Extended Fraud Alert - Denial by Comenity for CLI

[Anonymous]

I have an extended fraud alert on my file, for anyone that doesn't know me already, the tl;dr is that my mom stole my identity and until she's gone, I'll protect myself with verifying information.

I have a Williams Sonoma Credit card serviced by Comenity bank. I am 6 months in and decided to request a CLI on it because I don't use it a whole lot and it would be a nice open TL that I use and PIF every couple of months for small household items. HP showed up same day, and I expected a phone call to verify it was me.

Nothing. A week goes by... and still nothing.

Today I get a letter in the mail stating that they could not access my report and to contact Experian. I knew this was false, obviously, since I could see the inquiry plain as day, so I called them. They informed me that I have been blocked from all applications at Comenity unless I remove the fraud alert. 

... What? 

They told me they will remove the hard pull if I request it in writing, which I will be, but I feel like this is next level garbage. The fraud alert is there to protect me, sure, but also to protect the businesses from eating thousands in fraudulant charges. Am I being out of line by expecting better? They called me when I applied for the card just fine... why would this be any different? Strange still is I have a large paypal credit line as well. Why would they treat a good customer like this?

Seriously considering closing both accounts.

[Meanmchine]

Same thing happened to me. What happened is that they SPed  EQUIFAX trying to get your phone number but ended up not getting it so the computer then HPed EXPERIAN to try to get it. You can have this HP removed as the problem is with Comenity and Fruad Alerts I had it removed when it happened to me. Call Comenity and speak with them. They were very eager to assist me

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have an extended fraud alert on my file, for anyone that doesn't know me already, the tl;dr is that my mom stole my identity and until she's gone, I'll protect myself with verifying information.

I have a Williams Sonoma Credit card serviced by Comenity bank. I am 6 months in and decided to request a CLI on it because I don't use it a whole lot and it would be a nice open TL that I use and PIF every couple of months for small household items. HP showed up same day, and I expected a phone call to verify it was me.

Nothing. A week goes by... and still nothing.

Today I get a letter in the mail stating that they could not access my report and to contact Experian. I knew this was false, obviously, since I could see the inquiry plain as day, so I called them. They informed me that I have been blocked from all applications at Comenity unless I remove the fraud alert. 

... What? 

They told me they will remove the hard pull if I request it in writing, which I will be, but I feel like this is next level garbage. The fraud alert is there to protect me, sure, but also to protect the businesses from eating thousands in fraudulant charges. Am I being out of line by expecting better? They called me when I applied for the card just fine... why would this be any different? Strange still is I have a large paypal credit line as well. Why would they treat a good customer like this?

Seriously considering closing both accounts.

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I can kind of see where they're coming from. "Hey, there's a fraud alert on this person's file. Maybe we shouldn't accept any applications from her because it might be fraudulent?" They're indirectly looking out for you by looking out for themselves lol It's probably just a template letter, though. Customer service might prove more...human.

How's the Williams Sonoma card otherwise? Generous limits? I briefly contemplated getting one over the holidays to buy a Nespresso machine, even thought I'm quite averse to store cards.

PS

Love your username

[Meanmchine]

OP call Comenity and have them remove the HP

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Today I get a letter in the mail stating that they could not access my report and to contact Experian. I knew this was false, obviously, since I could see the inquiry plain as day, so I called them. They informed me that I have been blocked from all applications at Comenity unless I remove the fraud alert. 

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I already called them. The CSR was rude as hell and told me to mail my request to remove the HP, and asked me to remove the extended fraud alert to apply for a CLI, and any other credit applications and credit limit increases on any other products.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have an extended fraud alert on my file, for anyone that doesn't know me already, the tl;dr is that my mom stole my identity and until she's gone, I'll protect myself with verifying information.

I have a Williams Sonoma Credit card serviced by Comenity bank. I am 6 months in and decided to request a CLI on it because I don't use it a whole lot and it would be a nice open TL that I use and PIF every couple of months for small household items. HP showed up same day, and I expected a phone call to verify it was me.

Nothing. A week goes by... and still nothing.

Today I get a letter in the mail stating that they could not access my report and to contact Experian. I knew this was false, obviously, since I could see the inquiry plain as day, so I called them. They informed me that I have been blocked from all applications at Comenity unless I remove the fraud alert. 

... What? 

They told me they will remove the hard pull if I request it in writing, which I will be, but I feel like this is next level garbage. The fraud alert is there to protect me, sure, but also to protect the businesses from eating thousands in fraudulant charges. Am I being out of line by expecting better? They called me when I applied for the card just fine... why would this be any different? Strange still is I have a large paypal credit line as well. Why would they treat a good customer like this?

Seriously considering closing both accounts.

---

I can kind of see where they're coming from. "Hey, there's a fraud alert on this person's file. Maybe we shouldn't accept any applications from her because it might be fraudulent?" They're indirectly looking out for you by looking out for themselves lol It's probably just a template letter, though. Customer service might prove more...human.

How's the Williams Sonoma card otherwise? Generous limits? I briefly contemplated getting one over the holidays to buy a Nespresso machine, even thought I'm quite averse to store cards.

PS

Love your username

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It's hard to say. My limit is only 1k, but for my short history that's a decent SL. I've had the card 6 months and the rewards have been good. This is my first experience with customer service. I only understand why they call the number, that's why the FA is there in the first place... but they didn't call me. And I already have the card with them, so this would just be an increase on the limit... not a new account. 

[fltireguy]

That card has been growing like a weed.. $750 every month, I got mine the first week the store card was available, I'm now @$4750 - time for another CLI tomorrow too!

[Anonymous]

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@fltireguy wrote:

@Anonymous card has been growing like a weed.. $750 every month, I got mine the first week the store card was available, I'm now @$4750 - time for another CLI tomorrow too!

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[Anonymous]

Update: After 3 phone calls and an emotional breakdown about being unwilling to put my financial life at risk again, I was finally patched through to someone who would verify my identity over the phone as if they had called me. 

It wasn't instantly approved, so I'm guessing it's a denial. Shame, but at least I actually got checked instead of a HP over nothing.