Consumer complaint received 2016-05-11
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: WA
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
I Deposited my first paycheck from my new job at the nearest JP Morgan Chase Bank to my new residence a mere XXXX mile journey requiring a round trip on the ferry, usually 5 hours travel. Less then a week later Chase bank blocked and started closing my account. They told me issues with the signatures on that check. 
I 've been a customer with JP Morgan Chase off and on for more then a decade. This response and escalation was very rapid, unusual, and unnecessary. I was directed to speak to the fraud department and was left feeling punished, sincerely asking myself, " What did I do wrong? How is this my fault? '' Eventually I 'm told that JP Morgan Chase will be holding my money hostage, I 'm paraphrasing, until I bring my employer to a chase bank branch. From our neighborhood, where my employer and I both reside, its a 5-8 hour trip, depending on traffic and ferry to visit a branch. My employer is being asked to loose XXXX dollars in production to close shop for a day, loose sleep to catch a ferry, pay for ferry fees and gas on top of it. I understand his hesitation to accompany me and insistence that I find another way. 
My employer has looked into just stopping the check and reissuing me one, but his bank, XXXX XXXX, has already released the funds. 
Furthering my frustration, I also bank here locally on the XXXX at XXXX bank. I keep my same old Chase bank account so I can send money to my grandmother who also banks there, and because it was linked to a decade old insurance settlement which makes a large annual deposit. I would have deposited the paycheck locally if not for needing to get XXXX dollars to my grandmother ASAP. On my local account I noticed I was going to need money from the Chase account to cover a few checks I had written, the most important was to pay for court and probation on my suspended licence. I decided to bite the bullet and pay the fee for a wire transfer, it would be immediate rather then waiting the usual 2 days to transfer some money from Chase to XXXX. I left the chase account money for Grandma, some to cover what ever fees, and a little for a buffer, the rest was to go to XXXX. I scheduled it for the next day, the day my paycheck was projected to clear. That was the day Chase closed my account. As a result of the failed wire XXXX Checks I wrote bounced including the XXXX to court, I do n't know if I 'm violating probation or not and I 'm denied access to funds to fix it. My reputation with my local bank and a few small locally owned businesses is now tarnished as a result of Chase banks over reaction, and the bounced checks that resulted, as well as a few insufficient funds fees and a few returns on unfunded internet orders. 
Being associated with the frustration of this situation is causing my insecurity to manifest in a perception that my value as an employee is diminishing. This perception fills me with XXXX. Compounded with the legal issues, and the simple financial woes of the money that was going to pay for the next few months of expenses is not available, and I do n't know when they will be. Will it be before the electric bill comes in, or rent. The XXXX swelters and suffocates, its palpable, keeping me awake all night, effecting my productivity, further diminishing my perception of my value, increasing my XXXX. A Cruel and Unusual punishment indeed.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation