Consumer complaint received 2023-06-22
Company: WLCC
State: TX
Product: Payday loan, title loan, or personal loan
Sub-product: Payday loan
Issue: Can't stop withdrawals from your bank account

Complaint:
On XXXX. XXXX, 2023 I received an email from Explore Credit saying I was approved for {$1000.00}. I ignored it as spam as I get those a lot and know to never click links. Then I started getting voice mails and text messages ; also not uncommon. When they didn't stop I copied the URL to the website and using their log-in instructions, found a loan document in my name, complete with old bank account information -- the bank account is still active but I barely use it and haven't in years because the nearest branch is over XXXX hours away from me. I never applied for a loan with this company. I scrolled through the application and saw it was a payday company. I never signed. Then I started getting messages to verify my bank account so they could see my balances by linking them to it electronically. I NEVER do that except with reputable companies, government agencies or other banks. I closed the website and ignored it all. 

The next day ( XXXX. XXXX ) I got another email saying to check my bank account. I ignored it. Then, on XX/XX/XXXX I got a overdraw notice from my bank. I checked my account and they had tried to withdraw a payment for {$300.00} and change. I didn't have that in my account so my bank refused but charged me {$24.00}. I immediately emailed customer service ( at the email I provided in this complaint ) and was told that I applied for a loan. I said I did not. The next response they admitted I hadn't : " you're right you didn't apply with us but we got your information. '' How is that okay? They just somehow hacked my personal information, put it in a loan application and somehow got access to my bank account? 

Then, they said that I did " e-sign '' the application and sent me a copy, with my electronic " signature '' on XXXX. XXXX. I did not sign anything, I just scrolled through portions of the document, not even the entire thing. 

Since they, I have repeatedly asked them to quit attempting withdrawals, told them they had no authorization or consent. They kept repeating that an email with that request in writing wasn't " acceptable '' as part of their process. That is not my understanding of the law. I have very poor cell phone service out where I live and I was not going to call someone I never initiated contact with in the first place and that was likely scamming me. I also reminded them that I never did any electronic or online bank verification process. Then they later told me ( again, via email ) they'd only stop withdrawal attempts if I sent them 3 months of bank statements. I told them I wasn't going to send bank statements to a random individual from an organization I'd never heard of before. 

So far they have tried to withdraw payments 8 times, resulting in over {$200.00} in overdraft fees TO ME. I've put in a fraud complaint to my bank but they said they may not be able to do anything since they had my bank account info, that it was easier for them to do if it was through the debit card -- which doesn't make sense to me. 

Right now I don't know what to do except close this bank account, which I've had for over 10 years and don't want to do, especially since I'll have to make up the over {$200.00} in overdraft fees Explore Credit has caused. 

I am attaching the " loan agreement '' they sent me that they said I signed- all it has is a typed name on the bottom ; I never signed anything, and it even says at the top of the document that underwriting needs to verify and approve everything - I did not connect my bank to them for verification which in a separate email to me they said was required. 

( I don't see an account number at all on the documents, either )

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation