Consumer complaint received 2021-02-25
Company: Netspend Corporation
State: NY
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose prepaid card
Issue: Problem getting a card or closing an account
Sub-issue: Trouble closing card

Complaint:
On Tuesday XXXX XX/XX/2021, I received in the mail an ACE Flare Account ( Visa ) Debit card with my full name printed on it issued by XXXX. It was accompanied by a paper flyer instructing me to " activate my card '' and " add money. '' This was entirely unexpected -- I did *nothing* to solicit this debit card, and do not wish to have a debit card issued by XXXX or any other company. 

I am fearful that this is either a result of identity theft or predatory marketing practices, but as I will explain below, I find that I am unable to investigate further without using automated services to give my social security number to ( ostensibly ) XXXX, which I do not wish to do for several reasons, which I will enumerate as well. 

Yesterday, Wednesday XXXX XX/XX/2021, I first attempted to call the customer service number given on the back of the Flare Account card. I tried several options paths on their automated system, but regardless found there is NO WAY to proceed without in effect activating the card, by entering the last four digits of one 's social security number. This is extremely problematic on two counts : 1 ) I do not want to open this card, first and foremost because I have no desire to do business with this company, and object to the deceptive marketing practice they seem to be directing at people. I can imagine other consumers being confused as to whether this is something their bank sent them ( I also called my regular bank on XXXX XXXX and verified that this was not an action on their part, and put a security alert on my account as a safeguard ). 

2 ) I do not want to be forced to open a card that I will then have to close, solely for the purpose of closing this, m because this will negatively affect my credit score ( rapid openings and closures are penalized ). How many consumers will be duped into getting entangled with this company, and then profit it or others by being charged higher interest rates because of the action that is interpreted to be negative on their parts, but they were ensnared in through no action of their own? 

3 ) And, since I did not solicit this card, I fear that some kind of identity theft may still be at play -- if the card is opened, will someone else be able to act in my name?

The customer service representative at my bank warned me that multiple companies are marketing their debit card products aggressively as a result of the issuance of stimulus checks, which again is objectionable on multiple grounds. Careful reading of the Flare AccountXXXX customer agreements reveals a fee structure for transactions. So if this is indeed an action on the part of the company rather than an individual seeking to open an account in my name, the action is nefarious -- a company is targeting consumers who may be unbanked or financially unsavvy, to convince them to deposit their government benefits with the debit card service, which would then siphon off the fees for its own benefit rather than the maximum benefits being available to the recipients themselves, if they instead opened an account at a more ethical and reputable credit union or bank. 

The customer service representative at my bank ( I really appreciate my bank! ) also found several additional customer service numbers for the parent company XXXX, but when I tried to call them, I was prompted by an automatic system to enter the first six digits of the unsolicited card, which again routed me back to the Flare Account/Netspend automated system, which prompted me to enter the digits of my social security number to activate my card, which again I do not wish to do for the reasons I have described. 

What I would *like* is to be able to speak with a real, live customer service representative from either XXXX or its subsection for the Flare Account Debit card, to try to investigate whether someone else tried to solicit a card in my name. But I can not, as even the CFPB website recommends, try to resolve the issue with the company first without divulging identifying information and being forced to give my consent to a financial product that I never wished to receive and that could have negative consequences for my financial status and well-being, even if I never use it. 

I would also like for this unactivated account to be wiped from XXXXFlare Account 's system, so that there is no potential for someone to pose as the person with my name at my address to begin using this account in any way. 

If XXXX and its subsidiary offices/product of the ACE Flare Account make it impossible for consumers to investigate a possible fraudulent account being opened without being forced to activate the account, they are either opening the door for financial fraud to happen, engaging in predatory marketing practices, or perhaps even both. 

I would greatly appreciate assistance in both remedying my individual situation, and investigating the practices that are emerging at this time, evidenced by XXXX/Flare Accounts, to target persons to deposit government benefits, tax returns, and their pay in accounts that serve to deprive them of their material benefits rather than serve them.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation