Credit card -- Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers -- Complaint #18398339
Credit Card Approval Deception: Lower Limit Than Advertised Sparks Dispute
Complaint Overview
Complaint ID: 18398339
Company: U.S. Bancorp
Product: Credit card
Sub-Product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers
Sub-Issue: Didn't receive advertised or promotional terms
State: Arizona
ZIP Code: 85635
Date Received: 2025-12-31T12:00:00-05:00
Date Sent to Company: 2026-01-01T12:00:00-05:00
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Submitted Via: Web
Tags: Older American
Risk Assessment
Risk Level: high
The consumer alleges deceptive advertising regarding the credit limit, which led them to authorize a credit inquiry under false pretenses, potentially impacting their credit score.
Consumer Sentiment: negative
Topics: Credit card, Advertising and marketing, Deceptive practices
AI Analysis
CFPB complaint 18398339 was filed against U.S. BANCORP regarding Credit card (General-purpose credit card or charge card), specifically about "Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers". A consumer was approved for a credit card online but received a significantly lower credit limit than expected, leading to a dispute over deceptive advertising and credit report impact. The complaint was received on December 31, 2025 from Arizona. The company responded with "Closed with non-monetary relief".
Consumer Narrative
I applied online for a special XXXX percent 24 month credit card. U.S. Bank asked me how much I was applying for, I input {$16000.00}. I completed the pre-approval process and was told that I was approved. U.S. Bank then asked me if I wanted to proceed, and I clicked " yes. '' I then received notice that my card was approved, but not for {$16000.00}, only {$500.00}. The bank deceived me into thinking I was approved for the {$16000.00} amount. I would never have allowed U.S. Bank to run my credit verification if I was only approved for a {$500.00} card. I already have a {$10000.00} credit card line with U.S. Bank that has a XXXX balance. I asked to have this credit card application cancelled, and also the credit report they ran, which affected my XXXX XXXX, removed. U.S. Bank refused.
What You Should Do -- Consumer Action Plan
Always carefully review the final approved terms and credit limit before accepting any credit card offer, and be aware that authorizing a credit inquiry can affect your credit score.
Legal Context & Consumer Protection Laws
This case touches upon consumer protection laws related to deceptive advertising and fair credit reporting practices.
Regulatory Insight
Financial institutions must ensure their advertising and pre-approval processes accurately reflect the final credit terms offered to consumers to avoid misleading practices.
Resolution Likelihood
mixed
State-Specific Consumer Protections
The consumer is located in Arizona, and the complaint involves a national bank, U.S. Bancorp.
Industry Comparison
This situation is common in the credit card industry where advertised promotional offers may not always translate to the final approved credit limit.
Related Issues
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CFPB complaint 18398339 about?
CFPB complaint 18398339 involves Credit card (General-purpose credit card or charge card). The consumer reported an issue with "Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers", specifically "Didn't receive advertised or promotional terms". This complaint was filed against U.S. BANCORP on December 31, 2025.
Which company is complaint 18398339 filed against?
Complaint 18398339 was filed against U.S. BANCORP. You can view all complaints against this company on their profile page at /company/u-s-bancorp.
What was the company's response to complaint 18398339?
U.S. BANCORP responded with "Closed with non-monetary relief". The response was marked as timely by the CFPB.
When was complaint 18398339 filed?
Complaint 18398339 was received by the CFPB on December 31, 2025. It was sent to U.S. BANCORP on January 1, 2026.
What state was complaint 18398339 filed from?
Complaint 18398339 was filed from Arizona. You can view all complaints from this state at /state/AZ.
Was the consumer satisfied with the resolution of complaint 18398339?
Dispute information is not available for complaint 18398339.
What product category is complaint 18398339 about?
Complaint 18398339 is categorized under "Credit card", specifically "General-purpose credit card or charge card". This is one of the product categories tracked by the CFPB.
How was complaint 18398339 submitted?
Complaint 18398339 was submitted via Web. The CFPB accepts complaints through web, phone, mail, email, fax, and referral channels.
What are the consumer's legal options for complaint 18398339?
This case touches upon consumer protection laws related to deceptive advertising and fair credit reporting practices. This relates to a Credit card complaint against U.S. BANCORP involving "Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers".
How likely is complaint 18398339 to be resolved?
Resolution likelihood: mixed. The company's current response is "Closed with non-monetary relief". The company did respond in a timely manner, which is a positive indicator.
What does the risk level mean for complaint 18398339?
This complaint is rated as high risk. The consumer alleges deceptive advertising regarding the credit limit, which led them to authorize a credit inquiry under false pretenses, potentially impacting their credit score.
What regulatory actions apply to complaint 18398339?
Financial institutions must ensure their advertising and pre-approval processes accurately reflect the final credit terms offered to consumers to avoid misleading practices. The CFPB tracks complaints like this one to identify patterns of misconduct across the Credit card industry.
What should the consumer do about complaint 18398339?
Always carefully review the final approved terms and credit limit before accepting any credit card offer, and be aware that authorizing a credit inquiry can affect your credit score.
Are there state-specific protections for complaint 18398339?
The consumer is located in Arizona, and the complaint involves a national bank, U.S. Bancorp. This complaint was filed from Arizona.
How does complaint 18398339 compare to industry norms?
This situation is common in the credit card industry where advertised promotional offers may not always translate to the final approved credit limit.
What recourse does the consumer have if they believe they were misled about the credit limit and the subsequent credit inquiry?
The consumer can file a formal complaint with the CFPB and potentially seek legal counsel to explore options for dispute resolution or damages related to the alleged deceptive practices and credit report impact.
How can consumers protect themselves from similar situations with credit card applications?
Consumers should always read the fine print, verify the final approved terms and credit limit before proceeding, and be cautious about authorizing credit inquiries if the advertised offer seems too good to be true or significantly differs from their expectations.
Disclaimer
This analysis is AI-generated and does not constitute legal advice.