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Declined for a Walmart Credit Card - possible scam?
08-08-2018, 09:13 AM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,566
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Declined for a Walmart Credit Card - possible scam?
The title says it all. Whenever I order from Walmart.com, the site pushes their Master Card through Synchrony Bank. I finally bit and found that it gives 3% back on Walmart.com purchases, so I did the online application - giving up my SS# - and pushed the button. Usually I am instantly approved for a CC, but instead got the dreaded "Call this 877 number to discuss your application."
On calling, I had to give my SS# to a rep who asked questions, then turned me over to a Synchrony Bank rep, who again requested my SS# and asked more questions. She then requested my cell phone #, which I declined to give (I don't want any more ads on my phone). So she said to hang up my home phone and she would call me back with verification #'s. I did this. The phone rang. I picked it up. The connection was cut off.
Being a patient soul, I called the 877# again and was AGAIN asked for my SS#. The rep informed me that my application had been denied, and I would get a letter in the mail telling me why.
Anyone interested in hearing back, after said letter arrives?
Fortunately I have plenty of other CCs, but this was so strange, I thought I'd better report it. Does it sound like a scam?
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If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
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08-08-2018, 09:18 AM
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#2
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,518
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Doesn't sound like a scam, more like a process that has too many steps and targeted toward a different market segment.
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08-08-2018, 09:22 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,862
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Yes, I want to hear what the letter says.
No scam, just a poorly organized process that no one in their hierarchy has ever had to step through.
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08-08-2018, 09:27 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,566
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Are you saying my credit rating scared them off?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
Doesn't sound like a scam, more like a process that has too many steps and targeted toward a different market segment.
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__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
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08-08-2018, 09:35 AM
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 13,846
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Not a scam, but probably some glitch or rule in their application process that backfired. Or yes somehow you fell outside whatever their criteria is - even if it defies normal sense.
Might be a good time to do a quick personal credit check, ensure everything looks normal for you, then await the letter.
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08-08-2018, 09:35 AM
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#6
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,518
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Maybe their target segment is someone with a salary, or at least their decision matrix has salary as an important criteria, and pension / assets are not given the same weight.
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08-08-2018, 09:41 AM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: City
Posts: 10,308
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Maybe they concluded that you would likely be paying the card off every month. IIRC in the industry they call us something like "free riders."
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08-08-2018, 09:56 AM
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#8
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kamuela
Posts: 101
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It's actually worse than that. They call us "deadbeats"!
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________________________
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08-08-2018, 09:58 AM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 37,931
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redshift
It's actually worse than that. They call us "deadbeats"!
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It’s their fault. They set up the parameters.
But many of us have greatly increased our use of credit cards due to the rewards offered, and they are thus making more money off of us, even if only in transaction fees.
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Retired since summer 1999.
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08-08-2018, 10:52 AM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,332
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
Maybe their target segment is someone with a salary, or at least their decision matrix has salary as an important criteria, and pension / assets are not given the same weight.
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Yes.
I mentioned in another thread yesterday how we were denied a JetBlue CC because we checked the 'retired' box and our income (100% investments) seemed, ummmmm "not in line with a retired person's income". Denied. No recourse.
On the other hand, I was able to get a lease on a brand new Mercedes (with a hefty monthly payment) in minutes with zero hassle. As my salesman laughed: "That's how we got into this financial mess in the first place!"
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Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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08-08-2018, 10:53 AM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,566
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They asked only for yearly income. Actually I still earn a salary, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
Maybe their target segment is someone with a salary, or at least their decision matrix has salary as an important criteria, and pension / assets are not given the same weight.
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__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
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08-08-2018, 11:02 AM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,232
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldShooter
Maybe they concluded that you would likely be paying the card off every month. IIRC in the industry they call us something like "free riders."
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redshift
It's actually worse than that. They call us "deadbeats"!
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kind of what I was thinking...
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08-08-2018, 11:06 AM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dutchess County
Posts: 1,599
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Synchrony Bank is the same bank that Lowes uses for their CC, Synchrony Bank is the absolutely worst bank I have ever felt with bar none.
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08-08-2018, 11:07 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2008
Location: No fixed abode
Posts: 8,764
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Amethyst
The title says it all. Whenever I order from Walmart.com, the site pushes their Master Card through Synchrony Bank. I finally bit and found that it gives 3% back on Walmart.com purchases, so I did the online application - giving up my SS# - and pushed the button. Usually I am instantly approved for a CC, but instead got the dreaded "Call this 877 number to discuss your application."
On calling, I had to give my SS# to a rep who asked questions, then turned me over to a Synchrony Bank rep, who again requested my SS# and asked more questions. She then requested my cell phone #, which I declined to give (I don't want any more ads on my phone). So she said to hang up my home phone and she would call me back with verification #'s. I did this. The phone rang. I picked it up. The connection was cut off.
Being a patient soul, I called the 877# again and was AGAIN asked for my SS#. The rep informed me that my application had been denied, and I would get a letter in the mail telling me why.
Anyone interested in hearing back, after said letter arrives?
Fortunately I have plenty of other CCs, but this was so strange, I thought I'd better report it. Does it sound like a scam?
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Not a scam. Just a slur against you personally. They've decided you aren't classy enough to be a Walmart shopper.
j/k. I suspect it's just another indication of how screwed up many of their processes are. They are an amazing company as far as walking into their store and buying/returning items. But anything online or automated just doesn't seem to work well IME. They aren't making the transition to the virtual economy very gracefully.
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"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." - Anonymous (not Will Rogers or Sam Clemens)
DW and I - FIREd at 50 (7/06), living off assets
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08-08-2018, 12:06 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Independence
Posts: 7,271
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I play the card bonus game a bit harder than the gal - we recently got mailed separate Citi card solicitations. Mine offered a 50,000 bonus for a $4000 spend while hers was for 60,000 points with a $3000 spend. Methinks Citi has twigged to the game.
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"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
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08-08-2018, 12:20 PM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,307
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Have you looked at your credit reports lately? There might be something that got on a credit report wrongly that caused the denial.
A couple of years ago I was buying a computer from Dell and was shocked to be declined. When I got the letter it became clear. DH had started the conversation with Dell and had started the application. Then I needed to talk to them about something and they supposedly switched the application to me. But...they submitted it to the bank with my name and DH's SS number. So, of course, it got rejected.
The denial letter will tell you the reason. But, if it was me, I would probably go ahead and check my credit reports. You might even ask the Walmart number which credit report they used so you would know what to look at.
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08-08-2018, 12:56 PM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,566
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I checked CreditKarma - score 830 with Transunion and 826 with Equifax. It did show a hard credit inquiry by Synchrony Bank. Which annoys me, b/c hard inquiries ding your rating and it was for nothing!
__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
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08-08-2018, 02:05 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,405
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Synchrony operates a perfectly functional on-line bank. I have money with them. The Lowe's credit card? That site is a mess. It's hard to get to, difficult to pay a bill on and the payment often does not show up for two days or more. I pay for everything from Lowe's the minute I get home with the merchandise.
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08-08-2018, 02:17 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 37,931
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I am shocked, SHOCKED! I tell you!
Synchrony runs the Amazon store card business- I use that card heavily. Also use their online bank. I haven’t had difficulties.
I suppose Walmart has their criteria......
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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08-08-2018, 02:23 PM
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#20
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
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We were denied once because an error was made in entering our drivers license number by the store clerk, as explained in the denial letter. We were invited to reapply, which we did not. Maybe your denial is something stupid like this.
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“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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