Consumer complaint received 2021-06-21
Company: Winklevoss Exchange LLC
State: NV
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Virtual currency
Issue: Other service problem

Complaint:
I signed up on Gemini 's website as US CITIZEN & verified : 1 ) e-mail address 2 ) phone 3 ) uploaded to their platform my Valid, clear, unexpired US Driver 's License 4 ) VERIFIED my Bank Account via Plaid using my online banking credentials According their own TOS the ONLY document required for U.S. Applicantsas Proof of identity is a valid state-issued drivers license, BUT my IDENTITY is instead WRONGFULLY stuck in pending review status I contacted them and they illegally require me to Wire money from my Bank Account to " complete my identity verification '' This is a known error, XXXX and the internet are plastered with users mistreated by Gemini with this fraudulent request which is magically resolved once people start informing governing bodies of Gemini 's abuses. 

NOWHERE in their TOS or FAQS a Wire Transfer in needed to verify Identity, & US customers who opt to Verify their bank account over Plaid ( ACH ) ARE NOT REQUIRED to WIRE for funding either. 

Their OWN Website FAQS about THEIR Identity Verification PROCEDURES AND LEGAL Requirement : 1 ) https : XXXX " What documents are required for your verification? 
U.S. Applicants Proof of identity your valid state-issued ID, drivers license, passport, passport card, or Permanent Resident Cards. ( Green Cards ) '' They already have a clear copy of myvalid State of Nevada issued REAL ID drivers license from day 1! 

No Further Requirement is Stated in their own website as far as identity verification. 
Also, note they have Social Security #, complete address, VERIFIED phone #, VERIFIED e-mail address and VERIFIED Bank Account ( ownership + address + Name on the Account + Routing and Account # ) retrieved by their own partner Plaid who was given complete access ( user+password ) and certified all those information for them. 

As far as BANK ACCOUNT / FUNDING SOURCES their own rules state : 2 ) https : XXXX " How do I add my Bank Account? 
You can add your bank account to your Gemini account by : 1. Going to thePayment methodspage and underAutomatically link bankclick onGet Started 2. Continue through the flow to enter your bank login credentials via Plaid If you are unable to link your bank account via Plaid or prefer not using your online banking credentials to register your bank account, please exit the screen and navigate toManually link bankand input your banking information. In order to validate your bank account and enable ACH transfers ( Domestic users only ) and withdrawals to this bank account, a successful wire deposit into your account will be required. For wire deposit instructions, please take a look at : How do I send a Wire Transfer? '' PLEASE NOTE THAT I Successfully Automatically Linked my bank account entering my bank login credentials via Plaid, as required ON DAY 1!

I was ABLE to link the bank account via Plaid AND CHOSE to use my online banking credentials to register my bank account, as required and allowed by their own procedures, FAQS and terms.

I DID NOT CHOSE tonot use my online banking credentials to register my bank account, OR toManually link bank therefore I DID NOT CHOSE in order to validate my bank account and enable ACH transfers and withdrawals to be required to make a successful wire deposit.

PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT by their own RULES THE WIRE DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT - to validate the bank account, NEVER for IDENTITY BTW - IS ONLY FOR THOSE who : " are unable to link your bank account via Plaid or prefer not using your online banking credentials to register your bank account, '' I DID LINK my bank account via Plaid using my online banking credentials to register and verify it - NO NEED FOR WIRE Also, as final note : They require the Wire to be made DIRECTLY from your Bank Account without intermediary banks. Aside from the 3 or 4 biggest banks in the US the remaining 99 % of the banks does NOT have DIRECT access to the WIRE SERVICE and uses intermediary banks to complete them. This means that for most of their US customers it would be IMPOSSIBLE to make a WIRE the " DIRECT '' way they want the wire to be made simply because it's just not the way most banks are able to operate in the US. Not even mentioning the fact that the wire itself costs between {$30.00} and {$60.00} at any US bank! The request is not only AGAINST their own requirement for Identity Verification ( and not useful at that! ), but is also expensive, abusive and impossible to do without intermediary banks - which Gemini would reject - for most of the US population!

The account has been instantly verified for ACH transfer. I do not desire to fund or withdraw over WIRE, ACH is something they offer, so that's my choice.

Asking for a mandatory Wire is DISCRIMINATION, since it's not a policy or a requirement they publish or they ask any other customer.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation