Consumer complaint received 2017-09-25
Company: Incomm Holdings Inc.
State: CA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose prepaid card
Issue: Trouble using the card
Sub-issue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online

Complaint:
On Monday XXXX XXXX, XXXX I purchased a prepaid XXXX vard called XXXX from XXXX at XXXX in the amount of {$110.00} plus {$4.00} fee for a total of {$110.00}. I attempted to use the card and it would not work. I then called the XXXX toll-free number on the back XXXX and I was not able to obtain a balance. I was transferred to a live agent, XXXX operator ID # XXXX and was told the card had not been activated, despite the retail receipt saying " ACTIVATED '' and the XXXX cashier XXXX indicating that the card has been activated. This identical issue happened to me on again on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, approximately one month ago. The point of this complaint is to indicate a systmatic racketeering scheme concocted by Incomm Holdings and the XXXX Credit card company. The overwhelming majority of consumers that purchase these prepaid cards are low-income Americans, usually using the cards to pay bills online, which is what I use these cards for as well. I believe that Incomm Holdings specifically relies on the income from prepaid cards that are not able to be reclaimed. Incomm 's process requires a customer to send over a copy of their ID, the packaging, the front and back of the card. Most people throw away or lose the paper copy receipt from the retailer, as anyone who has ever purchased something from a store can attest ( such as 12 jury members for example ). Additionally, low-income Americans are statistically not likely to possess the necessary picture ID that would be required for having access to these funds from Incomm Holdings. 
" Lower-income individuals are less likely to have photo ID. Twelve percent of adults living in a household with less than {$25000.00} annual income lack photo ID, compared to just 2 percent in households with over {$150000.00} annual income. http : XXXX '' My words are not alone, as other consumers complain of the same exact issue if you simply XXXX  " incomm holdings complaints. '' For example, one user mentions " XXXX XXXX, XXXX - I purchased a {$500.00} - - gift card on XXXX from -. The card was subsequently lost and I could not find the receipt with the - digit identifying number and so I simply accepted it as a loss and moved on. '' Which backs up my point that most consumers lose their receipt, even for a {$500.00} gift card. 
This being the second instance happening to me one month apart is indicative of a larger, systematic problem on Incomm 's behalf. Additionally, this company has a marketplace monopoly on this industry, as there are no other prepaid cards that can be purchased from any other company. In fact, on XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX revealed that Incomm Holdings would be acquiring XXXX 's prepaid businesses, further solidying their stranglehold of the prepaid card marketplace. ( http : XXXX ) I sincerely hope the CFPB and related consumer protection and federal agencies open an investigation and audit of Incomm Holdings and their sources of income. I submit that their findings will reveal systematic racketeering of consumers through the purchase and non-usage of prepaid cards as sold in America 's top retailers. This is a gross misuse of public and consumer trust, and the only purpose of this complaint to is to put an end to the corporate abuse of consumer 's hard earned money.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation