Consumer Alert
Fast cash for a monthly fee with Brigit app? Not so fast
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Paying a monthly membership fee to get instant cash advances of up to $250 with no hidden fees might sound like a great idea. But what if most people who enroll don’t get anything close to $250, get stuck with a hard-to-cancel membership, and are charged hidden fees? That’s deceptive, according to an FTC lawsuit and settlement with Bridge It, Inc. — a personal finance app also known as Brigit.
Using ads on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media sites, the company promised that people who enrolled in Brigit’s “Plus” membership could get up to $250 whenever they needed it. But the FTC says the promise of money melted away after people signed up, gave their bank account numbers, and agreed to let Brigit automatically debit their accounts $9.99 a month. In fact, Brigit denied some people any cash advance, says the FTC, and many couldn’t get the amount they were seeking. Only about one percent of customers got the $250 shown in the ads. And if you tried to cancel your membership, the FTC says, you ran into a confusing process designed to stop you from cancelling and to keep you paying.
All of the above? It’s illegal. The law says businesses have to make it easy for you to cancel automatically billed paid subscriptions. What do you do if a business charges you without your consent, and if the company won’t refund your money? Dispute the charge right away with your credit or debit card company. Ask for your money back. And if you think a business isn’t following the law, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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Spelling of “Brigit” in title— embarrassing? Or a pathetic attempt to be clever?
In reply to Spelling of “Brigit” in… by Debra Booth
This blog is about Bridge It, Inc., which also did business as "Brigit."
It happened to me with this company so what's next?
It’s good article to learn a lesson.
Thanks this information
They are still debiting my account each month after I have repeatly told them I want to cancel. The app says I’m not allowed to cancel. I have tried to contact my bank which is a prepaid Wal-Mart debit card but they won’t do anything without a long letter of dispute. I’ve had to keep my debit card on lock the whole time and unlock it when I need to use it but many times they run that monthly charge. I’ve been having this issue since 2020.
In reply to They are still debiting my… by Rebecca
ICCU, KEY BANK, and a multitude of other fiduciaries refused to credit back unauthorized debits &/ or credit charges and/or debits to several credit and/ or debit cards in my name.
I want to know who to get in contact regarding this as a victim of this scamming app!
In reply to I want to know who to get in… by Brittney Kelly
The company will pay $18 million in consumer refunds under the settlement the FTC proposed. A judge must approve the settlement before it takes effect. Report the problem you had to the FTC at www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
In reply to The company will pay $18… by FTC Staff
I live in Connecticut and have used Brigit. I just made a payment to them and they charged me 9:99 a month for January now I go to their site and they say that they cannot offer cash advances to Connecticut residence. Why is this in do I get my 9.99 a month back.