Consumer complaint received 2016-10-05
Company: PNC Bank N.A.
State: VA
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
I am executor of my husband 's estate. He had a business at PNC Bank. I 'm in the middle of securing all tax information, submitting legal papers, and awaiting IRS response on taxes owed and taxes paid. I had no connection to the business, but I was able to secure all legal documents and piece together financial requirements via much research. I thought that I 'd closed his XXXX XXXX XXXX account at PNC Bank in the fall of XXXX. My husband passed XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I submitted all of the paperwork that PNC requested, executor proof, death certificates, account numbers, and every other document requested, several times. I had to request bank statements, which I was charged several hundred dollars to retrieve, since the account was CLOSED. In XXXX XXXX, I received notice from XXXX County, where the business was certified, that they were placing a lien on his business account because he owed local taxes. I was in the middle of submitting IRS papers. I called XXXX County and they said that they had never received a copy of my husband 's death certificate. They had. I sent it myself. Nevertheless, they told me that if I sent them another copy, they would release the lien. I drove the copies to their office that day! They told me that they would call PNC Bank and release the lien. They faxed PNC Bank, which I have a copy, and told them to release the lien. I called PNC Bank and they promised it would be taken care of once they received the fax. The fax says that they received it that day. One week later, they paid XXXX County the amount of the lien. I have copies of the check etc. The account was finally closed XXXX XXXX, XXXX. After many phone calls and PNC bank self investigating their own error, they tell me that they received the lien release prior to actually placing the lien so therefore, my case is closed. I have spent many long hours researching, driving documents, calling officials at PNC Bank and they still have not resolved my issue to my satisfaction. I 'm a teacher. I make a very average wage. I spent the better part of the last several months trying to have them resolve the issue. I sent a letter to the president of PNC bank. Within 24 hours, I received a phone call saying that they assigned an executive to investigate my case and that I should call him and make the connection. That was a month ago and he does n't return my calls. I have yet to speak to my " case executive. '' I have attached a copy of all of the case details, dates, etc. I 'm so frustrated. I 'm trying to follow the estate laws of VA, but PNC Bank has usurped the process. I would like to have the money refunded to my husband 's estate account and XXXX wait in line for their payment. By VA judicial rules, the tax process is federal, state, and local taxes paid in that order. At this point in time, local taxes have been paid before federal taxes. I feel that the banks self investigating of their mistakes has left me exhausted. The emotional anguish involved has been astronomical. I 'm angry that banks think they can squash the little guy and they have squashed a widow in a time where they should have been helping. Thank you, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation