Credit card -- Getting a credit card -- Complaint #19182539
Credit Card Opened Without Consent
Complaint Overview
Complaint ID: 19182539
Company: Capital One Financial Corporation
Product: Credit card
Sub-Product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-Issue: Card opened without my consent or knowledge
State: New York
ZIP Code: 14559
Date Received: 2026-01-31T12:00:00-05:00
Date Sent to Company: 2026-02-02T12:00:00-05:00
Company Response: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Submitted Via: Referral
Risk Assessment
Risk Level: high
Opening a credit card account without the consumer's explicit consent is a serious violation of consumer protection laws and can lead to significant financial harm and identity theft.
Consumer Sentiment: negative
Topics: Identity Theft, Unauthorized Account Opening, Credit Card Fraud
AI Analysis
CFPB complaint 19182539 was filed against CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION regarding Credit card (General-purpose credit card or charge card), specifically about "Getting a credit card". A New York consumer's credit card was opened without their knowledge or consent, and the account was subsequently closed with an explanation. The complaint was received on January 31, 2026 from New York. The company responded with "Closed with explanation".
What You Should Do -- Consumer Action Plan
Consumers should regularly monitor their credit reports for any unauthorized accounts and immediately dispute any fraudulent activity with the credit bureaus and the involved financial institution.
Legal Context & Consumer Protection Laws
This situation likely violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and potentially the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) if the unauthorized account was subsequently used for debt collection.
Regulatory Insight
Financial institutions must have robust identity verification processes to prevent account opening fraud and must promptly investigate and resolve consumer disputes regarding unauthorized accounts.
Resolution Likelihood
likely
State-Specific Consumer Protections
In New York, consumers have strong protections against identity theft and unauthorized credit account openings, with state laws often mirroring or exceeding federal requirements.
Industry Comparison
This issue is common across the credit card industry, with fraudsters frequently attempting to open accounts using stolen personal information.
Related Issues
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CFPB complaint 19182539 about?
CFPB complaint 19182539 involves Credit card (General-purpose credit card or charge card). The consumer reported an issue with "Getting a credit card", specifically "Card opened without my consent or knowledge". This complaint was filed against CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION on January 31, 2026.
Which company is complaint 19182539 filed against?
Complaint 19182539 was filed against CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION. You can view all complaints against this company on their profile page at /company/capital-one-financial-corporation.
What was the company's response to complaint 19182539?
CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION responded with "Closed with explanation". The response was marked as timely by the CFPB.
When was complaint 19182539 filed?
Complaint 19182539 was received by the CFPB on January 31, 2026. It was sent to CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION on February 2, 2026.
What state was complaint 19182539 filed from?
Complaint 19182539 was filed from New York. You can view all complaints from this state at /state/NY.
Was the consumer satisfied with the resolution of complaint 19182539?
Dispute information is not available for complaint 19182539.
What product category is complaint 19182539 about?
Complaint 19182539 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 19182539 submitted?
Complaint 19182539 was submitted via Referral. The CFPB accepts complaints through web, phone, mail, email, fax, and referral channels.
What are the consumer's legal options for complaint 19182539?
This situation likely violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and potentially the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) if the unauthorized account was subsequently used for debt collection. This relates to a Credit card complaint against CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION involving "Getting a credit card".
How likely is complaint 19182539 to be resolved?
Resolution likelihood: likely. The company's current response is "Closed with explanation". The company did respond in a timely manner, which is a positive indicator.
What does the risk level mean for complaint 19182539?
This complaint is rated as high risk. Opening a credit card account without the consumer's explicit consent is a serious violation of consumer protection laws and can lead to significant financial harm and identity theft.
What regulatory actions apply to complaint 19182539?
Financial institutions must have robust identity verification processes to prevent account opening fraud and must promptly investigate and resolve consumer disputes regarding unauthorized accounts. The CFPB tracks complaints like this one to identify patterns of misconduct across the Credit card industry.
What should the consumer do about complaint 19182539?
Consumers should regularly monitor their credit reports for any unauthorized accounts and immediately dispute any fraudulent activity with the credit bureaus and the involved financial institution.
Are there state-specific protections for complaint 19182539?
In New York, consumers have strong protections against identity theft and unauthorized credit account openings, with state laws often mirroring or exceeding federal requirements. This complaint was filed from New York.
How does complaint 19182539 compare to industry norms?
This issue is common across the credit card industry, with fraudsters frequently attempting to open accounts using stolen personal information.
What steps should a consumer take if they discover a credit card account opened in their name without their consent?
The consumer should immediately contact the credit card issuer to report the fraud, place a fraud alert on their credit reports with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), and file a police report.
What are the potential consequences for a financial institution that allows a credit card to be opened without proper consent?
Financial institutions can face regulatory fines, legal action, and reputational damage. They may also be liable for damages incurred by the consumer due to the unauthorized account.
Disclaimer
This analysis is AI-generated and does not constitute legal advice.