Consumer complaint received 2020-07-06
Company: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION
State: TX
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Closing an account
Sub-issue: Can't close your account

Complaint:
I applied for a cosolidation Loan online with a loan marketing Firm and was contacted by what I thought was a Ligitimat online lender in which I completed the sitgnature of my application for the supposedly consolidation loan. During the supposed Bank verification process btheblender required a transfer in and out of my checking account as I was told by them. After I gave access to my account for verification the supposed lender deposited a fruadulant US Treasury Check into my account without my awareness because I was expecting them to make a wire transfer and not a deposit of a check. The funds were placed on hold that went into my account but I was unable to see the means by which the funds were deposited because the document linked to the funds was not available at the time for me to review in my online account. This took place on or around XX/XX/XXXX th or XX/XX/XXXX. Later on that night I logged into my account to check the status of the hold and checked to see if the deposit document was available for my review and that's when I made the discovery of the fraudulent check that was deposited into my checking account but because it was after business hours I had to wait until the next morning to report the fraudulent activity but when I tried to log into my USAA ONLINE ACCOUNT MY ACCOUNTS HAD BEEN LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO LOG IN. WHEN I CALLED USAA TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON I WAS TOLD THAT MY ACCOUNTS WERE LOCKED BECAUSE OF SUSPICIOUS ACCOUNT ACTIVITY PENDING REVIEW BY A SPECIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT WITHIN USAA and My Account could receive deposits but was not allowed withdrawal. After about 3 days when I called USAA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF MY ACCOUNT I WAS INFORMED THAT USAA WAS EXERCISING IT'S RIGHT TO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH ME CITING BAD BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH ME ALL BE IT I HAVE HAD ONE OTHER SCAM RAN ON ME INVOLVING THE SAME TYPE OF FAKE ILLIGITIMATE SCAMMING PROFILE I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE ACCEPT THESE TWO WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF ONLINE. AFTER USAA INFORMED ME OF THEIR INTENTION TO DISCONTINUE A BANKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ME I ASKED FOR THE RELEASE OF MY FUNDS AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL USAA CLOSED MY ACCOUNT AND I WOULD BE SENT A CHECK FOR ANY REMAINING BALANCE IN MY ACCOUNT WHICH NORMALLY WOULD TAKE AROUND 60 DAYS. I WAS TOTALLY AT A LOST BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLOWING DEPOSITS BUT NOT ALLOWING ME ACCESS TO MY OWN MONEY. MY VA Benefits were deposited to this USAA CHECKING ACCOUNT ON XX/XX/2020 AND I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO ACCESS ANY OF MY MONEY DESPITE THE INVESTIGATION BEING COMPLETE AND THE DECISION TO DISCONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ME AND USAA. I HAVE GOTTEN LATE FEES ON SOME OF MY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND CANCELLATION NOTICES ON OTHERS, I'M BEHIND ON MY BILLS AND AM UNABLE TO BUY GROCERIES OR NECESSITIES TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF AND I HAVE BEEN DISTRAUGHT DURING THIS WHOLE THING DESPITE ME BEING SCAMMED AND DEFRAUDED BY THEM, MY OWN BANK HAS CAUSED ME EVEN MORE HURTFUL PAIN BY REFUSING ME ACCESS TO MONEY THAT I SACRIFICED AND PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE SERVING MY COUNTRY AND ALL DURING A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SUFFERING. IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WOULD ALLOW SUCH BUSINESS PRACTICE AGAINST THE DEFENDERS OF OUR COUNTRY BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT HIGHLY ADVERTISEMENT OF TOP NOTCH SERVICE TO OUR MILITARY AND VETERAN 'S COMMUNITY. I HAVE READ REVIEWS FROM QUITE A FEW MEMBERS/ EX MEMBERS OF USAA WHICH REVEALED THAT USAA DID THE EXACT SAME THING TO THEM AND SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A PATTERN OF FINANCIAL BUSINESS PRACTICE BY USAA THAT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE BY IT'S GOVERNING BODIES UNLESS THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE PRACTICE BY USAA AND THE HEARTBREAKING COMPLAINTS BY ITS MILITARY/VETERAN BASED CUSTOMERS.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation