Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/28/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  on 5/14 I contacted Kickoff to inform them I would need to change my payment date and cancel auto pay. I was told it was completed, and my payment date would be 5/30.on 5/23, Kikoff attempted 2 charges against my bank account, causing me to have 2 overdraft fees of $35, plus the $20 paid on the second attempt. after contacting my bank, I was informed kikoff was responsible for the fees under 15 *** 1693, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act.upon contacting kikoff, I was told by a manager named "Bren" he would not process a refund, that the federal law did not apply to kikoff, and while they confirm autopsy was requested to be turned off, it never was. I was then told "too bad maybe you shouldn't be poor" by the rep.I am contacting CFPB in the hopes Kikoff will meet their legal obligations in providing me the overdraft fees created by their mismanagement of accounts, creating an unauthorized charge to my bank card, likewise creating overdraft fees.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/03/2025

  Hello ***********, 
  

  Thank you for reaching out. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
  

  In your complaint you stated that you contacted Kikoff on May 14, 2025, to inform us that you needed to change your payment date and cancel autopay, you were told it was completed, yet Kikoff attempted 2 charges which resulted in your bank causing overdraft fees. We have thoroughly investigated this claim and have no record of any communication from you requesting to turn off autopay,nor were there any logins on or near this date to manage your autopay setting in the Kikoff app. In review of the account, the only changes made to your autopay setting occurred on October 22, 2024, when you turned off autopay and then turned it back on. In your May 23, 2025 call with our Support team you stated you have an email from Kikoff confirming your autopay was turned off.We reviewed the screenshots provided in your complaint, and the screenshots do not include such an email. One is an email from Kikoff saying your payment was successful, and another was an email saying your payment was unsuccessful. This email notification is not confirmation that your autopay setting was successfully turned off, it was sent to notify you that the payment we attempted was not successful. 

  We acknowledge your reference to 15 USC 1693, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (****), in your complaint and in your phone call on May 23rd, however, we would like to clarify that the protections outlined in this statute apply to the bank that charged you the overdraft fee. The **** states that if your bank allows an unauthorized transaction to go through resulting in an overdraft fee, they are required to refund you the fee. Our payment processing system will not allow payments to go through when there are insufficient funds in the account linked to the payment method on file, which is why you received the email saying your payment had failed. When we retried the payment, there were sufficient funds in the account at that time, which allowed the transaction to be successfully processed.
  

  We listened to the recorded call you referenced in your complaint which you claim our Support Supervisor **** told you "too bad you shouldn't be poor." We respectfully reject this claim, as this did not happen at any point in the entire 50 minute call. During this call you repeatedly talked over ****, insulted him, accused him of lying, yelling at you, and being unprofessional, when **** was simply explaining our policy and providing information related to your account.
  

  We again understand your request and regret to inform you that we are unable to refund the overdraft fee that was charged by your bank. Our investigation confirmed autopay was never deactivated on your account, and there were sufficient funds in the account at the time the payment was processed, which allowed the payment to go through.
  

  We know this is not the outcome you were hoping for, however, we can confirm that your account was closed on May 23, 2025, and upon closure we credited the remaining balance to prevent our system from attempting to process any further payments.
  

  We wish you well and hope you find this explanation helpful.
  

  Kikoff Customer Operations

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/04/2025

   
  Complaint: 23372398
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  the company is again failing to acknowle that authorization for the charge  had been removed over 4 days prior, making this charge unauthorized. Under ORS *******, these unauthorized charges led to an overdraft, placing Kikoff legally obligated for each NSF fee of $35.

   

  the company's response fails to take into account Oregon State Law, the state i reside in. this information on the overdraft issue comes directly from the *********** who is working as well on the legal violation of Title 18, Section 1344 of the ************** Funds Transfer Act)

   

  kikoff has likewise refused contact from my bank on 3 seperate occasions, as my bank attempted to explain their culpability in this matter. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********** *******

  Business Response

  Date: 06/06/2025

  Hello ***********, 
  

  As we stated in our original response, no requests were received from you to turn off your autopayment setting, nor was there any activity on your account on or around the date you claimed you turned it off. Again, the screenshot you provided is not confirmation that you turned off your autopayment setting, this was a courtesy notification that we sent you to inform you that your payment had not been successful. If you had revoked authorization of the charge through your bank, and they still allowed the charge to go through, then your bank is required to refund you the overdraft fee they charged you, not Kikoff, according to the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA). 
  

  Regarding your banks alleged attempts to contact Kikoff to explain their culpability in this matter, we have no record of any contacts made by your bank on your behalf. 
  

  We again understand your request and your references to the ***** however, as Kikoff is not the financial institution that charged you the overdraft fee, we are unable to refund you this charge. 
  

  We wish you well and hope you find this explanation helpful.

  Kikoff Customer Operations

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/09/2025

   
  Complaint: 23372398
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  the company continues to not address the core issue at hand, the unautherized charges that caused the overdraft, which by law they are responsable for paying.

  I am owed a total of $70 in NSF fees generated by their unautherized charges.  this is covered under the Federal EFTA.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********** *******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/27/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am writing to inform you of a fraudulent account opened in my name with Kikoff, of which I am a victim of identity theft and did not authorize. Please find the details of the fraudulent account below:Creditor Name: Kikoff Opened Date: 3/15/2023 Account Number: CLIRGX****High Credit: $90.00 I kindly request that you close this account immediately and remove any negative information related to it from my credit report. Furthermore, I would appreciate receiving confirmation of the account closure along with any pertinent documentation concerning this fraudulent activity.Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/29/2025

  Hello ******, 

  Thank you for reaching out. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. We have reviewed your complaint and understand the impact that an unauthorized account can have on a credit report. We have reviewed the application process, and also considered all information provided in your recent dispute. Unfortunately based on our internal investigation of the account verification and approval process, there is insufficient evidence to support removal of this tradeline. 

  In your complaint you advise that you did not open or authorize the account. To be approved for a Kikoff loan/credit account, an applicants identity/personal information must be verified, including name, DOB, address, and SSN. In the case of this account, we have reviewed and reconfirmed the verification process of the information provided during account signup back in March 15, 2023, all of which matched.
  

  After a thorough review, we confirmed that all activity within the app originated from a device located in your area. Additionally, the billing zip code linked to your payment methods corresponds with your registered address. Moreover, our verification process confirmed that your email address and phone number, which have been linked to your account for an extended period prior to its creation, have been actively accessed, as demonstrated by the emails sent to you being opened and the verification codes sent being verified and utilized to sign in to your account.

  Our records show you contacted our Support team via phone on March 25, 2025, from the verified phone number on the account. In this call, you successfully provided the required information to verify your account. One of our representatives notified you that the account was closed due to a series of late payments and outlined the steps necessary to settle the charged-off amount of $90. Our records confirm that you paid this $90 charge-off balance on April 18, 2025. These actions contradict your claim that the account is fraudulent.

  We do sympathize with your situation, and would take action if the evidence indicated a different result, but we are also responsible to report accurate information - which in this case does appear to be accurate.
   
  Thank you, and we wish you all the best.

  Kikoff Customer Operations

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/26/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  *********** ********* **************************************************** ************************ ********** Subject: Fraudulent Account Complaint Against Kikoff Lending Dear Better Business Bureau,I am writing to formally file a complaint against Kikoff Lending regarding an account that has been fraudulently opened under my name, *********** *********. I have no recollection of ever opening or authorizing this account, and I strongly believe that it has been fraudulently created without my consent.I have attempted to resolve this matter with Kikoff Lending, but they have failed to provide any resolution. This fraudulent account is now negatively affecting me, and I am requesting immediate action to have it removed.I urge the Better Business Bureau to investigate this issue and assist in correcting this fraudulent matter. Please let me know what steps need to be taken to rectify this situation and ensure that my identity and financial records remain secure.Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I appreciate your assistance in resolving this issue promptly.Sincerely,*********** *********

  Business Response

  Date: 05/29/2025

  Hello ***********, 

  Thank you for reaching out. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. We have reviewed your complaint and understand the impact that an unauthorized account can have on a credit report. We have reviewed the application process, and also considered all information provided in your recent dispute. Unfortunately based on our internal investigation of the account verification and approval process, there is insufficient evidence to support removal of this tradeline. 
   
  In your complaint you advise that you did not open or authorize the account. To be approved for a Kikoff loan/credit account, an applicants identity/personal information must be verified, including name, DOB, address, and SSN. In the case of this account, we have reviewed and reconfirmed the verification process of the information provided during account signup back in October 19, 2021 all of which matched. 
    
  After a thorough review, we confirmed that all activity within the app originated from a device located in your area. Additionally, the billing zip code linked to your payment methods corresponds with your registered address. We also verified that your email address, which has been connected to your account for a significant time prior to its creation, has been actively accessed, as evidenced by the emails sent to you being opened.
   
  You mentioned attempting to resolve this concern with Kikoff and that we have failed to provide any resolution. We take claims of this nature seriously, and your concerns are important to us. However, after a thorough review, we found no record of prior communication from you regarding this concern. Had we received your inquiry, we would have promptly initiated an investigation through our established fraud process.
  
  We do sympathize with your situation, and would take action if the evidence indicated a different result, but we are also responsible to report accurate information - which in this case does appear to be accurate.
   
  Thank you, and we wish you all the best.

  Kikoff Customer Operations

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/25/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Deceptive and misleading. I opened an account with Kikoff in the hopes of paying off my outstanding debt using their "line of credit". It was only after signing up and looking around that I found out the credit line could only be used for items purchased in their "store" for ecommerce items. You don't actually get to use the line of credit to pay off your debt. There is nothing stating any of this until after you have already created your account and setup payments. I have already cancelled the account and locked my card I gave them so that I don't have any of the problems others have reported. I am not seeking any thing other than getting the information out there that this company hides things from potential customers until AFTER they sign up.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/29/2025

  Hello *******, 

  Thank you for reaching out with your concerns. We understand the importance of resolving this matter and appreciate the opportunity to address it. First, we would like to address your concerns regarding how our Credit Account tradeline works. When you open a Kikoff Credit Account, you receive a tradeline that is reported to the credit bureaus. This tradeline is available to use for purchases in Kikoffs online store, and is most commonly used to purchase one of our credit-building subscription plans. Depending on which plan you choose (Basic, Premium, or Ultimate), the tradeline is charged for the annual total of the monthly payments, and as you make your payments, we report them to the credit bureaus with the intention of helping you build credit. The Credit Account is designed to help our customers build and improve their credit by showcasing positive payment history, as payment history is the biggest factor in credit scoring. Since the tradeline can only be used in the Kikoff store, this also helps keep your credit utilization low, which is another key factor in credit scoring. The tradeline is legitimate, and is reported in compliance with all applicable lending rules and regulations.
   
  We understand that the Kikoff Store's educational products may not be essential or justify expenditure for you. The tradeline is designed for responsible use within the Kikoff platform, which can positively impact credit-building efforts. Information regarding the Kikoff Credit Account and how the tradeline may be used is readily available on our website's FAQ section, where customers can access additional details prior to opening an account. 
   
  Thank you for reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to address your concerns. We can confirm that your account is closed and we have credited the remaining balance on the account to prevent collection of any further payments. If you require further information or need additional help, please contact us at ********************************************************.  

  Kikoff Customer Operations

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/24/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Your organization continues to report inaccurate, incomplete, and inconsistent information. 1. Request for Documentation under FCRA Section 609 I hereby formally request, under FCRA Section 609, that Kikoff Lending LLC provide the following documentation:????A full copy of the original signed contract or application bearing my wet signature.Any billing statements, transaction history, or other documentation used to substantiate the reported delinquency and account status.Any communication logs, notices, or correspondence mailed or emailed to me regarding this account.A full accounting and explanation of the dates, amounts, and any payments you claim are associated with this account.Failure to furnish this information will serve as confirmation that your company lacks the evidence to lawfully verify or validate this account.2. Discrepancies and Legal Concerns There are material discrepancies in how this account is being reported, including:?Conflicting payment dates: Equifax and ********** show different last payment dates (Jan 1, 2022 vs. Jan 7, 2022).?Inconsistent delinquency reporting: ********** reports a 6089 day late derogatory status, while Equifax shows no such derogatory history.?Contradictory balance and status: One report reflects a $0 balance and 0% usage, which raises serious questions regarding the basis for derogatory classification.Such inconsistencies suggest negligent or willful misreporting and a lack of adherence to **** Section 623 obligations to report data that is accurate and complete.3. Final Demand for Immediate Action As the furnisher of this disputed information, you are responsible for the integrity and legality of the data you report. I hereby demand:?Immediate deletion of the account from all credit reporting agencies if you cannot provide complete and legally compliant verification.?A written response within 15 calendar days detailing your findings and attaching all documentation requested above.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/29/2025

  Hello Tirashun, 

  Thank you for reaching out. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. We have reviewed your complaint and understand the impact that accurate payment history can have on a credit report, and it is always our goal to support our customers in maintaining positive credit outcomes. For this reason, Kikoff provides a generous ***** period for payments. However, your payments have consistently fallen outside this period. As a lender, we have a responsibility to report payment information truthfully and accurately, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). We make every effort to keep our customers informed of account statuses through email notifications, which we understand may have been overlooked in your inbox.

  In your complaint, you mentioned that there are conflicting dates on your credit report. Please be aware that while Kikoff reports the same information across all applicable credit bureaus, each bureau is its own entity and may process and display information differently. A minor discrepancy between the last payment dates of January 1, 2022, and January 7, 2022, does not reflect incorrect reporting, and should not impact your credit score. We have verified that the information we are reporting on your account is accurate and consistent across all 3 credit bureaus.

  Thank you for reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to address your concerns. If you require further information or need additional help, please contact us at ********************************************************. 
   
  For security of your account information, our support team has sent you direct correspondence to the email on file. Please check your email for additional information and if you have any further concerns you can reach us by email at ******************************************************** or by phone at ************.
  

  Kikoff Customer Operations

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/30/2025

   
  Complaint: 23373474
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Tirashun *****

   

  This correspondence is in direct response to the inadequate and incomplete reply provided by Kikoff
  Lending LLC through the Better Business Bureau. Your response failed to address the majority of
  my concerns and omitted critical documentation that I explicitly requested under the Fair Credit
  Reporting Act (FCRA).
  1. Failure to Provide Documents Required by **** 609
  As previously stated in my formal letter dated May 23, 2025, I requested the following documents to
  substantiate the validity and legality of the account you continue to report to the credit bureaus:
  - A copy of the original signed agreement or application bearing my wet signature.
  - All billing statements and full transactional history for the account.
  - Any and all communication logs, mailed notices, and emails regarding this alleged account.
  - An accounting of payments or charges tied to this account, including dates and amounts.
  To date, you have failed to provide any of the above, which constitutes a violation of FCRA Section
  609. Your failure to produce this information demonstrates that you cannot verify or validate the
  account in accordance with federal law. Under the ****, if you are unable to verify an account with
  proper documentation, it must be removed from all consumer reports.
  2. Failure to Address Reporting InaccuraciesIn my complaint, I cited several critical discrepancies in how this account is reported across the
  three major credit bureaus:
  - Conflicting last payment dates: Equifax lists January 1, 2022, while ********** shows January 7,
  2022.
  - Inconsistent delinquency status: ********** reports ***** days late; Equifax shows no derogatory
  information.
  - Contradictory balance: Some bureaus reflect a $0 balance and 0% utilization while still classifying
  the account as derogatory.
  You failed to address these material inaccuracies in your response, instead offering a vague and
  incomplete explanation regarding a single issue. This falls well short of your obligations under ****
  623, which requires that data furnishers report information that is accurate and complete.
  3. Renewed Demand
  Therefore, I am reiterating my formal demands:
  - That Kikoff Lending LLC provide all documentation originally requested under FCRA 609.
  - That you address each of the inaccuracies I identified, with specific corrections or evidence
  justifying the reported data.
  - That, in the absence of verification through legally sufficient documentation, you immediately
  delete the account from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
  You are hereby notified that I will not consider this matter resolved until these issues are addressed
  in full. Failure to comply will result in legal escalation.Sincerely,
  
  Tirashun *****
  *********************
  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/03/2025

  Hello Tirashun, 
  

  As we stated in our initial response to your complaint, for the security of your account information, the requested documents related to your account would be sent via direct correspondence to your email address. In response to your complaint filed with the ************************************ (****), we sent you an email with the applicable documents for your account. These documents included your full account payment history, which includes statement dates, account balances, and all payments made, as well as a copy of your account terms. Again, these terms are accepted electronically at the time of account opening, and we do not use wet or physical signatures.
  

  In your response you claim that we have not addressed the discrepancies you are seeing in your credit reports across different credit bureaus, however, we did clarify why you may see these minor discrepancies. While Kikoff reports the same information across all applicable credit bureaus, since each bureau operates independently of us and each other, we do not control how they process and display the information we report. It is very common in credit reporting to see minor discrepancies across all credit bureaus for this reason. Again, a last payment date of January 1 on one bureaus report and January 7 on another will have no significant impact on your credit score, nor does this reflect inaccuracy in our reporting. We have again confirmed that the information we have reported for your account is consistent and accurately reflects your payment history.
  

  We have received the recent complaint you filed with the **** and will be responding in the coming days. 
  

  Thank you and we wish you all the best.
  

  Kikoff Customer Operations

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/24/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  COLLECTION AGENCY is violating the Customer Name, they removed it from one bureau and did not removed it from rest of the bureaus.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/29/2025

  Hello Jevonte, 

  Thank you for reaching out. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. We have reviewed your complaint and understand the impact that accurate payment history can have on a credit report, and it is always our goal to support our customers in maintaining positive credit outcomes. For this reason, Kikoff provides a generous ***** period for payments. However, your payments have fallen outside this period. As a lender, we have a responsibility to report payment information truthfully and accurately, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
   
  We as a company are not in the practice of debt collection and are not debt collectors. When you apply for an account, you agree to adhere to our terms and conditions of the account and this acknowledgement is required before you can move forward. According to our records, terms and conditions were accepted on March 13, 2023 at time of account opening, which outlines the responsibilities of the loan and the monthly payment reporting to the bureaus. Please note that part of building credit is showcasing a person's payment history and these transactions are eligible for reporting and are in line with our agreements. 
   
  Our records show that the last payment we received from you was on April 22, 2024, and the account was charged off on December 8, 2024, due to an extended period of nonpayment. As a lender, we have a responsibility to report payment information truthfully and accurately, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). We make every effort to keep our customers informed of account statuses through email notifications, which we understand may have been overlooked in your inbox. In compliance with the ****, we cannot remove genuine late or missed payments, as it is our obligation to maintain accurate reporting on all accounts, regardless of status.
   
  For security of your account information, our support team has sent you direct correspondence to the email on file with the requested documents attached. Please check your email for additional information and if you have any further concerns you can reach us by email at ******************************************************** or by phone at ************.

  Kikoff Customer Operations

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/23/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I find this account to be incorporated with inaccurate information, I strongly believe this to be misleading and misrepresentation of my credit history.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/28/2025

  Hello ******, 

  Thank you for reaching out. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. We have reviewed your complaint and understand the impact that accurate payment history can have on a credit report, and it is always our goal to support our customers in maintaining positive credit outcomes. For this reason, Kikoff provides a generous ***** period for payments. 
   
  In review of your account, there was a lapse in payments which resulted in the late payments and charge-off status you are seeing on your credit report. Autopay was turned off on May 3, 2024, however, the last payment received from you was on March 21, 2024. The account was eventually closed due to non-payment on November 7, 2024. 
   
  As a lender, we have a responsibility to report payment information truthfully and accurately, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). We make every effort to keep our customers informed of account statuses through email notifications, which we understand may have been overlooked in your inbox. In compliance with the ****, we cannot remove genuine late or missed payments, as it is our obligation to maintain accurate reporting on all accounts, regardless of status.
   
  Thank you for reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to address your concerns. If you require further information or need additional help, please contact us at ********************************************************. 

  Kikoff Customer Operations

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/21/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I do not owe this company anything. This was a credit building service. There was never any money exchanged I did not ****** money from them. This is not accurate and I want it removed from my credit.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/23/2025

  Hello ******, 

  Thank you for reaching out with your concerns. We understand the importance of resolving this matter and appreciate the opportunity to address it. According to our records, the terms and conditions for your account were accepted on April 7, 2023 at the time of account setup. These terms outline both the responsibilities associated with the account, and ******************'s monthly reporting of payment activity to the credit bureaus.
   
  First, we would like to address your concerns regarding how our Credit Account works. Upon signing up for Kikoff Credit Account, you receive a tradeline that is reported to the credit bureaus. Depending on the plan you choose, the tradeline is charged a balance for annual total of the monthly payments. In the case of your account, you were enrolled in the Premium plan which charges the tradeline a total of $240, to be paid off in the $20 monthly payments you were paying. Kikoff reports these payments to the three major credit bureaus, in the hopes that this will positively contribute to your credit history, as payment history is a key factor in credit scoring. Additionally, it is important to note that the Credit Account does not come with a physical or virtual card as the tradeline can only be used in the Kikoff store, and is most commonly used to purchase one of our credit-building plans. 
   
  Please know that all Kikoff Lending, LLC customers have the right to cancel their accounts at any time without any penalties or associated fees if they no longer wish to participate in our program. Unfortunately, we do not have a cancellation request on file for this account. If a request had been received, we would have promptly processed it in accordance with our cancellation policy.

  We understand your request and regret to inform you that we will not be able to remove Kikoff from your credit report. As a lender, we are responsible for reporting payment information truthfully and accurately in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
  

  We wish you well, and hope this explanation is helpful.
  

  Kikoff Customer Operations

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/20/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In 2022, I signed up for Kikoff as a credit-building tool. I was never clearly informed of any $85 fee or balance due. I only discovered in 2025 that Kikoff had marked my account as charged-off and reported it to the credit bureaus, severely harming my credit score.According to their own support team, the last payment was made on 1/12/2023, and the account was closed on 8/25/2023. I received no emails, alerts, or meaningful attempts to notify me that I owed money or was in default.I contacted Kikoff customer service and asked for the charge-off to be removed, explaining that I never knowingly agreed to the $85 balance and had no idea the account was being negatively reported. Kikoff refused, stating they are obligated to report this.Their position contradicts their marketing as a credit-building service. They are reporting a two-year-old, low-value charge-off for someone who was never clearly notifiedand they are unwilling to offer a resolution short of payment.This feels misleading and exploitative, especially considering the small amount in question and their refusal to even acknowledge their failure in communication. I am requesting that Kikoff fully remove this charge-off from my credit report and cease all further derogatory reporting.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/23/2025

  Hello *******, 

  Thank you for reaching out. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. We have reviewed your complaint and understand the impact that accurate payment history can have on a credit report, and it is always our goal to support our customers in maintaining positive credit outcomes. For this reason, Kikoff provides a generous ***** period for payments.
   
  In your dispute, you mentioned that you weren't informed about an $85 fee or balance due. Upon signing up for Kikoff Credit Account, you receive a tradeline that is reported to the credit bureaus. Depending on the plan you choose, the tradeline is charged a balance for annual total of the monthly payments. In the case of your account, you were enrolled in the Basic plan which charges the tradeline a total of $60, to be paid off in the $5 monthly payments you were paying. Kikoff reports these payments to the three major credit bureaus, in the hopes that this will positively contribute to your credit history, as payment history is a key factor in credit scoring. Once these payments are successfully reported to the credit bureaus, they are non-refundable since they were applied according to our agreements. As a lender, we have a responsibility to report payment information truthfully and accurately, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). 
   
  The account balance of $85 comprised of the remaining $25 balance from your previous plan, plus the $60 auto-renewal charge. An email notification was sent at least 30 days prior to your auto-renewal date, allowing you to manage your subscription if you are unable to continue. Our records show that we did not receive any communication from you requesting to disable the auto-renewal, nor was it disabled on the Kikoff app. Please note that part of building credit is showcasing a person's payment history and the transactions you made towards the Kikoff Credit Account are eligible for reporting and are in line with our agreements. 
   
  You stated that Kikoff did not notify you about the account status. However, in our investigation we found that notifications were sent to the email address associated with your Kikoff account. These communications pertained to your account status and the fact that certain payments were declined due to insufficient funds. Our records indicate that the emails were opened at the time of receipt.
   
  According to our records, the terms and conditions for your account were accepted on June 28, 2022, at the time of account setup. These terms outline both the responsibilities associated with the loan and the monthly reporting of payment activity to the credit bureaus. In compliance with the ****, we cannot remove genuine late or missed payments, as it is our obligation to maintain accurate reporting on all accounts, regardless of status.
   
  Thank you for reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to address your concerns. If you require further information or need additional help, please contact us at ********************************************************. 

  Kikoff Customer Operations

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/24/2025

   
  Complaint: 23355305
  
  I categorically reject Kikoffs response.
  
  This reply is a textbook example of gaslighting a consumer. You claim I agreed to an $85 balance that was never properly disclosed, never billed, and never itemized. There was no statement, no clear documentation, and no opportunity to dispute the charge before it was slapped onto my credit report as a charge-off. That is not credit buildingthat is predatory reporting.
  
  Kikoff advertises itself as a penalty-free product, yet punishes users with negative credit events over a so-called auto-renewal I was never clearly informed about. Do you really think silently tucking a charge behind a renewal toggle constitutes consent?
  
  
  Worseyour team admitted to tracking when I opened your emails as evidence that I was notified. That is surveillance, not consent. Nowhere in your agreement did I authorize email read receipts or pixel tracking. That alone raises serious legal questions under consumer privacy law.
  
  Kikoffs refusal to produce a single signed acknowledgment, itemized billing record, or timestamped notificationwhile simultaneously reporting derogatory information to the credit bureausis deceptive, harmful, and unethical.
  
  This is not resolved by any means. I demand full deletion of the $85 charge-off from all credit bureaus, written confirmation of a $0 balance, and closure of the account in good standing. I have already filed with the ***** BBB, and New York State Attorney General. If you continue to dig in rather than correct this, I will pursue this in small claims court without hesitation.
  
  You do not get to call this credit building while destroying someones credit over fine print and tracking software.

  I wish I could say Respectfully yours, but you have lost all respect,

  ******* **********

  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 05/29/2025

  Hello *******, 

  As we explained in our previous response, when you open a Kikoff Credit Account, you receive a tradeline that is reported to the credit bureaus. When you enroll in a credit-building plan, the tradeline is charged for the annual sum of the monthly payments, and your monthly payments go toward paying down this balance. Our records show you were enrolled in a Basic plan, which charges the tradeline $60 to be paid off in monthly installments of $5. Your account was set to auto-renew, which you opted into when you opened your account. The account automatically renewed, which charged the tradeline again for $60. Since you were already behind on payments when this happened, your total balance with the $60 autorenewal came out to $85. Again, you were notified via email that this autorenewal would take place, and if you did not wish to proceed, you had the opportunity to cancel it, and close the account if you no longer wished to maintain it. 

  Kikoff does not charge any interest, account fees, or penalties, however, as a lender, we have a responsibility to report payment information truthfully and accurately in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). While we provide a generous 30-day ***** period before reporting payments as late, when payments fall outside of this period, we are required to report this information. 

  Kikoff does not track or surveil our customers, contrary to the claim made in your complaint. Like many companies, we monitor the status of emails sent to customers, such as whether an email was successfully sent, opened, or clicked, to understand engagement with our communications. This information is provided by our email delivery system and does not involve accessing your personal email account.
  

  Regarding your claim that Kikoff has refused to provide documents related to your account, we have not provided this in response to your complaint with the BBB, as this is public and we do not share sensitive personal information in our responses to the BBB. We have received the complaint you filed with the ************************************ (****) regarding this issue, and we will be providing you with documents in our response, as it will be sent directly to you.
  

  We again understand your request and regret to inform you that we cannot remove the account from your credit file. As we stated, we are required to report accurate information in compliance with the **** and the information reported is accurate.

  Kikoff Customer Operations

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/29/2025

   
  Complaint: 23355305
  
  Your response is insulting. You continue to hide behind vague internal processes and legal jargon instead of taking responsibility for the harm youve caused.
  
  Let me be clear: I was never properly notified, never billed, and never shown a clear, itemized breakdown of this so-called $85 charge. You claim I opted in and then auto-renewed a product you market as penalty-free and no-fee, and now you claim your hands are tied? That is absolute nonsenseand its a scam.
  
  Your product is designed to bait people into thinking theyre safely building credit, only to quietly pile on bogus charges and report them when no one is looking. And now youre backpedaling on your own email surveillance practices by calling it engagement tracking? You used that engagement to justify trashing someones credit. That is deceptive, invasive, and disgusting.
  
  I am NOT going away, I am going to make that very clear to you right now. I will continue to file complaints. I will continue to expose this publicly. I will continue to be a thorn in your side. I will be as loud as possible about the shady business practices you run and the damage you cause to peoples financial well-being. Ive already filed with the ****, the New York Attorney General, and will move forward with small claims litigation next.
  
  You are not helping people build credityou are setting them up to fail. Fix this now or face the consequences in every public and legal channel available.
  
  Insincerely,
  
  ******* **********

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/19/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I honestly dont get why KIKOFF LENDING LLC is reporting this debt under my name because I dont owe them anything. I never signed anything with them, and when I asked for a copy of the original application, they didnt even bother to provide it. Its frustrating because this is hurting my credit for no reason, and its just not fair. How can they just put something on my report without any proof?Account No: ********** Amount Disputed: $85

  Business Response

  Date: 05/23/2025

  Hello ********, 

  Thank you for reaching out with your concerns. We understand the importance of resolving this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. We have reviewed your complaint and understand the impact that an unauthorized account can have on a credit report.
   
  In your complaint you advise that you did not sign up with Kikoff. To be approved for a Kikoff loan/credit account, an applicants identity/personal information must be verified, including name, DOB, address, and SSN. In the case of this account, we have reviewed and reconfirmed the verification process of the information provided during account signup back in June 26, 2022, all of which matched. We have verified that the emails sent to the linked email address are being successfully opened, and the verification codes sent to your phone number were utilized to access your account, and your phone number and email address have been associated with you for an extended period prior to the account creation.
   
  In your dispute, you mentioned that you had requested a copy of your original application or any signed documents to verify your account, but our thorough review of our system reveals that no request was received from you. We are willing to provide necessary documents to any consumer who initiates a request for documents related to their account. Our records show that you had a Credit Builder Loan account that was fully paid after twelve months of consistent on-time $10 monthly payments. Our records show you withdrew the funds paid into the account to a bank account in your name that was verified using Plaid, which is inconsistent with a fraudulent account. 
   
  Please know that all Kikoff Lending, LLC customers have the right to cancel their accounts at any time without any penalties or associated fees if they no longer wish to participate in our program. Unfortunately, we do not have a cancellation request on file for this account. If a request had been received, we would have promptly processed it in accordance with our cancellation policy.
   
  According to our records, the terms and conditions for your account were accepted at the time of account setup in June 2022. These terms outline both the responsibilities associated with the loan and the monthly reporting of payment activity to the credit bureaus. We have provided a copy of your account terms which are also made available inside your account at any time. As a company that serves its customers virtually, we do not have wet or physical signatures. Please note that part of building credit is showcasing a person's payment history and the transactions you made towards the Kikoff Credit Account are eligible for reporting and are in line with our agreements.  We are committed to transparent communication and ensuring you have access to all pertinent information about your account.
   
  Please dont hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or require additional support.

  Kikoff Customer Operations