Consumer complaint received 2022-04-01
Company: Kikoff Inc.
State: GA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: Store credit card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-issue: Card opened as result of identity theft or fraud

Complaint:
In XXXX, I was made aware that a line of credit was opened in my name by a company called Kikoff, which, according to their website is a credit builder that allows you to have up to a {$500.00} line of credit opened and can be spent in their store. I had been dealing with fraudulent use of my information for several weeks with other companies, all of which had been able to stop the approval process in it's tracks by noting fraud from go when the status was pending, or sending my some kind of information to VERIFY that this was in fact me.

Kikoff, however, does NO credit check and approves this fraudulent account. I have since done some research and found that not only are they not XXXX  accredited, but they have NUMEROUS complaints on the XXXX  website with the exact same issue as mine. An account opened in someones name without their knowledge, a balance of {XXXX}, a hard pull on their credit, little to no contact ( or at least HELPFUL ) from the company to resolve the issue.

Red Flag # 1 - I located a phone number which I called and it directs you to an email address to reach out to instead. They are a " small team '' and " do not currently have a working phone line '' - really??

Red Flag # 2 - An automated email back that they will reach out in 2-3 business days regarding my issue.

Red Flag # 3 - A second automated email from " XXXX '' who says I will need to verify my information with him OVER EMAIL in order to escalate my claim. Email here : Email here : Hi XXXX XXXX, Thanks for reaching out to us! We do apologize for the delay in response and regret to inform we do not have a phone number that can be used for outbound/inbound calls. 

We do understand how disconcerting this can be and will do our best to help resolve this. To locate an account under your personal information, we will need to confirm your information. If you could please provide us with your full legal name, last 4 of your SSN and your current address, we will investigate our system and get back to you on what we find to resolve this issue. 

Best, XXXX Red Flag # 4 - After letting " XXXX '' know that I would absolutely not be sending that information over email, I received a 3rd email from a " XXXX '' : Hi XXXX, If you are seeing us on your credit file, you can submit a dispute with the credit bureaus and our investigations team will receive it within 3-5 days. If this is related to a bank charge on your credit or debit card you can process a dispute directly with your bank. I am sorry for any heartache this may be causing and wish you a quick resolution! 

Regards, XXXX Red Flag # 4 - I did exactly as asked and submitted a dispute with both XXXX and XXXX ( they do not report to XXXX ) and was contacted about a week later stating that Kikoff had in fact CONFIRMED to them that this account was real and not open fraudulently. 

Red Flag # 5 - After reaching out to multiple different employees on XXXX who's names I was able to find on the company website, the director of operations XXXX XXXX got back to me and said to contact support - the EXACT SAME EMAIL I HAD ALREADY SPOKEN WITH. 

Red Flag # 6 - After yet another attempt with terse language to these people, I get an automated response back that is different from what I received previously. They now want me to fill out an " Identity Theft Affidavit '' which not only asks for things like my full SS number, my current address, previous addresses, but also ACCOUNT AND ROUTING NUMBERS for my bank. It is absolutely ludacris.

I have spoken to the FTC twice over this matter and was directed here to file a formal complaint against the company. Given the above and also the many many similar stories I read on the XXXX  website about Kikoff, I know for a fact that something shady is going on with this company and they need to be investigated immediately. 

My credit score has gone down almost 40 points the last few months from OVER 800 because of this identity theft issue and Kikoff is the ONLY company that has failed at the very most basic of security checks throughout the process. XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and 3 other banking institutions resolved my issue immediately- why can't Kikoff? 

I have placed fraud alerts on all of my accounts now but again, with my disputes not being taken into effect for Kikoff with XXXX and XXXX, I am at a loss as to what to do now because I obviously will NOT be sending this insane company all of that personal information.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation