Comenity and Fraud Alerts - Don't Expect Quick Approval

[MASTERNC]

Just a warning to anyone who applies for a Comenity card with a fraud alert, especially if you are hoping to take advantage of a promotion.

I applied for a Williams-Sonoma card to take advantage of the 20% first day discount on top of a sale on cookware.  I have an extended fraud alert due to a compromised Social Security number, so I didn't expect instant approval.  However, when I called the backdoor number to try to push through the application (which works with nearly every other bank), I was told I had to wait for a decision in the mail, even though there is a number to call on the fraud alert to verify an application.  Five days later, I received a letter telling me to call the same number for verification.  I had to read a code on the letter.  I was approved, but by that time, the cookware sale had ended, and it unclear if I will receive 20% off (the T&C say application and approval must occur the same day).  Williams-Sonoma said they would give me a gift card to cover the sale discount but not sure if I can get them to replace the 20% card discount as well.  In all, this subpar system could cost me up to $90 in discounts.

Basically, Comenity's fraud verification process does not allow for quick approvals, so don't expect to apply for a card in-store and get an answer after a prompt verification phone call.  Not sure the retailers would be happy if they knew this.

[AverageJoesCredit]

Yup, this i know. In the end its making sure that fraud alert  works 

[MASTERNC]

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the fraud alert works. However, banks like Citibank and BOA have no issue doing verifications within 10-15 minutes of application by calling the number in the alert, especially for store cards.

[Meanmchine]

Comenity has serious issues with FAs especially when they pull EQ

( 90% ot the time ). Comenity likes to verify the home phone # but EQ does not store phone #s.  What I had to end up doing was add a consumer comment that has my phone # on it for verification

IMHO, go wiith report freezes instead of FAs..  Much easier to deal with

[toi34]

I don't have a fraud alert, but my Comenity applications always goes to 7-10 message, then like you, I get that letter in the mail to call and read a long number. I always get approved, and that 20% discount comes as a coupon in the envelope with the new card. Sorry that the sale passed though; but at least they're accomodating you. 

[MASTERNC]

Good to know you still get the coupon. I ended up buying the cookware on another card last night because I also saw you couldn't use a gift card as partial payment and still get the 20% off. One of my Citibank cards has 10% back on online purchases up to $250 so that came in handy. I will purchase another piece or some more items with the new card and coupon.

[MASTERNC]

I would also add that the credit freeze isn't always smoother.  I've had creditors refuse to send replacement cards (I have wanted to add contactless to all my cards as they become available) because I have a freeze on my account and I've had banks refuse to open checking accounts online or by phone.  Also, it doesn't stop an opportunistic thief.  My Social Security number was used to access an existing store card and buy electronics.  I had a freeze on my accounts then but also added a fraud alert.  I took the freezes off to apply for credit one day.  Within an hour of doing so, I got a call from Goldman Sachs asking if I had applied for an Apple Card (I had not).  If not for the fraud alert, my identity theft nightmare would have been a lot worse.

[AverageJoesCredit]

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@Meanmchine wrote:

Comenity has serious issues with FAs especially when they pull EQ

( 90% ot the time ). Comenity likes to verify the home phone # but EQ does not store phone #s.  What I had to end up doing was add a consumer comment that has my phone # on it for verification

IMHO, go wiith report freezes instead of FAs..  Much easier to deal with

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Yeah but if you have had fraude or some of your info out there, better to stick with FAs. How many of us have had some part of our info stolen thsnks in part to Equifsx hacks? I know i have. 

[AverageJoesCredit]

Ime, Comenity has  become so difficult to spply for its like apping a Chase card. They arent as easy to get or deal with as some would want us to believe. Why else do we see less Comenity as pprovals then before lol.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

If you think that's bad, if they send you a pre-approval in the mail, there's no way to use that 20% discount because the link to "shop now" doesn't exist when apping directly from their site.