Consumer complaint received 2015-12-30
Company: SANTANDER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: NJ
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
I closed my bank account with Santander Bank after having a huge number ( XXXX ) of NSF fees taken ... this series of fees was the direct result of a collection agency named XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX, NJ ) had wrongfully taken out a court order to remove all monies from my checking account with Santander. The local Santander branch manager here in XXXX XXXX, XXXX location, a XXXX XXXX, said that the fees would be waived if the case were waived by the district court judge. The judge did waive the court order, but my NSF fees were not refunded ; read on. 
The collection agency, XXXX. were already receiving approx. $ XXXX/paycheck, every other week, via wage attachment. Here is what happened : wages were garnished on a Thursday, and the very next day, Friday, my entire checking account was emptied out. XXXX dollars for me, for anything, for two more weeks until next pay. I had to borrow to survive, and at high interest. 
I provided the DC judge, XXXX court officers, and XXXX. with copies of XXXX supporting documents from the bank and payroll dept. of my employer. XXXX released the money after receiving the letter. The DC judge did rule in my favor to have the order reversed. 
Meanwhile, at Santander Bank, I was told that the XXXX NSF fees would not be reversed, " because our legal department says that the court ordered action was not illegal ''. So, they kept {$380.00} in fees. 
I waited for a couple of months, to be sure that all outstanding items had cleared, and having discontinued my auto-deposit of paycheck to XXXX, and went to the local branch on XXXX in XXXX XXXX to close out this account on XXXX XXXX. I wrote a check for {$120.00} to cover overdraft, received {$0.00} back in pennies, andI was told that the account was closed, that I would receive mailed notification as per this action. I did not receive any documentation on the spot ; I was told that this would be mailed. I waited. I checked my home mailbox, and my XXXX XXXX XXXX 
I received NSF " postcards '' from Santander instead. I was horrified to find out today, XXXX XXXX, that this account was still open, and that XXXX had sent several items since the " account closed '' date, ( incurring numerous fees, several that I could see on the assistant manager 's screen were " sustained overdraft fees '', each of these {$35.00}. I was told today that there was no record that this account was ever closed. 
When does this stop? Why were n't these items denied by the bank, flat-out, ( since the account was supposed to have been closed? ) WHY was n't this account closed on XXXX XXXX? WHY was n't I contacted by email or phone, and only by mail? I sincerely believe that these delays are a scam. As I already stated, this account should have been closed a month ago. 
Additionally, today, XXXX XXXX, the assistant manager told me that it would be a WEEK before I could expect a phone call from the manager. More time to amass more {$35.00} fees. 
I just now, went online to see if I could access this account online. Having believed that this account was closed, I have n't tried this until now XXXX on XXXX XXXX. Guess what? I can still get online access.

Company response to consumer: Closed