Consumer complaint received 2023-06-12
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account
Sub-issue: Money was taken from your account on the wrong day or for the wrong amount

Complaint:
Here is the background : My father  generously gave me a XXXX check for XXXX, which I electronically deposited into my Chase checking  account on XX/XX/XXXX. I then slipped the check into my checkbook until it was cleared ( that used to be my practice ; now it is no longer ). 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I was the victim of a smash and grab at XXXX XXXX XXXX on XXXX XXXX in XXXX. My purse and all of its contents were stolen ( including my checkbook which still contained the cleared check from my dad  because I had forgotten to destroy it ). I had to cancel all of my credit cards and void my checks. I also placed a freeze on my credit and a fraud alert on my identity. 

Then in XXXX, my father called me to let me know that the check he had given me for XXXX had been deposited again. Somehow, someone took the check that had already been processed into my checking account, with my name and account number clearly endorsed on the back of the check, into an entirely different account and name within the Chase institution. My father managed to claim fraud and get the XXXX refunded to him, thankfully. 

But then on XX/XX/XXXX, Chase took XXXX from MY account, stating an item had been processed more than once. I filed a fraud claim on XX/XX/XXXX, and have spent countless hours on the phone with their claims department trying to get my money back. On XX/XX/XXXX, I learned the investigation revealed the check was deposited into an account ending in XXXX ( not my account ) and with a different name from mine ( which is to whom the check is written on the front and endorsed on the back ). They informed me that they were closing the case. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I tried to reopen the fraud case and learned that Chase will not move further with it and will not give me my money back. They claim the physical check takes precedent over the electronic deposit. This means they are accepting the XX/XX/XXXX deposit as the valid one rather than my electronic deposit on XX/XX/XXXX. This doesnt even make sense, because the account the check was deposited into ( ending with XXXX ) is not the account number written on the back ( my account ), nor is it the same name it was made payable to ( mine ). How can that check even have been processed with those discrepancies? 

Chase can clearly see where the check was deposited and who accepted it. Whoever processed this check committed a felony, and it is obvious that there is an internal racket going on within Chase Bank. Whats even more disturbing is that Chase Bank appears to be allowing this sort of activity, because they would rather close the file and sweep it under the rug instead of going after those responsible for the XXXX activity. And I, as a long-standing customer, am still a victim of fraud and out XXXX} due to Chase Bank .

When I put a stop payment on all of my own checks, it didnt even occur to me to consider the check from my father that had been slipped into my checking account. I understand that I made a grave mistake with that, and I have learned my lesson. But my issue with Chase Bank, and the scary truth, is that the check was allowed to be deposited into an account other than to whom it was written AND to an account number other than what it was endorsed. Whats the point of writing names and account numbers on checks if it doesnt have any correlation to where theyre actually deposited? This is why I believe Chase made an error. Clearly someone within their institution is allowing this kind of activity to take place ( perhaps they are even a key player in the smash and grab ring we have in the XXXX XXXX ). And Chase is allowing it to happen because they are not doing anything to stop it. Instead, they are taking the money from their customer. 

I have taken my money out of Chase and have closed my accounts with their institution. My banker, who also spent hours trying to assist me with this matter, understood and stated he wouldve done the same thing. I am beyond disappointed. And I am still out the XXXX that Chase stole from me. I would appreciate anything you can do to help me. Clearly an investigation into the practice at Chase Bank is warranted.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation