Looking to sue Synchrony? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…
At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like Synchrony. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers…
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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from Synchrony? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?
You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the Synchrony customer service options, but still feel unheard.
There are different ways to file a complaint against Synchrony, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.
So, if you’re thinking of suing Synchrony, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.
What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like Synchrony to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.
But here’s the thing: your Synchrony contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.
Here’s what you can do…
Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.
If you’re ready to sue Synchrony in Small Claims Court, read on below:
The first thing you have to verify is whether your claim actually qualifies for small claims court. They don’t accept just any claim. There are limitations. You need to verify to to things:
The type of compensation
Small claims courts are different than most courts. In most traditional courts, for example, you could ask for money and what is called equitable compensation which is anything other than money. You could ask for things like replacement parts on a broken vehicle, a set of collector coins that was taken from you, or something else. But with small claims courts you can usually only ask for what is called monetary compensation, a dollar amount.
So if there are any damages that take the form of equitable damages you have to convert them into a dollar amount.
The amount of compensation
As you are converting, remember that there are limits to the amount of compensation you can ask for when you sue Synchrony Bank in small claims court. Every state is different, with some having limits as low as $2,500 and some upwards of $10,000. You can find your state limits here.
If your claim doesn’t qualify for small claims court because it exceeds these limits or anything else, you still have options. At FairShake we can help you file a claim and guide you through binding arbitration.
Now that you are ready to sue Synchrony Bank in small claims court you have to reach out and send a demand letter. The demand letter is usually a requirement before you can sue Synchrony Bank in small claims court and it’s giving the company the opportunity to voluntarily fix the problem. Courts want to make sure that you’ve exercised every option outside of the legal system to try and resolve the issue before they step in.
This letter doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact it can be quite simple and just contain your contact information and your name, what the issue is, and what you want the company to do to fix it.
When you are done writing, send a hard copy of the letter to the company at the official mailing address. According to our most recent research, Synchrony is legally based in Kansas and receives mail at this address. (Check your contract to confirm if this is the right address for legal notices):
Synchrony Bank, Legal Operation
P.O. Box 29110
Shawnee Mission, KS 66201
If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.
If the company hasn’t done anything in response to your demand letter, now you move forward and sue Synchrony Bank in small claims court. To do this you need to fill out the right forms. Find your state court website here.
Make sure you fill out the right forms and you have enough copies. Most courts require that you have three or four copies when you file.
Once you have finished filling out all the right documents it’s time to officially file with the courthouse. Most courts still require that you physically visit the courthouse to hand-deliver the documents.
You will have to pay the small claims court filing fee in order to sue Synchrony Bank. Once that is done the court clerk will review the documents, stamp them, return your copies to you while keeping one for the court, and assign you a hearing date.
The amount of your filing fee should be posted on the court website and if you are a low-income plaintiff you can usually get this waived.
Now you have to officially serve the company. This is when you inform them that they are being sued.
To do this you have to deliver a copy of the papers that you file with the court to the company.
Check with your state court website again to figure out what you have to do to properly serve in your area. Some courts are very tricky about what their requirements are and no matter how weird it might seem, make sure that you follow it.
If you don’t follow each and every rule it could be grounds to have your case thrown out.
When the clerk gives you your court date after you file your forms officially, mark that date on your calendar.
Be sure you know which building to go to and you bring a copy of your file forms and any other evidence you have.
This is where the judge reviews the situation and makes a decision which could be made immediately or could be scheduled over the course of several additional meetings. Your job here is to make sure you explain why you sought to sue Synchrony Bank in small claims court and provide any evidence you have.
Ready to sue Synchrony in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…
The Ultimate Guide to Consumer Complaints
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