Consumer complaint received 2016-04-30
Company: PNC Bank N.A.
State: NJ
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Savings account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
1 Lot of dishonest and bait and switch tactics at PNC XXXX XXXX New York XXXX 2 Dishonest and hidden fees for PNC prepaid cards I went to the above mentioned branch to open a new account on XXXX. I was being helped by XXXX. During the process, I was told that they have a savings account with a special 3 month rate of 1.34 %. I also saw a rate of 1.49 % and inquired about that and was told that was for customers who received that offer in the mail but he will check with his manager if he can get me that. I said I was interested in opening the savings account as well preferably at the 1.49 % rate but if not then 1.34 % rate. 
Also I was told that if I were to answer a few questions related to my finances, they will give me a {$25.00} gift card. Then I was told that the gift cards were locked up and I would have to come back another day to get it. So I left after opening the checking account package with the promise that they will get back to me on the savings account rate and without the {$25.00} gift card. 
The next day I got a call saying that they will be more inclined to give me the 1.49 % rate if I were to open a PNC credit card. I said I will thin about it and let them know. 
2 days later I went to the branch to agree to that and get the credit card in order to get the 1.49 % rate. I was told that they can not offer me the 1.49 % rate. Not only that, they can not even offer me the 1.34 % rate ( which I was told was n't for special folks who were target for it ). I was told the reason I ca n't get that Savings/XXXX account was because I had a growth account as part of the checking package. I find it very difficult to believe as I was asked to offer this very specific 1.34 % account while opening that checking package and now all of a sudden, this is not available. Even if the reason is true, that is no excuse for them lying to me about this account and rates and then trying to get me to open a credit card, etc ti get these rates. 
And then the matter of the promised gift card. They very conveniently forgot that they owed me that. I had to ask for it twice during my second visit to get it. I find that very dishonest. 

And now to the matter of the gift card. The back of the gift card says " For customer service please call XXXX or click XXXX '' The fun fact is that pncpaycard.com does not exist ( the correct site is XXXX which I found out on my own later using XXXX search ). So I called the number to ask about the website and I was told that I had been forwarded to lost and stolen dept and the regular customer service is closed. So the next day I found out the website on my own and login to check my balance and to my surprise they had deducted {$2.00} from the balance for that brief 30 sec conversation that did not provide the information I was looking for with no warning that such a fee will be deducted. 
I also found out that I can not use this card online because they provide no way to add my name and address to the card. I find it surprising that they provide no services for this card but still dare to deduct {$2.00} for a call that does not provide the information the customer is looking for. 

I have never seen such dishonest practices at any bank that I have encountered so far.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation