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:03/18/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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 receiving unwanted spam e-mails from Public.com regarding my account that should have already been closed. I attempted to sign up for an account with ********************** on March 2, 2025 with my e-mail ********************* but my physical address was falsely flagged as a PO Box. The address is not a PO Box, but the same type of address that Public.com itself uses, but because Public.com will not accept my address, I requested for my account to be canceled and closed, yet I am still continuing to receive e-mails from them. After notifying the support agent of these continuing e-mails, and asking them to escalate this issue to the right team so that it could be properly solved, they confirmed that I would not continue to receive e-mails, but the e-mails persist. In the last e-mail from Public.com, the support team added the suffix "*** to my e-mail address (i.e. ******************************) which is a technique used by spammers to allow multiple copies of the same e-mail to the same recipient.I am asking for confirmation that my account is officially closed (not simply deactivated) and to no longer receive any of these spam e-mails at any of my e-mail addresses, and to not to spam multiple copies of an unwanted e-mail using the "*** suffix.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/26/2025

  Hi *****, Thank you for reaching out. As mentioned in our conversations, your account has been closed and you will not receive emails from us going forward. If you continue to receive these emails, please let us know by email at ********************************* and we will review the emails youre receiving further.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/02/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ****
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/21/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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 filing this complain against Public.com due to their failure to release $30,000 from my regular trading account. On February 13, 2025 I open up and account and made an initial deposit of $30,000 ( I may open up the account few days before but the money was posted on my account on 2/13/25 ). The same day I was asked to submit documents in order to verify my identity. I did that. ( Driving license and a bank statement from *********). On 2/18/25 I was asked again to provide a proof to my identity by sending me a link to my cell phone. " After reviewing your bank documents we could not verify your banking information" was emailed to me on 2/19/25. I was fed-up with this and decided to close my account and withdraw the deposit but was unable to because support team said that there is a hold on my account.I emailed to them about my problem but just been told few times that I have to deal ********* and get my money thru them and not from Public .com. When I contacted my ********* they were very much surprised to hear that because the money already were taken from my bank account and they can't do anything but asking me to come to their Branch and fill out an affidavit..I tried to convince *****, customer experience manager, who was asking me to provide a proof of my identity, just to return my deposit to whatever bank it came from but he just ignored it.I request an immediate release of my deposit of $30,000 back to checking account at *********

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/21/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** ********* *****
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/21/2025

  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 opened a public.com account with an offer of $100 in stocks in August of 2024. I met all requirements, however, public.com failed to present the offer. I emailed COO ******* ***** in February of 2025, who reviewed my information, agreed that the offer should have been activated, and then added the reward. However, I am now under ***** regulation and forced to liquidate my account. I messaged this information to ******* ***** on 2/11/25 and 2/18/25 with no response or resolution. Public.com is refusing to release the hold on an offer that should have been cleared for release by November of 2024, 3 months after the offer was supposed to be presented.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/26/2025

  Hi *****, Thank you for reaching out. It looks like you received your fractional share reward on February 8, 2025. Funds from fractional shares settle 90 days from the time the rewards are granted. Your funds should be settled and available to withdraw by Friday, May 9, 2025. We are not able to expedite the settlement timeline. 

  If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know in the app or by email at *********************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/17/2025

  Type:Service or Repair 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 need to. CLose my account with public in for some unkhnown reason I cant close it ! I asked if someone can walk me through how to do it but I get now help ! All I want is to close my account I believe I only have 95 cents that they can have ! Anything else that is mine that can have as well ! I just want the account closed immediately

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/20/2025

  Hi *******, Thank you for reaching out. Were happy to help you close your account. You currently have two stocks in your portfolio that will need to be sold before your account can be closed. We provided a ***** Lot Form for you to fill out to sell one of the stocks and provided instructions on how to sell the other stock. Once this is complete, we can start the process to close your account. 

  If you need the ***** Lot Form again or have any questions, please reach out to us in the app or by email at *********************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/22/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  [Your Answer Here]I have no received  the lot information they are referring to ! So that I can close my account 

   

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/06/2025

  Hi *******, Thank you for following up. We have resent the ***** lot form to your email. Please fill it out and return it to us and we can ensure that position is liquidated. Please note you have one other position, you will be required to sell.

  Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing us at ********************************************************. 
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/13/2025

  Type:Sales and Advertising 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.

  Hi, I recently deposited a little above 12k because I loved this app and thought I could trust it. My account was restricted due to a deficit I was trying to cover with that money. I deposited that money which they of course had no problem happily collecting no questions asked but failed to tell me my account was restricted and failed to even message me back. This apps support is abysmal and I hope no one has to deal with these crooks the way I have to. They arent letting me withdraw my money without contacting support and support wont ever answer you. I tried In app chat, email, *******, reddit and im going to try more. Please take your business somewhere else.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/20/2025

  Hi ******, Thank you for reaching out. Your account was restricted due to a returned deposit. However, due to your outgoing account transfer, your account is restricted to no trading to allow the transfer to process correctly. 

  We apologize for any delays in our response. If you have any questions, please let us know using the in-app chat or by email at ********************************************************. 
  

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/26/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  [Your Answer Here]

   Your business practices are very malicious. Holding funds for weeks because you only have a chat that you can respond to and ignore whenever you feel like. Its disgusting that it took a BBB complaint and an account transfer to finally get a response

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/11/2025

  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 recently started an investing account through *******************************************. I have attached my brokerage documents to support complaint. Public investing lets you trade equities on recently deposited funds prior to the actual deposit clearing. So that is what I did. I traded stocks and was in profit $377 when the original deposit failed. Public investing immediately put my account on wire transfer only and I was limited to what I could do on the account. I contacted support which was very lengthy, (took a few days through their support chat each time there is an issue which is unacceptable to me.) numerous times for the exact steps to fix the issue i was having. as I could not deposit or withdrawal from that account. My account was restricted to deposit only by wire transfer and no withdrawal at all. I was being told to deposit by wire numerous times. With no real explanation regarding the $377 in the account. After asking for specifics to fix the issue.I was afraid to deposit into that account any amount since my account was restricted to being unable to withdrawl, and didnt feel comfortable to do a wire transfer. . It felt similar to a scam. So I instructed them to close my account. Which they did but didnt. My account is not active , But I have $377 that is on deposit at public and I can not get any answers as to steps needed in order to get the money out of their bank and get my account fully closed therefore have a zero balance going forward with the $377 withdrawn and account completely closed. I should not be receiving account statements each month on a closed account? But I still am. The attached statements show they have created a negative balance of -$377 on my account in order to offset the positive balance of $377 to bring the account total to $0 on paper but where did the -$377 come from? Id like answers to how to get the money and how to fully close my account to $0. Thanks

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/13/2025

  Hi *******, Thank you for reaching out. It looks like your deposits were canceled, therefore you did not have any funds in your account to invest with, and this resulted in a freeriding violation. A freeriding violation occurs when you buy securities and then pay for that purchase by using the proceeds from a sale of the same securities. This practice violates Regulation T of the ********************* concerning customer broker-dealer credit.

  Your account has since been closed, as you requested. If you have any questions, please let us know by email at *********************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/17/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  [Your Answer Here]

  Yes, you have told me that numerous times now. I have made a deposit which your bank returned. Then restricted my deposits and withdrawals,  You gave me no clear cut instructions on how to get my account back to normal from your bank error. On top of it kept the money that was left in the account. Where does this $377.23 go? Because as of now it is connected to an account with my name on it? Which at the end of the day you want to keep from your bank error. And I am still getting statements each month on an account that is soposes to be closed from a brokerage that cant handle a simple deposit. 

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/27/2025

  Hi *******, Thank you for following up. As explained previously, the funds in your account were the result of a Freeriding violation. When a freeriding violation occurs, we restrict your account, and the profits from purchases in the account are not eligible for withdrawal, based on a lack of payment for the purchases. We provided instructions on how to wire funds to your account to maintain your account. 

  If you have any questions, please reach out to us directly by email at *********************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/11/2025

  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.

  The attached JPG tells the story. (I meant to write "February 6" rather than "January 6" in that email message, of course. I was so angry that I couldn't think clearly.)I opened an account on January 24, 2025 and deposited 1,000.00.After reviewing the company's services, I could clearly see that the business is operated by clueless amateurs, and would be of no use to me. So I requested the withdrawal of funds, to the same account from which the money had been initially transferred.Public.com's response was predictably absurd, as can be seen in the email which I received. No one familiar with rudimentary security protocols would ask for sensitive personal and financial information to be attached to an unencrypted email message! And there can be no justification for requiring additional documentation before returning money to the same account from which it was received.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/13/2025

  Hi ***, Thank you for reaching out and letting us know. Due to your recent deposit and withdrawal activity and the short time between them, we view this as a high-risk transaction and ask that you help us by providing a few additional details to verify your information further. We ask for a valid government issued ID and proof of bank ownership in the form of a recent bank statement for the bank account linked. We do have a secure document upload link you can upload your documents to if you prefer. 

  Please reach out to us by email at ********************************* and we will be happy to provide the secure link and review your documents.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/13/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  I have had accounts with dozens of brokers and banks over the past 60 years, and have never before heard such a specious argument. Obviously, they already know who I am and they know that the bank account is in my name. Returning deposited funds to the same account from which they were received is incontestably a ZERO risk transaction.
  
  I wish that I had not already handed over so much personal information to this business. I simply do not trust them. If I decline to provide the additional personal data that they demand, then do they intend to confiscate the money?

  
  

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/26/2025

  Hi ***, Thank you for following up. We are required to verify bank ownership on outgoing withdrawals. This step is to ensure the security and protection of your account and information. This is a requirement for all members. 

  To begin the verification process, please reach out to us using the in app chat or by email at *********************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/27/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  It is patently absurd to say that you don't know who owns the bank account, since **************** would have rejected the initial deposit if it were not my account. And even if the account were in the name Porky Pig, you have been asked to return cash to the same account from which you acquired it. No rational being would demand additional documentation. And since Public.com has repeatedly demonstrated absolute contempt for rudimentary privacy protection, I have no intention of providing such irresponsible clowns with one iota of additional data.

   

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/31/2025

  Type:Service or Repair 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.

  So here is my story simplified as much as It can be easier to understand hopefully because Ive gone through this process now and am really thinking about pursuing this legally. About 2.5 months ago I had a call option that expired in the money and never got liquidated into my brokerage for buying power. So I called the support line and they said they would have it resolved and that the buying power should be liquidated into my account in 7-10 days which never happened. So then I called back a second time and they said that same thing to me again. So then I kept trading and it happened to me with another call option where it expired in the money and never got liquidated. So I had to go through the process again and yet here I am again 2 months later and nothing has changed and Im very disgusted on how things have been handeled. Everytime I go through this they have asked me the same questions and it just wastes time and its all for ultimately nothing to happen in the end which is upsetting to me. Because of this issue there has been missed bills and payments on my part that I have late fees on and am furious due to lack of service from your end. Ive thought about pursuing this legally and have spoke to a lawyer earlier this week but would not like to as it is a hassle on both ends and just simply would like the buying power back into my account as a simple option for both parties but for some reason its taken 2 months to get it to me even though Ive been told it would be taken care of multiple times over support line and over chats and its extremely irritating and wrong the way its been.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/13/2025

  Hi *****, Thank you for reaching out. Our teams have addressed your concerns with your options contracts both by providing the quotes at the time the orders were entered and also the reasoning behind why your orders were not filled. 

  At this time, we do not offer phone support. Please reach out to us in the app or by email at ******************************** with any further questions.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/15/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  [Your Answer Here]

  Your team isnt understanding what Im saying though and Ive been trying to tell that that and theyre not listening. I just want this to be simple as possible and theyre over complicating things.

   

  
  

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

  

  Business Response

  Date: 04/21/2025

  Hi *****, Thank you for following up. Your order did not fill because the limit price you set was above the best bid at the time, as discussed by one of our supervisors. The price displayed on the options chart is the ***** which is the average between the bid and the ask. If the spread is large for a contract, the **** can be substantially higher than the best bid at the time. There was no technical issue, and this was described in the communications within our support channels. Through the support channels we provided the best bid at the time you submitted the orders, and the reason the orders were not filled. As one example, the **** was $.12, yet the best bid at the time was $.01. In addition, you reached out regarding canceled orders and not receiving buying power back. There were no canceled buy orders, which would provide buying power, as all canceled orders were sell orders. The third point was the 1D Pending you saw, this is for the 1D return, which can happen if you add additional contracts on the same day. The following day, the 1D Pending is removed once the trades are batched overnight. The 1D Pending notice has nothing to do with pending orders, but instead profits/losses for that specific day.
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/30/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because
  

   It is not an accurate representation because of the order of events that took place. Heres what happened from my perspective to hopefully make this a lot more clear on why Im so upset about everything. I had bought shares and had a pending purchase and was told by your team that if I canceled them that I would get my buying power back if I had canceled it. So I did what I did and canceled it and later was corrected after the fact that I had done so that I was in the wrong after I was informed by your team what I shouldve done. In that mean time of me canceling it the original sell order I had wouldve been executed and I wouldve made capital on it but because of your team I hadnt gotten either of those. All because your team didnt clarify things with me properly. Its absolutely ridiculous. Im being gas light into thinking Im in the wrong when I did what I was supposed to and listened to support but was ultimately wronged by them in the end. The major issue Ive had is that Im trying to explain this to you and you dont seem to see how its a problem and its caused me to speak with a lawyer because of how crazy it is me that you can look at it through my perspective.

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/31/2025

  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 used the app belonging to public.com to invest and made a deposit from my savings account which was accepted and approximately 2 days later they messaged me that could not link to my account. Basically their system is flawed, failed to take responsibility by making it difficult to communicate with a live person as well as not responding to my direct messages. They charged me $36 placing my account in a negative. Because I am unable to locate a telephone number and they are failing to contact me as requested I am filing this complaint with you and for them to correct their undesirable business practices.Attached is the most recent email I received which is a repeat of past emails. They are ignoring my sent emails to them as well as the direct messages via their app and not acknowledging my requests.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/04/2025

  Hi *****, Thank you for reaching out and for letting us know. A deposit was reversed in your account as the funding account could not be located. There is a restriction added to your account, which has since been removed, and a $30 fee charged to your account when a reversal occurs. 

  While we currently do not have phone support, our experienced Member Support team is always available on the app or via email at ********************************* and have responded to each of your inquiries. Please reach out to us if you have any further questions.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/23/2025

  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 am filing this complaint against Public.com due to their failure to release $635.21 from my account despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue. I initiated a withdrawal over a month ago to transfer the funds to my personal checking account, but the company flagged my account as a business account, which is incorrect.I have provided them with multiple forms of evidence, including official ******** statements, proving that my checking account is a personal account. Despite this, the company has delayed the process without justification and has largely ignored my messages. On rare occasions when they respond, they provide vague or unhelpful updates and have not resolved the ******** of today, the funds remain withheld, and I have not received a clear timeline for resolution. This prolonged delay is unacceptable, as Public.com has failed to honor its obligations as a brokerage to handle customer funds responsibly. I request the immediate release of my $635.21 to my personal checking account and a written explanation for the delay.If this issue is not resolved promptly, I will escalate the matter further to regulatory authorities, including ***** and the ***** I am seeking the BBBs assistance in holding Public.com accountable for their lack of communication and their refusal to release my funds.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/04/2025

  Hi ****, Thank you for reaching out and for letting us know. Since we are in a heavily regulated industry, we are required to verify bank ownership on outgoing withdrawals, as this step is ultimately done for the security and protection of your account. Your funds are now available to withdraw. 

  Thank you for your cooperation while we verified the ownership of your account. Please reach out to us in the app or by email at ******************************** with any questions.