Consumer complaint received 2022-08-19
Company: Chime Financial Inc
State: HI
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
I guess that the easiest way to explain this is with a timeline. 
XXXX Chime Financial freezes/locks access to my bank account. I called Chime and asked why this was, their reply was i may have violated one of the policies or because of suspicious activity. I asked specifically what triggered this, they stated that i had recieved an electronic funds transfer, approximately 1 to 2 weeks prior, in the amount of {$13000.00} and {$3000.00}. They stated that i was to provide a copy of my drivers license, social security card, a letter recieved within 6 days and proof that the EFT was intended for me, who it was from with the dates and amounts of the EFT. I explained that one of my email accounts had been compromised and i closed that account in question. This email ( XXXX ) was not only linked to my chime account but to my XXXX account, which is where the EFTs were from. Because they were linked to ny XXXX i also closed that account just in case it may have been compromised as well so i did not have any documentation on hand in regards to these deposits.. i also had explained that i needed the email they had on file for me to be changed to XXXX. The said they had submitted the request and i needed to email all the requested copies as well as explain the situation regarding the email and it would be ok. I emailed the copies of my license and social security card. For the letter, i provided them with a letter that i recieved 2 days prior from Chime. It was the letter that had contained my Chime credit card ). I explained the situation regarding the documents about the deposit in the content of the email. When i sent the email, i received an automatic response stating that they had recieved the socuments and were in process of reviewing them. This was at approximately XXXX ( XXXX ). 
XX/XX/2022 at approximately XXXX I called and spoke with XXXX to follow up on the status of my account. I was told that it was still under review. I asked if there was someone i could speak to to expedite this process, but i was told that the department in question wasnt taking any calls and that the only way to communicate with them was via email. At this point, i am becoming agitated and replied with asking what they would consider as communication because from where i stood that i was the only party that was doing any communicating. I had to call to find out that my account was restricted. I had to call to follow up on the status of my account and at no point did i see anything that ressembled an attempt of Chime Financial initiating any contact whatsoever. I further explained that i was now aggrivited about the situation and was starting to think about seeking legal consul. The representative stated that he would have the situation escalated and to give them until the end of the day. I agreed. 
XX/XX/2022 at approximately XXXX i emailed XXXX XXXX XXXX and informed them of my situation. I explained that the funds that they transferred to my account were considered suspicous and i asked if they could provide me with documentation stating that those funds in question were intended for me. They provided a statement and i forwarded it to Chime. 
XX/XX/2022 at approximately XXXX ( XXXX ) - I called Chime Financial and spoke with XXXX XXXX At this point, Im upset. I explained the situation to XXXX and applogized ahead of time if it seemed that i was angry with him further explaing that i was meerly upset at the situation and the way it was being handled. He stated that there was nothing else he would be able to do. I asked if he could transfer me to someone that could or to a supervisor. He then transfered me over to XXXX whomi assume was a supervisor. I explained to XXXX the situation and that i was now seeking legal consul and that i was now going to seek restitution for time loss because at this point I had spent several hours on the phone trying to resolve this, i was also now seeking reimbursement for late fees and penalties because of a direct result of my funds being on hold because the intended purpose of those funds were to pay for some bills. Now, i had to divert funds from another account to pay for those bills. I also incurred additional late fees and penalties because the money that i diverted from my other account were meant for other bills. Those bills now were past due and incurred penalties. I explained that in my course of seeking legal consul, i came across similar claims but those claims were part of a class action law suit and i would not enjoy sitting in a court room, but if put in a position where i needed to that it was something i was willing to do. I asked why I was the only party among 2 parties that was communicating any information concerning this and that it just seemed like Chime was trying to keep my money which was rightfully my money. She said she would further escalate the matter and to give her some time. I told her that i woild be willing to give chime until the end of day XX/XX/2022. After this deadline, if things were not satisfactorily resolved that even if the account was to become reinstated after said deadline that i would continue with proceeding with the legal process and then seek restitution for not only the amount thats in the account, but also everything that i stated prior We are now XX/XX/2022 and there has been no change to the situation and i have run out of funds. The deposits that Chime is flagging as suspicous were stimulus payments for my rent from a nonprofit ( XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ). The amount in the bank account in question is somewhere around {$2000.00}.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation