Consumer complaint received 2018-03-24
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: GA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
Chase JP Morgan Bank Fraudulence Department abuse its power to freeze client 's fund ( a deposing check, amount {$1600.00} ) for more than 9 month without any notifications and explanations with neither the payer or payee. Resulted the payer brought a law suit to the payee. 

XX/XX/XXXX Plaintiff XXXX . XXXX ( FL resident, a contractor for XXXX XXXX ) approached me for the renting room ; XX/XX/XXXX After visiting my place, XXXX happily agreed on site and chose to pay by check for two months ( starting from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX ) and wrote me a check, then I deposited through Chase Bank App on my phone ; We agreed my roommate, XXXX XXXX would assist XXXX 's move-in later on. 
I visited a local branch to notice the manger about my global travel. 

XX/XX/XXXX I flew out of country for a two-month trip visiting family and friends ; XX/XX/XXXX Chase Bank sent me a mail letter to my U.S. home address about suspect activities to my checking account ; I didnt find its existence until 10 days later ; XX/XX/XXXX I found my checking account was terminated via mobil app. So I contacted Chase immediately to discuss what happened and how I can get the remaining fund. 

Then I was told the reason by Chase and it was likely related to the check, since Chase tried to contacted XXXX XXXX a few times without any answering. Thus, verify of check : either XXXX XXXX and I both sit down on a branch site of Chase to show our identities ; ( unrealistic for the situation, since I was out of country for two month ) or XXXX XXXX contact his bank XXXX XXXX to file a claim. 

I immediately started contacting XXXX XXXX by email, by Web-phone call and by my roommate XXXX as a liaison ( consider theres 12hr jet lag ). First, I was questioning the truthfulness of his check ; then I chose to trust him and allowed his move-in as previously planned. ( email documented ) However, he was just out of temper, chose not moving in and asked for money back ; even put words in the email I want my funds. This is a ridiculous lie. Tomorrow I will meet with an attorney and you will receive a letter of representation Today is your last chance of before I seek legal advice. 

I felt threatened and uncomfortable about talking further with him, so I could only repeatedly email back asking him to contact this own bank. 

No contact in between both parties. 

XX/XX/XXXX I got summoned for this issue. 

XX/XX/XXXX Once returning to the states, I went to XXXX County Court to answer the summon. Got an assigned court date. 

Monday XX/XX/XXXX For the evidence purpose, again I dropped by Chase branch ( XXXX ) and tried to get a statement that I never actually kept the {$1600.00}, so the banker XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX assisted me on the issue and told me Chase would not issue any statement. But she was willing to make internal phone calls to figure out and after around 40min waiting, she told me some senior analyst finally reached to XXXX XXXX after a few attempts, then asked for his verification and authorization of the check. Not until then I found the {$1600.00} was frozen for more than half a year by Chase. 

Thursday XX/XX/XXXX Court day : lose the case. I need to return the {$1600.00} ; pay plaintiffs attorney fee {$1500.00} and the court fee {$89.00}. ( A loss of {$1500.00} ) I reached out to Chase asking : 1. Exactly the reason of shutting down my checking account ; 2. Why the {$1600.00} was frozen all the time without any further notice to either party. And filed a complaint to its HQ, but the respond from Chase was sent the {$1600.00} check already, not responsible for any legal issue client got involved.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation