topic Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize? in General Credit Topics

Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

StihlBilly — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:10:16 GMT

I just got a hard pull yesterday and these were the details associated with it:

Creditor Contact Details

SYNCB
PO BOX 965037
ORLANDO , FL 32896
(866) 419-4096

I have one Synchrony card (Lowes) with a $17,500 limit that I have not used in a while, so I certainly have not been in contact with them or asked for an increase lately, plus they are a soft pull for increases anyway. What does this mean? Could my identity have been stolen?

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:06:32 GMT

You should definitely call them and ask why.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:02:32 GMT

I too got a hard pull from this company when I call the number you got listed it's an automation how can I tLk to a representative

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

AverageJoesCredit — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:04:46 GMT

We can be hard pulled by our creditors ar any time but with the recent Equihack, id investigate and on the safe side maybe freeze your accounts until the dust settles.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Spotsy — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 13:56:34 GMT

@AverageJoseCredit....are you sure about the statement "We can be hard pulled by our creditors ar any time..." ? Hard pulls are only supposed to occur due to "Permissable purposes". Yes, we CAN get a HP from a creditor at any time, but that does not mean it is permitted.

OP...definitley call and if necessary write a few letters demanding proof that it was legal and permissible. It may have been a mistake and they will correct it, but also double/triple your records that you have NOT asked for a CLI, opened a New Account, or an existing account (wither truly yours or fraudulently opened) has gone to collections... that is backed by Synchrony. Synchrony backs a LOT of cards out there.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 14:14:47 GMT

@Spotsy wrote:
@AverageJoseCredit....are you sure about the statement "We can be hard pulled by our creditors ar any time..." ? Hard pulls are only supposed to occur due to "Permissable purposes". Yes, we CAN get a HP from a creditor at any time, but that does not mean it is permitted.

OP...definitley call and if necessary write a few letters demanding proof that it was legal and permissible. It may have been a mistake and they will correct it, but also double/triple your records that you have NOT asked for a CLI, opened a New Account, or an existing account (wither truly yours or fraudulently opened) has gone to collections... that is backed by Synchrony. Synchrony backs a LOT of cards out there.

Yes, they can HP at you any time if you have an account with them. That is all that is needed to meet the permissible requirement. This has been verified many times by our resident FCRA legal expert, RobertEG and others. While anyone getting an unexpected HP should make contact with the creditor to see if it was a mistake, all they have to say is we wanted to check your credit and that is sufficient reason.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Spotsy — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 15:15:57 GMT

Then I respectfully disagree with you and RobertEG. A creditor cannot HardPull your report at anytime just because you have an account with them. As the OP stated, ithe account was not used for a while and they had not contacted them for any reason. What is the reason for the HP then? This does not pass the legal and permissible test as defined in the FCRA. If there is a link to another thread at MyFICO that discusses this topic then please share so we can all learn.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 15:40:33 GMT

@Spotsy wrote:
Then I respectfully disagree with you and RobertEG. A creditor cannot HardPull your report at anytime just because you have an account with them. As the OP stated, ithe account was not used for a while and they had not contacted them for any reason. What is the reason for the HP then? This does not pass the legal and permissible test as defined in the FCRA. If there is a link to another thread at MyFICO that discusses this topic then please share so we can all learn.

Well not to be rude but you're wrong. You can disagree all you want but RorbertEG specializes in the provisions of the FCRA and is well versed about what has and hasn't been ruled a permissible purpose and he has stated many times that a creditor can HP you at any time if you have an account with them. Read this link from Experian and note that these are permissible reasons under FCRA 604:

https://www.experian.com/assets/healthcare/fcra-notice-to-consumers-112612.pdf

• For the extension of credit as a result of an application from a consumer, or the review or collection of a consumer's account. Section 604(a)(3)(A)

• To review a consumer's account to determine whether the consumer continues to meet the terms of the account. Section 604(a)(3)(F)(ii)

Whether you have used your account or not isn't relevant. Other factors in your credit history related to other accounts can be reason enough for an existing creditor to do a HP to determine if they still want to extend credit to you or not. Honestly this point has been discussed many times on the forum and they can do an HP at any time.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

RobertEG — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 15:57:07 GMT

I have never stated that an existing creditor can make a hard inquiry at any time.

Yes, they have permissible purpose to obtain your credit report under FCRA 604(a)(3)(F)(ii).

However, CRA policy is clearly that inquiries for account review purposes that have not resulted from a consumer-initiated request for credit are recorded as soft pulls.

It was likely a coding error when the inquiry was made.

If it was clearly an internal account review, it will be recoded as soft.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Spotsy — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 16:28:36 GMT

Thank you for the clarification....this makes sense.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Spotsy — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 16:44:42 GMT

P.S. @Irish80....you are not rude at all....I appreciate the candid and “to the point” responses. In the end we are all a little better off trying to keep up with the rules of credit reporting as well as the games the CC issuers play to get interest or any money from our wallets!

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 17:02:44 GMT

@RobertEG wrote:
I have never stated that an existing creditor can make a hard inquiry at any time.

Yes, they have permissible purpose to obtain your credit report under FCRA 604(a)(3)(F)(ii).
However, CRA policy is clearly that inquiries for account review purposes that have not resulted from a consumer-initiated request for credit are recorded as soft pulls.

It was likely a coding error when the inquiry was made.
If it was clearly an internal account review, it will be recoded as soft.

Ok, clearly I misunderstood what you have said in the past. Thanks for the clarification and my apologies.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 17:09:15 GMT

@Spotsy wrote:
@P.S. @Anonymous....you are not rude at all....I appreciate the candid and “to the point” responses. In the end we are all a little better off trying to keep up with the rules of credit reporting as well as the games the CC issuers play to get interest or any money from our wallets!

Heh, that is just my nature. Guess it goes back to my law enforcement days. I can be blunt and wrong at the same time

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

wasCB14 — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 17:19:56 GMT

@RobertEG wrote:
I have never stated that an existing creditor can make a hard inquiry at any time.

Yes, they have permissible purpose to obtain your credit report under FCRA 604(a)(3)(F)(ii).
However, CRA policy is clearly that inquiries for account review purposes that have not resulted from a consumer-initiated request for credit are recorded as soft pulls.

It was likely a coding error when the inquiry was made.
If it was clearly an internal account review, it will be recoded as soft.

Is there credit information an issuer can see in a HP that won't appear in a SP report?

When an existing issuer SPs my credit, do they see the same info that CapOne (an issuer that used to send me ads, but I have no history with) would see?

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

RobertEG — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 05:42:19 GMT

A so-called "soft" inquiry is defined as one that cannot be included in credit reports available to others; it can only be shown in a credit report provided to the named consumer.

With one exception, a credit report obtained via a soft inquiry obtains a full credit report, the same as that obtained via a hard inquiry.

Thus, the definition of a soft inquiry is not based on the amount of information it provides, but rather upon whether it is later shown in credit reports provided to others.

The sole exception is a credit report obtained based on a so-called promotional inquiry (FCRA 604(c)), which is limited only to consumer's name and address, and cannot include any account specific information.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

xenon3030 — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 03:49:30 GMT

It does not make sense that a creditor that you already have an account with it, can perform a HP without permission and for any reason. This is incorrect at least from my personal view because it can mess the credit report of the customer. Even if they have this persmission, it is better to keep the credit reports locked so the unexpected attempts would be blocked.

I have read lots of negative reviews on Synchrony bank for various cards including Amazon store card and Walmart card. From my side, they closed my Amazon store card without warning after half a year. I also could not use my Walmart card for my first use at a Walmart store and could not get the signup bonus because they did not inform me about the required PIN (signature works for other stores but not Walmart store). Be more careful regading Synchrony CCs.

Here is also an advice: Before contacting them on phone, lock your credits because if there would be an unexpected error, they might do another HP again

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 11:17:43 GMT

Im sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place but I just got dinged with a HP from:

SYNCB
PO BOX 965037
ORLANDO , FL 32896
(866) 419-419-4096

Near as I can tell they are a credit card company but I have zero credit cards nor have I ever applied for one!

Why would they pull my credit?

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 13:37:21 GMT

You have the creditor's number. Give them a call and ask.

There's a chance that you are a victim of identity theft and a bad guy is applying for credit cards under your name.

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:02:04 GMT

I just noticed it when I got off work at midnight last night, I will call them first thing this morning, thank you!

Re: Hard pull from Synchrony Bank that I did not authorize?

JVille — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:59:09 GMT

Be sure and come back and report on what you find out. It will help others know how to deal with the same issues!