Consumer complaint received 2025-12-04 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Other banking product or service
Issue: Managing an account — Problem using a debit or ATM card
Company: Chime Financial Inc
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I backed a startup project for a litter-less cat box. The project was supposed to be completed by XX/XX/XXXX. Once that date approached, they let us know it would be another 50 days until the litter box was ready to be shipped out. Their communication has decreased over time. The 50 days came and went, and we, the backers, heard nothing from XXXX despite our messages and posts to the chat board. If you visit the XXXXXXXX XXXX  ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  you can see all my posts under the username XXXX. You can also see all the backers complaining about them not communicating about the project obstacles and/or progression. 
Our last email from the creators of the project basically said their hearts weren't into the project, and they were struggling to get the concept into a tangible product. From their previous messages and comments on the XXXX website, it sounded like they were almost done and ready to ship the product out when I paid back in XX/XX/XXXX. Now we find out they don't even have one of the litter boxes made. They have raised over XXXX XXXXXXXX to get this product into production and shipped out to us. They could hire more people, perhaps an engineer to design it so it works. They have plenty of money to fund this project. They have broken the contract 2 times now regarding when we will receive our petypot. They are ghosting us and no longer answering messages or even responding in the chat on XXXX. 
I notified Chime, my bank, about this and created a dispute. I sent pictures from the website of their promised delivery dates and of my messages to them. I sent pictures of the chat on the XXXX site showing how everyone is upset that the project isn't done when promised, that it hasn't even started yet. We were all misled into believing this project was almost complete when we backed it. Chime has denied my dispute twice now and won't let me dispute it a third time. Anytime I have had a problem with a company, Chime sides with the company that took my money and never delivered the product as promised. I wouldn't mind waiting a little while IF I were being kept in the loop and being communicated with. XXXX has ceased all communication with me and the other backers. Some people have a reputable bank that did the right thing and awarded the dispute to the consumer ; however, through this, I have learned that Chime is a less- less-than-reputable bank, and they don't even have FDIC. That's right, they informed me my money is not insured by them in case of a loss. That was certainly not made clear to me when I signed up with Chime. 
So now I'm stuck. No petypot, no money returned, no one is talking or being rational. I think XXXX is a great idea, but it looks like the original creator of the project left, and the people remaining don't know what to do or how to put together the pieces they were left with. I will likely buy XXXX when or if it ever makes it to the market, but right now I feel let down as a consumer. I was promised a product that I never received. I'm out almost {$400.00}, as well as a lot of other people. Everyone on the project 's chat is saying we are getting scammed. I just want my money back. They only wanted to raise XXXX XXXXXXXX, but they raised over XXXX XXXXXXXX ; they can afford to give me my money back. I can't even reach anyone at XXXX. Please help. I can leave Chime, the horrible fake bank, but I can't get my money back from XXXX to be able to leave Chime ; otherwise, I would be complaining about Chime being fraudulent on the internet, too. Please help me get my money back.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation