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Summary: Macy's credit card uses Department Store National Bank (DSNB). So if you have either Macy's Credit Card or the Macy's American Express® Card, you are automatically in contract with DSNB, a subsidiary of Citibank. If you've been sued for a Macy's credit card debt, SoloSuit can help you respond and defend yourself in court.
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.
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.
Fill in and submit your application.
The creditor checks your credit.
You get approved.
When it is time to pay for purchases, give your card instead of cash.
The merchant then confirms that your credit provider agrees to the purchase.
The bank pays and then sends you the bill.
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.
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.
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.
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 Solo?
Solo makes it easy to resolve debt with 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.
SoloSettle can help you contact your debt collector or creditor and negotiate the debt to settle for less, all online. It simplifies and streamlines the process to settling your debt.
No matter where you find yourself in the debt collection process, Solo is here to help you resolve your debt.
Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.
If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.
Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.
Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.
Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.
We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.
Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.
Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.
Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.
Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.
Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.
We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.
You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.
And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.
"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather