Consumer complaint received 2019-07-10
Company: Comerica
State: NY
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: Government benefit card
Issue: Unexpected or other fees

Complaint:
Some loser got my card number and spent {$160.00} dollars of my sons SSI money on some food service company called XXXX located in XXXX. I called Comerica Bank immediately while the charge was still pending and asked them to block the charges because it hadn't gone through yet. The charges had been placed that same morning of XX/XX/2019. XXXX XXXX even realized it was fraud and blocked some of the thieves attempted transactions but some managed to go through in the amount of {$160.00}. The Comerica Representative said to call back the next day because it was still pending and they couldn't stop it which makes no sense any other bank can and would. I had been on the phone holding for over an hour and I was lucky to manage to order a new card and deactivate that card. On the automated line there was an option for lost or stolen credit cards you would think when you press that they'd understand the potential losses that could occur if not responded to in a timely fashion but shockingly I waited about 45 minutes on the line till someone picked up and could deactivate the card. Then I called back the next day and they said it was processed but your money is in limbo and we can't do anything yet call back tomorrow because XXXX hasn't accepted the money yet. At that point I was very annoyed because once again I had been on for hours but I complied. I called back for the third time the next day and was told finally it fully processed and they would start a dispute. I was relieved for a short moment until I was told I had to wait 10 days for paperwork to fill out n send back with proof I have zero proof obviously as I didn't buy anything the only proof I have is the charges from XXXX when I live in New York. After I send back the paperwork they said a detective would look it over and i'de get an answer on how much the detective decides I should get back between 30 to 90 days. She then said since this is clearly fraud with it being purchased in XXXX and all when I live in New York that the detective would be calling me in 24 to 48 hours to try to speed the process. That never happened. No one ever called and this was last week. I was very aggravated at that point mind you the representative I had spoken to two days prior when it first happened didn't mention any of this and said I could get a new card in 2 days for XXXX bucks and i'de get my stolen money back. I paid the XXXX extra bucks for 2 day shipping and got it 5 days after ordering that was another scam on the part of Comerica Bank. In a few weeks the card will be useless because I switched to XXXX direct deposit after this huge inconvenience. What a better option. There is a reason Comerica Bank has such low ratings. For some sad reason The SS dept. promotes them I am unsure as to why but honestly avoid Comerica Bank unless you have no other choice. This kind of thing could happen to anyone and another thing they don't tell you when you sign up for the so recommended XXXX XXXX is that to switch to XXXX XXXX via Comerica Bank from direct deposit at another bank is a quick on the phone easy convenient transition on the other hand switching back to direct deposit from XXXX XXXX via Comerica Bank entails a trip down to your local social security office with your id and new account routing number and as everybody knows hours of your day wasted which is extremely inconvenient for most. So avoid this headache and go with XXXX or XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX or any other bank really. First of all there are XXXX banks all over. Second of all XXXX doesn't have a 2 hour waiting time and also my husband once had money stolen similar idea and XXXX got it back within 2 weeks. The only positive to XXXX XXXX via Comerica Bank is that you can let your balance hit {$0.00} and XXXX will shut your account if you do that. XXXX also has a 12 dollar service fee per month but with direct deposit over {$500.00} a month the fee is waived. So ya Im definitely going with XXXX after the way this was handled. Sadly at this rate I doubt i'll ever get the money back.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief