Consumer complaint received 2022-10-06
Company: NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
State: CT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Collected or attempted to collect exempt funds

Complaint:
I am a 100 % XXXX Veteran, who receives XXXX every month. A few years ago my current bank, Navy Federal Credit Union attempted to take I believe {$600.00} out of my checking account, when my only source of income was XXXX, for a past due credit card balance, which is now closed and sent to collections department. They took it out without any phone call, notice, or email, and I immediately called them and told them they can not touch those funds, and they returned said funds within the hour. 

I started working in XXXX of this year, XXXX, and they must have been monitoring my account at all times because once they saw that I was working and my deposits were coming in and they weren't labeled as from the " VA '' or dissability, I guess they took that as they can now start taking money, no matter the date, no matter what is happening in my life, whether or not I'm a single dad with a XXXX year old daughter, but they started taking my money. 

First they took XXXX straight out of savings, and they said it was for said past credit card balance. I assumed they only took it because they saw that it was in my savings. This was in XXXX, XXXX I believe. 

Next was on XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, first taking XXXX followed by XXXX, and the latter was taken out literally the same minute that my deposit hit. Again, no phone call, notice, email, or anything. A couple weeks later I had to leave said job, and am now unable to pay my bills, that was money I saved in my checking account and knew I would be leaving that job, and looking for a new one, closer to home. 

Not only do I believe they should not take someones entire check from them, nor half of a check, but I don't understand how one can legally and without a doubt know that the money they are taking is not XXXX  funds, when those work deposits shared an exact checking account with where my dissablity got sent to. How do they know that every dollar they transfered was not at all dissability funds when they are " mixed '' together once it's in the account. Once a deposit hit or dissablity was transfered into that account, bills had to be paid, groceries bought, etc. so how can they possibly know where I allocate my money and what they are taking. I don't believe that's possible. 

Again, Not only that, how can they take so much, not care or know that the person is going to be jobless soon, and needs every dollar that they were saving. Now I can not pay bills, buy gas, etc. for the rest of this month. 

I have reached out to numerous lawyers all saying the same thing, this is not something they deal with. I have even contacted the veterans emergency line and they were of no help also. 

I really need that " cushion '' right now especially since I don't have a new job yet. 

I don't know how they can differentiate since it's shared with an account where XXXX was deposited into, and also, how is the amount they chose to take not against any law or act, having to do with not only veterans, but consumer protection. 

I need someone to tell me that they have to return some if not all, please if you can help. I am out of options. 

Again, this account is closed, sent to collections, I paid for this with a credit score downfall, This is what Navy Federal will not tell their clients, this is what they won't show on their commercials and adds. I am planning on taking them to small claims and explaining all of this to a judge, I have to try. I don't see how that is fair.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief