FINANCIAL FRAUDSTER NEWS INVESTIGATIONS EXCLUSIVE: ‘Held to Ransom’: KICKS CREW Inc., Accused of Mis-Selling and Deceptive Pricing as Customers Hit with Hidden Fees
14 SEPTEMBER 2025, London, England – KICKS CREW Inc., a prominent online retailer for sneaker enthusiasts, is facing serious accusations of deceptive sales practices and mis-selling, with customers alleging they are being presented with a final purchase price only to be hit with significant, undisclosed fees after the sale is complete.
Financial Fraudster News Investigations has seen correspondence that details how customers are left feeling "held to ransom," forced to either pay unexpected additional charges or forfeit a substantial portion of their original payment for goods they never receive.
The controversy is exemplified by the case of customer Lester Gold-Cohen, who purchased a pair of Nike trainers on 29 August 2025. An order confirmation email for order number KS1972304 shows a clear and final breakdown of the cost: a subtotal of £221.00 plus £16.00 for shipping, leading to a "Total" payment of £237.00 GBP.
However, weeks later, the item had still not been delivered. In a series of emails to KICKS CREW’s customer service on 11 September 2025, a frustrated Mr. Gold-Cohen stated, "I believe I have been mis-sold" and that he would "not be held to ransom by having to pay £237 and any further money to receive the item".
The correspondence reveals that an unexpected demand for additional payment was made after the initial transaction. Mr. Gold-Cohen asserted that the price agreed at checkout constituted a binding contract. "Delivery was sold at £16.00 which formed the overall price for order KS1972304," he wrote, adding that "Any change amounts to a breach of contract and an act of mis-selling". He described the company's sales method as "unethical," "shocking and distressing," and amounting to "dishonesty".
The company's response, sent on 14 September 2025 by a "Customer Experience Specialist," confirms the business practice. The email states, "Please be informed that there may be customs or import duties involved, which are determined by the Customs office in the country of delivery". The company admits these fees "are not included in your payment and will be billed directly by the courier in your country".
Crucially, KICKS CREW’s policy creates a catch-22 for the consumer. The company warns that if the additional, unquoted fees are not paid and the shipment is returned, the customer will not receive a full refund. Instead, the company will "deduct any incurred fees (restocking fee, original processing & shipping fee, refusal shipment charge, and duty tax) from the refund amount". This policy effectively forces the customer’s hand, leaving them with two damaging options: pay more than the advertised total price, or receive a partial refund for a product they never received through no fault of their own.
This business model, which relies on presenting an incomplete "Total" at the point of sale while burying mandatory international charges in separate terms and conditions, raises serious questions about transparency and fair trading standards. By securing full payment upfront and only revealing subsequent costs when the goods are in transit, KICKS CREW leaves consumers in a powerless position, justifiably feeling that they have been misled and trapped.
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 Redacted Copy of Order KS1972304 confirmed.pdf | [Caught Mis-selling Kicks Crew Invoice] | 603 kB |
