Consumer complaint received 2025-11-03 00:00:00
Product: Payday loan, title loan, personal loan, or advance loan — Installment loan
Issue: Charged fees or interest you didn't expect — 
Company: Affirm Holdings, Inc
State: NM

Complaint narrative:
I financed a purchase of {$240.00} through Affirm from a merchant advertising themselves as a XXXXbased retailer selling pure leather and genuine denim jackets. The product I received was counterfeit, poorly made, and missing legally required labeling. 

1. Summary of the Complaint Affirm has denied my dispute, stating that the merchant provided compelling evidence and that I did not provide expert documentation disproving authenticity. I am submitting this document to summarize the facts, evidence, and the unreasonable handling of this dispute.

2. Facts of the Transaction 2a. I purchased a jacket through a merchant financed by Affirm.

2b. The merchants website represented that : -They were based in the United States .

-Their products were made of pure leather and genuine denim. 2c. The item I received was clearly synthetic, not leather, and of very poor quality. 2d. The jacket has no tag or label identifying material composition or country of
origin, which is required by law under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act ( 15 U.S.C. 70 ).

2e.. The shipping documentation confirms the product originated from outside the United States, contrary to the merchants stated business location.

2f. When I contacted the merchant, they : - Repeatedly claimed the product was genuine leather.

- Told me I could get it lab-tested if I didnt believe them.

- Later requested that I cancel my chargeback, which is improper and demonstrates awareness of fraudulent conduct.

3. Evidence Submitted 3a Product Advertisement : Screenshot of the merchants website showing pure leather and genuine denim claims and XXXX business representation. 
3b Product Received : Photos showing poor construction, synthetic texture, and absence of interior labeling.

3c Shipping Information : Screenshot/photo showing international shipment origin.

3d Merchant Communications : Email and chat exchanges where the merchant denies wrongdoing and asks me to cancel my chargeback.

3e Affirms Decision Email : Copy of Affirms message denying my dispute, citing lack of expert documentation.

4. Affirms Handling of the Dispute Affirm denied my dispute on the grounds that I did not provide expert documentation disproving authenticity and proof of what was supposed to be the status of the products versus how they were received.

This response is unreasonable and inconsistent with consumer protection standards : Consumers are not required to provide expert laboratory testing to prove a product is counterfeit.I have already provided proof of misrepresentation ( website claims vs. actual product ). The absence of legal labeling is, in itself, evidence of noncompliance and potential counterfeit.Affirm has refused to disclose the merchants compelling evidence, preventing me from rebutting it.Affirms decision effectively shifts the burden of proof onto the consumer and enables fraudulent merchants to continue operating on their platform.

5. Request for CFPB Review and Action I am respectfully requesting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau : Review Affirms dispute handling procedures and their standard of evidence when consumers report fraudulent or counterfeit goods. Require Affirm to disclose the documentation they relied on to deny my claim. Direct Affirm to cancel or adjust the loan associated with this transaction, given the fraudulent nature of the sale and the evidence I have provided. Investigate Affirms merchant vetting process, as this seller appears to be operating outside the XXXX while falsely claiming domestic business status. I have continued making payments under protest to protect my credit, but I am requesting that the obligation be voided or refunded once this matter is resolved.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation