Consumer complaint received 2022-08-11
Company: HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, THE
State: OH
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low
Sub-issue: Overdrafts and overdraft fees

Complaint:
Huntington Bank appears to have violated the Regulation E by debiting my account over {$1600.00} in overdraft fees, during the time period of XX/XX/2022 XX/XX/2022. The Regulation E sets forth practices and policies that banks must comply with. Regulation E speaks specifically to overdrafts and overdraft programs that banks may have. Regulation E requires affirmative consent by the consumer as well as a variety of disclosures by banks. 
I began my banking relationship with Huntington Bank in XX/XX/2022. My checking and savings account with Huntington Bank were opened at the downtown XXXX, Ohio branch. The account was opened by a banker that was working in that location. I was a very happy customer with the service that I received at this location. Upon reviewing an account statement in XX/XX/2022 I noticed several charges that were not mine. Further review of these aforementioned charges made me come to the conclusion that they were fraudulent and most definitely unauthorized. Referring to Huntington Banks website, the bank suggested that in such circumstances that the customer contact them by phone or write to them at an address that was listed on the site. I proceeded with the latter of the two options and sent a detailed letter listing the unauthorized charges and that I did not know some of the merchants, and that said charges were not authorized by me. I did not receive a response from Huntington Bank with regards to this letter. Due to the fact that I did not receive a response from Huntington Bank with regards to my XX/XX/2022 letter, I dispatched a duplicate copy of said letter during the second week of XX/XX/2022. I did not receive a response from Huntington Bank with respect to the second letter that I sent them. 
Due to the total lack of response from Huntington Bank I called their customer service during the early part of XX/XX/2022. Speaking with a representative in the disputes department, I was able to confirm that the mail communications were sent to the correct address. The representative adequately acted upon my claim that said transactions were not authorized. Subsequently she immediately credited my account for these fraudulent charges. During this call I also indicated to the representative that my account had incurred numerous fees over the last several months and that said charges has cascading, seemingly increasing each month. I requested a fee reversal ( a refund ) of said fees due to the fact that my communications were not answered. I stated that many of said fees would not have been incurred if Huntington Bank would have opened my letters and took appropriate and required action. 
The representative spent time reviewing all fees that were being incurred on the account. She spent a great deal of time explaining out of network ATM fees and how to avoid them. However, upon reviewing my account with her it was totaled that my account was debited for a total of over XXXX in overdraft fees. It was my position during this call that my responsibility for these fees should be shared with Huntington Bank due to the fact that Huntington Bank errored when not appropriately responding to mail that they had received. The representative stated that there was nothing that she could do. 
During the time span noted above my checking account incurred over {$1600.00} worth of overdraft fees. When my account was opened at the downtown XXXX, Ohio location I did not sign up, approve, or give any type of consent ( express or implied ) to be enrolled or participate in any type of program that would allow for the accrual of such fees. 
I would demand that my account be credited for the incurred overdraft fees, due to the fact that affirmative authorization to enroll in said program was never given.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief