Consumer complaint received 2022-09-05
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: TX
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Savings account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
Below are descriptions of my and my Dad 's recent experience with XXXX XXXX XXXX : My father, XXXX XXXX, wrote a check to me, XXXX XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX. It was a gift for having bought a house in XXXX. My husband and I currently use an online bank called XXXX XXXX ; this bank has a monthly deposit limit of {$2000.00}. Therefore, I would be unable to deposit the check that my dad gave me, in this online account. As a result, my husband, XXXX XXXX, and I opened two joint checking accounts and one joint savings account with Chase on XX/XX/XXXX. I can provide account numbers, if it is pertinent to the investigation. 
When we were in the process of getting our new accounts set up with Chase ( which was done in-person at the Chase Bank on XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX, TX XXXX ), we were advised to try and get our direct deposit transferred to Chase, as well as to make sure to keep a minimum balance. We knew it might take a few days to have our direct deposit transferred from One to Chase, so we went ahead and deposited the check that my father wrote to me, in our Chase savings account. I attempted to log into my Chase account a few days later, and I received an error message indicating that they locked [ my ] account due to suspicious activity. When I called to find out what the issue was, the customer service representative informed me that Chase no longer wanted to do business with [ me ], and that my account would be closed. I was left confused and panicked, and I had been treated as if I were a criminal. 
Since that day, I have spent several hours speaking with Chase customer service representatives, wondering what can be done about the {$15000.00} check that had been cashed by Chase, and the funds have never been released to the intended recipient. The customer service representatives have given me different answers each time. First, they told me that the check would be overnighted to me once the account had been closed. Then, that they would have to run my fathers number through a verification process, that my father would have to come to XXXX and go in-person to a Chase branch XXXX and that if Chase was unable to verify my fathers identity, the money would go to the state in 2 years. 
Believe it or not, through research, I have come to find stories of other former Chase customers with the same experience. One woman had transferred all of her money into her new Chase account, and after it was locked and closed, she had to sell most of her possessions in order to survive. 
Please thoroughly investigate this matter. You will find that Chase is clearly the party committing fraud, not me. 
____________________________________ I, XXXX XXXX, wrote a check to my daughter, XXXX XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX. The check was a gift to my daughter. She told me that she had only an on-line account, so to deposit the check she would have to open an account at a bank near her home in XXXX, Texas. She opened an account at a local JP Morgan Chase branch. After she opened both savings and checking accounts at Chase, they notified that the check was being held because Chase was not able to identify me. The check I wrote was on my XXXX  XXXX XXXX ( BOA ) account that I have had in good standing for over 30 years. 
When she checked again on the status of her Chase account the branch told her that my check was now being held due to suspected fraud. I then reviewed my XXXX XXXX XXXX account information and noted that Chase had already cashed my check. When I checked with XXXX, they told me that Chase in fact had my money and there was nothing they could do to help. Chase successfully cashed my check on XX/XX/XXXX. The check was valid, otherwise XXXX would not have transferred the funds to Chase. 
I asked my daughter to find out what Chase wanted or needed to resolve this, and they asked for my telephone number. She gave them my number, which is a XXXX telephone number, and they said this number was a bad number. It is not. I am retired and travel quite a bit. I have an apartment in XXXX, for example, and spend time there. Shortly after I gave my daughter the check, I left XXXX for XXXX, where I am now. I do not have a cell phone contract with a major company in the U.S. I found that using the internet is sufficient and cheaper. 
My daughter and I then tried to clear this up with the Fraud Department at Chase. First, I suggested that Chase just reverse the transfer and return the money to me at XXXX. They refused. After several conversations by each of us and then together in a conference call, we were asked to present account numbersmy daughters accounts recently opened as well as a business account I have with a partner in XXXX so that Chase could identify us and clear up this nightmare. We were told that was not good enough. I offered the Chase representative to call me on my telephone number in a video call so that they could see me and that I would present my Passport, Drivers license and whatever they needed. We were told that they would not or could not do that. Then I suggested that I could go to a Chase branch in XXXX where I may be traveling next month and present all my identification documents. The Chase representative said that may work but she was not sure. Then I asked whether my daughter would have to be there, and she thought for a moment and said YES. I was incredulous. I said : you mean to tell me that the only way we can clear this up is to go to a branch with my daughter in XXXX? And she that may work. 
When I asked what they were planning to do with my money, they said that they will hold it for two years and then give it away! Give it away to whom? It appears to me that Chase is the party committing fraud.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation