Cash Advance Apps

Gerald reviews: complaints & concerns

Last Updated: Apr 03, 2025

While Gerald boasts an average lifetime rating of 4.1 on the App Store and Google Play store, recent reviews in March 2025 have dipped to an average of 3.4. Some users have raised concerns about various aspects of the product. Read on to discover these complaints, common concerns, and more.

What do Gerald users complain about?

Out of hundreds of user reviews published in early 2025, here are some of the biggest frustrations shared:

  • Forced purchases: Dozens of users are upset that to get a cash advance, they must spend a portion of it on overpriced products in the app's store.
  • Unauthorized charges: Many report unexpected charges, even after canceling or without receiving any services.
  • Unhelpful support: Users complain about unresponsive or non-existent customer service when they need help.
  • App issues: Several mention technical problems like being unable to connect bank accounts or access the app.
  • Misleading practices: Some feel misled by the app's advertising, finding it's not as straightforward as promised.

Overall, many users express frustration with the app's practices and lack of transparency.

App reviews talking about Complaint:
"...you have to spend over half of your advance in 'the cornerstore'..."
"They make you buy their products in order to get the cash advance..."
"...you can't get any cash advance unless you spend money that you don't have..."

Scam reports

Even though Gerald is a legit company, we found over 40 recent reviews describing the service as scammy (out of hundreds we analyzed). About 30 explicitly call the service a “scam”, “fraud”, or “con artist” while others report forced charges or hidden fees that made them feel deceived.

The main issue is that users are required to spend a large portion of their approved cash advance on overpriced items in Gerald's store before accessing the remaining funds. Many feel tricked into buying unwanted products with high shipping fees, and some say they never received the promised cash even after making purchases.

Users also mention unwanted charges, difficulties canceling accounts, poor customer service, and concerns about data misuse. The overarching theme is that people feel misled and financially harmed, often due to unexpected fees and an inability to resolve problems with the company.

App reviews talking about Scam:
"...they make you buy stuff to get the advance it makes no sense..."
"This app is a scam and poorly designed..."
"...they make you buy their products before they give you a cash advance..."

Overdraft reports

We didn't find any overdraft-related complaints for Gerald. No users reported unexpected charges or overdrafts.

It appears that overdrafts aren't a common issue with Gerald based on the available data.

What users say on other topics

Positive
4%
Negative
96%
Many users express frustration with Gerald's cash advance app, citing misleading advertising practices. A common complaint is that to access a cash advance, users are required to spend a significant portion of their approved amount in Gerald's store, which offers overpriced and undesirable products. This requirement is not clearly communicated upfront, leading to disappointment and a sense of being misled. Some users even describe the app as a scam, noting that the process benefits the company more than the user. The sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with many advising others to seek alternative apps for cash advances.
App reviews talking about Advertising Accuracy:
"...you have to spend over half of your advance in 'the cornerstore'..."
"In order to get a cash advance...you have to spend over half of the amount..."
"...you need to purchase $35 worth of products out of there store..."