Consumer complaint received 2025-11-22 00:00:00
Product: Prepaid card — General-purpose prepaid card
Issue: Trouble using the card — Problem adding money
Company: Chime Financial Inc
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern : Subject : Urgent Formal Complaint and Request for Investigation into Chimes Financial Practices. 

I am writing to urgently bring to your attention the severe and financial harm caused by Chimes recent actions, which have devastated my financial stability and emotional wellbeing. In XX/XX/XXXX, following the tragic death of my boyfriendwhom I was caring for as an XXXX  XXXX  lost my job. This period of immense personal hardship coincided with my default on a cash advance from Chimes payroll program, for which I was initially eligible because my employer deposited my paycheck directly into my Chime account. Despite numerous attempts to contact Chime for guidance after my default, I was met with silence and neglect. My account was never shown in a negative balance ; no formal noticepostal or electronicwas ever sent, and I did not receive a single courtesy call. Chime claims they only sent emails, which I never received, as my main email and XXXX accounts had been compromised by hackers. Even without employment, I continued to use my Chime account throughout that year, yet my efforts to clarify my payment obligations were completely ignored. 

Shockingly, on XX/XX/XXXX, Chime enacted a secretive, unilateral policy change allowing them to withhold any deposited funds from customers with a defaulted cash advance balance. How can Chime justify expelling me from the payroll cash advance program because I no longer have an employer direct deposit, then seize my funds a full year laterwithout prior notice or verification that the debt even belongs to me? My account showed no negative balance that would warn me of such an action. Retroactively enforcing a new rule on a year-old debt is not only unjust but unconscionable. Adding to this injustice, Chime garnished {$420.00} from funds intended for rent payments to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) over half of my total income. This action has crippled my ability to attend job interviews, pay essential bills such as gas, car registration, and insurance, and maintain my housing. I am now at imminent risk of eviction and homelessness due to Chimes unjust conduct. 

Should I lose my home, I will pursue civil action for the damages inflicted upon me. Moreover, in XX/XX/XXXX, I mistakenly sent {$150.00} via Chime to an unknown recipient. I immediately reported the error to Chime within XXXX minutes. Yet the dispute was closed without restitution, with Chime arbitrarily declaring it not a mistake. This loss remains unexplained and unfair. 

Lastly, I joined Chime to improve my credit score. Despite XXXX years of effort that raised my score by XXXX points to XXXX, it plummeted back to the original level within XXXX months under Chimes watch. How is this legal or ethical? I demand answers : How can Chime alter rules at will to not only garnish my funds today but retroactively apply them to a year-old debt? How can manual deposits like unemployment benefits and government assistance be garnished at such a punitive rate, without due process, notice, or opportunity for verification or repayment agreement? How can Chime justify confiscating government housing funds and withholding money loaned to me by a friend specifically for rent? 

They even kept {$90.00} of {$120.00} sent to me as a loan, without informing me when I called for clarification. What protections am I entitled to? What resources are available to me? What corrective actions will be taken to hold Chime accountable? This ordeal has caused severe financial and emotional trauma. 

I urgently request a thorough investigation into Chimes harmful practices, protection of my rights, and delivery of justice. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. 

Sincerely,

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation