Consumer complaint received 2026-01-22 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Self Financial Inc.
State: DC

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint to formally dispute a Self Financial account, issued through Lead Bank, that was opened fraudulently in my name as a result of identity theft. I do not own this account, I did not apply for it, and I never authorized its creation, use, or reporting. Any balance, payment history, or activity associated with this account is fraudulent and the result of unauthorized use of my personal information.

The Self Financial/ Lead Bank account in question was opened in or around XX/XX/year> and reflects a balance of approximately {$190.00}. I did not submit any applicationonline, electronic, written, or otherwiseto Self Financial or Lead Bank during this time period. I did not consent to the opening of a credit-builder loan, installment account, or any related financial product offered by Self Financial. I did not authorize any third party to act on my behalf, nor did I provide permission for my personal identifying information to be used for this purpose. 

I first became aware of this account after reviewing my credit information and discovering unfamiliar accounts that I did not recognize. The presence of a Self Financial / Lead Bank account immediately raised concern, as it did not align with my financial activity, credit behavior, or authorization history. I have never knowingly had a legitimate customer relationship with Self Financial or Lead Bank for the account being reported. 

I did not receive any welcome materials, loan disclosures, repayment schedules, account agreements, or communications at the time the account was allegedly opened. I did not set up or authorize any linked bank account, automatic payments, or funding source associated with this account. Any such setup that may exist was done by an unknown third party without my knowledge or consent.

Upon discovering this unauthorized account, I took immediate steps to protect myself and to document the fraud. I confirmed that I did not open or authorize this Self Financial/ Lead Bank account and that my identity had been compromised. As a result, I filed an official Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), affirming under penalty of perjury that this account is not mine and was opened through identity theft. This FTC Identity Theft Report establishes my status as a victim of identity theft and triggers specific protections under federal law, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ).

Despite filing an FTC Identity Theft Report and disputing the account, this Self Financial / Lead Bank account continues to be associated with my identity and credit profile. The continued presence of this account is inaccurate, misleading, and harmful. Identity theft does not become invalid simply because an account balance is relatively small. The issue is not the amountit is the fact that the account itself was fraudulently created and falsely attributed to me.

I did not sign any contract, promissory note, electronic agreement, or authorization permitting Self Financial or Lead Bank to open this account. I did not complete any identity verification steps, such as selfie verification, document upload, multi-factor authentication, or electronic consent. Any verification process that may appear in Self Financials systems was exploited, bypassed, or fraudulently completed by an unknown individual.

Self Financial and Lead Bank, as a fintech lender and regulated financial institution, have a duty to ensure that credit products are issued only to consumers who knowingly and willingly apply for them. The successful opening of this account in my name without my authorization demonstrates a failure in identity verification and fraud prevention procedures. That failure should not be transferred onto me as the victim. 

To date, I have not been provided with any original documentation proving that I opened or authorized this account. I have not received a signed application, a valid electronic consent record, IP address data, device identifiers, geolocation information, or any other objective evidence linking me to the creation of this account. Without such documentation, there is no factual or legal basis for Self Financial or Lead Bank to continue associating this account with me.

This fraudulent account has required me to spend a significant amount of time reviewing my credit reports, monitoring my financial information, filing identity theft reports, submitting disputes, and now filing this complaint. These efforts are burdensome and stressful, especially considering that I did nothing to cause this situation. The burden of correcting fraud should not rest on the victim once proper documentationsuch as an FTC Identity Theft Reporthas been provided.

Additionally, the nature of Self Financials product as a credit-builder loan makes the presence of a fraudulent account particularly concerning. These products are designed to report payment activity to consumer reporting agencies. Even minor inaccuracies can have outsized effects on a consumers credit profile. I should not be forced to tolerate inaccurate reporting, risk of future negative reporting, or internal risk flags tied to an account that never belonged to me.

I am not refusing to pay a legitimate obligation. I am asserting that no legitimate obligation exists. I never entered into a contractual relationship with Self Financial or Lead Bank. I did not receive loan proceeds, credit benefits, or services associated with this account. Any payments that may have been made were not made by me and do not constitute acknowledgment, ratification, or acceptance of the account.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, once a consumer submits a valid Identity Theft Report, furnishers and financial institutions are required to block and remove information resulting from identity theft. Continuing to report or maintain this account after receiving notice of identity theft is inconsistent with those obligations. 

The continued association of my identity with this account exposes me to ongoing risk, including the possibility of future misreporting, internal account screening issues, or adverse decisions by other financial institutions relying on inaccurate data. Identity theft issues often persist when institutions fail to fully correct internal records, even after external reporting is addressed. 

I am requesting that Self Financial and Lead Bank acknowledge that this account was opened fraudulently and as a result of identity theft. I am also requesting that the account be permanently closed, fully removed from my credit file, and completely disassociated from my identity across all internal and external systems.

I further request that Self Financial and Lead Bank conduct a thorough internal investigation into how this account was opened, including a review of the application process, identity verification methods, and any third-party services involved. While I am not responsible for identifying the individual who committed the fraud, it is important that corrective action be taken to prevent similar incidents affecting other consumers. 

I am also requesting written confirmation that : The account has been permanently closed I have no financial, legal, or contractual liability for the account The account has been removed from all consumer reporting agencies The account will not be reinserted, reactivated, or transferred My identity has been fully disassociated from the account internally This experience has caused unnecessary stress, inconvenience, and loss of time. I have taken all appropriate steps required of an identity theft victim, including filing an FTC Identity Theft Report and disputing the account. I should not be required to continue defending myself against a fraudulent account that was never mine. 

In summary, the Self Financial/ Lead Bank account opened in or around XX/XX/year> with a reported balance of approximately {$190.00} is fraudulent. I do not own this account. I did not authorize it. I did not benefit from it. I have filed an FTC Identity Theft Report documenting this fraud. I am requesting immediate and permanent corrective action to remove this account and ensure full compliance with applicable consumer protection laws.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation