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: Chime Financial Inc
State: DC

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint to formally dispute a Chime Financial account 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 opening, use, or maintenance. The account was created using my personal information without my knowledge or consent, and any activity associated with it is unauthorized. 

The Chime Financial account in question was opened in or around XX/XX/year>. Although the account currently reflects a balance of {$0.00}, its existence alone is fraudulent and harmful, as I never requested, approved, or benefited from this account. I have never had a legitimate customer relationship with Chime Financial related to this account, nor did I knowingly provide my personal information for the purpose of opening a Chime account during that time period. 

I first became aware of this unauthorized Chime Financial account after reviewing my credit and financial records and identifying accounts that I did not recognize. The appearance of this account immediately raised concerns, as it did not align with my financial activity, account history, or authorization. I did not receive a Chime debit card, welcome materials, account disclosures, or notifications at the time the account was allegedly opened, further supporting that the account was created by an unknown third party. 

Upon discovering this fraudulent activity, I took immediate steps to protect myself. I confirmed that I did not open or use this Chime Financial account and that my identity had been compromised. As a result, I filed an official Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), declaring 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 protections under federal law, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 

Despite filing an FTC Identity Theft Report and disputing the account, this Chime Financial account continues to be associated with my personal information. Even though the balance is currently reported as {$0.00}, the presence of a fraudulent account itself is damaging and unacceptable. Identity theft does not become harmless simply because an account has a XXXX balance. The existence of the account exposes me to future risk, including potential misuse, negative reporting, internal blacklisting, or the possibility of the account being reactivated or misreported at a later date. 

I did not authorize Chime Financial to open, maintain, or report this account in my name. I never signed any account agreement, electronic consent, or authorization permitting Chime to establish this relationship. I did not provide biometric verification, identity confirmation, or multi-factor authentication approval to open this account. Any such verification methods used were clearly exploited or bypassed by the individual who committed the fraud. 

Chime Financial has an obligation to ensure that accounts are opened only with the consent of the actual consumer and to prevent identity theft through reasonable verification procedures. The fact that an account was successfully opened in my name without my authorization demonstrates a failure in those procedures. That failure should not be shifted onto me as the victim. 

Furthermore, I have not been provided with any original documentation demonstrating that I opened or authorized this account. I have not received copies of an account application, device identifiers, IP addresses, geolocation data, or any other evidence linking me to the opening of this account. Without such documentation, there is no factual or legal basis to associate this account with me. 

This fraudulent account has required me to spend significant time and effort reviewing my records, monitoring my credit, filing identity theft reports, and submitting disputes and complaints to correct information that should never have been associated with me. The burden of correcting fraud should not rest on the victim, particularly after an official FTC Identity Theft Report has been filed. 

Even though the account currently shows a XXXX balance, the continued existence of the account raises serious concerns. Fraudulent deposit accounts have the potential to be misused for illicit activity, including unauthorized transactions, account funding, or misuse by third parties. I do not want my name or identity connected in any way to such activity, now or in the future. 

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and applicable consumer protection laws, once a consumer provides an Identity Theft Report, furnishers and financial institutions are required to block, correct, and remove fraudulent information. This includes not only balances but also the existence of accounts that were opened as a result of identity theft. Leaving the account open, dormant, or internally associated with my identity is not an acceptable resolution. 

I am not refusing responsibility for a legitimate account. I am asserting that no legitimate account exists between myself and Chime Financial. I never entered into a contractual relationship with Chime, and therefore I have no obligations or liabilities related to this account. Any internal or external records stating otherwise are inaccurate. 

I am requesting that Chime Financial fully acknowledge that this account was opened fraudulently and as a result of identity theft. I am also requesting that Chime permanently close the account, remove any association between my identity and this account, and ensure that it is not reported, reactivated, or referenced in the future. 

Additionally, I request that Chime Financial conduct a thorough internal investigation into how this account was opened, including reviewing the application process, verification methods, and any third-party involvement. While I am not responsible for identifying the perpetrator, I believe it is important for Chime to identify weaknesses in its systems that allowed this fraud to occur so that similar incidents can be prevented. 

I also request written confirmation that : The account has been permanently closed I have no liability or responsibility for the account The account will not be reported or reinserted into any consumer reporting system My identity has been disassociated from this account internally This situation has caused unnecessary stress and inconvenience, and it has required me to take time away from my personal and professional responsibilities to address an issue that was entirely outside of my control. Identity theft victims should not have to repeatedly defend themselves against fraudulent accounts after taking the proper legal steps to report the crime. 

In summary, the Chime Financial account opened in or around XX/XX/year> is fraudulent and was created without my authorization. I do not own this account. I did not benefit from it. I have filed an FTC Identity Theft Report documenting this fraud. I am requesting that Chime XXXX take immediate and permanent corrective action to remove this account and fully comply with federal consumer protection laws.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation