Synchonicity Bank not kind to Verizon customers
jeffw_00
Enthusiast - Level 2

So I thought the Verizon Visa Card might be a nice thing to have.  I have a high credit score so I applied, and was rejected because I had frozen my credit reports at the credit agencies.  (my bad).  I called, and they said "no problem, unfreeze them, call us, and we'll re-process".  So I did (took some time as things had changed on their websites since I did the freezes 4 years ago).  This time, after 30+ minutes on the phone and several waits on hold, they told me "we can't reprocess, sorry! But you can reapply".  So I did.  I was then rejected because you can't apply twice in 30 days.  I spoke to a supervisor at Synchronicity Bank (Craig, ID 6236)  who admitted the absurdity of the situation, agreed that they should reprocess my existing application and that I should not have to wait, but said there was nothing he could do and told me to try again at the end of April.   

I'm wondering if Verizon is happy with the way Synchonicity Bank is treating their customers.  I get that this whole Visa card thing is promoted to get me to have closer ties to Verizon (and thus more pain in moving my business elsewhere) but it's unlikely to yield the desired results if it's handled this way.  In fact, my experience now has me re-evaluating if I want to continue to pay Verizonthe $400+/month. I pay for wireless, broadband, etc. as opposed to taking my business elsewhere (we have two broadband companies in my town).  I mean, if Verizon is not interested in seeing their customers treated well.... 

(Although one clue about Verizon's level of interest is the lack of even a CATEGORY on this message board for Verizon Visa issues).

Anyway - Buyer beware.  Synchonicity Bank is NOT kind to Verizon customers.

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17 Replies
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Jeffw_00, I sincerely apologize for this type of experience you received when applying for our Visa card. This is never the treatment we want our customer to experience. I will be more than happy to assist. I will make sure I submit feedback so we can improve in this area of the business. Please share with me some more details on why Craig was not able to access your existing application?

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jeffw_00
Enthusiast - Level 2

Hi - Thanks for the response.  As I mentioned, my first application was rejected because of the credit freeze (I was told this so I am 100% sure this is the reason).  At that point, the computer blocked me so that all further application attempts (re-processing or new ones) for the next 30 days would automatically be rejected. That's the bank's policy, and no one I talked to had any discretion to change it.  It's unfriendly, and not designed to create a good reputation, but probably cheaper for them, and since most of their cards are private label, their customers take the blame and they don't lose any business. 

 

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jeffw_00
Enthusiast - Level 2

And also - I just received my formal "application rejected letters" - I think.   Synchonicity does it electronically, sending you and Email saying that to save paper they are giving me a notification electronically and sending me to website where you enter the application ID and a few other things, and then it gives you "PDF cannot be displayed".  I tried on Chrome, FF, and IE on 2 different PCs with the same response.  So I have no idea what they were actually trying to tell me because their website that they set up for you doesn't work.   You really want to do business with these guys?

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

It is regrettable that you have had such an experience with your application for a Verizon Visa card, and that there has been trouble getting more information about what happened with your application. While we have no direct access to Syncrhony's systems, we can offer you their contact number. Please dial 866-313-9396 to discuss the reasons you are unable to access the PDF in their system.

 

GeorgeS_VZW

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jeffw_00
Enthusiast - Level 2

 I know what the letters say as i was told over the phone, and i explained this in my earlier comment.  The question is whether Verizon is happy with the way VERIZON's contractor is treating VERIZON's customers and if VERIZON will do anything about it before their VERIZON customer switches to another carrier.

vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Your business means a lot to us and we understand your concern with the application process for the Verizon Visa. Since the application process for Synchrony Bank is separate from the Verizon wireless customer service, we don't anticipate customers cancelling wireless service. However, we can sense the situation has caused you some frustration and we want to see how we can help. Any feedback regarding the credit card process can be lifted up but this is handled internally. What can we do to improve your overall experience with Verizon? 

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jeffw_00
Enthusiast - Level 2

You can hold your vendors accountable for the way they treat your customers.   Otherwise they are accountable to no one and this is the result.

But I guess that's not going to happen, and if a 40+year Verizon customer with excellent credit makes a process error when she tries to get a Verizon Credit Card, she just has to wait a month to try again. (if it even works a month from now..., if I'm even a customer a month from now - I have started shopping...)

vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Thank you for your feedback jeffw_00. We can understand your concerns surrounding this matter and will be sure to document your feedback. We certainly hope to improve the experience for our customers through this process going forward. If you have any additional account specific concerns, we are here to help as we would never want to lose you.

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jeffw_00
Enthusiast - Level 2

I replied to you 5 days ago - will there be any movement on this?

Tigerstep
Specialist - Level 3

You are aware they are two complete different companies, right? This isn't much different than someone complaining how they will switch because insurance even though Asurion is what other carriers use.

Store cards are going to be through Synchonicity Bank, that isn't a Verizon issue. If you wish to take a credit hit for mediocre service by Tmobile, no one is going to stop you.

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jeffw_00
Enthusiast - Level 2

Yes they are 2 different companies.  Synchonicity Bank  is one of many that offers "private label" cards to companies like Verizon.  They don't have to make Verizon's customers happy, just Verizon (as that's who pays them to offer the card).  Verizon can't know that Synchonicity Bank is messing up its customers unless someone tells them.  So I am.  If the contract Verizon has with Synchonicity Bank gives Verizon no say in how its customers are treated, someone wrote a bad contract.  

Pm46
Enthusiast - Level 1

Hi. I am having trouble with Synchonicity Bank. I had a $500 fraud issue and they canceled my card. I was to receive a new one in the mail. Instead I received a letter saying my account was closed because of dishonored payments. I had tried to pay the balance of my card off but it tried to take payment out of checking instead of saving. So after talking on the phone with Verizon I thought we had it straightened out. I always paid my card off every month and was never late. Now I am supposed to reapply but I am told I don’t prequalify. Dislike synchronicity due to this. 

vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Hi, there! We want to make sure this is resolved for you. Please reach out to our Verizon Visa Card Team at 866-313-9396. They will be able to assist you further.

*Anna

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Pm46
Enthusiast - Level 1

I did reach out and there was nothing they could do. Told I should reapply which, I tried but don’t prequalify. 

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nick_tx
Enthusiast - Level 1

After reading through the community forums about issues with th Verizon Visa program, it seems a like Verizon jiust continues to accept the poor treatment of customers by Synchrony Bank through thw Verizon Visa Program . Because this is a community forrum, I wont go into detail but any dealing with Synchrony Bank is definitely “BUYER BEWARE” and expect ridiculous actions from them.. After 20 plus years with Verizon, unless someone at a reasonable managwment level reaches out to me to hear about this situation, I will be closing out my relationahip with Verizon in the near future. 

vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Oh, wow! We are truly sorry to read about recent Synchrony Bank experience. We value your 20 plus years of loyalty to the company and take pride in providing top-quality service.

 

Please tell us more, what exactly is going on?

~Gilbert

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monicamalouf
Enthusiast - Level 1

What a shabby way for Verizon to do business.  I applied for Verizon card with a credit score of over 800 and was denied without giving specific reasons other than "checking" some databases.  Now I have to Write to a P.O. box to get help from Synchrony Bank.

"If you have any questions on this letter or decision to decline your application please write us at the address above."

This is ridiculous. I'll be looking into other options. 

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