake was totally and clearly on their end.

Never again with this bunch of crooks.

My BP Chase Visa switched to being administered by Synchrony Bank. My first months experience has been HORRIBLE. I just travelled on vacation and my card was frozen. After spending 30 minutes on the phone with a customer service worker (who was very hard to understand because of poor English), I was quizzed about a dozen or so recent purchases. They were all mine, and frankly, nothing unusual for me. My total charges that triggered the freeze could not have exceed $1000, and my account has a $15,000 limit. I travel a lot and use my card in many different cities. I was assured that I would not encounter this problem again on my vacation, and I would receive a text message if there were any questioned transactions, but 36 hours later when I attempted to pay my hotel bill, my card was rejected again! No email, no text. I'm still well over $10,000 below my credit limit and can't use the card. Totally unacceptable and I will definitely use my BP Visa less often.

I have had a Gap Visa Credit card for nearly 9 years. The service was wonderful until Synchrony Bank took over the accounts. They have frozen my card 5 times in the last 2 weeks without the only explanation being that the card is being used a lot. I have not used this card any more now than I have in the past 9 years! I pay off my balance every month and have for the 9 years. And the freezes come at the most inconvenient, critical times. This card is no longer reliable and after I pay my balance in May I an canceling the card. I want to end my relationship with this bank as soon as possible. Maybe they don't want me as a customer anymore. The feeling is mutual, as I do not wish to be their customer anymore. Over and out.

I was just informed that my GAP Card account has been closed due to my credit score not being worthy enough I have always paid my bill on time (balance PAID IN FULL 6/2014) and I believe that Synchrony Bank has made an antagonistic attack by closing my account. This unprovoked action is quite un-American and does not bode well for the GAP brand. Very Sad Day for the American Credit System.

I opened an account for appliances through HHgregg. We never received account information or a card as we were supposed to although we were approved. I spent over an hour total time on phone with representative after representative and was blocked and hung up on by a very rude service person who kept talking over me . We had to call HHgregg to get them to call as a merchant to be able to confirm our account and get an account number so that we could call back and get our problem resolved it was humiliating and frustrating. I would hesitate to use these people again . The last call I made after having spoke with HHGregg again the woman was very nice.

I do feel better after reading some of these other reviews. I have many credit cards and couldn't believe how terribly I’ve been treated by Synchrony regarding my Old Navy card. Apparently I missed one payment in six years because I didn't receive the statement and they starting calling my house at all times of day and night with cryptic electronic messages asking me to call. I have a small baby at home and they woke him up repeatedly. Then, when I finally was able to call, I could not get anyone who spoke English on the phone. When I would ask to speak to a manager, I would be disconnected. On my fourth attempt, I was just pressing buttons to bypass all of the required listening at the beginning of each call, and apparently I inadvertently closed my account. When I was finally able to speak to someone who spoke English, they assured me they would correct my account closure but I received a letter a week later saying that my account cannot be reopened and all my accumulated points and rewards are lost. I’ve spoken to every level of manager and each has repeated the same message. I will miss Old Navy but if they can’t choose better vendors than this then they deserve to lose business.

We had credit cards from Walmart and chevron/Texaco. After about 4 months, Synchrony Bank said they were lowering my credit amout from $500 to $400. Then 2 months ago they said a routine review of or credit showed we did not meet their credit criteria, and they cancelled the account. We have had a Chevron/Texaco card for about a year, but since there are no gas stations in our area, we only used it once and awhile. Its been paid in full for 4 months, and I get a letter today from synchrony with the same " reviewed your account" etc. and they cancelled the card. Do not get a credit card associated with this so called "Bank". You will be sorry if you do.

BP has changed their credit card company from Chase to Synchorny. What a mistake!
During a trip out west in May, during this change over, my credit care was refused in Iowa at the gas pump. I called that night and they told me it was a fraud prevention and asked me questions I couldn't answer without my files that were at home.
After I arrived home and supplied the nesessary information, my card was reactivated.
The very next day, my card was refused at the pump again! This time for using it too many times! I had purchased gas for my lawn mower, motorcycle, and my wife's car. I was trying to fill up my truck. Called again and got it reactivated after another series of questions.
Today I received the new card and went to activate it and when I was asked for the last 4 digits of my Social Security number I was transferred to a operator. More questions where I needed personal files.
I only hope this company will provide the service that Chase provided to me flawlessly.

Worst credit card company ever!! The company removed a late payment on my credit from January 2015 and changed it to February 2015. IT IS AUGUST OF 2016!! It's reporting on my credit as a recent late payment and I am in the process of buying a home. Of course I don't have a copy of the statement because the website only provide statements for 12 months. Thanks Synchrony, the home loan is now off of the table. This company has caused me so much stress.

These people, Synchrony Bank, are by far the WORST credit card company I have ever dealt with. I urge everyone to never deal with them for anything. I don't think they have anyone who has ever run a credit card operation working there. I disputed a charge because the airline involved did not deliver the product I paid for. So they cancelled the card, because they cannot distinguish between a disputed charge which I did make, and a fraudulent charge which I did not make. There was absolutely no need to cancel the card, but the it on the customer service line could not even understand why I had a problem with that. Two weeks later, I still had no new card, and I found out that a card had not even been ordered yet. So I had to wait two more weeks while they took their own time replacing the card that THEY cancelled for NO REASON. On another occasion, customer disservice told me that I could not see my transactions online because I got paper bills. I had been able to see them for years with paper bills, but there was no explanation for that. Then magically, a few months later, I could see them again. So customer disservice has no idea how or why anything works on their own website. As a third item, this month they put my card on hold because I had charged $22 in gas and fast food a whole 125 to 325 mile away from my home. I bought gas at the same station 6 WEEKS prior. They offer special rewards for gas and travel (including restaurant food), so YEAH itS, I use it when I travel. Fourth, I had started to review their rewards credited to my account, because I am fairly certain they are not correct, well short of course. These people cannot perform functions that credit card companies have been doing right for decades. Their customer disservice is terrible. BTW, their president, [redacted], makes $2 million per year. Obviously, she is ultimately responsible for the complete dysfunction in the credit card operation. Somehow, these people are able to sell their brand credit cards to major retailers. Mine is Sams Club and I will share this information with them. They should be ashamed to be associated with a company like this and it is totally out of character for the actual good customer service provided there.

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SERVICE. I recently reported fraud on my account and Synchrony Bank does not believe I made the charges. They sent me documentations of the fraud transactions and the signature on the receipts is clearly not mines. Everyone be warn and I do recommend obtaining a credit card from this bank. If my matter is not resolve I report this matter to an government agency.

Hi I fill like I'm being Discriminated on! I had Several accounts with Synchrony Bank, Amazon, Paypal, TJX, and Mattress Firm, to mention a few. Synchrony closed all my accounts at one time with no apparent explanation. I've Made Several attempts to find out why to no avail, I spoke to several Manager, Assistance and FRAUD department no one could give me a straight answer.
I had 0 balance on all my cards all but one which was a recent charge to TJX It had 192.00 balance, Every other card was 0 balance and never paid late. This Company Clearly Discriminates, I never requested for my accounts to be closed, and no one can give me a clear answer as to why!

After a few emergencies and admittedly poor spending habits, I am trying to reduce debt. While I have found most companies are willing to offer help, even if the help is temporary so we can reduce our debt to a manageable amount, this company seems more interested in sucking as much money out of you as possible. Rather than offering options and working with us so we can repay them, they have absolutely refused to negotiate anything. Their customer service is difficult to speak with and when you can understand what they are saying, they are less than considerate. We will be looking into transferring our debt to another company that will be more willing to work with us.