Consumer complaint received 2022-09-13
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: MN
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
I'm a new XXXX student at the XXXX XXXX XXXX I work as a XXXX XXXX and get paid a stipend every other week, so I opened a total checking account with Chase Bank at their branch on the XXXX of XXXX, then I received two paychecks on the XXXX which I deposited to the same account, {$1000.00} regular stipend and another check of {$1000.00} fellowship bonus. I deposited both of them and then the next day one of it was put on hold. So I went to the branch in my campus to resolve it on XXXX XXXX and the teller fixed it and it came through. But then, my other paycheck got put on hold the same day, which the teller couldn't fix and asked me to wait until the XXXX XXXX to clear. On XX/XX/XXXX, Chase sent me a notice that they've blocked my account and will close it ( attached mail snapshot ). 

I called the number they provided and talked for about half an hour ( Call was recorded at their end ), and the Chase representative was insinuated that I provided them with a fake or altered check, but when I asked if this was the official reason or what exactly is they are suspecting, they backpaddled and said it's the system and they don't know. So they asked me about who issued the check and why, though the last check from the university had the exact same credentials, then told me they need to verify the checks and needs a contact number. So I gave them my dept 's number, the payroll office, OHR ( office of human resources ), the director 's office ( these are all officially listed on the university website, and payroll office is the one issuing the checks ), but none of them are " valid '' to them, since they're not " recognized in their system '' which was incoherent to me. Then they said it can't be fixed and I have to find a proper number or get the check cancelled or be closed forcibly. 

The following workday on the XXXX, I went back to the Chase branch on campus and a banker there heard everything and tried to help out, they redid everything I did on the phone with Chase bank but got the same responses, that these numbers are not valid and restated that the bank suspects I altered the check, even though this branch is literally in the University campus, and the number is the official payroll office number- which made absolutely no sense to the banker either and they were very apologetic for it. Upon my request, the banker themselves ( not the Bank ) called the OHR at my university who was happy to verify my checks- but the bank simply won't accept it. I also have another paycheck coming tomorrow via direct deposit to this checking account and have no idea what's going to happen to that. 

After going through some online forums, it's evident that Chase has a reputation for doing this regularly, and the banker even mentioned another international student having their account blocked at the same branch recently because a scholarship amount could not be verified. I had to borrow cash from friends to buy groceries because all my funds are now blocked in the account. I am very new to banking and the US, and I am very little informed on what to do or what consequences I have to face later for having this in my record. The teller and the banker were very helpful, nice and apologetic, and tried to fix this but Chase itself and its " system '' just won't let me verify it through my employer or fix my account.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief