[SERIOUS] Changelly's Unfair Practices: 5k DAI Stuck Despite Successful KYC & AML. Let's join forces!

Following the format of another user that recently fought Changelly, and surprisingly he won.

1. Initial Transaction: I stupidly thought to myself, "oh I should try Ledger's swap functionality". I recall there being only one provider; Changelly. I accept some popup. The price between DAI and BTC is pretty ridiculous, yet I go ahead, cause why not I guessed the price hike was due to offering a swift and practical swap. (Dear god please don't lecture me; you cannot imagine how stupid I feel. The last time I got screwed was Mt. Gox. I've been in the game. UGH)

2. Swift and practical my ass: After about 20 minutes I'm wondering what's going on. I Google Changelly for the first time. My heart sinks seeing all the controversy. The Ledger interface kind of crashed after I got the "Swap ID", so I didn't get any further info except the Swap ID.

3. KYC Request: Within about an hour I received an email about a KYC request. By this point I've already emailed them once wondering how I can check on my transaction. I get annoyed – a KYC request, AFTER they've taken my money? I tell them to just return my funds; I may as well use a proper exchange.

4. Refusal to return funds: They won't return funds. They insist they're a legitimate exchange and that the controversy is just criminals not wanting to KYC. As long as I KYC it'll all be resolved. Whatever. Fine.

5. Complete KYC: The day after I complete KYC without issues and wait.

6. AML Request: Next they ask me for proof of funds.

We’ve got your documents now, thank you! Please provide the information on how you obtained the funds in question (e.g. purchased, traded, or mined) to confirm that you are the true owner of the funds. This can be: - Receipts from cryptocurrency sellers; - Bank statements; - Screenshot from an exchange/trading platform.

Cool, screenshots. I search my computer for an "onboarding package" (a contract) for a company I programmed for and received aforementioned money as compensation. I've blacked out a field which I assume to be amount compensation (it's ambiguously labeled "ETH"), but they can see my KYC name there, the company's address, my role, and our signatures. So I send it over thinking that it's enough.

7. Ambiguous reply to AML proof:

Could you please provide us with an official document indicating the amount and currency in which the payment was made to you?

To me this is ambiguous, "what I sent was an official document?". I sent them another screenshot from the document (it's a very long contract, so there's me thinking I'm being helpful) stating my hourly rate and monthly rate. I communicate clearly that I don't understand what they want if not what I'm sending.

8. They finally ask for a PDF:

Please provide us with an original PDF file, not a screenshot. Also, please resend not edited file of your Onboarding Packet where we can see the wallet address indicated.

I'm getting really annoyed by this point. I don't have time for ambiguous back and forth.

OK, please be more informative and tell me you want the ever sign document then instead of doing this back and forth. You are treating me like a criminal when I'm being beyond cooperative to you, sending you the 90-page document seemed nuts when you were asking for specific information and at first, said screenshots were acceptable. Here is the ever sign link; https://[COMPANY-NAME].eversign.com/document/[THE-ID]/status Attached is the PDF. Can we move on now?

9. Changelly True colours; Powered by confusion and inane tactics to steal and withhold our money AT TIMES FOR MONTHS: By This point, I've educated myself. Changelly does this recurrently. Granted; some of the posts (like the one I linked in the beginning of this post) really do look tricky on the surface. Trading with friends? Difficult. He definitely jumped through all the hoops though and still had to get a lawyer. As did I. And all my paperwork is in order and provided promptly. They can even verify that the address is the company's with the ENS and other public info. Not to mention just looking at GitHub.

At first, they sent me around in circles, saying the PDF wasn't an official document and ignoring the Ever Sign link. Finally, after asking them to verify that they indeed were getting the Ever Sign link, they just said I was under investigation.

(9a. Contacted Ledger: They didn't seem to read what I wrote and simply said KYC can take a while... But it's already been done, duh, that's what I was saying.)

10. Current status; see 9 and...: I keep emailing them. It's been two weeks now. I complied with their unfair ToS, which might be in violation of Hong Kong's robust consumer protection laws that aim to protect consumers from deceptive and unfair practices. They continue to withhold my funds. I want my DAI back, simple as. I've done my part, now they have to do theirs. It's beyond frustrating as I'm dealing with lots of family issues which is partially why I was about to offboard some BTC, so having to deal with my lawyer and him having to try and find a decently priced Hong Kong lawyer is a thorn in my side. We seem to have found someone, but it's expensive. If the controversies surrounding Changelly are accurate, I'm inviting others in a similar situation to join forces. Together, we might be able to reduce legal costs and hold Changelly accountable.