Consumer complaint received 2016-06-04
Company: SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.
State: MO
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
I responded to a promotional offer from Suntrust Bank, which promised a {$200.00} bonus for opening a select checking account and making a {$2000.00} direct deposit within 60 days. I met the requirements but did not receive the bonus. When I asked online customer service, they said I do not qualify for the promotion because I had closed my previous account at Suntrust within 180 days. This is completely different from what I was told on the phone in XX/XX/XXXX, just before I opened the current account. Back then the phone customer service told me that my previous account was closed over 6 months ago, and I would qualify for the promotion as long as I make the qualifying direct deposits within 60 days. 

I sent a detailed email to a member of the Suntrust Executive team ( copy attached ), asking them to stand by the information I was given on the phone. In response they claimed " Our investigation was unable to find documentation showing that you were informed you would qualify for the promotion. '' I reiterated my position that the proof is in the phone conversation in XX/XX/XXXX, and requested them to review that call and award the bonus if my claim is correct, or provide me a copy/transcript of the call showing that my claim is incorrect. This should be a simple task, considering that Suntrust claims all phone calls are recorded for quality assurance ( and as I provided all my identification info for the agent to locate my prior account, it should not be that hard to locate the call. ) All correspondence attached, and pleas note each pdf file has several pages. 

Suntrust responded with an identical form letter ( even with the same date ), claiming that " Our investigation was unable to find documentation showing that you were informed you would qualify for the promotion ''. This indicates they either made no effort to locate the phone call, or they had located the call earlier and found that it corroborates my claim. 

Please note that this is not the first time Suntrust agents have provided blatantly false information during the short time I had this account. My original email to the executive office describes another incident where Suntrsut lost my {$1000.00} deposit and gave me the runaround for over 10 days. 

It is deceptive that I was told one thing before I opened this account, and the opposite after I invested several thousands of dollars with Suntrust based on that information. Also unfair that the executive office brushed off my request with the claim " we were unable to find documentation ... '', a statement most likely false considering they claim to record all phone calls. 

All I ask is to receive the {$200.00} bonus I was promised in return for depositing my money with Suntrust. I am also attaching a sampling of reviews/complaints from other customers who were cheated out of the similar bonuses by Suntrust, demonstrating that Suntrust makes a habit of this deceptive practice.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation