Consumer complaint received 2020-02-29
Company: WEBSTER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: NY
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: Home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC)
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage

Complaint:
I want to Reference Complaint Number XXXX My complaint involves fraud and forgery of my personal checks in the amount of over one hundred thousand dollars and I was never informed by the Banks. 
In XXXX, me and my then-fiance agreed to go 50/50 to  purchase a house in XXXX Delaware. At that time, I had an open line of credit on my XXXX home for {$50000.00} from XXXX XXXX which I intended to use for my sons college education. I also took out a line of credit for approximately {$80000.00} through Webster Bank. In XX/XX/XXXX, at the closing office of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in Delaware, they informed me that a {$10000.00} dollar check was written against my account and had bounced. It was revealed that my ex had without my knowledge attempted to write the check against my XXXX Account. At this point I no longer wanted to make the purchase of this property but was informed, if I didnt continue, I would be penalized XXXX. 
After the closing I discovered that my ex withdrew approximately {$31000.00} from my XXXX  account and {$80000.00} from my Webster account respectively. I then threatened to contact the Police and press charges, but she promised to pay the money back. 
I reported this incident to both Banks but was told that the accounts were in my name and I was responsible for making the payments. 
I contacted the Law Firm of XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. They inform my ex of the charges and advised her that if she violated the arrangements, I would press charges. My ex agreed to make the payments. 
Ms. XXXX was making payments until XX/XX/XXXX and stopped. When the Banks contacted me regarding the late payments, I again informed them that the money was stolen from my account. They again said they would only say that the accounts were in my name and Im responsible. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I went into the XXXX Branch in NY to obtain a copy of the transactions on my account and it was discovered that Ms. XXXX had stolen two checks and Forged my signature. Prior to this I was never informed by XXXX XXXX. In addition, I was presented with two checks from Webster bank that was also forged. Through XXXX XXXX, I filed an Affidavit of Forged, Counterfeit or Stolen Check ( s ) and a Fraud Investigator was assigned. My account was eventually changed but to date I have no knowledge of the status of the investigation. I have been advised by Customer Service that while the investigation is ongoing no payments have to be made, but collections informed me that I am still responsible for making payments which is a hardship. 
My complaints to Webster Bank was the same. Being told that I was responsible for the payments. After my constant complaints, I was informed to report the incident to the Police, get a Case number then respond to the XXXX NY Branch to file a report. 
My local XXXX precinct would not take a report because to much time had passed when the Fraud had taken place. I reported the incident to the FTC, the FBI and Secret Service. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I responded to the Webster Bank XXXX location and filed a Loss Affidavit Report. At no time did Webster Bank inform me that my name was Forged. The signature on the checks is evident of Forgery. 
Since this Fraud incident my credit score has declined, I have appealed to the Credit Bureaus.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation