bank causing major problems

[pst621]

Tennessee
My checks, checkcard and 400.00 was taken from me a week ago. I closed my bank account immediately to prevent anything fraudulent. I had auto debits due to go through that night, which they did. the bank did not kick them out nor did they close my account. They kept half of the charges and sent the others back with a large # of nsf fees. The creditors were told the account had nsf, not that it was closed. I spent the last 2 weeks trying to get it resolved, to no good. They have let the creditors keep running things through 2 & 3 times, assessing nsf fees each time. My cable company had an auto draft set up to go the following Monday. No one would help me at all, said an outside field rep had taken the information and I would have to get with him. He has NEVER returned any of my calls or pages. I paid my bill last Sunday. They ran my auto debit through twice (now in a credit balance with cable). One time after I finally received a call from a supervisor on Wednesday. My traffic ticket check also went through (I thought it already had). I went last Friday and told them what happened & paid cash for the ticket. They too have run it back through 2 days ago and charged me a fee of $10. I could go on as this has been 2 weeks of hell and the bank is treating me like I am a criminal. I have followed the letter of what I was supposed to do yet they won't help me. No telling what else will go through as no one is doing what they promised. Please advise, I am cracking up!!!!

[JETX]

Thank you for your post. Did you have a LEGAL question in there somewhere??

[pst621]

I am wanting to know what my legal recourse is as I don't know what I can do. I do not think what is happening is fair or right.

[moburkes]

What was "taken" from you? Was your purse/wallet stolen? If so, did you file a police report? If your balance was negative when you asked for the account to be closed, then the bank will not close the account. The balance needs to be $0.00 or positive. What you should have done is made "stop payments". Although this would have cost you $, it would have been cheaper than the creditors attempting to pull $ out of your account several times, to no avail.

[pst621]

My account was not in a negative when I closed it, which was at noon that Friday. The debits came out after midnight. I was told a step was taken to close it right then instead of at midnight when my direct deposit was to post. I was told nothing would go through.
My wallet was taken with my my checkcard, cash and checks. And yes I have a police report that has been forwarded to all of my creditors, including the bank.

[moburkes]

Originally Posted by pst621

My account was not in a negative when I closed it, which was at noon that Friday. The debits came out after midnight. I was told a step was taken to close it right then instead of at midnight when my direct deposit was to post. I was told nothing would go through.
My wallet was taken with my my checkcard, cash and checks. And yes I have a police report that has been forwarded to all of my creditors, including the bank.

Okay. So, you closed it, and the balance at that time was positive. Did you ask the branch manager what happened? Have you contacted corporate?

[pst621]

Yes I wrote the branch manager and sent copies of the police report and the bank slip stamped account closed. He said it was my reponsibility to notify my creditors and that the bank charges are valid. I inquired earlier about the stop payments but they said it would cost the same as a NSF fee and almost discouraged me from doing it.
I have not gone to corporate but that is my next step. The bank account is seriously messed up. Even the creditors I have paid or worked out arrangements are running things through. I do not think anyone wants to help. I closed the account because the routing and acct numbers can be used online and with all of the self service taking checks I was afraid to leave anything in my account as it could have been eaten up by fraulent charges. My bank doesn't do anything to help when a charge you dispute is on the account. they just give you a contact number and tell you to settle it. They will intervene but they wait 60 days. I am not in a position to wait 60 days. They have not even asked me if anything going through was authorized, they just accept it then charge me to kick it out. I am the one contacting them. How are they protecting me, they know my personal information was compromised.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by pst621

My checks, checkcard and 400.00 was taken from me a week ago.

How EXACTLY were they 'taken'?
Did you file a police report at the time?

I closed my bank account immediately to prevent anything fraudulent.

How EXACTLY did you close your account??
Did you go to the bank in person and close it??

I had auto debits due to go through that night, which they did. the bank did not kick them out nor did they close my account. They kept half of the charges and sent the others back with a large # of nsf fees.

As they should have. These things (closing accounts to drafts, etc.) don't happen immediately.
What EXACTLY did you tell them about the outstanding drafts when you closed the account??

The creditors were told the account had nsf, not that it was closed.

No difference. NSF and 'Account Closed' would both have incurred charges by the check payee... and by your bank.

I have followed the letter of what I was supposed to do yet they won't help me.

What did the bank officer say when you went into the bank and talked with them about negotiating an adjustment in the fees??

[pst621]

1. I mentioned previously that I filed a police report. I went in the branch and closed it personally. I told the bank I had debts due to come out and told them I had already started contacting them to tell them of the theft. I was never told they were going to go through. I don't have bank experience so I don't know how these things work. I was told nothing was going to go through as my account was considered closed--I was given a copy of the slip that said Account Closed. I assumed it would be between me and the creditors as to repayment.
The problem is I have already paid some of the things kicked back and they are still running them through. It's not the bank's fault there but I don't know how to make it stop.
As for reducing the fees, so far there has been no luck in that happening. I have a job and I am not able to spend an enormous amount of time dealing with this. I have spent over 2 weeks so far making calls and emailing and faxing police reports etc. I am still working with the bank but I feel like I am on a ship that is sinking. My wallet was lifted out of my purse while I was at a grocery store. I was encouraged to close the account to protect fraudulent activity. Turns out, this is worse.

[debtcollector`]

Talk to the branch manager.

Talk to a local attorney.

Reread ALL the paperwork your were given when you opened the account.

Failing any actual resolution -- there talk to the local paper about how the bank assisted your identity theives in stipping away your money. Bad press always gets corporate attention.

DC

[pst621]

thank you so much for your advice. That is kind of the avenue I was thinking of going. I can't believe how much this affects your health and mental outlook.
I am not trying to shirk my debts - I just feel I am being taking advantage of and lied to. I banked there for at least 10 years, not real happy with their indifference to me now. As for the people who know my situation and are running already paid debts through, shame on them!!!! I think the paper is a good source.
I appreciate this forum, it has helped me a lot.

[ecmst12]

Have you contacted the companies that are putting through the charges for the auto-drafts? Have you told them the account is closed due to identity theft and to stop trying to make withdrawals? It's not the bank's fault that your creditors are still trying to make charges on a closed account (though it's their fault for continuing to charge you NSF fees), you'd have to contact the creditors for that. Even though you've already paid the bills, their computers may not realize it and may have to be corrected.

[Zigner]

Maybe I missed it - but I don't see ANYWHERE where the OP says his card or checks were used by the "thieves".
Rather, OP had items post to the account (as he expected) which OP did not have the funds to cover.

[ecmst12]

I don't believe she didn't have the funds, I think the charges rejected because she closed the account to PREVENT fraudulent charges from being assessed, and then she was charged NSF fees because of it. The charges SHOULD have rejected, because she closed the account, but she should NOT have been charged NSF fees. At least, I think that's the situation, but the posts were a little unclear.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by ecmst12

I don't believe she didn't have the funds, I think the charges rejected because she closed the account to PREVENT fraudulent charges from being assessed, and then she was charged NSF fees because of it. The charges SHOULD have rejected, because she closed the account, but she should NOT have been charged NSF fees. At least, I think that's the situation, but the posts were a little unclear.

Nod - op's statement of "...and sent the others back with a large # of nsf fees" was unclear in that it didn't specify cho charged the nsf fees. I assumed OP meant the bank charged nsf fees.