Many branded store, and specialty credit cards, are serviced by Synchrony Bank. If you are wondering whether you card is serviced by Synchrony, I provide a list of known businesses that use them below.
As you can see, Synchrony is not just about its flagship relationships like Amazon, and Care Credit. They do a ton of financing with fuel stations, and other auto related purchases we all need, as well as major clothing stores like Old Navy, American Eagle, and many others.
There are other credit card servicing platforms for large and small retailers, like Comenity Bank, but Synchrony is the largest. They have millions of customers.
Can’t Make Payments on a Synchrony Credit Card?
If you miss a payment to Synchrony, they are likely going to charge a late fee. If your situation is such that you can get the payment and fee to them prior to your next billing cycle, you can avoid being reported as 30 days late on your credit reports.
If you are dealing with something more than a one month financial hiccup, you may want to call Synchrony, after already being late, and ask about any hardship repayment program they may offer to you. But be sure you are confident you can follow through with any reduced payment Synchrony offers on a continuing basis.
If your situation is one that causes you to miss more than one payment, or you have too many accounts that you are juggling, it may be time to seek out a more permanent solution.
Getting Help with Synchrony Debt
You may have passed the point where temporary relief, or Synchrony waiving a late fee, is going to be helpful. This is often the case when you do not have enough income to meet all your bills each month. When this happens, you are typically looking at the following 3 mainstream methods for getting debt relief.
- Enroll in a consumer credit counseling program and get all of your credit card debts under control. Review that link for a complete understanding of how credit counseling can help you. The gist is that your interest rates are reduced through agreements the counseling agency has with Synchrony and your other lenders.
- Be late enough with payments to Synchrony in order for them to settle with you for less than what you owe. I often target Synchrony settlements at 40% of the balance owed (there are reasons to aim lower, or accept higher). You can sometimes split that up into 3 months if your account has not been charged off. And you will often find you are dealing with debt collection agencies and debt buyers the longer your account has gone unpaid.
- You could file chapter 7 bankruptcy and wipe out all unsecured debts. Be sure to review your situation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. There are income and asset considerations for each state that can vary, and prevent you from filing.
Anything but paying Synchrony on time, all the time, is going to have an impact to your credit score, or your ability to access new credit products and loans. Be sure to review this article about how debt relief hurts your credit before you make any assumptions. The truth may surprise you.
Things may not be simple
There is usually more to think about when your settling debts with Synchrony. Most of us have more than one debt we are struggling to keep current, and Synchrony balances may be the lowest on our list. In fact, the smaller the balance (less than $1500), I will often discourage falling behind if it can be avoided.
It is also important to point out that Synchrony is one of the few lenders that will refuse to send you a written agreement, or settlement letter, outlining what you negotiated with them over the phone, until your payments are set up in the system. I typically encourage you to record the phone call where you are covering all that you are agreeing to with them. Use an old-school tape recorder on speaker phone, or download one of the free apps. Be sure to tell them you are recording that portion of the call and why (they will not release a letter). Hold that recording until your letter arrives (they do send them).
Check out this video where I cover negotiating with Synchrony in more detail:
Be sure to reach out via the get help button if you want to talk through your options with someone. I can often answer basic questions via email, and you have the option of scheduling a 15-minute free call.
Here are the more common retailers and services that provide credit cards through Synchrony. Not all of these accounts will settle the same way, or for the same amount, but most do.
- 76 Gas
- AAMCO
- ABC Warehouse
- Abt Electronics
- Amazon
- America’s Tire Store
- American Eagle Outfitters
- American Signature Furniture
- Ariens and Gravely Get the Gear
- Art Van
- Ashley Furniture HomeStore
- Athleta
- Banana Republic
- Bargain Outlet
- Belk
- Bernina
- Big Sandy Superstore
- Bjorn’s
- Bomgaars
- Boris Home Furnishings
- BP Visa
- Briggs & Stratton
- Brooks Brothers MC
- Car Care One
- Care Credit
- Carpet One
- CheapOair / One Travel
- Chevron / Texaco Visa
- CITGO
- City Furniture
- Conoco
- Dick’s Sporting Goods MC
- Dillard’s Amex
- Discount Tire
- Dream Bed
- Drexel Heritage
- DX Engineering
- Ebates Visa
- Ebay MC / Paypal MC
- Electronics Express
- Ethan Allen
- eXmark
- Field & Stream
- Flooring America
- Freedom to Ride
- GAP
- Goldsmith Store
- Golf Galaxy
- Google Store
- Guitar Center
- Haverty’s
- HH Gregg
- Hudson’s Furniture
- Husqvarna
- Hyde Park Jewelers
- JCPenney
- Jewelry Exchange
- Kauffman Tire
- Kraft Music
- La-Z-Boy
- Lee Michaels
- LensCrafters
- Levin Furniture
- Living Spaces
- Loves
- Lowe’s
- Lumber Liquidators
- Maaco
- Marvel
- Massey Ferguson
- Mattress Firm
- McCoy’s Building Supply
- Meineke
- Men’s Warehouse
- Metro Mattress
- Midas
- Mills Fleet Farm
- Mohawk Flooring
- Musician’s Friend
- Napa EasyPay
- Nautilus
- Newell
- Old Navy
- Olejo
- C. Richard & Son
- Pearle Vision
- Pep Boys
- Phillips 66
- QVC
- Raheem
- Reeds Jewelers
- Regency Furniture
- Rooms To Go
- Sam Ash
- Sam’s Club MC
- Sewing and More
- Shaw Floors
- Shaw Floors
- Shelly’s Furniture
- Sleep Experts
- Sleep Number
- Sleep Train
- Sleepy’s
- Sony Store
- Specialized
- Star Lumber
- Stash Hotel Rewards
- Stein Mart MC
- Summit Racing Equipment
- Sunglass Hut
- Sutherlands
- Sweet water
- System Pavers
- Thomasville
- Tire Pros
- TJ Maxx
- TJX Rewards MC
- Toro
- Toys R Us MC
- US Appliance
- Value City Furniture
- Value City Furniture
- Vine Live / Shop HQ
- Walmart MC
- Westrich Furniture & Appliances
Remember, Synchrony is one of the largest sellers of unpaid debt to companies like Portfolio Recovery Associates, Midland Funding, and Cavalry Portfolio. It is often more ideal to get affordable help to settle when you are dealing with debt buyers. The help can end up paying for itself.
