topic Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH in Credit Card Applications

VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 16:29:07 GMT

Few weeks ago I received an advertisement about a sale with Victoria Secret. I went to check my cart to see of it was a significant savings. When I went to check out it did that your preapproved and see what for... so I did. I put my information in... Since on rebuilding phase I liked it was no credit pull. I was preapprovef for a Victoria Secret Master Card only $200 but I took it... and it said can use for purchase today with the temporary number issued.

But then the card comes and it's a store card. I had saved the screen shot .. I called the Mastercard number and the recording even stated congratulations on my new Mastercard... so now I'm thinking they just made a mistake and sent wrong card. Even the customer service at first said it was a master card... but then changed her tune and just rushed me off the phone. I called back next day. They said they would put in a inquiry. Now I get 2 letters stating they had a glitch and oh well you can only have the store card or cancel.

I feel like this was a Bait and Switch? I have the snapshot of approval I just cut out my address to share photo. Upon some research I read that this has happened before to others. WTH?

I hesitated posting. But I feel I should let others know... I don't think I have any recourse or action. I paid my balance in full. The VS Mastercard had more perks... I didn't want a store card. But here I am... only time I will use is for underwear.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 19:57:45 GMT

If anyone has had this happen to them let me know.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Jeffster1 — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 20:45:01 GMT

@Linnaea wrote:
Few weeks ago I received an advertisement about a sale with Victoria Secret. I went to check my cart to see of it was a significant savings. When I went to check out it did that your preapproved and see what for... so I did. I put my information in... Since on rebuilding phase I liked it was no credit pull. I was preapprovef for a Victoria Secret Master Card only $200 but I took it... and it said can use for purchase today with the temporary number issued.

But then the card comes and it's a store card. I had saved the screen shot .. I called the Mastercard number and the recording even stated congratulations on my new Mastercard... so now I'm thinking they just made a mistake and sent wrong card. Even the customer service at first said it was a master card... but then changed her tune and just rushed me off the phone. I called back next day. They said they would put in a inquiry. Now I get 2 letters stating they had a glitch and oh well you can only have the store card or cancel.

I feel like this was a Bait and Switch? I have the snapshot of approval I just cut out my address to share photo. Upon some research I read that this has happened before to others. WTH?

I hesitated posting. But I feel I should let others know... I don't think I have any recourse or action. I paid my balance in full. The VS Mastercard had more perks... I didn't want a store card. But here I am... only time I will use is for underwear.

Darn That's really messed up. If it were me, I'd contact the Executive Offices of the issuing bank.

Good luck!

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 12:38:01 GMT

I'm thinking I should do something. Anymore, seems rules or coloring outside the lines is acceptable by companies. But one misstep by consumer and that's a huge infraction.

I'm still thinking the best course of action.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

coldfusion — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 16:51:10 GMT

I'd look up the address of the corporate offices of Bread Financial (i.e. Comenity) and then send a letter detailing what transpired including your interaction with Customer Service, via CMRR, addressed to the Office of Ralph Andretta. If you don't get a satisfactory response file an online complain with the FDIC. They may tell you to file a complaint instead with the CFPB which is OK but start off with the FDIC. Odds are that the CEO would never see the letter but one of his handlers would and they would know who to route the letter to internally to handle it.

p.s. I suspect that the $200 limit was just the initial placeholder limit where once you receive and activate the card they'll inform and make available the entire amount that makes up the starting limit of the card.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Guyatthebeach — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 17:37:57 GMT

@Linnaea ,

I personally believe this is an error on Bread's part not yours. I would email the executive office and also send a certified letter to them. If Bread doesn't not resolve it by issuing you the correct card or if they don't respond within 30 days, I would file a complaint with the CFPB.

Please let us know the outcome.

Guyatthebeach

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Jeffster1 — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 17:43:51 GMT

I agree 100% with @Guyatthebeach. The approval clearly states that the OP was approved for the MC.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 23:18:03 GMT

Thank you ... I am going to do this.

@coldfusion wrote:
I'd look up the address of the corporate offices of Bread Financial (i.e. Comenity) and then send a letter detailing what transpired including your interaction with Customer Service, via CMRR, addressed to the Office of Ralph Andretta. If you don't get a satisfactory response file an online complain with the FDIC. They may tell you to file a complaint instead with the CFPB which is OK but start off with the FDIC. Odds are that the CEO would never see the letter but one of his handlers would and they would know who to route the letter to internally to handle it.

p.s. I suspect that the $200 limit was just the initial placeholder limit where once you receive and activate the card they'll inform and make available the entire amount that makes up the starting limit of the card.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 23:19:20 GMT

Thank such great advice

@coldfusion wrote:
I'd look up the address of the corporate offices of Bread Financial (i.e. Comenity) and then send a letter detailing what transpired including your interaction with Customer Service, via CMRR, addressed to the Office of Ralph Andretta. If you don't get a satisfactory response file an online complain with the FDIC. They may tell you to file a complaint instead with the CFPB which is OK but start off with the FDIC. Odds are that the CEO would never see the letter but one of his handlers would and they would know who to route the letter to internally to handle it.

p.s. I suspect that the $200 limit was just the initial placeholder limit where once you receive and activate the card they'll inform and make available the entire amount that makes up the starting limit of the card.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Intuitive-sleuth — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 05:21:38 GMT

I had this happen to me but with forever 21. Same credit limit, 200, and I asked for the master card not just the store card and I was happy about it. I thought 200? I'm going to have fun getting increases! When I got the card in the mail, it was only the store card. I thought I must've read it wrong? Same bank though....

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

PayAndProsper — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:14:49 GMT

That sucks. After trying the approach that everyone else has suggested with going to corporate and CFPB, I, personally, would probably dispute it. If I did not apply for a store card but received a store card, I would not want it or need it reporting to my CRAs on my credit profile. if only on GP (General Principle).

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 15:03:08 GMT

@Intuitive-sleuth wrote:
I had this happen to me but with forever 21. Same credit limit, 200, and I asked for the master card not just the store card and I was happy about it. I thought 200? I'm going to have fun getting increases! When I got the card in the mail, it was only the store card. I thought I must've read it wrong? Same bank though....

Interesting. I won't how often they do this practice of deceit? Why haven't they been called out on this... seems to be one way of capturing new account holders. Did you ķeep the card or close it?

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Intuitive-sleuth — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:20:34 GMT

I kept the card, did minor Christmas shopping and paid in full within 2 weeks. I was going to do <100$ during school shopping but when I got home I was looking at my receipts so I knew how much to pay off the following week and realized even though I swiped my card....they ran it as cash paid! So I logged into my f21 account to make sure it was charged and my balance was 0! I even showed my sister to be certain that I wasn't tripping (I have a brain injury) and I was correct, the receipt stated I paid 50$ for 35 $ worth of stuff, and I supposedly received change from that 50. I did swipe my card though and nothing was charged. I did not call the store to see what happened since it was back to school time and so busy. I requested a CLI since I was already logged in and it was approved for 1k. I logged back in about a week after and still nothing. My sister and I couldn't figure out why the cashier did that! Outside of it being VERY busy...so I still don't have a charge on the account. I want to look in my email to see if I was approved for a visa part. Hth

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

zerofire — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:42:52 GMT

Oh your lucky. Last time that happened to me was at Wendys. I had to fight with the manager for them to even consider taking my money. They then insisted to count the drawer before they would believe me. Manager ended up offering the food at 50% as employee pricing for the honesty. Waste of an hour to keep from committing a crime.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

TriniBelle00 — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:55:45 GMT

This just happened to me, this December - I also contacted to ensure and took snapshots of the conversation. Comenity is rude and unhelpful and apologizes that I cannot "switch", even though I explained to them that its not a "switch" but a mislead by VS. I would have not accepted if I was made aware in the beginning of the type of card I was accepting.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Beefy1212 — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:24:41 GMT

@Intuitive-sleuth wrote:
I kept the card, did minor Christmas shopping and paid in full within 2 weeks. I was going to do <100$ during school shopping but when I got home I was looking at my receipts so I knew how much to pay off the following week and realized even though I swiped my card....they ran it as cash paid! So I logged into my f21 account to make sure it was charged and my balance was 0! I even showed my sister to be certain that I wasn't tripping (I have a brain injury) and I was correct, the receipt stated I paid 50$ for 35 $ worth of stuff, and I supposedly received change from that 50. I did swipe my card though and nothing was charged. I did not call the store to see what happened since it was back to school time and so busy. I requested a CLI since I was already logged in and it was approved for 1k. I logged back in about a week after and still nothing. My sister and I couldn't figure out why the cashier did that! Outside of it being VERY busy...so I still don't have a charge on the account. I want to look in my email to see if I was approved for a visa part. Hth

You cashier pretended to ring you up and pocketed the money.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 01:55:09 GMT

This seems to be something they get away with.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

youngandcreditwrthy — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:34:28 GMT

I dont want to sound offensive, but a $200 MC is offensive.

My relative just got the Vickie's Secret MC with I think it was a 3000 CL a month or two ago so I dont know what scam glitch they are talking about.

You need to just go on ahead and report this to the CFPB. Elizabeth warren whether you like her politic ally or not, had a good idea by getting the CFPB up and started esp for 'bait and switch" situations like this.

report it to them. I reported Amex to them and they handled it within one week.

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

CYBERSAM — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:51:49 GMT

@Linnaea wrote:
This seems to be something they get away with.

Take a look at the card number, see if its MasterCard or store card! The 1st four digits should identify what type of Card it is.

But then again its Comenity, ever since they became Bread everything from them seems wonky 🙄

Re: VICTORIA SECRET BAIT AND SWITCH

Linnaea — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 21:43:51 GMT

Agreed ... I am rebuilding so if b it v was a MC I would of dealt. But now its really a sock drawer card until I shop boy cut boxer briefs... lol.