SYNCB/PPMC may appear on your credit report after an application for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard. Synchrony Bank issues the card and may check your credit before it decides whether to approve the application.
You can’t usually remove an accurate SYNCB/PPMC inquiry before it expires. You can dispute the entry when you never applied, didn’t authorize the credit check, or find an error in the reported information.
The first step is to identify what caused the inquiry. From there, you can contact Synchrony Bank, review your PayPal account, and dispute any inaccurate information.
What Is SYNCB/PPMC on Your Credit Report?
SYNCB stands for Synchrony Bank. PPMC refers to the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.
The PayPal Cashback Mastercard is a credit card issued by Synchrony Bank. It can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. PayPal currently advertises 3% cash back on eligible PayPal checkout purchases and 1.5% cash back on other eligible purchases. The card has no annual fee.
When you submit an application, Synchrony Bank may request access to your credit history. That request can create a hard inquiry under SYNCB/PPMC or a similar name.
The inquiry doesn’t mean that Synchrony Bank approved the application. If an account was opened, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard may appear as a separate account on your credit report.
Why SYNCB/PPMC Appears on Your Credit Report
A SYNCB/PPMC inquiry usually comes from a PayPal Cashback Mastercard application. You may have applied through the PayPal website, the PayPal app, or a promotional offer.
Other explanations are also possible:
- Recognized application: You applied for the card and approved a credit check.
- Denied application: Synchrony Bank checked your credit but declined the request.
- Forgotten application: You responded to an offer but no longer remember applying.
- Duplicate inquiry: The same application appears more than once.
- Unauthorized application: Someone used your information without permission.
- Reporting error: The inquiry belongs to another consumer or contains incorrect details.
Check the date beside the inquiry. Compare it with your PayPal activity and any credit card applications you submitted around that time.
Can You Remove SYNCB/PPMC From Your Credit Report?
You may be able to remove SYNCB/PPMC when the inquiry is unauthorized or inaccurate. You won’t normally have grounds for removal when you knowingly applied for the card.
An inquiry may qualify for a dispute for these reasons:
- Identity theft: Someone applied with your personal information.
- No authorization: You did not request the card or approve the credit check.
- Wrong credit file: The inquiry belongs to someone else.
- Duplicate information: One application created two entries.
- Incorrect reporting: The date or creditor information is wrong.
A denied application doesn’t make the inquiry inaccurate. The same applies when you never activated the card, closed the account, or changed your mind after applying.
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How to Remove an Unauthorized SYNCB/PPMC Inquiry
You should investigate the entry before you submit a dispute. This can help you identify the correct credit bureau and gather evidence to support your claim.
1. Review Your Credit Reports
Get copies of your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports. AnnualCreditReport.com provides free weekly credit reports from all three credit bureaus.
The inquiry may appear on one credit report without appearing on the others. Write down the exact company name, inquiry date, and credit bureau.
Check each credit report for other information you don’t recognize. Look for unfamiliar accounts, addresses, names, and credit inquiries.
2. Check Your PayPal Account
Sign in through the official PayPal website or app. Review your wallet, account messages, notifications, and recent activity.
Look for evidence that a PayPal Cashback Mastercard application was started or completed. You should also confirm that the email address, telephone number, and mailing address on your PayPal account are correct.
Change your password if you see unfamiliar activity. Enable two-step verification for added account protection.
Someone could apply through a different PayPal account, so the absence of unusual activity doesn’t prove that the inquiry is valid.
3. Contact Synchrony Bank
PayPal lists 855-938-3684 as the customer service number for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.
Ask Synchrony Bank for details about the application. Helpful questions include:
- Application date: When was the request submitted?
- Application channel: Was it submitted online, through an app, or another way?
- Account status: Did Synchrony Bank open an account?
- Applicant details: What contact information was used?
- Credit check: Which credit bureau did Synchrony Bank access?
- Authorization: What records connect you to the application?
Tell Synchrony Bank that you didn’t authorize the application when that is accurate. Synchrony also lists 866-834-3205 for fraud concerns.
4. Dispute the SYNCB/PPMC Inquiry
File a dispute with each credit bureau that lists the incorrect inquiry. You don’t need to contact a credit bureau that doesn’t show the entry.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides current online, telephone, and mailing instructions for disputes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Your dispute should include:
- Personal information: Provide the identification documents required by the credit bureau.
- Inquiry details: List SYNCB/PPMC and the inquiry date.
- Credit report copy: Mark the entry you want investigated.
- Clear explanation: State why the inquiry is unauthorized or inaccurate.
- Evidence: Include letters, account records, or identity theft documents.
- Requested correction: Ask the credit bureau to remove the entry.
You should also send a dispute to Synchrony Bank. Keep copies of everything you submit and record all confirmation numbers.
5. Check the Investigation Results
Review the response from the credit bureau and obtain an updated credit report. Confirm whether the inquiry was removed, corrected, or verified.
Contact Synchrony Bank again if the inquiry remains and you still believe it is wrong. Ask what evidence was used to verify the application.
Do not repeat the same dispute without added information. Include any new records that support your claim.
What to Do if the Inquiry Involves Identity Theft
Ask Synchrony Bank whether a PayPal Cashback Mastercard account was opened. An inquiry dispute alone won’t close a fraudulent account or remove it from your credit report.
Report the account separately if you didn’t open it. Review all three credit reports for other signs that someone has used your information.
You can also place a fraud alert or credit freeze:
- Fraud alert: Tells creditors to take added steps to confirm your identity.
- Credit freeze: Restricts access to your credit files until you lift the freeze.
Keep written records of every contact with Synchrony Bank, PayPal, and the credit bureaus.
How Long SYNCB/PPMC Stays on Your Credit Report
A hard inquiry can remain on your credit report for up to two years. An accurate inquiry should disappear automatically after the reporting period ends.
The inquiry may stay even if Synchrony Bank denied your application or you later closed the account. These events don’t erase the original credit check.
How SYNCB/PPMC Affects Your Credit Score
A hard inquiry may lower your credit score, but the result depends on the credit scoring model and your full credit history. One inquiry often has a limited effect.
Several recent applications may have a greater effect. Payment history, credit use, balances, and account history usually carry more weight than one inquiry.
Checking your own credit report doesn’t create a hard inquiry or lower your credit score.
Synchrony Bank Contact Information
Use these official numbers for questions about the inquiry:
PayPal Cashback Mastercard Customer Service: 855-938-3684
Synchrony Bank Fraud Department: 866-834-3205
Call before you mail documents. Ask Synchrony Bank for the current address that handles identity theft claims and credit reporting disputes.
Bottom Line
SYNCB/PPMC usually points to a Synchrony Bank credit check for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard. A recognized and accurate inquiry can remain on your credit report for up to two years.
Investigate the entry when you don’t recognize it. Contact Synchrony Bank, review your PayPal account, and dispute the inquiry with every credit bureau that reports it. Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze when identity theft may be involved.
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Rachel Myers is a personal finance writer who believes financial freedom should be practical, not overwhelming. She shares real-life tips on budgeting, credit, debt, and saving, without the jargon. With a background in financial coaching and a passion for helping people get ahead, Rachel makes money management feel doable, no matter where you’re starting from.