Which Bank Does Macy's Credit Card Use?

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Credit cards are a lifeline to most American consumers. With them, you can perform safe cashless transactions, buy on credit, receive cashback offers on purchases, and build your credit.

Consumers can shop at Macy's and Macys.com using their credit cards. Macy's is not a bank, so someone else has to power these transactions. Enter Department Store National Bank (DSNB), an offshoot of Citigroup. But how does this relationship work?

Keep reading to find out. And if you've been sued for a debt with Macy's credit card, use SoloSettle to settle the debt before going to court.

How does Macy's credit card work?

Macy's has two versions of its credit card. The first one—Macy's Credit Card—is closed-loop, meaning you can only use it at Macy's and Macys.com. The other—Macy's American Express Card—is open-loop, which means you can use it wherever American Express is accepted.

Like other credit cards, you'll follow these steps to apply for and use these cards.

1. Fill in and submit your application.
2. The creditor checks your credit.
3. You get approved.
4. When it is time to pay for purchases, give your card instead of cash.
5. The merchant then confirms that your credit provider agrees to the purchase.
6. The bank pays and then sends you the bill.
7. You pay the bank their money and interest at the end of your billing period.

It sounds simple. And it can be for consumers with good credit. In fact, if Macy's instantly approves your application, you can get up to a $100 discount within the first two days of approval.

However, at step two, the hard inquiry negatively affects your credit and can remain on your report for up to two years. Macy's requires a credit score of 650 and over.

DSNB reports your account to the major reporting bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Macy's credit card holders can expect to see the entry on their report at the end of every billing period.

At step six above, the bank that pays your bills is DSNB, a subsidiary of Citibank. And the entry on your credit report is not Macy's, but Department Store National Bank.

You may wonder how to remove a negative DSNB entry from your credit report. The procedure is different, depending on why it's there in the first place. If it's a mistake and you have no dealings with Macy's, you can launch a dispute with the company and the bureau that mistakenly reported the account. In the case of Identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov to submit a complaint immediately.

The following section shows you how to react if you are late on your account and DSNB either reports you to the credit bureaus or sues you.

Respond to a debt collection lawsuit.

What happens if I don't keep up with Macy's credit card repayments?

Failing to keep up with your repayments may result in late fees, a higher interest rate, and other penalties–driving you deeper into debt. You may also start receiving calls and other reminders of your pending bills.

The delinquent account will also reach the credit bureaus and affect your credit score.

Can I be sued for failing to pay my Macy’s credit card?

If Macy's feels you are refusing to pay when you can afford to do so, they may sue you to recover their money.

You can halt the calls and letters by asking DSNB to validate your debt. That's the same as asking them to prove you owe the amount. The letter also notifies them that you are disputing the debt and stops them from collecting until they can supply documentation to support their claims.

Here's an easy-to-use Debt Validation Letter.

If DSNB takes you to court, follow these three steps to respond.

1. Respond to the lawsuit.
2. Assert your affirmative defenses.
3. File the Answer with the court and Macy's attorney.

Below, we discuss the steps you need to take right away if you are served with a lawsuit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQAKQ0G2KhE

Respond to the lawsuit

Your court Summons will come with a Complaint document. Please do not ignore the lawsuit. Read all of Macy's claims (the reasons why they are suing you) carefully.

For each complaint, indicate whether you:

• Deny (ask Macy's to prove you are guilty)
• Agree (accept guilt)
• Deny for lack of knowledge (you do not understand the claim, so you do not know whether you are guilty)

Assert your affirmative defenses

Clearly express why you are innocent of the accusations. For example, if you don't have a contract with Macy's or DSNB in any way, you can state that the debt is not yours. The burden of proof lies with the DNSB; they must prove that you truly owe the debt.

File your Answer

You need two copies of your Answer document. File one with the court and send one to the attorney representing Macy's or its affiliates.

Use SoloSuit to generate and file your Answer fast.

Macy's cardholders may be shocked to find unfamiliar entries on their credit reports. But there's usually no need for alarm because Macy's uses DSNB, a Citibank subsidiary, to give consumers credit.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt.

SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to answer a summons for debt collection in your state

Here's a list of guides for other states.

All 50 states.

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