Prepaid card -- Unexpected or other fees -- Complaint #7587236
Complaint Overview
Complaint ID: 7587236
Company: Blackhawk Network Holdings INC.
Product: Prepaid card
Sub-Product: General-purpose prepaid card
Issue: Unexpected or other fees
State: North Carolina
ZIP Code: 28078
Date Received: 2023-09-21T12:00:00-05:00
Date Sent to Company: 2023-09-21T12:00:00-05:00
Company Response: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Submitted Via: Web
Consumer Narrative
In XXXX my husband and I each received a XXXX $ virtual card from XXXX because our identities were stolen. XXXX sent me a link to a website. I used a code but I got no card number. Last month I received an email from My Prepaid Center asking me to retrieve a card number so I could use it by clicking a link. I thought it was a scam, so I ignored it for fear they would steal my identity. But my husband got the same email, he tried it and told me it was not spam. So I clicked the link only to discover that the XXXX $ card XXXX gave me contained less than XXXX $!!! The prepaid center site had been taking out fees of {$5.00} a month!! On a XXXX $ card!!! I couldn't use the card because I didn't have a number and was unable to load it into a wallet, so I was worried that every month they would keep billing me even when my card was empty. The same thing happened to my husband. After hours of talking to people, the company told him it was a computer mistake and they would refund and send him a plastic card. He got no proof in email, so he contacted the consumer finance agency and they made sure he got the money back and a physical card. He told me to call My Prepaid Center so I could get my money back. I called today, XX/XX/XXXX, But my prepaid center told me there was no computer mistake, and I would get no refund of fees. They said that I would be charged XXXX $ for every month the unusable card sat on their system. They refused to send an email promising to stop the fees after the card was emptied by them. I became afraid they would send me to a collection agency for fees on a card that I couldn't use. The support person said they could not send me a promise in writing that I would not continue to be charged. When I told them that they refunded my husband 's fees, they lied and said it was a different type of card and a different set of rules, but it was the identical card from XXXX. I am a woman and have a foreign accent, so I became suspicious when we were treated differently under the exact same circumstances. Why would they refund my husband 's card and not mine? I wonder if the scam is to see who they can bully into accepting the fees. Perhaps they thought I would not file a complaint because I'm a woman and XXXX. I just want my XXXX back and a physical card. I want the government to look into the legality of these fees. I don't have a card number, but my account is found by using my email - XXXX Thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Complaint #7587236 about?
Complaint #7587236 was filed against Blackhawk Network Holdings INC. regarding Prepaid card specifically about Unexpected or other fees. It was received by the CFPB on 2023-09-21T12:00:00-05:00.
How did Blackhawk Network Holdings INC. respond to this complaint?
The company responded with: "Closed with explanation". The response was timely.
What is the risk level of this complaint?
See the risk assessment section for details on this complaint's risk profile.
How do I file a similar complaint?
You can file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Select the appropriate product category (Prepaid card) and describe your issue in detail.
Can I see other complaints against Blackhawk Network Holdings INC.?
Yes, visit the Blackhawk Network Holdings INC. company profile at readthecomplaint.com/company/blackhawk-network-holdings-inc to see all complaints, risk scores, and analysis.
Disclaimer
This analysis is AI-generated based on publicly available CFPB complaint data. It does not constitute financial or legal advice.