Consumer complaint received 2022-07-12
Company: COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
State: NY
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Other banking product or service
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed

Complaint:
I just now explained the situation with my bank account in detail to a CFPB agent- I opened an account with Community Bank NA , years ago. The branch that I opened the account at is in XXXX, N.Y., the routing # is : XXXX. I am engaged in an estate battle with my younger sister and our aunt over mom 's estate. Our aunt ( her name is XXXX XXXX ) is a retired county employee here ( XXXX XXXX, N.Y. XXXX ) and she has a lot of cronies, connections, etc. locally. Even though my sister had nothing to do with the family since she moved out after graduating high school, she obviously enlisted our aunt 's help so that she could more or less hijack mom 's estate when mom passed. Our aunt managed to have XXXX XXXX XXXX take over as payee for my Social Security checks shortly after mom passed, they did this without any notification or permission. This was in XXXX of 2012. The agency that now controls my SS funds is XXXX XXXX Adult Protective Svcs. The name of my current caseworker at XXXX is XXXX XXXX. I was told that there are another 130 or more people who also have XXXX  as their rep payee. The department is currently being investigated for fraud by the OIG. My caseworker, XXXX XXXX, and the loan officer at XXXX bank, XXXX XXXX, have conspired to keep me financially crippled, practically bankrupt. They are obviously doing this at my aunt 's urging, she might be using bribes or threats. I managed to have the bank approve three small loans, to purchase rolling stock for my vehicle transport business. The loans were approved on the basis that they would be paid off over time with funds from my payee account, which are administered by XXXX XXXX. I was also told that the bank would approve a mortgage on a house " if I could afford it '', which never happened, of course. I was only approved for enough to purchase two very " rough '', older trucks, and one home made car haul trailer. One of the trucks I will probably have to sell for scrap, it needs too much repair, the other truck was off the road while I did extensive work on it to get it to pass XXXX inspection. And, according to the bank, I still owe around {$10000.00} for the vehicle loans. The situation with having the county XXXX as my payee is FORCING me to make bad financial decisions, the bank refuses to loan me enough to purchase decent equipment, and the county refuses to return my SS checks to a private account that I can manage. When I realized that the bank was never going to act in good faith, grant me a mortgage, etc, that they were actively preventing me from deciding how my funds are used, ( obviously at my aunt 's " request '' ), I sent an email to XXXX XXXX, in which I notified him that I've " had it '' with the fraud, I will close the accounts with Community Bank, that I am defaulting on the loans, reporting him to the fed, and that if Community bank attempts to go after me in court, that I will fight it and win. I sent the email over a month ago. The county still has a " death grip '' on my Social Security checks, won't turn payee status back over to me. Years ago, I asked the previous Social Services commissioner, XXXX XXXX, ( who used to work with my aunt ), how the county XXXX was able to take over as my payee for my SS checks. XXXX XXXX told me that XXXX XXXX received a letter from the Social Security administration, telling them that I need a payee (? ), and that she would forward me a copy of this supposed letter. Months went by, no letter. I tried calling back a few times, to ask when I might expect a copy of the letter from the SS admin. The last time that I tried calling, the receptionist threatened me, and told me that if I tried calling the commissioner 's office again, I might be arrested. My own relatives are now enemies, have turned the bank against me. I am the eldest son, our parents are dec 'd, our aunt is a sociopath, plain and simple. I'm sure that fraud involving human services agencies, their helpless clients, and the banking system is widespread, this is New York, XXXX. But in my case, a " connected '' family member is the instigator. My landline phone # is ( XXXX ) XXXX if more information is needed. Thanks so much in advance for your assistance. - XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation